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Countdown to GayRomLit Character Interview and Giveaway: "The One I Choose" by D.H. Starr

Title: The One I Choose
Author: D. H. Starr
Publisher: Wilde City Press
Buy Links:
• Wilde City
• Amazon
(Coming Soon To:)
• ARe
• Barnes and Nobles

Blurb: Cal and Rhys have been together for three years. Having met and lived together in New York City, their lives were travelling along the same path. That is, until Rhys started working for a jealous chef and got blacklisted in the culinary world of New York City. They move to Boston, Cal using his inheritance to purchase a restaurant to give Rhys a fresh start. Cal’s biggest challenge is figuring out how to balance work and Rhys. Struggling to make the right choices, will Cal figure out how to accomplish both things without hurting the man he loves?

Divider Red

And Now, An Interview With Cal and Rhys: The One I Choose

2014GRL_BlogTour_sq200x200Bella: Welcome to Interviews Between the Sheets. I’m Bella Rotundo, the host. Let’s get this out of the way because I know I’m wearing unusual garb tonight. Yes, this is leather and I’m sweating like a stuck pig. Yes, I’m wearing a corset, so no, my boobs aren’t nearly this perky. (The audience laughs and Bella scowls at them, then shines a brilliant smile). Let’s get down to business. I’ve got Cal and Rhys with us tonight. They’re the happy and hot couple living in Boston and the story of their amazing journey, entitled The One I Choose, just released through Wilde City Press. Cal and Rhys, thanks so much for joining me tonight.

Cal: It’s our pleasure. We love watching your show and it’s an honor to be here.

Rhys: (Shakes his head).

Bella: Rhys, it looks like you have something to say.

Rhys: (Now blushing). Not really. Cal knows what I’m thinking. But I agree, it’s a pleasure to be here.

Bella (Glances at the audience). Sounds like trouble. (Turns to Cal). Cal, what’s Rhys thinking right now.

Cal: Damn! I can’t help myself. I answered for him. I do that a lot. Trying to work on it.

Bella: Oh, so you’re one of those people?

Cal: If by those people you mean someone who doesn’t know how to shut up and let my partner answer his own questions, then yes. But like I said, I’m working on it.

Rhys: (Rubs Cal’s thigh then leans in and kisses his cheek). He is getting better.

Bella: You two are the most adorable couple. I love it. Ok, let’s get to it. My first question is one I’m sure the audience is dying to know. How did the two of you meet?

Cal: I remember it perfectly. We―

Bella: I’m gonna help you in practicing that not speaking for others problem. Why don’t we let Rhys go first? (Chuckles from the audience).

Rhys: Thanks, Bella. Cal and I met at a party our friends Dan and Greg threw. I’d just finished culinary school and Cal had been working on their apartment for them. They invited us knowing we’d hit it off.

Bella: And did you?

Rhys: (Faces Cal and takes his hand then turns back to Bella). Honestly, I thought he was a bit aggressive when we first met. I was drinking a glass of wine and talking to Dan when Cal comes up and kind of invades our space. At first I wasn’t sure what was going on, but then Dan introduced us letting me know Cal was the guy he wanted me to meet. By the end of the evening, I knew I liked him, but I still wondered if he was a bit too pushy for my tastes.

Cal: That’s not exactly true. You were making eyes at me from across the room. I couldn’t help it if I found you irresistible and had to find out who you were.

Rhys: (Turns to Bella). Did I say he was aggressive? I meant I thought he was arrogant.

Bella: (Waits for the laughter in the audience to quiet down). Priceless. You two banter better than the hens on The View. (More laughter from the audience, along with a general Ohhh! Bella turns to the audience). Hush. You know it’s the truth. So, Cal, what was it like meeting Rhys?

Cal: Honestly. From the second we started talking, I knew he was the one for me. I know it’s ridiculous and fairy-tale romantic, but the moment our eyes met, I felt a connection. Well, more of a draw.

Rhys: It’s true. I was making eyes at him. Even if Dan and Greg hadn’t set us up, I would’ve eventually gone up to him and introduced myself.

Cal: (Leans in and kisses Rhys on the mouth. The audience claps).

Bella: Very good, Cal. You let Rhys answer for you without adding on.

Cal: (Sticks his tongue out at Bella. The audience gasps then begin to giggle).

Bella: All right. Settle down. My next question is a bit more personal?

Cal: More personal than how’d we meet? I’m dying to hear this one.

Rhys: Cal, shush. Let her talk.

Bella: Priceless. Tell us about your most romantic getaway.

Rhys: Hmm. That’s a tough one. We’ve been to a lot of places. The most romantic? What do you think, Cal?

Cal: Rome.

Rhys: (Nods). I was thinking the same thing. (Turns to the audience). We went to Italy a year into our relationship to celebrate our first anniversary. I’d never been out of the country, although I’d been cooking the cuisines of most European and Asian countries as well as some of the Middle Eastern regions as well. Cal sprung the tickets on me when we had our actual one-year anniversary dinner.

Cal: Rhys’d been working like a dog. He’s brilliant with food, but the culinary world is demanding. The competition is fierce and you have to work ridiculous hours if you want to beat out other chefs. I’d been to Europe a few times and loved it. Knowing how much Rhys would enjoy the vineyards and farms, experience the food markets and the fresh meals, I couldn’t resist.

Bella: What made this the most romantic getaway? Aside from Cal’s unbelievable thoughtfulness.

