tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82104887293288745102024-03-13T12:16:18.038-04:00By Degrees...Taylor V. Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129740318557596072noreply@blogger.comBlogger157125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210488729328874510.post-26140133148317232572021-03-20T11:14:00.000-04:002021-03-20T11:14:20.851-04:00<p> Available Now!</p><p><br /></p><p>Title: <a href="http://mybook.to/SlinginInk" target="_blank">Slingin' Ink</a></p><p>Series: By Degrees</p><p>Le Blurb:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia;">Samuel Shaughnessy is convinced that a five-day getaway in South Beach with Machlan O’Bannon, his friend with benefits, would have zero effect on their agreement. They’re all about casual sex and, the way Sam sees it, they’ll just be able to spend more time than usual in bed.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia;">But living in close quarters with a man he likes in more ways than he cares to admit has sparked a sense of intimacy he wasn’t expecting. Forced to confront needs and fears deeply buried, Sam is in for a rude awakening.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia;">Author's Note:</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia;">***SLINGIN' INK IS A BY DEGREES INTERLUDE THAT CONTAINS SPOILERS AND MUST BE READ AFTER SIX DEGREES OF LUST.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggb6k2UUmIjmGzhE7YkPQgNEjWDtEzfydmCG9BGWyIeO9KCDp3PpkulTLDn0XaiNuPjMx9v0Ig6skJvUkb6m49vsXfCp3cc_ZE89p4x9L40trai3wzIX6hn2qsPFgdkr_DZC92R18LWLr/s2048/SlingingInk_HiRes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggb6k2UUmIjmGzhE7YkPQgNEjWDtEzfydmCG9BGWyIeO9KCDp3PpkulTLDn0XaiNuPjMx9v0Ig6skJvUkb6m49vsXfCp3cc_ZE89p4x9L40trai3wzIX6hn2qsPFgdkr_DZC92R18LWLr/s320/SlingingInk_HiRes.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p>Taylor V. Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129740318557596072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210488729328874510.post-18007671096226436452020-01-29T17:08:00.001-05:002020-01-29T17:10:59.774-05:00For Readers of 'By Degrees'<span style="font-size: large;">Hey, all!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Just a quick reminder I'll be releasing an interlude. Below are the cover and the blurb. Make sure you sign up for my <a href="https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/n1e6z9" target="_blank">newsletter</a> in the next few days so that you can get it delivered to you. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">xoxo</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">Note: This interlude
focuses on Sam and Mac and is set within the ‘Six Degrees of Lust’ timeline.</span></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhSboNAILqE-vVGW49hNOSfMOt_rLqR6h7CG18JcgbB_cVWNeGNm3dFLHokKsXTPFT-tZhj4LgdTmrcZTKI7xbq_Xg5weyrOM_diNBO4otLXmicZpV1E3p4_Z11uqyYFpYEvvS3YpSDVe/s1600/SlingingInk_HiRes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhSboNAILqE-vVGW49hNOSfMOt_rLqR6h7CG18JcgbB_cVWNeGNm3dFLHokKsXTPFT-tZhj4LgdTmrcZTKI7xbq_Xg5weyrOM_diNBO4otLXmicZpV1E3p4_Z11uqyYFpYEvvS3YpSDVe/s320/SlingingInk_HiRes.jpg" width="213" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Samuel Shaughnessy is convinced that a five-day
getaway in South Beach with Machlan O’Bannon, his friend with benefits, would
have zero effect on their agreement. They are all about casual sex and the way
he sees it, they’ll just be able to spend more time than usual in bed.</span><br />
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">But living in close quarters with a man he likes
in more ways than he cares to admit has sparked a sense of intimacy and a dog
in the manger attitude he wasn’t expecting. Forced to confront needs and fears
deeply buried, Sam is in for a rude awakening.</span></div>
Taylor V. Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129740318557596072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210488729328874510.post-17025250868226974722019-12-18T17:14:00.000-05:002019-12-18T17:14:55.453-05:00EXTRA! EXTRA!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">If you are not part of my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/220466714760782/" target="_blank">Facebook readers group</a> then you probably haven't heard there's a new publisher of gay romantic fiction in town. It is small, <b>very</b> exclusive, and it only has a logo so far, and,
okay, it is my own and will only be releasing my work, but that's great
cause I'll have full control of my release schedule now that I'm coming back full force. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of, make sure to sign up for my <a href="https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/n1e6z9" target="_blank">newsletter</a>. I'll have some goodies to share soon!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFj7jU3Stl-PocofYEdZhtlLArCF1IwHSfNBm4x76BxPacRsClHUNbmwni5gjyMjW88jT6WdllHn5dxRNor82Q1dWEbA-94u02A7WmPl7-la-4jh8qwi0iQuSDtJ39quTpLO0OVxes6of/s1600/DesecheoPressLogo_Print-Red.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="1500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFj7jU3Stl-PocofYEdZhtlLArCF1IwHSfNBm4x76BxPacRsClHUNbmwni5gjyMjW88jT6WdllHn5dxRNor82Q1dWEbA-94u02A7WmPl7-la-4jh8qwi0iQuSDtJ39quTpLO0OVxes6of/s320/DesecheoPressLogo_Print-Red.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Taylor V. Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129740318557596072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210488729328874510.post-617943231787448782019-09-03T16:35:00.000-04:002019-09-03T16:35:45.974-04:00Teaser Tuesday<span style="font-size: large;">From Slingin' Ink</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJkgRWEA9oCBK5UIroaLpdxzZSMBmIZXH57yeCP5dIXkTa5LJJL8E0Gmxu2liW4PqgZiedLXH5cUtiVMw67hZaD8SUAFo5HvHpfens6SMxa41r_lppSJalIX2v5aGspgBu30cXc17Djn1/s1600/Excerpt+Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="960" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJkgRWEA9oCBK5UIroaLpdxzZSMBmIZXH57yeCP5dIXkTa5LJJL8E0Gmxu2liW4PqgZiedLXH5cUtiVMw67hZaD8SUAFo5HvHpfens6SMxa41r_lppSJalIX2v5aGspgBu30cXc17Djn1/s320/Excerpt+Image.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text_exposed_show"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="_4yxo">DRUNK ON YOU</span></b></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">Lime juice, pineapple juice, maraschino cherry juice, white rum, dark rum, orgeat syrup, and Curaçao.</span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">That was it.</span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">A list of ingredients Sam had consumed either mixed up or by themselves hundreds of times in the past and knew for a fact his body could process. But there must have been something different in this Mai Tai blend because, after having only three of the refreshingly fruity cocktails in the past two and a half hours, he was definitely feeling strange.</span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">At six-foot-three and 215 pounds, his level of intoxication should’ve been nonexistent. He should have been reacting like his normal broody, aloof, assholish self. Tonight, though, he was chatty, thoughtful, attentive, affectionate, delighted to be doing couple things, engulfed in a world that only included him and the hottest man in the entire universe, making out like a teenager behind a fern grotto, and fucking aflame.</span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">Had he been in full possession of his faculties he wouldn’t have been caught dead in this place. Clearly, the alcohol had simultaneously ignited his bloodstream and mutated his brain. Otherwise he’d be reminding Mac not to read too much into their date as he rushed him to their hotel so that they could have sex.</span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">And go back to familiar ground.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">And keep Mac from evaluating Sam’s body language and behavior, not to mention decoding nuances, slips, and perceived hidden symbolism of every damn thing he’d said and done from the moment they left their room to come to the restaurant earlier that day, preferably by kneeling in front of the kitten’s huge cock and sucking him off.</span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">But he didn’t want to leave yet.</span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">When he looked up restaurants that could provide the type of Tiki culture experience he’d wanted to give Mac, he made sure to go for the most beautiful location. Now that he was here, he had to say reality had surpassed his expectations. Five stars all around—the food and drinks, the show with fire dancers, and the ambiance. Plus, the company was great. That Mac was a fantastic kisser didn’t hurt.</span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">Fingers buried in silky blond hair, Sam wrapped his other arm around Mac’s waist, plastering himself closer to his guy as he licked, tasted, and sucked on his warm, juicy tongue. And, as Mac’s hum of pleasure reverberated in Sam’s chest, he admitted he was nowhere near ready for the night to end.