Interview and Giveaway: Bankers’ Hours by Wade Kelly

We’re so pleased to welcome author Wade Kelly today, on the tour for her new novel, Bankers’ Hours. Enjoy the interview she’s put together for you, and then be sure to pay extra close attention to the great giveaways she’s offering.

Good luck! And now, here’s Wade.

Hello, good people! This is Wade Kelly. I’ve dropped by The Novel Approach to talk a little about my new novel, Bankers’ Hours, but also more about me. I asked my fans from The Wade Brigade to ask me some questions I could blog about and the following are from them.

Vicki: What is your writing process?

Wade: Typically, I start with a character. Either inspired by someone I’ve met or come across, or an idea that pops into my head. I like to have a vague idea of his looks, and a name. Sometimes I get stuck if I just don’t have the right name. Often, I have a scene in my mind and I go from there. Occasionally that scene ends up somewhere in the story. For When Love Is Not Enough, I thought of a funeral first and what it would feel like if it was for your best friend. For Bankers’ Hours, I started with an image of Grant and the name just popped into my head.  I try to plot more now than I used to. Does this make sense?

Cinders: How did you start with the writing?

Wade: 22 years ago it started with poetry. Then I started messing around with rewriting endings of movies. I moved on to sci-fi, and in 2006 I wrote a trilogy. A couple more years passed, and then I thought I’d write a romance for a friend of mine. He’s gay so I wrote a gay romance and then voila, I was a gay romance author.

Cinders: Do your family support you, do any older relatives read your writing and give you pointers?

Wade: Sort of. My husband tolerates it. My mom and brother think it is cool. My cousin is supportive. But no one reads it. People know I write, but no one talks about it or asks about it.

Jambrea: How did you come up with the story for Bankers’ Hours?

Wade: I was at my bank and this really cute employee walked by. I suddenly had the urge to write about a banker. A minute later, it occurred to me he should fall in love with a mechanic. Boom!

Jambrea: Do you have a secret chinchilla fetish?

Wade: No, but I am very fond of chinchillas

Janie: What is last book you read and loved?

Wade: Simon vs. The homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Mandy: Is there a specific reason why you write m/m? ie: family member who has struggled/ had issues with their sexuality.

Wade: It didn’t start out that way. I don’t have family or anything who aren’t straight that I know of. But after I wrote a gay romance and got ridiculed and shunned for it, it did make me think about they kind of things that happen to the LGBTQ crowd. I may not be gay, but I write for those who are. There are many issues that need to be addressed so that maybe I can spread a little hope and joy to those who are persecuted for being themselves.

Gwendolyn: Writing has been challenging to you with your faith. How have you made peace with that?

Wade: It’s been an ongoing search for what I believe. I’m still learning and growing in my faith. Mostly, it has affected my faith in people. People can be very disappointing. You think you know someone, and then you do something they disapprove of and all of a sudden their friendship and support changes. I am finding new friends and learning how to trust more trustworthy people. 

Cinders: When you come to a sex scene do you skip it until later or do you write those first and then fill the story in around them?

Wade: I actually find sex the easiest thing to write. I guess I worry about it being boring or unimaginative, but I don’t normally skip the sex scenes.

Cinders: What type of body turns you on?

Wade: Athletic types. Soccer players, Lacrosse, swimmers. I’m ont really into body builders. 

Debra: Do you prefer writing angst or humor. What’s your favorite number to write on the Wade Kelly Angst Scale?

Wade: Angst, but angst is draining so I have to balance it out with humor. I like numbers closer to 9 on the angst scale.

Laurie: What story do you want to write but are scared to for whatever reason?

Wade: Darian’s Story. (book 3 in the Unconditional Love Series) It has been a really long time, so what I had planned will have to change. Plus, I want to do Darian justice. He’s amazing, so the book needs to be amazing.

