Tea-porn? Tea-gasms? Is it possible to make tea sexy?

Well, anyways, that’s what I’m going to talk about today. Tea. And writing.

I haven’t always been an avid tea drinker. I liked tea and drank it from time to time, but didn’t really start to enjoy it the way I do now until several years ago.

I’ve always been a bit of a worrier and some might even call me a little high-strung. My day job is rather stressful and sometimes calls for long hours. So, I’m always trying to find ways to relax, take a deep breath, and just…be.

The first time I bought loose tea (I had only ever used tea bags before) was actually when I was getting a present for someone else. But while I was in the store I became completely enchanted and I couldn’t resist getting some for myself as well. I’ve been hooked ever since.

I love going into teashops to look at the endless bins of various blends and having them wafted under my nose by the sales associates as I make my selections. I enjoy the process of brewing tea. Measuring it out, heating water in my electric kettle (ever since I lived in the U.K. it’s the only method I use to boil water), letting the tea steep in the pot, and then pouring that first cup.

When I have tea, I really have tea. I don’t really do much while I drink it. Sometimes I’ll read or flip through a magazine. Sometimes I’ll watch TV. A lot of times I’ll just sit and sip and think. For me, drinking tea is like a form of meditation. It’s how I de-stress, de-compress and get myself to a place that is a wee bit more Zen-like.

Writing does the same thing for me. I began writing as a sort of escape from my day job. It lets my imagination and muses run wild. It lets me forget the troubles of my day. And it lets me get back to a more balanced state of mind.

Some people do yoga. Some people go for a jog. Some people go to the spa. I drink tea and write. Though, never at the same time. I find that if I try that either the tea gets cold or the page stays blank!

What do you do to relax and regain equilibrium?

Analyzing Emory is the first novel length result of my writing meditation. I brought along an excerpt, so have a cup of tea and have a read. Kyle and Emory don’t happen to drink tea, but they do have some cocoa together after Emory has had a particularly bad night.

If you stop by again on Friday, they’ll be an ebook giveaway of Analyzing Emory.

Thanks so much to the lovely ladies of cupoporn for having me today!

==========

Analyzing Emory

When a family friend offers him the job of resident psychologist at Chicago’s GLBT Center, Kyle Michelson jumps at the chance to reinvigorate his career, move on from his recent breakup, and get his life back on track. Kyle hopes returning to the familiar territory of his hometown will do him good, but meeting Emory Brenner at a club changes everything.

Anything but familiar, Emory leaves Kyle breathless from the start. There’s just one problem: Kyle wants more than a one-night stand, Emory doesn’t do relationships, and neither man can resist the other. Luckily for Emory, he never has to see Kyle again. Or so Emory thinks until he runs into him while volunteering at the GLBT Center.

Kyle makes Emory want things he never thought he could have and chips away at secrets Emory has kept locked away for years. On the surface, Emory’s recovered from his past: he has a job at a record store and a roof over his head. But putting his trust in another person, having a relationship, means opening himself to more pain—and that is a risk he can’t take.

Excerpt:

By the time Kyle had gotten Emory into a pair of sleep pants and a T-shirt, Emory was able to shuffle into the living room on his own. He curled up in the corner of the sofa and gave a sigh.

“What can I get for you? Hungry? Thirsty?”

Emory looked up at Kyle and chewed his lip thoughtfully. “No. Not hungry. But maybe something hot to drink? Coffee or tea or something? Even after the bath I still kinda feel all cold and shaky.”

He wrapped his arms around himself and curled further into the couch.

“I’ve got just the thing.” Kyle pulled a throw off the back of the matching armchair and covered Emory with it before heading into the kitchen.

Emory gave Kyle a dubious look several minutes later as the doctor placed a mug of hot chocolate in his hands. “Cocoa? Seriously?” Emory took a tentative sip, mindful of his puffy lip. His eyes widened. “This definitely didn’t come from a packet.”

“When I was a child, my mother would always make me cocoa when I was hurt or upset. She said hot chocolate cures all ills.” Kyle sat down with his own mug next to Emory.

“I suppose it wouldn’t do any good to remind you that I’m not a kid.”

Thrilled to see a bit of Emory resurfacing, Kyle smiled into his own mug. Emory’s resilience was amazing. “I’ll try to remember not to burp you before I put you to bed.”

“Very funny, doctor.” Emory took another sip, humming in appreciation. “I think your mom was right, though.” He tilted his head shyly toward Kyle. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Anytime.”

==========

Analyzing Emory is available from:

Dreamspinner Press,

All Romance Books

and Amazon.

==========

Lily Grace hails from the Midwest but currently resides in the DC metro area. Her background is in public health and the life sciences and she spends her days working as a health care consultant. When she’s not busy being a nerdy scientist she curls up with her laptop and dreams up romantic stories about beautiful men.

She’s a fan of loud rock concerts, cooking, shoe shopping, and strawberry ice cream. She loves love, hates cleaning, and is still amazed that when she decided on a whim to try writing a story a few years back that it would lead to having her works published.

You can find Lily Grace on her blog  Lily Grace Tales,  Twitter @LilyGraceTales, and at Lily Grace on Facebook.