</span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_4yxp">Shit</span>, he thought as an influx of tenderness triggered by Mac’s playful nipping and nuzzling rushed through his veins. <span class="_4yxp">What’s the matter with me?</span></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">No time—or interest—to find out.</span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">He was too busy worshiping at the altar of Mac’s mouth.</span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">Interestingly enough, swapping spit with strangers had never been part of Sam’s foreplay repertoire; not until he met Mac, and to say he’d taken to it like a duck to water would be an understatement. But it wasn’t until he arrived in South Beach that he discovered there was something truly special about them locking lips just for the simple joy of it whenever they wanted. It happened time and again. Mac’s sheer essence tempted him and pulled him in no matter how hard Sam fought to resist. Yet it wasn’t the teasing, the constant reminder of what would happen next, or the memories of how incredibly good sex was between them that did it for Sam. It was the growing intimacy—the feeling of ever-tightening…<span class="_4yxp">connectedness </span>between him and Mac.</span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">That Sam wasn’t packing his bags and running for the airport at the thought of bonding with a guy that was supposed to be only a fuck buddy was additional proof those Mai Tais had messed him up but good. Some sort of alcohol poisoning, for sure, with symptoms including but not limited to hallucinations like rainbows in a starry sky, chirping birds, and walks on cloud nine. Then there was the dizziness, the butterflies in his stomach, and the paranoia.</span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">There was no reason to be fearful of what he couldn’t identify. No one was conspiring against his singlehood. His way of life wasn’t under threat from anything or anyone. Then why was he on pins and needles, waiting for the other shoe to drop? It made no sense!</span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">He had to be delirious. <span class="_4yxp">Had</span>to. No other way around it.</span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">Why else would he be acting so out of character? Why else would he be incapable to stop looking at Mac through rose-colored glasses? Why would he have concluded that the smart-ass he wanted to kick in the balls for overstepping his boundaries was near perfect? Why would he be experiencing an almost overwhelming sense of happiness? Why would he be thinking that, in another life, he would’ve done everything in his power to claim and belong to this man?</span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_4yxp">Christ.</span></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">He had to snap out of it at once.</span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">Seriously.</span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">For reasons related to Sam’s personal hang-ups—and preferences—Mac had never been, could never be, and would never be his boyfriend, and he couldn’t forget this wasn’t a real date! He was just showing Mac what it was like because he had never been on one before, and Sam wanted him to know what he could demand and expect when the time came. End of story. He had no business succumbing to a fantasy he had created for very practical purposes.</span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">Whatever he thought was happening here was nothing but an illusion. He was playing a part. Taking one for the team in the name of a friendship that shouldn’t even exist. Doing Mac a solid because he was a good man who’d been treated like shit by a guy Sam wanted to punch in the face. Showing Mac that, even though he was manipulative as fuck and insisted on reading Sam’s thoughts, he deserved to be spoiled. Putting it out there that, while he chose not to wine and dine anyone on the regular, he wasn’t a total jerk. Setting the bar sky-high for whoever came next.</span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">So, yeah. He needed to snap out of it regardless of how comfortable he currently felt, because nothing had changed. ‘No attachments’ was still the main, most important, unbreakable rule in their FWB agreement—an agreement Sam had drafted himself, for fuck’s sake. You’d think he would be perfectly adept at sticking to it, but no. Epic fail.</span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">He <span class="_4yxp">would </span>get there, though. Somehow. Faster if he avoided drinking Mai Tais, but not while his guard was down.</span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">Truth be told, Sam couldn’t be bothered to worry about any of that in that moment because this was also <span class="_4yxp">his</span> first date, both as a divorced man and as an adult, and dammit all to hell, he wanted to enjoy himself. He wanted to take advantage of the fact that he was already here, with a man that kept him breathless and fantasizing all day long, on a mini vacation that could’ve passed as a honeymoon, to boot.</span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">He wasn’t leaving. Neither was Mac, and there was no changing their romantic room nor any of Sam’s plans. So why not give in? Why not live in this parallel universe for as long as possible, then blame actions he couldn’t own up to or control on the alcohol? Sounded like the perfect solution, right? In fact, why not call their time together in South Beach what it really was—a blip in time? So long as he remembered that, everything would be fine.</span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Do you want to find a table?” he asked softly against Mac’s lips. “Have another drink?”</span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_2cuy _3dgx _2vxa">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Let’s,” Mac promptly agreed, pecking him on his nose and cheek, his hands roaming slowly over Sam’s back, pecs, and shoulders, stirring needs and emotions he was determined not to feel. “I’d love to hang out and talk for a bit.”</span></div>
</div>
Taylor V. Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129740318557596072noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210488729328874510.post-17855636034365208932018-10-15T13:12:00.000-04:002019-09-18T11:57:52.138-04:00National Hispanic Heritage Month <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuHdIH6KgcAhtytQqe9-lLBXItKH13v9dhi5oArZ3dySKCnWdPxNF8mlQ5k1xefVCh4KH_5miwAsX_9fl2vbAwnSrcIN8fHI2rTjqQj_3DnqdNaS7NebLwnB6gPsp4oF0yMlI5XGkFqC9/s1600/IMG_0197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="287" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuHdIH6KgcAhtytQqe9-lLBXItKH13v9dhi5oArZ3dySKCnWdPxNF8mlQ5k1xefVCh4KH_5miwAsX_9fl2vbAwnSrcIN8fHI2rTjqQj_3DnqdNaS7NebLwnB6gPsp4oF0yMlI5XGkFqC9/s320/IMG_0197.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Every year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month
and celebrate the contributions, histories, and cultures of American citizens
whose ancestors came from Mexico, Spain, Central and South America, and the
Caribbean. This originated back in 1968. First it was only a week, then it was
extended to a month by President Ronald Reagan in 1988, a year before I
graduated from high school. I was seventeen at the time. I was American, having
been born and raised in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a territory of the
United States. Yet the first time I heard about Hispanic Heritage Month was
around 2010, a full nine years after moving to New York, and it got me thinking
about my own heritage and my country’s past.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Puerto Rico’s diaspora in the mainland USA is huge. We represent
ten percent of the Latino population and are the second largest Hispanic group
after Mexican-Americans. Our guaranteed citizenship allows us to travel back
and forth on a whim, which most of us do, making migration an everyday thing. Growing
up, I didn’t know anyone who didn’t have family members ‘allá afuera,’ meaning
living here in the U.S., or serving in the Armed Forces. As a result, there are
3.5 million of us back home and 5 million of us here, and, let me tell you,
when I arrived in NYC, I could’ve sworn <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i>
of us lived in this place.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The first thing that caught my attention was the flags. Sure,
there were almost as many ‘restaurantes de comida criolla’ (Puerto Rican food
restaurants) as there were Starbucks. I could also hear our very particular
version of Spanish spoken wherever I went, and I heard salsa and reggaetton
music blasting from cars often enough. But it was the constant display of
Puerto Rican flags that got me emotional and made me wonder the reasons behind
the passionate, over-the-top need my people have to let everyone know where we
are from. Not for too long, though. I was busy getting settled, so I just
assumed it was national pride and brushed it off.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Fast-forward to 2010 and the moment my daughters had to bring a
