Hi, everyone, I hope you’ll help us welcome author Damon Suede to TNA today. He’s here to introduce his upcoming cowboy romance, Lickety Split, available March 13th from Dreamspinner Press. He’s also offering the chance for one lucky reader to win some great prizes, so be sure to check out the Rafflecopter widget below to enter.
Welcome, Damon!
Coming Home: on escaping Texas and why cowboy romances take me back the best way
Thanks so much to Lisa and the Novel Approach team for letting me come and visit with y’all today.
I dropped by today to talk about about homecomings and the ways that romance lets folks return to their roots and wrestle with all the messy problems that send us packing in the first place. While it’s true you “can’t ever go back home,” in a lot of ways romance gives us a chance to honor the good stuff and grapple with the rest.
Lickety Split is my first contemporary romance set outside of New York City and in some ways writing it gave me a chance to really think about all the things that brought me to Manhattan when I was 16 years old. Like any writing project there is slivers of autobiography in this book but the characters, the town, and the circumstances have very little to do with my childhood in Texas and my eventual migration to the Big Apple.
I always tell people that Texans tend to treat each other like exiles from a foreign country whenever they meet each other elsewhere: shared tastes, weird backstories, and a distinct skewed view of the world. In fact to this day I can almost spot a Texan at 50 paces just based on the way they stand, dress, and tell a joke. And without question twostep with any Texan and natives can spot ‘em in under eight seconds.… There’s just something about the way Texans quick-quick-slow-slow across the floor that’s unlike folks from anywhere else. LeeAnn Womack once said dancing with a Texan is like rain down a windshield. Personally I think it’s in the hips, but it must be something in the water that does it to us.
Growing up I pretty much hated all things Texas. I was determined to get to the big city from the age of seven and spent all of my energy and time aimed in that direction. In high school, even when I was out in Montrose partying with my people in the LGBT community, the idea of country music and rodeos gave me hives. Important to note: my family still owns a ranch where we used to breed quarter horses and Tennessee walking horses. I grew up going to rodeos, but I was always a city boy from birth.
To my family is eternal amusement, 20 years later I ended up learning how to two-step in New York City with a bunch of Broadway chorus boys and overnight became obsessed with country music, traveling around the country to hit rodeos and hoedowns with the zeal of the converted. In fact I met my husband at a gay rodeo during a barn dance that literally change our lives. Who knew?
And this is the slice of Lickety Split that’s autobiographical: my one kink, my one impossible, constant weakness is farm boys. Size, color, age, vibe… None of that has ever mattered, and nothing flips my trigger the way a guy from the country does. It’s something about the way the dirt gets under their skin, the practicality, the easy humor, the ruggedness, the no–bullshit get-er-done confidence of these guys hits me where I live. In my whole romantic history without meaning to I wound up with farm boys at every turn. And I found my no-bullshit, happily ever after with a cornfed Nebraska boy named Geoff who reminded me why rocking on a sunset porch can be heaven.
The thing about country boys is that they’re not afraid of a good time, and they’re not worried about getting dirty. When it comes to sex, they think about it plenty and at length; when it comes to love they have a knack for steady, implacable devotion because they know how to ride something rough and ornery even when it’s hard to hold on. And for whatever reason, writing this book, spending this quality time with Patch Hastle and Tucker Biggs has made all the rough road of the past six months infinitely easier to tolerate.
