I’ve never been particularly comfortable with the random parts of life. Like my character Caleb Jorde, in Random Acts, I would prefer to know what’s coming in life and to be afforded with plenty of opportunity to structure my world into clear emotional categories in order to prepare. That way I’d be ready for any tragedy and any joy. For anything and everything life could toss my way—this girl would be ready.
But maybe that’s not such a good idea after all… Maybe it’s best to savor the awesome moments as they occur, and to deal with the hardships on a need to be dealt with basis. Maybe life can be random and maybe that’s a good thing.
Maybe that good part of random can start with these random questions from my readers.
Random Questions: Mia’s Favorites
What is the favorite book you have written so far? (Beckey)
Good question, and it makes me think. I guess the best answer is that I have different favorites for different reasons.
Beggars and Choosers is my sentimental favorite. It was the story that was in my mind since I was a young teenager. I was Cory, and big-haired 80’s rock and roll band members played all the supporting roles. This was my first story and it will always hold a special part of my heart.
Random Acts is my favorite so far for my writing style. I am reading the ARC right now and I keep on stopping to laugh. But I know soon I will be stopping to cry.
The Red Sheet is my favorite for a message—anti-bullying. I am really proud of it.
Us Three is a favorite as I developed characters I love and readers love who can grow up right before us.
Music-wise my favorite is a tie. Intervention because I put all my favorites in it. And it was so much fun! But Not Broken, Just Bent… oh, that song inspired me to come up with a book to write.
Out of Hiding has my favorite cover model.
And A Package Deal taught me the most. It taught me that many readers are uncomfortable when you go to far out of the box.
What are your favorite types of covers? (Beckey)
I like a very dramatic photograph on a cover the best. I am particularly attracted to black and white photography. I don’t go crazy over the muscle bound torso covers. I mean, yeah, the muscles are nice, but I guess I’m a “face-girl”. I like to see the look in a person’s eyes that tells me a hint of the story. I like to see fear, desire, confusion… the pain. I want the expression in his eyes to draw me into the story.
I like drawn covers of people, but only when they are extremely realistic.
Of my photography covers—and for the record, I love them all—Intervention and Out of Hiding draw me in the most. I found both of these photographs in online searches, and Paul Richmond made them look amazing as covers. (Thanks, Paul!!)
And Random Acts—I just love it! Reese Dante reached into my brain and found a man that resembled Bradley Cooper in all the best ways. And she found my Caleb when I presented her with the male model I used as my inspiration.
Who is your favorite character and what makes him so special to you? (Kevin)
The character I spent the most time lying in bed thinking about would have to be Brett Taylor from Beggars and Choosers. I based his physical characteristics on Travis Fimmel—have you seen him? This is him back when he was younger? Yes.
But Brett’s devotion to Cory that knows no bounds is why I loved writing his story so much. He was in constant emotional pain. Constant. His life had been difficult. Painful, tortured, and lonely. But still his love for Cory was so deep and selfless that he put aside his needs, which were many, in order to meet what he perceived as Cory’s needs.
Brett also shares some personality characteristics with Edward Cullen of Twilight. And that is a very good thing to me.
Mia’s Random Personal Favorites:
Jeans:
It is a tie betweenAmethyst Flare Jean in Super Light Blasted (they have a button-fly! Woot!!) and Old Navy Boyfriend Cropped Skinny Jean in Flower Power.
Coffee:
Mocha Latte with an extra shot of espresso, lowfat milk, and two Splendas
Music:
Right now my favorite song is Collide by Howie Day (oldie but goodie)
Dessert:
Home baked chocolate chip cookies. An inch thick. Twice as many chocolate chips as the recipe calls for.
Color:
Green, but I like orange tank tops.
Mia’s Best Look: (another tie)
Plaid Flannel
White button down collar LL Bean
Favorite Place in the world:
THE RED SOX ROOM!! ON THIS COUCH!!!
Favorite cat? Are you kidding me?
No comment. Jeez.
Blurb:
Bradley Zelder can’t find his way in life. After struggling for nearly a decade, he has yet to complete his college degree. Working as a school custodian, living in blue-collar Landsbury, MA, his love life is as empty as the rest of his existence. But on his way home after another disastrous date, his truck breaks down in upscale Oceanside. When he thinks life can’t get any worse, a man who is the epitome of Boston elite and everything Bradley finds attractive and intimidating helps him move his truck to the side of the road. Ashamed of his lot in life, Bradley almost lets the opportunity slip away, but he comes to his senses in time and tracks Caleb down.
From a random act of kindness, romance begins to grow, filling all the dark corners of Bradley’s empty life—until a random act of violence threatens to take it all away. Bradley must step up and be the man Caleb believes him to be. Caleb rescued him from a life without hope. Can Bradley rescue him in return?
Links:
Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Author Bio:
Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—all named after saints—and five nonpedigreed cats—all named after the next best thing to saints, Boston Red Sox players. Her husband of twenty years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about that, as it is a sensitive subject.
Mia focuses her stories on the emotional growth of troubled young men and their relationships, and she believes that sex has a place in a love story, but not until it is firmly established as a love story. As a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with romantic tales of tortured heroes (most of whom happened to strongly resemble lead vocalists of 1980s big-hair bands) and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to Dreamspinner Press for providing her with an alternate place to stash her stories.
Mia is proud of her involvement with the Human Rights Campaign and cheers for each and every victory made in the name of marital equality. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology.
Mia has published four works of adult contemporary gay romantic fiction with Dreamspinner Press and four novels of contemporary LGBT fiction with Harmony Ink Press. Mia Kerick’s books are recommended reads in the LGBT blogging/reading community, have spent many weeks on Amazon Hot New Releases and LGBT Best Sellers lists, as well as other notable bestseller lists, and have won awards for excellence in YA literature. Author Links:
Website: www.MiaKerick.com
Blog: www.miakerick.com/blog
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1pl5bVl
Twitter: @MiaKerick (https://twitter.com/MiaKerick)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mia.kerick
Amazon author page: http://amzn.to/1vowCBK
Dreamspinner author page: http://bit.ly/1xsRQT7
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/TLcDb
Giveaway Link: Click The Rafflecopter Image For The List Of All The Great Prize Up For Grabs!
The Novel Approach Reviews 
Thank you for the fun post and giveaway!
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thanks for the post. Looking forward to reading this…
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