traditional dish to school for the Hispanic Heritage Month potluck. They had to
write essays on what our country of origin has contributed to American society
as well.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The kiddos immediately mentioned what most people here are
familiar with—famous Puerto Rican singers and entertainers like Jennifer Lopez,
Ricky Martin, and Marc Anthony, who have contributed to the arts. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">They
knew about Nydia Velázquez and Luis Gutierrez, Puerto Ricans serving in
Congress…about Sonia Sotomayor, born to Puerto Rican parents and the first and
only Supreme Court Justice of Hispanic American heritage. <span style="color: #1d1b11;">They knew about Roberto Clemente, a Hall of Famer and one
of the most celebrated and renowned baseball players in the world…about all the
boxers hailing from Puerto Rico, and even Gigi Fernández, who won two Olympic
gold medals representing the United States, and </span>is the first Puerto
Rican to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">So I
told them about our very own Dr. Antonia Novello, the only Hispanic woman to
serve as Surgeon General of the United States. About Rita Moreno of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘West Side Story’</i> fame, one of the few
performers to have won all four of the major entertainment awards: Emmy,
Grammy, Oscar and Tony. About astronaut Joseph Michael Acaba, one of the most
distinguished members of the American space crew with a few missions under his
belt, and Anthony Romero, the president of the American Civil Liberties Union
(ACLU), an organization promoting freedom and justice for all American
citizens, no matter where we live. And let me tell you, the more I taught my
daughters about all these wonderful people, their accomplishments, the fields
they have impacted, and all their contributions to American society, the
prouder I felt about Puerto Rico’s ability to produce so much talent despite
its size, and the more I thought about that flag.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">And,
me being me, I needed to read on it. I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">had</i>
to find out why my people are so emotionally attached to our flag, and why our
anthem, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘La Borinqueña,’ </i>and songs
like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘Que Bonita Bandera’</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘Preciosa’</i> always bring tears to our
eyes. I did, and now I’m going to share some of our history with you.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">As
you may or may not know, Puerto Rico has been a territory of the United States
since the end of the Spanish American War in 1898, and we were made citizens in
1917. We are a hybrid society with a unique ethnic and cultural fabric that
comes from our Taíno, Spaniard, African American, and European heritage and
traditions that’s quite different from mainstream American culture, yet we are
very much Americanized. Worth noting is the fact that this applies to both
mainland and Puerto Ricans on the island. Recounting everything that has
happened since we were colonized then ‘gifted’ to the U.S. would take months.
Suffice it to say, the United States government considered us inferior—almost
savages, and incapable of governing ourselves. So they decided to do it for us,
and they did their best to turn us around and make us like ‘you.’</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">No
Spanish. No Catholicism. No National anthem. No flag.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Public
Law 53, the Gag Law, was passed in 1948, forbidding us from owning a flag,
uttering a word in favor of independence, and singing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘La Borinqueña’</i> on top of everything else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a long time, owning a flag was a
felony, and any Puerto Rican who dared do so would go to jail for ten years. Every
day, the FBI and the Insular Police would raid people’s homes, searching for
flags. In November of 1950, 3,000 Puerto Ricans were hauled off to jail in one
week alone. Some of them weren’t even ten-years-old.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">It
took nine years to repeal Public Law 53. The very next year, the first Puerto
Rican Day Parade was held in New York City. It was 1958. Puerto Ricans took to
the streets en masse, marching through Manhattan, singing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bomba</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Plena</i> songs
and, you guessed it, waving those flags with pride. I’m sure I don’t need to
tell you that we haven’t stopped.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">A
hundred years after becoming American citizens, Puerto Rico remains a colony of
the United States, and, albeit fighting tooth and nail to preserve our culture
and traditions, we are loyal to the mainland. As previously mentioned, we have
contributed musicians, athletes, chefs, scientists, politicians…the list goes
on and on, but that’s not all.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Puerto
Rico is a crucial part of the United States economy. It produces biotech products
and thirteen of the world’s top-selling brand name pharmaceutical drugs. Our
territory also defends what’s known as America’s third border, aids hindering drug
trafficking incoming from South America, houses several military facilities,
and is home to parts of the nation’s ‘Over the Horizon’ radar system, which
allows the Unites States to maintain control over a wide range of aerial and
marine areas of the Western Hemisphere. And last but not least, we have ‘contributed’
our men.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Thousands
of Puerto Rican soldiers have fought for the mainland’s ideals. The 65<sup>th</sup>
Infantry Regiment, nicknamed Borinqueneers after the indigenous Taíno name for
Puerto Rico, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Borinquén</i>, was the first
Hispanic segregated group in U.S. history. The soldiers couldn’t vote for the president,
but they fought during World War I, World War II, and in the Korean War, for
which they received a Congressional Gold Medal. Needless to say, we honor the
American flag along with ours, and bury our troops along with yours.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I
can’t speak for other Hispanic people living in the United States but I can
tell you that being Puerto Rican here isn’t easy these days. I work, I
contribute to society, and I am proud of all the ways in which we have helped
this nation being what it is, all while trying to understand why my people are
treated the way we are.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">My
name is Taylor V. Donovan. I am Puerto Rican. I am American. And, just like
every Boricua, born here or on the island, I’m neither from here nor from there
in most people’s eyes. Ni de aquí, ni de allá, but both places hold my heart. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Xoxo</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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Taylor V. Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129740318557596072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210488729328874510.post-41999949501210890992018-10-02T14:53:00.000-04:002018-10-02T14:53:23.738-04:00Queer in Color<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hi guys! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Interview with yours truly in this month's <a href="https://us16.campaign-archive.com/?u=75ffd67665513c0599b7a7583&id=3633cfd23b" target="_blank">Queer in Color</a> newsletter
about my upcoming release, 'Forces of Nature.' Here's a snippet.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmiK-r3mgGfgaAVovR1pek7wZ-6llcKdmeJ2By51FUknITJiWAwDHfqU9dJXxCp2FIYxUB_pbYoS6vU80_mFafqgPgJbaQSGmSDfyq1qEJtuWVRfb5QGTGPzE_HmeDfcHoatandbTIVon/s1600/ForcesOfNature-PromoBlk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="1000" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmiK-r3mgGfgaAVovR1pek7wZ-6llcKdmeJ2By51FUknITJiWAwDHfqU9dJXxCp2FIYxUB_pbYoS6vU80_mFafqgPgJbaQSGmSDfyq1qEJtuWVRfb5QGTGPzE_HmeDfcHoatandbTIVon/s320/ForcesOfNature-PromoBlk.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> QIC: What inspired you to write this story?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
Taylor: The inspiration for ‘<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41948546-forces-of-nature" target="_blank">Forces of Nature</a>’ was Puerto Rico’s
financial crisis and Hurricane María which, as everyone knows,
devastated the island. I wanted to explore how unemployment has
separated families and contributed to the ever-growing diaspora and why
most of us can’t wait to get back home<span class="text_exposed_show">.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
QIC: How did your characters come into being? Were you inspired by your
own life experiences, by travels, someone in your neighborhood, etc.?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
Taylor: I can’t deny there’s a little bit of me in Saúl Cartagena Toro.