You’d think I would’ve written cowboys sooner. LOL Many of my favorite romances are cowboy books: Timing by Mary Calmes (and its sequels) is one of the most perfect gay romance is ever written; I reread it constantly and learn more from it every time I do. Lorelei James’ Blacktop Cowboy series hits me in that perfect intersection of lust and dust that reminds me why Wranglers are their own food group. B.A. Tortuga write gorgeous, gritty cowboys who knock me sideways every damn time. Heidi Cullinan’s filthy and glorious Nowhere Ranch takes me to all the sticky, snarky places I didn’t know I needed to go, and Amy Lane’s Promise books remain one of the most wrenching and telling series in gay cowboy romance as are Zahra Owen’s sharp, elegiac Clouds and Rain books and Catt Ford’s rowdy Bullheaded. And against all odds, Cameron Dane’s paranormal demon cowboys (who knew?) in her lush Hawkins Brothers series get dragged out pretty regularly when I’m feeling raunchy or restless. Demon shifter cowboys, y’all! It’s like (cowboy) crack. And this from a guy who used to make fun of Lucchese boots. (I now own four pair…)
Cowboy romance hits a funny sweet spot with tropes and genre conventions: dominance and protectiveness, grit and wisdom, the struggle between individuals and communities, honor and duty and hard work, rope and rodeos, the power of tradition and the importance of keeping your eyes on the horizon even if you have to squint. I loved splashing around in the world of Hixville and unleashing all the crazy filthy erotic tension between these two fellas. Without question I’ll end up heading back to Texas in future books… Not all the time, but just when I feel that Lone Star itch because I am more than happy to scratch.
About Lickety Split
Lickety Split: Love won’t wait.
Patch Hastle grew up in a hurry, ditching East Texas for NYC to make his name as a DJ and model without ever looking back. When his parents die unexpectedly, he heads home to unload the family farm ASAP and skedaddle. Except the will left Patch’s worst enemy in charge: his father’s handsome best friend who made his high school years hell.
Tucker Biggs is going nowhere. Twenty years past his rodeo days, he’s put down roots as the caretaker of the Hastle farm. He knows his buddy’s smartass son still hates his guts, but when Patch shows up growed-up, looking like sin in tight denim, Tucker turns his homecoming into a lesson about old dogs and new kinks.
Patch and Tucker fool around, but they can’t fool themselves. Once the farm’s sold, they mean to call it quits and head off to separate sunsets. With the clock ticking, the city slicker and his down-home hick get roped into each other’s life. If they’re gonna last longer than spit on a griddle, they better figure out what matters—fast.
Pre-Order Lickety Split in Paperback or Ebook at Dreamspinner Press
About the Author
Damon Suede grew up out-n-proud deep in the anus of right-wing America, and escaped as soon as it was legal. Though new to romance fiction, Damon has been writing for print, stage, and screen for two decades. He’s won some awards, but counts his blessings more often: his amazing friends, his demented family, his beautiful husband, his loyal fans, and his silly, stern, seductive Muse who keeps whispering in his ear, year after year. Get in touch with him at:
DamonSuede.com || Facebook || Twitter || Newsletter || Goodreads
The Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Congratulations on the upcoming release of Lickety Split, Damon. Thank you for your post. Funny how you can’t always outgrow your youth. Where you grow up is in many ways very important for your later life. Both the good and bad memories will be a part of your future.
So true! The irony is how many things I thought I’d “outgrown” are woven into the way I live. LOL
Congrats on upcoming release. Currently on my TBR list, can’t wait to read it.
Thanks, Tammy… writing this book was a blast and a half! <3
Correct me if I’m wrong but if there’s one thing that stood out in this blog post, it’s your crystal clear adoration of your hubby. The way you described the country boys? I felt like you were grinning while you were writing that because it reminded you of him.
Thank you for sharing those personal things about you. And I’m more than glad to have known that there’s more to it than the South conservative lifestyle. Lemme say too that the no-bullsh*t attitude is one of the traits that I find really attractive in cowboys.
And lemme tell you how I was trying to not gush like a teenage girl. It’s one thing to receive a print copy & another thing to receive a SIGNED one.
Thank you for making Lickety Split. I.Am.So.Looking forward to it! ^_^
Amen! Thank you so much. LOLOL He’s pretty amazing on all fronts and he’s definitely one of the big reasons I finally made peace with my roots. He definitely keeps the grin on my face. :D
Congratulations on your upcoming book release! Thank you for such interesting and enlightening post. Looking forward to the book’s release date.