Rhys: Just the fact he wanted me to experience Italy first-hand was enough for me. Have you ever picked a ripened tomato from a vine and eaten it when it was still fresh? I mean literally just-off-the-vine fresh?

Bella: I can’t say that I have.

Rhys: The juices explode in your mouth. The sweetness is tempered by the acid in a perfect balance. That night I convinced the owner of the villa where we stayed to let me make tomato sauce. Honestly, it was the best sauce I’d ever made.

Cal: When I watched him try each new food. And especially when I saw the way he lit up when he cooked that sauce, I knew I was a goner. He had me so wrapped around his little finger I knew I’d never get untangled. I didn’t want to.

Bella: (Her smile broadens. The audience issues a choral Awwww!). Well, I can see why that’s your choice. Truly romantic indeed. I think we have time for one more question. When we met before the show, you shared how the move to Boston was a tough time in your relationship? Care to elaborate on that for us?

Rhys: That’s a difficult question to answer. It wasn’t our finest moment as a couple.

Bella: Care to elaborate?

Rhys: We’d fallen into a pattern in New York where we first met. When we moved to Boston, I think we expected our life to continue as it had. It took some adjusting and a LOT of talking, but we ended up stronger for it in the end.

Cal: Rhys is being generous. It was all me. I was so focused on setting him up with his restaurant that I lost sight of what truly mattered. I have no idea why he puts up with me, but I’m grateful every day.

Rhys: No, Cal’s the one being generous. I was going through a rough time. He’d spent his entire inheritance to move us to Boston and to set me up with my own establishment. He’s a brilliant contractor and had a blossoming business in NYC. When we moved, I wanted to spend time with him and got kindapissy when he wasn’t around as much as I needed him to be.

Cal: (Takes Rhys’s hand). I should never have put you in that position in the first place. I knew how hard the move was for you, and everything leading up to it.

Rhys: But, I should have―

Bella: Boys. How about we agree you were both to blame?

Cal and Rhys: (Look at each other, then face Bella. They speak in unison). Okay.

Bella: (Waits for the audience laughter to die down). Well, that’s about all the time we have. But Rhys has graciously provided a free appetizer voucher for his restaurant to the members of our audience. Thanks again for joining us. You really are an adorable couple.

Cal and Rhys: (Smile and take each other’s hands, kiss for a few seconds, then speak in unison). Thanks, Bella.

Bella: (Turns to the audience). When we come back, we’ll meet one of my favorite English porn stars, Sir Bendsalot, on his upcoming new film. Lancing the Black Knight.

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THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED

59 thoughts on “Countdown to GayRomLit Character Interview and Giveaway: "The One I Choose" by D.H. Starr”

  4. I enjoyed the inteview it was very funny the excerpt was interesting I’m looking forward to reading the book.

    ShirleyAnn(at)speakman40(dot)freeserve(dot)co(dot)uk

    Reply

    1. Aw, that’s so sweet Shirley. I had a good time writing the interview. It’s easier to have them so happy after that rough patch they went through, but love carried them through.

      Reply

    1. Aw thanks Jen. I don’t know what came over me to throw that voucher in there. Nor do I know how I came up with the name Sir Bendsalot, but there you go. I always have food as part of my stories. Maybe it’s because I’m such a foodie. Good luck.

      Reply

  11. Having worked in the NYC hospitality industry for years this sounds fun. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.

    Reply

    1. Thanks Alexandra. Hope I was authentic! I tried to be as true to what people in the industry would consider as possible. Guess you’ll let me know. Good luck with the drawing for the gift card.

      Reply

    1. I grew up in Boston and have lived in NYC for 12 years so I’ve drawn from personal experiences to make it very authentic. I’ve been to most of the places I describe. Now that I’m moving to Ft. Lauderdale, let’s see how that terrain works itself into my writing.

      Reply

    1. Thanks ALishea. It was fun. I think Cal and Rhys channeled through me for this one. And Bella, I picture her as a robust black woman with a bright smile and a wickedly awesome attitude. My kind of gal!

      Reply

  17. Hi DH, you are a new to me author and I really enjoyed your post and I am adding your book to my TBR list. Thanks very much for the giveaway.

    Reply

  23. Great character interview. These guys sound like fun and I love foodie books so definitely want to read this.

    Reply

    1. You’re sweet Lisa. I’m a total foodie. I have to let you know. I don’t focus too much on the food in the restaurant side. But Cal and Rhys do a lot of cooking in the house. Actual food cooking as well as other heated things. grin

      Reply

  24. I can’t stop laughing! Thank you..I needed that! One of my close friends is from Boston and he lives in NYC, now!! I talked to him about this book and he smiled.
    Thank you for this post and for the chance to win;) Have a great day.

    Reply

    1. I love it when I can make people laugh. All of my books have a comic relief character to lighten the mood. I tend to make my boys suffer in the stories I write so they earn their HEA. I’m about to add a third city to my list of places I’ve lived. Ft. Lauderdale, here I come.

      Reply

  27. I’m so on Rashell’s side with this post. I needed something to cheer my day up and with this post, I got it! Thank you. Count me in for the giveaway and Congrats, DH :)

    Reply

  29. Greetings, everyone! Thanks so much to all of you for stopping by to enter Doug’s The One I Choose blog tour giveaway. The lucky winner of a $10 Amazon Gift Card is

    Kejara

    Congratulations to you! I’ve already emailed Doug with your contact information, so expect to hear from him soon.

    Reply

    1. faints OMG!! OMG!!! OMG!!! THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!

      Reply

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