Having moved to the United States seventeen years ago, I’ve dealt with
homesickness, the pain from being away from my family, and the
frustration from not being able to help as much as I wish I could when
something happens down there and I can’t hop on a plane right away. I
definitely shared some of my experiences with him, <span class="_47e3 _5mfr" title="wink emoticon"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/fb0/1.5/16/1f609.png?_nc_eui2=AeG6CUUwmAEp_MQ5wPB5Q5qA0MRKBKwVbBzFnfIqGmqAvkgnLKnAs6uQ_qPMB3w4BIZKHXR02uSCEWdHlZd6ZGlL28jBKAr1xaYKXXSVYc6tqw" width="16" /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span class="_47e3 _5mfr" title="wink emoticon"><span class="_7oe"></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">QIC: What makes your story and/or characters unique and interesting?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Taylor: Culture. I didn’t shy away from showing the good along with the bad, nor from portraying my people just like we are.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Go check out what else <a href="https://us16.campaign-archive.com/?u=75ffd67665513c0599b7a7583&id=3633cfd23b" target="_blank">I had to say</a>, and don't forget to subscribe!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Taylor </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> xoxo</span><br />
<br />
<a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"type":104,"tn":"*N"}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/tvd?source=feed_text&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARCLvkYrq3GQ0oT37Zau7Mop0XJOud6ht1peYKfFYbv-5gtFDIiJM1EEYHZpdmUTc90aISzerW3LkrkJgkWOcRN_kev3fkx4YdxID_Mjzp7GzyqA1GHi8UKoIjAWri8vfXH1tDvO7L2IjJr44L93GHIzru1hYmKZdQsWW5uE8AMqGe4ceNwcfw&__tn__=%2ANK-R"><span class="_5afx"><span class="_58cl _5afz">#</span><span class="_58cm">TVD</span></span></a> <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"type":104,"tn":"*N"}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/ownvoices?source=feed_text&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARCLvkYrq3GQ0oT37Zau7Mop0XJOud6ht1peYKfFYbv-5gtFDIiJM1EEYHZpdmUTc90aISzerW3LkrkJgkWOcRN_kev3fkx4YdxID_Mjzp7GzyqA1GHi8UKoIjAWri8vfXH1tDvO7L2IjJr44L93GHIzru1hYmKZdQsWW5uE8AMqGe4ceNwcfw&__tn__=%2ANK-R"><span class="_5afx"><span class="_58cl _5afz">#</span><span class="_58cm">ownvoices</span></span></a> <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"type":104,"tn":"*N"}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/thecaribbeantalesseries?source=feed_text&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARCLvkYrq3GQ0oT37Zau7Mop0XJOud6ht1peYKfFYbv-5gtFDIiJM1EEYHZpdmUTc90aISzerW3LkrkJgkWOcRN_kev3fkx4YdxID_Mjzp7GzyqA1GHi8UKoIjAWri8vfXH1tDvO7L2IjJr44L93GHIzru1hYmKZdQsWW5uE8AMqGe4ceNwcfw&__tn__=%2ANK-R"><span class="_5afx"><span class="_58cl _5afz">#</span><span class="_58cm">TheCaribbeanTalesSeries</span></span></a> <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"type":104,"tn":"*N"}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/puertoricostrong?source=feed_text&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARCLvkYrq3GQ0oT37Zau7Mop0XJOud6ht1peYKfFYbv-5gtFDIiJM1EEYHZpdmUTc90aISzerW3LkrkJgkWOcRN_kev3fkx4YdxID_Mjzp7GzyqA1GHi8UKoIjAWri8vfXH1tDvO7L2IjJr44L93GHIzru1hYmKZdQsWW5uE8AMqGe4ceNwcfw&__tn__=%2ANK-R"><span class="_5afx"><span class="_58cl _5afz">#</span><span class="_58cm">PuertoRicoStrong</span></span></a> <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"type":104,"tn":"*N"}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/gayromanticfiction?source=feed_text&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARCLvkYrq3GQ0oT37Zau7Mop0XJOud6ht1peYKfFYbv-5gtFDIiJM1EEYHZpdmUTc90aISzerW3LkrkJgkWOcRN_kev3fkx4YdxID_Mjzp7GzyqA1GHi8UKoIjAWri8vfXH1tDvO7L2IjJr44L93GHIzru1hYmKZdQsWW5uE8AMqGe4ceNwcfw&__tn__=%2ANK-R"><span class="_5afx"><span class="_58cl _5afz">#</span><span class="_58cm">gayromanticfiction</span></span></a> <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"type":104,"tn":"*N"}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/mmromance?source=feed_text&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARCLvkYrq3GQ0oT37Zau7Mop0XJOud6ht1peYKfFYbv-5gtFDIiJM1EEYHZpdmUTc90aISzerW3LkrkJgkWOcRN_kev3fkx4YdxID_Mjzp7GzyqA1GHi8UKoIjAWri8vfXH1tDvO7L2IjJr44L93GHIzru1hYmKZdQsWW5uE8AMqGe4ceNwcfw&__tn__=%2ANK-R"><span class="_5afx"><span class="_58cl _5afz">#</span><span class="_58cm">mmromance</span></span></a><br />
</div>
Taylor V. Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129740318557596072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210488729328874510.post-25309969615991770672018-09-20T16:54:00.000-04:002018-09-20T16:54:06.469-04:00I'm Back!!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhO-1XuCO8NIkW0DmgEDrPgB0YY-ytLYeMVSPq8jkK3hD9kv2ODbr0pnyfwhYTJCkm7OVPamCxRKJ1Tclfe-gUN2LlEBdxtsiEXh914NYiFbvoidjxQnVBqJe7yZ8HGrXK4yB3e2A1lzP/s1600/TVDlogo_HiRes_1200x1200.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhO-1XuCO8NIkW0DmgEDrPgB0YY-ytLYeMVSPq8jkK3hD9kv2ODbr0pnyfwhYTJCkm7OVPamCxRKJ1Tclfe-gUN2LlEBdxtsiEXh914NYiFbvoidjxQnVBqJe7yZ8HGrXK4yB3e2A1lzP/s320/TVDlogo_HiRes_1200x1200.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And over over at <a href="https://www.myfictionnook.com/2018/09/author-of-month-taylor-v-donovan-week-three.html" target="_blank">My Fiction Nook</a> today talking about my hiatus, why I
am releasing stories in the Caribbean Tales Series before 'Six Degrees
of Agony,' and Hurricane Maria. We have blurbs, release dates, excerpts
for 'Forces of Nature,' 'Living on the Edge' and 'Heavy Hitters' plus
there's a Kindle giveaway! Stop by and leave a comment for a chance to
win. <span class="_47e3 _5mfr" title="heart emoticon"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/ff3/1.5/16/2764.png" width="16" /> </span></span></span><br />
<span class="_47e3 _5mfr" title="heart emoticon"><br /></span>
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<span class="_47e3 _5mfr" title="heart emoticon"><br /></span>Taylor V. Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129740318557596072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210488729328874510.post-52391532087716526852017-08-24T16:08:00.001-04:002017-08-24T16:08:55.925-04:00Love Bytes Repost: Excerpt & Giveaway: Taylor V. Donovan – Living on the Edge<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Living on the Edge</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">Hello everyone! My name’s Taylor and I’m an author of gay romance and
suspense. Today I’m here to talk about a new release from me, <em>finally</em>, and I’m super excited about it. Thanks to Love Bytes for hosting!:-)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">Some of you might not have heard of me ever. Some of you probably
recognize my name. You see, I’ve been gone for a long time, but we’re
not going to get into the reasons why. New day, new beginnings, and I
want to focus on that. You can head over to my blog to find out what’s <a href="http://sixdegreesandcounting.blogspot.com/2017/06/news-and-updates.html">the plan</a> for my other books.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">So I’ve been working—and working some more—on a new series called <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/136512-caribbean-tales">Caribbean Tales</a>.
It is set in my homeland of Puerto Rico and features local guys. I
don’t think I can properly express how much these books mean to me.
