Please join us in welcoming authors Avon Gale and Roan Parrish, along with Will Fox and Amory Vaughn, on the Heart of the Steal blog tour. We’ve got a fun interview to share with you, so read on and enjoy!
Will Fox
Vaughn, I’ve got ten minutes before a meeting so can we do this interview now?
Amory Vaughn
Of course, darling.
I bet you never imagined yourself as a journalist, hmm?
Will Fox
No. And I still think it’s ridiculous they want me to interview you. Don’t they have staff for this? I bet it’s just some way they justify not hiring all those poor journalism students that just graduated.
Amory Vaughn
It’s a gimmick, love. I’m sure they’re just looking for a way to make me interesting to the social media generation. But if it will make you feel better, I’d be happy to sponsor an internship at Philanthropy Quarterly.
Unless you’re angling for a paycheck ;) …
Will Fox
Internships are just there to justify unpaid labor, Vaughn.
Amory Vaughn
That’s why I’d sponsor it, love. So they’d be paid.
Will Fox
But you don’t have to give me a paycheck. You can, however, pay me back. Later. We’re not putting this in the article.
Amory Vaughn
Whatever are you insinuating, William? I’m shocked.
(That was sarcasm. I know you’re not the best at tone, darling.)
Will Fox
I never insinuate, Vaughn.
Amory Vaughn
Really? I was sure that was you insinuating yourself just this morning. *Lascivious face*
Will Fox
I’m gonna ask for a new assignment from my editor at Philanthropy Quarterly.
Amory Vaughn
Be careful who you let get you near desks, Mr. Fox. You’re rather irresistible.
Will Fox
You’re the only one I know who uses the word “lascivious” in regard to emoticons. Also, I thought this morning was fairly straightforward.
I don’t think Philanthropy Monthly or whatever had this in mind for their interview.
Amory Vaughn
Quarterly. And that’s why god invented editors, William.
What do you imagine they had in mind?
Will Fox
Uh, probably something like, “Vaughn, tell us why you give a lot of money away.”
Amory Vaughn
Oh, no one cares why, love.
Will Fox
That should make you want to talk about it more, then.
Amory Vaughn
Excellent point. All right, then. I want to give a lot of money away so that I have mortals in the palm of my hand, to elevate or crush as I see fit.
JOKE ALERT, WILLIAM
Will Fox
… I think it’s funny you would say that was a joke, Amory.
Amory Vaughn
*Sniff* All right, love, the whole world doesn’t need to know that I delight just a little bit in the power.
Will Fox
Yes because it’s such a secret ;)
Amory Vaughn
But you know I really *do* want to help people, don’t you, William?
Will Fox
I do. It’s one reason I didn’t – uh. Anyway, yeah that’s obvious. You’re very generous. Did you ever wish you could have another job, though?
Amory Vaughn
Not anymore. When I was about twelve or so, I wanted to be a lawyer.
Then for a brief spell I wanted to be an architect.
Will Fox
You would have been a great lawyer. Terrifying, but great.
An architect? Really? Tell me about that. I didn’t know that.
Amory Vaughn
Thank you, William. There was the pesky little issue of abiding by the law to contend with, but otherwise I think I’d have enjoyed the challenge.
Yes. When I was fourteen, Mother took me to Rosecliff, in Newport. It has a heart staircase—are you familiar?
Will Fox
We’re going to edit out that bit about the law.
I love that you think I know about a rich person’s staircase.
I’m not familiar, no.
Amory Vaughn
Oh, William, I’ll take you there. The homes are absolutely stunning. Some built with more money than taste, but still.
In any case, Rosecliff was like no house I had ever seen. Every detail attended to with such care. They don’t make homes like that anymore. And I decided that I wanted to.
I wanted to build homes that said something about their inhabitants, instead of merely housing them.
Will Fox
You should do it. You’re smart. You’ll terrorize your professors and fellow classmates with that brain of yours.
You sure it’s not so you could design some escape routes for ferreting out priceless works of art from whoever bought the house?
… We won’t put that part in there.
Amory Vaughn
You know, William, you could make my dream a reality if you’d simply agree to let me have a home built for us. I can already imagine the staircases I could design for you…
And having a route of clandestine egress is never a mistake ;)
Will Fox
My boyfriend, who woos me with staircases.
Amory Vaughn
:) Is that a yes?
Will Fox
You can design a house for us as long as I’m paying for it too. So you might have to settle for a staircase modeled after a smaller shape.
Amory Vaughn
Everything is smaller than my heart, where you’re concerned, William. <3
Will Fox
Vaughn.
Amory Vaughn
Darling.
Will Fox
I never know what to say when you say that stuff. Other than I don’t need a staircase because one floor is really enough for two people.
Amory Vaughn
If we don’t have a staircase, what will I dream of you walking down at the wedding I hope we’ll someday have, William?
Will Fox
You’re not proposing to me during an interview for a philanthropy magazine no one will actually read, are you?
Amory Vaughn
If I were, would you say yes?
And what do you mean no one will read it? Philanthropy Quarterly has a wide and varied readership, I’ll have you know.
Will Fox
It does? I’ve never even seen you with a copy. In fact, I’m suddenly wondering if this exists at all. I didn’t bother checking because I didn’t think anyone would make up something so boring, but now I’m not so sure.
Amory Vaughn
Don’t change the subject, William.
Will Fox
And maybe I wanted to propose to you.
But that’s not—we’re not talking about this on chat when I have to go to a meeting.
Amory Vaughn
Don’t think for one second you’re getting out of this conversation, William.
I will see you at home after your meeting.
Will Fox
All right. But I think you should do the architect thing. You’re good at building things out of impossible materials :)
Amory Vaughn
I work with what I have, love ;) See you soon.