I guess that’s all for now. I will leave you with a short excerpt and the rules for the giveaway. Thank you for stopping by! Beware! Possible spoiler. There is a RING on the bottom left of the cover, but the how and the why of the ring are not mentioned in the blurb. Skip the excerpt if you want to be surprised reading it.

Blurb: Even though bankers’ hours leave long weekends for romance, cosmic intervention is Grant’s only option when money doesn’t buy happiness and he’s got virginity in spades.

Grant Adams is a twenty-six-year-old bank teller who’s unlucky at love, yet hopelessly hopeful. After years of horrific first dates, he’s convinced he’s saving himself for true love. Surely he has bad taste in men because it couldn’t possibly be his persnickety nature that’s sent them packing.

Tristan Carr has been in a holding pattern since his daughter was born fifteen years ago, which suits his workaholic lifestyle just fine. This ex–naval officer turned auto mechanic never wanted anyone interfering with being a weekend dad. For Tristan to rearrange his carefully orchestrated life, a guy will need to be special. Or in the case of the newest employee at his bank, the guy will need to be adorable, shy, and open to the prospect of forever when it shows up at his window.

Buy Links: Dreamspinner Press || Amazon US || Amazon Int’l || All Romance eBooks || Barnes & Noble || Kobo

Excerpt: Is there something you’re interested in over there?” he asked, pointing to the other case.

I dropped my gaze and answered quietly, “Maybe.”

Tristan snickered and stepped closer and lifted my chin. I straightened my shoulders and looked him in the eyes, readying myself for whatever he was about to say. Tristan touched my chest with the back of his knuckles and slid his hand down a few inches. “You’re adorable.”

I felt my cheeks get hot.

He pointed out, “Those are engagement rings, Grant, but I suppose I owe you one, if that’s what you want.”

My heart fluttered. I ran my eyes over them again. “They’re really pretty,” I mused.

Tristan slid his arm behind my back and leaned closer. We peered at the rings together. “Which one do you like?”

“I like that one,” I said, tapping my finger on the glass over top a square diamond, set in a silver band. It was outlined in smaller diamonds, which ran down the sides of the band as well. It reminded me of something my grandmother wore. It was more old-fashioned compared to the other ones, but I could not tear my eyes from it.

“Yeah?”

I nodded, trying to contain my delight, although he could probably hear my pounding heart it was beating so loud in my ears.

Tristan patted my back and walked over to a sales associate. …

The young guy walked over, but did glance at the woman behind us. He smiled and asked, “What can I show you?”

I tapped on the glass again. “That one. The second from the top row on your left.”

“Ah! The Rosemont. Good choice. It’s new.” He unlocked the case and plucked the ring from the display. “It might be a little small for you, but we can size it for free.” He shined it up with a piece of cloth and then handed it to me.

I was so excited, it surprised me how steady my hands were when I took the ring from, Jim; I read his nametag. Jim handed me the ring and I held it like my most prized possession.

Jim explained, “This is a princess cut, three quarter carat diamond set in white gold, surrounded by micro diamonds, with three others on each side, totaling point three carats, for a total weight of one point zero five. Notice the hand engraved, scrolling filigree around the top of the tapered band and along sides, which elevates the setting. It’s quite stunning; I can see why you chose it.”

“Can I put it on?” I asked.

Jim replied, “Of course. Remember, if it’s too small we can size it.”

I glanced at Tristan nervously.

“Go ahead, Grant. If that’s the one you like.”

I stared at the beautiful ring in my hand. I was afraid to put it on. It wasn’t because it might not fit. I had long slim fingers, so my chances we good. I was afraid that this was all really happening. I was going to get married to a man I hardly knew, and this ring was a symbol of the commitment I’d leapt into. I started breathing faster.

I paused too long and Tristan took the ring from my grasp. He took my left hand and held the ring steadily at the tip. Before I knew what was happening, he dropped to one knee. “Grant Adams, will you marry me?”