Developing love stories that span years and placing the scenes in
locations that I have the fondest, most amazing memories of was exactly
what I needed to get back in the game. I’m chomping at the bit to have
you experience our culture, traditions, and ways from page to page.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">I don’t want to take much of your time, so I’m just going to leave
you with an excerpt and a request to leave a comment for a chance to win
an ARC. You can also enter my snazzy giveaway—a <a href="https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/8a57226c0/" target="_blank">Kindle Fire 7</a> preloaded
with all my books.:-)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">Good luck!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">xoxo</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">Taylor</span><br />
<br />
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34hh7QXfSC-G2Z8LIrYLx1DpLpEVqMW0nHbDv4gaYE8fVTbiAyRf0hHyzk0gJTJoNyO6TLJOkrCRipM1YdJsXRrCVUE3tIihhwnhZ_ME358TG_ZTI0uk5aVEYiI4OQGX3ioTtbbQeVzMx/s1600/LivingOnTheEdge_web500x750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34hh7QXfSC-G2Z8LIrYLx1DpLpEVqMW0nHbDv4gaYE8fVTbiAyRf0hHyzk0gJTJoNyO6TLJOkrCRipM1YdJsXRrCVUE3tIihhwnhZ_ME358TG_ZTI0uk5aVEYiI4OQGX3ioTtbbQeVzMx/s400/LivingOnTheEdge_web500x750.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.9pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 115%;">Title:
Living on the Edge</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.9pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 115%;">Series:
Caribbean Tales Series</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.9pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 115%;">Book: 1</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.9pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 115%;">Genre: Gay
Romantic Fiction</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.9pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 115%;">Publisher:
Desecheo Press</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.9pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 115%;">Release
Date: September 15<sup>th</sup>, 2017 </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.9pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.9pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 115%;">Le Blurb:</span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 107%;">Meeting
his soulmate, falling in love, and starting a relationship is only the
beginning.</span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 107%;">Lieutenant
Damián Laporte Ortiz is well acquainted with deception. He’s also an expert at
leading a double life. Most people know him as a war veteran and highly
decorated cop working for F.U.R.A., a specialized police unit in Puerto Rico.
Others know him as a crook. His family sees him as an honorable man and an
exemplary single dad. The truth is he’s anything but. That’s</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 107%;"> why half of his friends believe he goes home with a
different woman every chance he gets, while the other half knows for a fact he’s
in a long-term relationship with a guy. </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 107%;">His peace of mind, happiness, and survival depend on
keeping his worlds apart. It isn’t until his professional career takes a series
of unexpected turns that he’s forced to reconsider his priorities and stance.</span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 107%;">Gay
rights activist Gael Cisneros Beltrán dedicates his life to representing the
marginalized LGBT community in a place he otherwise considers to be paradise.
Fighting for their rights consumes his days. Going home to his closeted boyfriend
replenishes him at night. Balancing their needs, goals, and responsibilities is
a complicated act, but their commitment to each other continues to stand the
test of time.</span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 107%;">No challenge
is too great to overcome. Nothing can tear them apart. Not until the past comes
knocking and their carefully built parallel lives finally collide. Now they
must decide what matters more—the common good or their love.</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://lovebytesreviews.com/2017/08/23/guestpost-excerpt-giveaway-taylor-v-donovan-living-on-the-edge/" target="_blank">Please visit Love Bytes for an excerpt.</a></span> </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></i></div>
Taylor V. Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129740318557596072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210488729328874510.post-51037109730245963242017-07-20T17:25:00.000-04:002017-07-20T17:25:24.942-04:00Teasing on Thursday<span style="font-size: large;">Hey all! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm working really hard on coming out of the woods, so, in an attempt to be more present on social media as well as forthcoming with behind-the-scenes updates (i.e. work in progress), here's an excerpt from what's currently cooking in the TVD Story Pot. :-)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Series: Caribbean Tales</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Setting: San Juan, Puerto Rico</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Enjoy!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPc0Q_73tbdhP7ylT7EBjt4vvjw1Mz36voJtOFW4UG8khVPI_yij-EbHnWDQ1AzSBt7-AMEeaQypn9l6OWe4nrGM8skkEFDEh0fuqseNefVJzNxVS2ROarsz0qRaFgEFhERGZT_QTYN3kQ/s1600/teaser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPc0Q_73tbdhP7ylT7EBjt4vvjw1Mz36voJtOFW4UG8khVPI_yij-EbHnWDQ1AzSBt7-AMEeaQypn9l6OWe4nrGM8skkEFDEh0fuqseNefVJzNxVS2ROarsz0qRaFgEFhERGZT_QTYN3kQ/s320/teaser.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Noelia glanced at Cuca, then turned on the bench they were sitting
on and gave Gael her full attention, dead giveaway she was about to get
serious. “You’ve always been an overachiever, focused on your studies
and plans for the future,” she said in a much lower voice, as is she was
scared Cuca might off her if he heard her speaking negatively about
him. “Don’t you want to be with someone as driven as yourself? Weren’t
you listening when your mom warned you against guys that look like him?”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
“See, that’s another difference between us.” Gael focused on Cuca,
doing his best not to snap at her. “When it comes to guys, you always
measure their worth from a potential relationship perspective, whereas
I’m only interested in measuring their cocks and finding out how many
times they can make me come.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> That wasn’t true, but he wasn’t
ready for Noelia to know he had a mega crush on a guy she clearly didn’t
approve of. Gael needed her to back off.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> “I give up.” Noelia shook his head and sighed. “You’ve got to be the biggest horn dog in the world.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> That he was. The kind of overachiever with a carefully mapped out life that always made sure to have time for a hot guy.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
“You know it.” He gave her a quick side hug, grateful she’d taken the
hint, then went back to ogling Cuca. “He has such a mysterious aura
around him.” Gael’s breath rushed in and out of his lungs, and
butterflies fluttered in his stomach. He had it bad—there was no denying
that, but he didn’t care. He wasn’t scared of feelings and emotions
whether they were positive, hurtful, or worrisome. “I’m drawn to him
like a moth to a flame.” And his knees wouldn’t stop wobbling, and his
breath kept catching in his throat, and it was all he could do not to
cross the promenade right now and say <i>Hello</i>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Lord.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> He truly hadn’t felt so damn giddy, confused, or exhilarated before.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> No. Scratch that.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
The first time he and Cuca had gotten past the not-so-casual glances
and locked eyes, Gael’s mind had gone completely fuzzy. He’d been in the
middle of his well-practiced narration of the history of one of San
Juan’s forts and some of the battles fought there centuries ago, and
he’d gotten so flustered, he’d almost swallowed his tongue. It had taken
a great deal of effort to stammer his way through the rest of the tour,
and by the time he finished retelling stories from ancient soldiers
tasked with defending and protecting Spain’s most precious colony in the
New World, he was a goner.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> He was in lust.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> He wanted to drag the guy to San Cristóbal’s dungeon and get it <i>on</i>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> “He doesn’t have a mysterious aura.” Noelia’s soft voice pulled him out of his thoughts. “He has a dangerous one.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> “Even better.” Gael sighed. “I’ve always had a thing for big bad alphas.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
“There’s a difference between bad boys and bad news, and that guy’s
appearance screams trouble. He looks like he’s on guard. I don’t like
it. Do yourself a favor and stay away from him. You don’t need that kind
of complication.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Gael gnawed his inner cheek. “Wonder how long he’ll stay there staring at the Master of the Master of the Seas—”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> “Are you even listening to me?”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> “—pretending he isn’t here to see me.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
“Well, he hasn’t tried to talk to you, so maybe he isn’t,” Noelia
rationalized, something she did as often as Gael ignored her attempts to
burst his bubbles. “Maybe the six times you’ve seen him around since
your first encounter are pure coincidence. Maybe he truly is a dangerous
stalker. Maybe he’s a homophobe who’s seen you on the news and wants to
silence you by beating you up. Maybe—”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> “He’s shy, or confused
about his attraction to another guy, or freaked out, or afraid to take
the next step, or being careful no one sees him,” Gael cut her off,
throwing the rest of his piragua into a nearby trash can and wiping his
hands on a napkin. “It could be so many things, but twenty bucks say
he’s into me and trying to decide where to go from here.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Or leaving it up to Gael.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> It was a legitimate possibility.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
Cuca had never approached him, but he’d gone out of his way to learn
Gael’s schedule. He’d been showing up at his place of work for three
weeks, and now he was standing there—glancing at him from under lowered
lashes. Showing interest. Visibly anxious, yet determined. <i>Waiting</i>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Yeah… If all that didn’t mean Cuca wanted to hook up, Gael would eat his gay card for lunch.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
“Well, you don’t have a shy bone in your body, so how come you haven’t
approached him and gotten things rolling?” Noelia narrowed her eyes.