Note: Philanthropy Quarterly later received an edited interview including only a few sentences of the above, and the offer for a paid internship for college students with a GPA of above a 3.75 and an interest in journalism and philanthropic pursuits.
About Heart of the Steal
Publisher: Philtre Press
Release Date (Print & Ebook): July 11th, 2017
Length (Print & Ebook): about 80K words
Subgenre: Contemporary queer romance
Goodreads Link
Links on Author Sites: Roan Parrish || Avon Gale
Purchase Links: Amazon || Barnes & Noble || iBooks
Blurb: Responsible, disciplined William Fox channeled his love for art and his faith in the rules into being an FBI Art Crimes agent. Right and wrong, justice and injustice—the differences are clear, and Will has spent his career drawing a line between them. Maybe his convictions have cost him relationships, but he’s not willing to compromise what he knows is right. Until the night he meets Amory Vaughn.
As the head of his family’s philanthropic foundation, Vaughn knows very well that being rich and powerful can get him almost anything he wants. And when he meets endearingly grumpy and slightly awkward William Fox, he wants him more than he’s wanted anything. Vaughn is used to being desired for his name and his money, but Will doesn’t care about either.
When Vaughn falls back on old habits and attempts to impress Will by stealing a painting Will admires, their nascent bond blows up in his face. But Vaughn isn’t willing to give up on the glimpse of passion he saw the night he took Will apart. Before Will knows it, he’s falling for the man he should have arrested, and Vaughn has to realize that some things can’t be bought or stolen. Love has to be given freely. But can a man who lives by the rules, and a man who thinks the rules don’t apply to him, ever see eye to eye?
Heart of the Steal is a standalone romance with a happy ending. It features a Southern gentleman who thinks he’s always right, a buttoned-up FBI agent who secretly likes his buttons unbuttoned, and wall sex. And desk sex. And picnic blanket sex.
Tour-wide Excerpt
“So, Will, what brings you here?”
“My sister’s the event planner. Charlotte Fox.” I spread my arms out and smiled. “So I’m just here for the good whiskey, the free food, and moral support. You?”
“The asparagus quiche was delicious. Please convey my compliments to your sister. And I suppose you could say I am an investor, of a sort. I’m the head of my family’s philanthropic foundation, and that means I attend quite a few parties. Most of them are exceptionally dull.” He moved closer, and my heart rate kicked up another notch. “I’m finding this one unexpectedly enjoyable, however.”
“That because of the art collection?” I asked. Warmth curled in my stomach and spread through me, like the sunset from the Staunton had slipped directly into my veins. He smelled good, Vaughn. I caught eucalyptus and amber, along with something woodsy and natural, like pine. It made my mouth water.
“The Staunton is lovely, but I’ve seen better.” He reached out slowly, eyes still on mine, and drew a single long finger down the lapel of my suit jacket. It was one of the hottest things any man had ever done to me, dressed or undressed; in bed or out. I shivered, and my breath caught in a sharp inhalation. I could see how much he liked my reaction. There was something sly and challenging in his expression before he leaned down and kissed me.
His mouth was hot and his hands were suddenly on my shoulders, giving me a little push until my shoulders hit the wall. I slid a hand around the back of Vaughn’s head, fingers caressing the strands of braided hair. I slid my other hand down his chest as we kissed, feeling lean muscle, strong but sinewy. I rested my hand on his stomach as we kissed, as if I could measure the space between us, and I made a sound as we broke apart to breathe.
I did not make out with strangers at parties. I couldn’t even really blame the whiskey either. Vaughn was overwhelming, as bold as that goddamn Staunton, and so attractive that the second his mouth met mine I knew I wasn’t going to push him away. Vaughn dropped one of his hands and began to boldly rub me through my pants while his mouth did wicked things to my neck.
“You—” I didn’t know what to say, so I just pulled him back in and kissed him again. He nipped at my bottom lip with sharp teeth, and I widened my legs as his hands began to work at my belt. There was a momentary pause that I took as him asking for permission, and I gave it with a rough jerk of my head and a choked groan.
About the Authors
Roan Parrish lives in Philadelphia where she is gradually attempting to write love stories in every genre.
When not writing, she can usually be found cutting her friends’ hair, meandering through whatever city she’s in while listening to torch songs and melodic death metal, or cooking overly elaborate meals. She loves bonfires, winter beaches, minor chord harmonies, and self-tattooing. One time she may or may not have baked a six-layer chocolate cake and then thrown it out the window in a fit of pique.
She is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan of Handspun Literary Agency.
Connect with Roan: website | newsletter | twitter | facebook | goodreads | instagram | pinterest
Avon Gale wrote her first story at the age of seven, about a “Space Hat” hanging on a rack and waiting for that special person to come along and purchase it — even if it was a bit weirder than the other, more normal hats. Like all of Avon’s characters, the space hat did get its happily ever after — though she’s pretty sure it was with a unicorn. She likes to think her vocabulary has improved since then, but the theme of quirky people waiting for their perfect match is still one of her favorites.
Avon grew up in the southern United States, and now lives with her very patient husband in a liberal midwestern college town. When she’s not writing, she’s either doing some kind of craft project that makes a huge mess, reading, watching horror movies, listening to music or yelling at her favorite hockey team to get it together, already. Avon is always up for a road trip, adores Kentucky bourbon, thinks nothing is as stress relieving as a good rock concert and will never say no to candy.
At one point, Avon was the mayor of both Jazzercise and Lollicup on Foursquare. This tells you basically all you need to know about her as a person.
Avon is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan of Handspun Literary Agency.
Connect with Avon: Website | Twitter | Facebook | FB Group | Newsletter | Goodreads
Great interview. :) Just read Heart of the Steal and really enjoyed it.