My breath hitched. What could I say? I had agreed before under duress, but now I had the freedom to back out. Only… Tristan seemed so sincere and his eyes regarded me so tenderly. I panted, but even my near panic couldn’t stop my mouth from saying, “Yes.”

He slid the ring up my finger and over the knuckle.

“I can’t believe that fit,” Jim commented.

I stared at my hand and absently explained, “I play piano. My mother always told me I have musician’s fingers.” The diamond sparkled like nothing I’d ever seen. A tear rolled down my cheek. I’m getting married.

Tristan got off his knee and took me into his arms, kissing me soundly, before hugging me and lifting my off my feet. He sighed heavily in my ear when he set me back down, as I gazed over his shoulder, inspecting my ring. Then he whispered, “I love you.”

I forgot the ring and jumped back. “What?” Surely I’d heard him wrong. I wiped the tear off my cheek and stared at him.

“I love you,” he said it again, reaching out and taking my hands in his. “I know I’m crazy, but I’ve been all over the world, Grant. I’ve been sick, sad, scared, happy, hungry, and hurt, but nothing compares to how I feel about you, right now. I love you.”

I didn’t know what to say. I’d never been in love, so I couldn’t disprove his feelings, though they seemed sudden. “Tristan, I….”

“I know. I’m okay waiting until you know for sure, but I had to say how I felt. Teresa might have prompted the situation, but I would have asked within the year.”

About the Author: Wade Kelly lives and writes in conservative, small-town America on the east coast where it’s not easy to live free and open in one’s beliefs. Wade writes passionately about controversial issues and strives to make a difference by making people think. Wade does not have a background in writing or philosophy, but still draws from personal experience to ponder contentious subjects on paper. There is a lot of pain in the world and people need hope. When not writing, she is thinking about writing, and more than likely scribbling ideas on sticky notes in the car while playing “taxi driver” for her children. She likes snakes, can’t spell, and has a tendency to make people cry.

Social Links: Web || Facebook || Facebook Fan group: The Wade Brigade || Blog || Twitter || Instagram || Goodreads

The Giveaway Details

I have several giveaways. Leave a comment on this blog for a chance to win an Amazon gift certificate. I am going to take ALL the names, from all the comments, from all the blog stops, and put them in a drawing. I have 10 stops including this one. The more comments you make then higher your chances of winning. I will have 3 winners of a $10 Amazon gift certificate to be announced when the tour ends! Additionally, for those who comment on ALL 10 STOPS, I will enter each of them into a grand prize drawing good for: 

• An eBook from my backlist of your choice, OR the next book I publish this year. (*Excluding Bankers’ Hours)
• A $10 Amazon gift certificate,
• A Wade Kelly Spoon in the colors of your choice,
• One autographed paperback copy of the novel of their choice, OR the next book I publish this year. (*Excluding Bankers’ Hours)
• A special Promo Code for you to download a copy of the audiobook: Misplaced Affection 

Note: I am willing to mail things to other countries so don’t let that stop you! Please, post on ALL the posts. I had fun with this last time.

Follow the Tour

February 24 – Prism Book Alliance
March 18 – MM Good Book Reviews
March 22 – Long and Short Reviews 
March 23 – My Fiction Nook 
March 24 – Oh My Shelves
March 25 – Divine Magazine 
March 25 – Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 
March 28 – Love Bytes 
March 29 – Gay Book Reviews
March 30 – The Novel Approach

For LINKS to all the stops, hop over to MY BLOG. || The BUY LINK for Bankers’ Hours is HERE. || *Note: Names Can Never Hurt Me is now out in audiobook! HERE. || Bonus guest post on DSP HERE.

The Fine Print:

*Entrants must be 18 years or older to qualify
*All comments must be relevant to the author’s prompt to be eligible (when applicable)
*The Novel Approach will not be held liable for prize delivery unless otherwise specified
*Void where prohibited by law