Lila Leigh Hunter Author Interview³
1) Tell us 3 fun facts about your writing history
• My first stories were written in Spanish
• Dating in Retrospect was my first contract
• I sent anonymous letters to a guy I liked in middle school
2) Describe your writing style in 3 words
• Simple
• Funny
• Middle-aged
3) Name 3 of your literary influences
• Pablo Neruda
• Isabel Allende
• Paulo Coelho
4) Share your 3 favourite books
• “Isla Cerrera” by Manuel Méndez Ballester
• Joshua by Joseph F. Girzone
• Came Upon a Midnight Clear by Katie Porter
5) What are your 3 essential writing tools?
• Wide-rule notebook
• Pencil & sharpener
• Excel – I’m obsessed with spreadsheets & word counts
6) Where are your 3 favourite places to write?
• My bed
• The couch
• Hopefully by the beach one day
7) Name 3 items on your writing wish list
• Children books
• YA Fantasy
• Reference book – architecture
8) What are your top 3 tips for aspiring writers?
• Read every day
• Review other books
• Learn to accept reviews from your books; good or bad
9) Tell us 3 of your writing plans for the year ahead
• A paranormal FF short story
• The next story in the Brews & Cupcakes series
• A MF novel
10) Tell us about your latest release
Lila Leigh Hunter
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: L.C. Chase
15 February 2017
Contemporary Romance/Explicit/MM/Bisexual/Novella
Giving the commencement speech at his alma mater doesn’t fit Clay Keller’s meticulous schedule. As Chief Executive Officer of Travel Mogul—the largest travel connoisseur company on the West Coast—he has no time to get back in touch with his country roots. He left fifteen years ago without a second look, but a medical scare makes him change his mind about the speech and brings him face-to-face with his only regret.
Time always moves slower in Southeastern Iowa, and Aaron Grant loves it. He’s added solar farms to the Grant Lanes portfolio and has been teaching at the local university for a decade. The last thing he needs is to have his tenure application compromised by the return of his ex-boyfriend. If he had known who the commencement speaker would be, he would never have volunteered to be the administration liaison.
A proposal—to date for a year—will help them discover that time changes a person, even when everything else stays the same.
Giveaway
(February 9th to February 28th – Winner to be contacted March 1st)
Excerpt
Clay—May ’15
Back to the future and all of that were Clay’s first thoughts as he stepped out of the car. The campus looked the same—Midwest Americana at its best. Redbrick buildings and perfectly pruned trees surrounded him, but as if the last fifteen years hadn’t happened, Clay’s world narrowed to the man waiting at the top of the portico stairs. The only thing time had changed? Them.
“Here’s your receipt, Mr. Keller,” the valet said, interrupting Clay’s musings. He didn’t remember being as young as the valet. Mr. Keller was his father, but Clay didn’t feel like correcting the man’s error.
“Thank you.”
“Not a problem. The man in the light gray suit is Professor Grant. He will be your escort today.”
“Perfect,” Clay responded, smiling at the mention of having an escort at his service, especially one whose body he knew well. With a nod and a tip, Clay left the valet behind, turning his attention back to Professor Grant. Professor. Aaron had done it after all. Clay had never doubted it, even after Aaron decided to stay and work at his family’s farm instead of moving with him to LA. Now he needed to find out if he had a chance with Aaron. At least having him there, waiting for him, had to be a good sign. Today was his lucky day indeed. True, he hadn’t expected to see Aaron so soon. He had planned to stop by the farm after the commencement, but he was ready either way. Life had been rough lately, but having the opportunity to see Aaron again was worth coming back to the middle of Nowhere, Iowa.
He walked casually toward the man he’d left behind many summers ago—a man standing like a prizefighter, waiting for Clay to reach him. With only a couple of feet between them, Clay’s step faltered. Aaron didn’t seem happy to see him, more like he was ready to bolt before Clay got to him. Shaking his head and keeping his eyes on his prey, he closed the distance and extended his hand in greeting.
“Professor Grant, I believe you’re expecting me?” He hoped his smile would ease Aaron’s frown.
“That I am, Mr. Keller. As the university liaison, it is my pleasure to welcome you back to your alma mater and to convey the president’s and the board of trustees’ deepest regards.”
“How long did it take you to memorize that spiel? As far as I remember, you weren’t fond of formalities.” Neither of them let go of the other’s hand. Aaron’s touch, familiar and foreign, branded him in seconds.
“Ass.”
Aaron didn’t expect the hug that followed. As soon as their bodies touched, Aaron tensed, but Clay held him tighter.
“Relax, sunshine. It’s been a while.” Clay let Aaron go, but not before he rubbed his trimmed beard against Aaron’s clean-shaven face as he moved back.
About the Author
Lila Leigh Hunter is the pen name of a Puerto Rican author with a hyphenated surname. Born and raised on the island, Lila grew up making up stories her siblings pretended to like. But no matter what they say, as the youngest of six, she’s still their mom’s favorite. According to the dusty diplomas on her wall, she’s an architectural designer living in Southern Texas with her husband and four military brats.
She spends most of her free time writing homoerotic romances about middle-aged men finding happiness and the rest hiding from pesky house chores. When outside of her cave, she likes to observe people and try to guess their stories. Sometimes she wishes the voices in her head were real; going out with the boys in her books sounds like a plan made in heaven.
Thank you for having me today! <3
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Lila
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