Fantastic, Didi. Thank you! :)
Congratulations on the new book! I can’t wait to read it; it sounds fantastic. Thank you for the great post too. It is amazing how so many things from our youth stick with us even if we try to avoid or escape from it. When we get older, we tend appreciate the things we didn’t as chidren. I love Heidi’s Nowhere Ranch and have the first book in the Timing series on my e-reader. Thank you for the other recommendations and for the amazing giveaway chance!
Thank you…and you’re more than welcome.
But drop everything and read TIMING. F’realz! I’m obsessed with that book. You can ask Mary Calmes. That book is how we met and became friends. I’m almost jealous that you get to read it for the first time! LOL It is such a spectacular enemies-to-lovers story and a beautiful cowboy romance besides…tender and erotic, hilarious and human. I love-love-love that book. NOWHERE RANCH gutpunches me because of that sneaky, snaky aggression that runs through it and then TIMING is like cool water on a hot day. :)
Congratulations on your release!! This book looks amazing and I can’t wait to read it.
Thank you so much, Blaine!
As always, we can’t wait to read it. I finally got around to reading Pent Up last week, believe it or not, lol.
Well, this book takes place in deep East Texas with all the trimmings…Plus it’s a May/December, enemies-to-lovers homecoming story… so I suspect you may have some strong feelings about it! LOLOL <3
So excited, can’t wait for this book. I love the cowboy genre as well and coming from you I KNOW this will be awesome. Hot Heads is still one of my go to reads, absolutely love your work! Thanks Damon. :-)
Thank you, Brenda! This book just poured out of me in a blissful rush. I love these guys and I hope you do as well. :P
I am so looking forward to this book!!!! And the Timing series….have read it so many times! I’m listening to the audios now!
One of my all time faves. I learn from Mary Calmes every time I read her work. She is a legit master of the form. Mad skills!
Congrats on the new release! It sounds like a great read and I so love enemies to lovers stories, there’s always so much passion! Thanks for sharing your story too! :)
Thank you so much, Jenn! I love that kind of intense adversarial friction-into-heat vibe so there’s definitely salt in their gravy. LOL These boys get up to some craziness together. :D
Ooooh – definitely looking forward to reading their story!
The book sounds amazing!! I can’t wait to read the whole thing!
Super excited about this new release 😁😁😁
Thank you, Mr. Panak! I should hope so… ;)
Congrats on the new book! Thanks for the post and for sharing some about yourself. I can relate about the hating something in our youth but then finding out it’s not as bad as you thought.
Word! We all grow out of and into things… LOL Thanks, HB.
Congratulations on your new book! I’m looking forward to reading.
Who does not love a country boy? Ah, the joys of sex in nature (if there are not ants involved, trust me, that’s really uncomfortable). I think you and me share a kink for country guys… So yes, I’m looking forward to reading Lickety Split. ;)
Indeed, Susana. Although I agree about ants… and straw (which is itchy as hell) but in general al fresco has many pluses. LOL Thank you so much!
Oh, I’m so excited about this one!
Yay! I’m glad to hear it, Milica. :D This book was a real joy to write.
Can’t wait!!! I love May/December books and I’ve read all I find. Looing forward to this book. =)
May /December books aren’t usually my thing, but cowboys are. So I’m looking forward to giving this a try.
Thanks for sharing about your roots. While I grew up in farm country, I’ve always been a city girl. That doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate country boys though. I do like Lorelei James’s cowboy stories, both the Blacktop Cowboy series & the Rough Riders series. I also greatly enjoyed Heidi Cullinan’s Nowhere Ranch especially narrated by Iggy Toma. I haven’t read Mary Calmes’s Timing series yet however it is on my wishlist/tbr. And I’ve started Amy Lane’s Promises series but haven’t got beyond the first one. Too many books, not enough time.
It was great to meet Damon in Florida! One of the nicest people and very interesting. Congratulations on the new book. It’s on my TBR list.
Thank you so much, Marcia! The pleasure was mine. :)
Cowboys! :D wish the release day would hurry up and GET HERE!!