“Also, why are you so sure of what he’s experiencing? You’ve never
talked to him. Are you a mind reader now?”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> “I refrained from
approaching him because watching him take baby steps toward me thrilled
me to no end. That, and I didn’t want to scare him away with my
trademark bluntness.” Gael didn’t know his name yet. He didn’t have a
phone number or an email address he could use if the guy disappeared
from his life. He’d been afraid coming on to Cuca too strong before
securing a way to find him would be detrimental to Gael’s plan to get in
his pants. But he wasn’t afrad anymore. “And no, I’m not a
mind-reader—I’m just gay. Hard not to imagine what he might be going
through when I’ve been there myself.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> “There, <i>where</i>?”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
“Navigating the sexual orientation affirmation process we queers have to
go through at one point or another.” Gael smiled at Cuca, which
prompted the guy to glance around nervously, but then he stared at Gael,
quickly licking his lips as he angled his long body toward him. “God,
I’m so happy I rock at reading body language.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> “What are you talking about?”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Encouraged by Cuca’s inviting gestures, Gael asked, “How do I look?” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
Noelia surveyed him from head to toe, but she didn’t give him an ego
boost like she was supposed to every time he asked that question.
Instead, she moved closer to him, gripped his shoulders, and spoke in a
steady low-pitched voice, as if she was trying to hypnotize him. “You
look like a guy who knows better than to ignore his friend’s advice.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
Gael gave her an amused smile and chucked her under the chin. “Nice
try.” He then patted his hair to make sure every black strand was in its
place, brushed his eyebrows with his fingertips, and popped a mint into
his mouth. “I’m going over there.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> He only had a few minutes
before he had to get to work, but he was a firm believer in opportunity,
and he’d waited long enough this morning. He’d shown Cuca that he was
attracted to him, and given him what felt like a decade to decide if he
wanted to scram. Now the time had come to initiate conversation, and it
was clearly up to Gael, because when the mountain couldn’t bring himself
to come to Muhammad, it was up to Muhammad to go to the mountain.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
“You can’t.” Noelia grabbed his arm before he could move and pointed at
the Master of the Seas. “Our cruisers are disembarking.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
Stepping back, Gael removed her hand from his arm and said, “This won’t
take long,” then, shaking inside from anticipation, nerves, and yes, a
healthy dose of apprehension as well—because what if Noelia was right—he
went after the guy he wanted.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Five seconds later he almost choked on his mint as he realized he was screwed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Up close and personal Cuca was a million times cuter.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
“Are you an adult?” Gael blurted the instant he got close enough to
smell his cologne. “Please tell me you’re old enough to buy sex toys and
alcohol.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> The guy nodded slowly, amusement sparkling in his gorgeous eyes. “I’m eighteen.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
“Gracias a Dios.” Gael sighed in relief and quickly made the sign of
the cross. Despite everything he’d said to Noelia, he had principles,
morals, and hard limits. Doing baby gays was one of them. “I have two
questions for you.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Cuca stared at Gael with searing intensity as
he levered his body away from the balustrade and straightened to his
full height. “Let’s hear them.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Ready to answer, Gael looked up
and opened his mouth, then closed it again when his words jumbled
together in his head, rendering him incapable of forming a coherent
sentence.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> He hadn’t expected Cuca to smell so good, or to have
adorable freckles splattered across his cheeks and nose, or to sound so
deep and commanding, and he certainly hadn’t expected to feel dwarfed by
him.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Seriously, what the heck was that? At six-feet and 155
pounds, Gael wasn’t a small guy by any stretch of the imagination, but
here he was, feeling totally…overpowered by Cuca, who was a mere couple
of inches taller and hadn’t even touched him yet.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Mildly put, it was the most unsettlingly thrilling feeling in the world, and Gael loved it. Jesus, did he love it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
“Qué pasó, papi—cat got your tongue?” A knowing little smile stretched
Cuca’s kissable lips. His sexy voice pushed Gael’s libido into
overdrive. His demeanor proved this wasn’t his first rodeo with a gay
man. “Ask your questions.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Heart thudding wildly, Gael cleared
his throat and rolled his shoulders. “Should I be flattered by your
interest in me or should I be worried?”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> “You’ve got nothing to
worry about.” He watched Gael quietly for several moments, mesmerizing
him with the look of naked hunger on his face and almost making him
self-combust before dropping his gaze to Gael’s lips. “I’m harmless.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
“Is that so?” Gael brushed his shoulder against Cuca’s casually as he
leaned over the balustrade—making sure physical contact was welcome
before taking the plunge. “Because you look like you want to wreck my
hole and fuck me senseless.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> “Among other things.” Pressing his
back to the balustrade, Cuca propped his elbows on the concrete railing
and watched him out of the corner of his eye. “Can I?”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Gael gulped. “The sooner the better.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
He was ready. He had a damn boner. He was so consumed by his desire for
this guy, he didn’t care who he was, where he was from, or what he did
for cash. Nothing mattered other than dragging him to the nearest
surface and getting him horizontal.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Cuca’s eyes shone with
predatory intent, and he made a harsh sound deep in his throat at Gael’s
words. “What’s your other question?” he croaked, further confirming he
was feeling Gael the same way Gael was feeling him.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> “Can I have
your number?” Cuca gave him a jerky headshake in response. Gael wasn’t
surprised. Lots of queer guys were extremely cautious when it came to
revealing their identity. “I take it you’re in the closet?”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> “Most likely for life, so I’ve got to be careful.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
“You can trust me with your name.” Gael looked him in the eye, silently
demanding honesty. He didn’t know why but he didn’t want for this guy
to be a total stranger when he finally took him to bed. Learning that
detail felt non-negotiable and extremely important. “Your real name.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Cuca averted his gaze. A muscle jumped in his jaw as he studied the crowd and pondered what to do.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Moving swiftly, Gael blocked his line of vision and put out his hand. “I’m Gael.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
“I know.” His little smirk almost made Gael swoon. “I’m Damián.” His
guttural voice and his all-around hotness consumed Gael as they shook
hands. “You need to get to work.” He rubbed the inside of Gael’s wrist
with his thumb before dropping his hand and stepping back.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Gael
fisted his hand. His skin wouldn’t stop tingling from the electric buzz
that had shot from Cuca’s fingertips to Gael’s chest. “What other
things?” When Cuca tilted his head sideways in confusion, he explained,
“You said among other things.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> “I noticed you like rosé.” Cuca
smoothed out his jersey and scratched his chin, then looked him straight
in the eyes and added, “I thought we could drive somewhere. Have some
vino and get to know each other…providing you’re okay with playing it
cool, of course.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Palms damp, mouth dry, and heart pounding, Gael rasped, “I’d love that.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> “Great.” Cuca flashed him a blinding smile. “I’ll find you soon to let you know when.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> And just like that he was gone.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Jesus…</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
“What the heck was that?” Gael shook his head and swallowed hard. “How
did I go from trying to schedule a hook up to agreeing to go on my first
date with a guy?”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> He’d been asked a few times, but he’d kept
things simple since becoming sexually active at seventeen. Scratching
the itch when in need and getting back to business as usual was his
thing, mainly because it’d been damn easy to walk away every single
time.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> None of his sexual partners had knocked his socks off after
a look or a conversation, or even a few rounds of sex. No one had
gotten under his skin, and no one—not once—had made Gael feel like he’d
die if he didn’t see him one more time.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> But Cuca did.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> There was no way in hell Gael wasn’t going out with him.</span>Taylor V. Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129740318557596072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210488729328874510.post-65154359352778586952017-06-23T12:36:00.001-04:002017-06-23T12:36:58.465-04:00News and Updates<span style="font-size: large;">Hey all! Been a while since I last wrote a post. Hope you're all doing well. :-)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm here today to let you guys know what's shaking. Before I get into things, though, I want to thank *you* for reading this. As you are well aware, I've been inactive and out of the publishing game for a long time, and I want you to know that I appreciate every single one of you who have stuck around for my next release regardless of when that might be, or waited for me, and/or sent me emails wishing me well. Your patience and understanding mean the world to me.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9XWpLhOhLS7u-iz1I5zQtsJ0N0xr1DFIaDTV3gFD8tlilKOfKROtbocN4mJpKz2dmGIRPj1Teninbwhsn7nSNSXFYJx8skxKwyQEhp4ECOFubWya7Eulxizhrf0JtXDVlOlqwyOHCSBK/s1600/announcement-speakers-and-people.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="623" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9XWpLhOhLS7u-iz1I5zQtsJ0N0xr1DFIaDTV3gFD8tlilKOfKROtbocN4mJpKz2dmGIRPj1Teninbwhsn7nSNSXFYJx8skxKwyQEhp4ECOFubWya7Eulxizhrf0JtXDVlOlqwyOHCSBK/s320/announcement-speakers-and-people.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">And now for the announcements!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">First up, <a href="http://gayromlit.com/" target="_blank">GRL</a>. Chicago 2014 was the last one I attended, and I'm super excited to return. Looking forward to reconnecting with all friends and meeting new ones. :-)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Second, self-publication. I love being hybrid. Some stories belong with my <a href="https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/by-degrees-6314-s" target="_blank">publisher</a>, and some others, like the ones that exceed publisher's word count limits or deal with subjects I want to approach in a very specific way, belong to me. Those stories are gay romantic fiction. While the romance is front and center and there's a HEA, I've taken a very realistic approach to them. Simply put, my characters mess up, just like we do in real life, and deal with the issues the LGBTQ+ community has to deal with on a daily basis, but the stories are all about my characters falling in love, figuring things out, finding their way, and being happy.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Currently I have two series that are gay romantic fiction: 'Bylaws' and 'Caribbean Tales.' <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20936082-hearsay?ac=1&from_search=true#other_reviews" target="_blank">Hearsay'</a> has already been published, and it is the first installment in a trilogy that's part of 'Bylaws.' <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23196813-heavy-hitters?from_search=true" target="_blank">Heavy Hitters</a>, one of the books in the Caribbean Tales series, hasn't come out yet.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I've decided the rest of this year will be about these two series. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In the next few months you'll see releases on both, but, instead of </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFiD72LEzd-xQ6ynISro7FsRWedxgyBbLPxsndhGw3ItKxOb5VhpwrHllkg2YxK7M1NClfUmlOAiWgjsLlX4FXWqqVBl-7fP7QhVXyfZAoFIYyUb6IMwn-7VAXRfWNQwm7RSDqmSn48Ms/s1600/DesecheoPressLogo_Print-Red.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="1500" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFiD72LEzd-xQ6ynISro7FsRWedxgyBbLPxsndhGw3ItKxOb5VhpwrHllkg2YxK7M1NClfUmlOAiWgjsLlX4FXWqqVBl-7fP7QhVXyfZAoFIYyUb6IMwn-7VAXRfWNQwm7RSDqmSn48Ms/s200/DesecheoPressLogo_Print-Red.png" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">seeing them published under 'TVD Books,' you'll see them published by 'Desecheo Press' which is my own publishing 'house' for my gay romantic fiction titles. Yay! I have a logo and everything, so watch out for it. :-)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And last but not least, 'By Degrees' and 'Six Degrees of Agony.'</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I know the majority of you are tired of waiting for this book. I'm not going to rehash everything that's happened to me or the reasons it's been such a long time coming. Just know they were powerful reasons, and my priority is to give you a story I'm proud of and you're going to enjoy. Not to mention, I'm a firm believer everything happens for a reason so...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You may or may not know that writing an installment in my 'By Degrees' series is a rather complicated process. The ensemble cast and continued storylines make me feel like I'm writing four books at once, which in a way I am, and the timeline and intricate details and little pieces require all my attention. It takes a lot of work to weave that web. :-)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">That's the reason I decided to dedicate the rest of the year to 'Bylaws' and 'Caribbean Tales.' I want to...well, get them out of the way so that I can then focus on 'By Degrees.' That means 'Six Degrees of Agony' will come out in early 2018, closely followed by the fourth installment. It is my goal to finish the series by mid-2019.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I know some of you will be disappointed after reading this. I wish I could be faster, or write ten books at the same time, but the ugly truth is I can't, so I need to be realistic in my approach to my writing. My stories are long, you guys, and they're involved. I need to give them time and I need to take measures to craft them the way I want to. :-)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you all for being awesome, and I'll be seeing you soon. ;-)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Taylor</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">xoxo </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Taylor V. Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129740318557596072noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210488729328874510.post-60281685311820491122016-12-16T10:52:00.000-05:002016-12-16T10:52:50.915-05:00By Degrees Signed Paperbacks Giveaway<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Hey all!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today I'm <a href="http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.com/blogiversary-celebration-and-giveaway-welcome-to-author-taylor-v-donovan/">over at</a> The Novel Approach helping celebrate their fifth blogiversary, and I showed up bearing presents! Stop by
to congratulate them and also to enter my giveaway. It includes an
Amazon gift card, ebooks, and two sets of signed second edition
paperbacks of Six Degrees of Lust and Six Degrees of Separation. See
you there!</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/tvd?source=feed_text&story_id=1228320537256581"><span class="_5afx"><span class="_58cl _5afz">#</span><span class="_58cm">TVD</span></span></a> <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/bydegrees?source=feed_text&story_id=1228320537256581"><span class="_5afx"><span class="_58cl _5afz">#</span><span class="_58cm">ByDegrees</span></span></a> #515 <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/smactalk?source=feed_text&story_id=1228320537256581"><span class="_5afx"><span class="_58cl _5afz">#</span><span class="_58cm">SMacTalk</span></span></a></span></div>
Taylor V. Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129740318557596072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210488729328874510.post-54263112853805280782016-12-12T11:20:00.000-05:002016-12-12T11:21:38.815-05:00Music Monday<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
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<span data-offset-key="5vg6-0-0" style="font-size: large;"><span data-text="true">So, on this crappy Monday I thought I'd try to lift my own spirit by sharing one of my favorite Puerto Rican Christmas traditions. This is a video of a "parranda" which is basically Christmas Carols on steroids. The "parrandas" get organized at someone's house, then a bunch of people (never less than twenty) who happen to play all kinds of instruments show up at somebody else's house not earlier than two in the morning and wake you the heck up. Then the party start, and people sing and sing while the "host" cooks traditional food for them, usually asopao de pollo, which is like a rice chicken soup. Awesome times! <3</span></span></div>
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Taylor V. Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129740318557596072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210488729328874510.post-11206634995646074862016-12-10T22:42:00.002-05:002016-12-10T22:42:48.557-05:00Six Degrees of Lust, Second Edition...<div style="color: #333333; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.625; margin-bottom: 1.625em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tweaked, updated, longer, and better, <a data-mce-href="https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/six-degrees-of-lust-by-taylor-v-donovan-7958-b" href="https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/six-degrees-of-lust-by-taylor-v-donovan-7958-b" style="color: #1b8be0; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.625; text-decoration: none;">coming at you</a> from Dreamspinner Press on January 2, 2017. Check it out!</span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.625; margin-bottom: 1.625em;">
<strong style="color: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.625;"><em style="color: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.625;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Six Degrees of Lust</span></em></strong></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.625; margin-bottom: 1.625em;">
<strong style="color: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.625;"><em style="color: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.625;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2nd Edition</span></em></strong></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.625; margin-bottom: 1.625em;">
<em style="color: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.625;"><strong style="color: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.625;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By Degrees: Book One</span></strong></em></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.625; margin-bottom: 1.625em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">New York City FBI team leader Samuel Shaughnessy lives for his immediate family and his job. After a marriage gone wrong, he has stuck to a firm rule when it comes to relationships: he doesn't have them. Sexually active and emotionally unavailable keeps him satisfied, especially now that he is in hot pursuit of a serial killer targeting gay men.</span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.625; margin-bottom: 1.625em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Former firefighter Machlan O'Bannon now manages a successful sports bar in Houston, and after years of waiting, he’s ready to stand up and be the man he always wanted to be: out, proud and drama-free. His politically-aligned family wants to keep him locked in the closet, but Mac just wants to meet the man of his dreams.</span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.625; margin-bottom: 1.625em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One man is as high strung as the other is laid back. A chance meeting brings them together, and one night of passion ignites a fire neither can fight. Their lives are not only miles apart, but as different as day and night. They don't want to get involved, but they might not be able to keep apart.</span></div>
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Taylor V. Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129740318557596072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210488729328874510.post-45019813513128322882016-11-24T18:34:00.000-05:002016-11-24T18:47:50.928-05:00Giving Thanks...<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Is a bit difficult when you've had the worst year of your adult life. I've been thinking about it and the only thing I was able to come up with was "life." I'm grateful for my daughters and for being alive. Not healthy, not in a good mental-space, definitely not in good spirits, but I'm alive, and that's the most important thing, right? It means I can keep working on myself...I can keep trying to get better. And that's great.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The year isn't over yet. Many things can happen in a little over a month, but you know what? I've decided to let 2016 go.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Looking back at the last eleven months makes me sad. There are so many things I </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">wasn't able to accomplish—not </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">as a woman, not as a friend, not as a professional, and last but not least, not as an author. Simply put, I completely sucked at everything day after day after day, and, as much as I'd like to, the fact is </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I can't turn back time. I can't change anything. And I can't keep stressing over all the things I was supposed to do but wasn't able to for one reason or another. So this is it for me. I'm throwing in the towel on this year and using the remaining weeks to try to get to a point where I won't feel so disheartened anymore. Hopefully it will work. :-)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm sure no one reading this post will be surprised by this, but throwing the towel includes giving up on trying to publish anything in 2016. I can't. I don't want to. I'm a firm believer everything happens for a reason, and I'm convinced offering you guys a new story wasn't in the cards. So yeah, I'm not even going to try. I'm just going to start the new year with a bang.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dreamspinners Press is releasing Six Degrees of Lust, Second Edition on January 2, 2017. That's good news for fans of my By Degrees series. It means Six Degrees of Agony will come out a few months after Lust. ;-)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As for Heavy Hitters...how does a late January, early February release sound? Is having back to back releases too much? What do you all think? Let me know. :-)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">To those of you who have never stopped supporting me, and all the readers who have emailed me, messaged me, etc., etc., asking when I'll release some new material, I want to say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. You mean the world to me and your interest is the only reason I'm not giving up the writing gig. You all rock.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Have an amazing time with your families and friends on this special day. And take it from me—there's always something to be thankful for.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Love,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Taylor</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">xoxo</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
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<br />Taylor V. Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129740318557596072noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210488729328874510.post-22871400114169552362016-06-09T12:58:00.000-04:002016-06-09T12:58:05.342-04:00TBT Post: Knocked Down By Homophobia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXxn8PMq52Pju7rJ6p3P_s3aOd9YA5XvRhrS2N_a6nVceZoxA8j_LPQayI8O_8yO-yOmyZ0uZr2kLIq4XGPcXBPmXA7PROBMgIm5H_ENqlqXwp_YtnXN3QG-yU1lZBPdBGqa9xmqzETY8/s1600/original+heavyhitters_hires.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXxn8PMq52Pju7rJ6p3P_s3aOd9YA5XvRhrS2N_a6nVceZoxA8j_LPQayI8O_8yO-yOmyZ0uZr2kLIq4XGPcXBPmXA7PROBMgIm5H_ENqlqXwp_YtnXN3QG-yU1lZBPdBGqa9xmqzETY8/s320/original+heavyhitters_hires.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hi all!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, those of you who follow me know that <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23196813-heavy-hitters">Heavy Hitters</a> was scheduled to release well over a year ago. Then life happened, and it kept happening, to the point where I had to take a sabbatical to care for myself. While I was away, I decided to replace the story's gorgeous first cover with another gorgeous one, because the original reminded me of a painful period in my life and I wanted a clean slate. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And here I am, months and months later, feeling better and ready to release this baby to the world. :-)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To celebrate the June 24th upcoming release, I decided to re-post a little piece I wrote a long time ago to promote the story. Hope you enjoy, and please, feel free to share your stories. I'll be giving away two copies to commenters I'll choose randomly. :-) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><strong>Knocked Down By Machismo</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was born and raised in the beautiful island of Puerto Rico, a
paradise in many ways. Tropical plants, rainforest, sunny beaches,
transparent water, soft golden sand…. Do I sound like a tourism
commercial yet? *g*</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Down there people are friendly, family-oriented, and
extremely lovable. They’re also mainly Catholic, and, to this date,
ruled by machismo and gender roles. Men are expected to be brave and protect the honor of their families.
They’re supposed to have excellent work ethic, be good providers, and
live up to their responsibilities. Women, even if they have jobs outside
the house, are expected to clean, cook, care for the children, and take
orders from the husband. As simple as that. There’s little—if any—room
for anything else.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8vaNDfoD-Pkd3QgChDQKtjtJqqOl3UmbF4zqRVq6zt-8qj8kxjipWU5XhBdhuR65rdLxahQicSCbFRzzR-C5JRmxEVx9zesuHfV7dbPkl9QaQc6kEfCz9dw_5gu7Xb6Q9tmkDUx-532t/s1600/HH+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8vaNDfoD-Pkd3QgChDQKtjtJqqOl3UmbF4zqRVq6zt-8qj8kxjipWU5XhBdhuR65rdLxahQicSCbFRzzR-C5JRmxEVx9zesuHfV7dbPkl9QaQc6kEfCz9dw_5gu7Xb6Q9tmkDUx-532t/s320/HH+cover.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Don’t get me wrong, though. Women are highly regarded.They rule the
house and keep the family</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">united, but there’s no denying the patriarchal
authority that exists in most every home. Dad says what’s allowed; he
says when and how. In some cases he even subjugates his wife and resorts
to domestic violence in order to prove his manhood. He wants his
daughters to be like mom, and his sons to be little clones of himself.
And I can tell you, not many dads are open-minded and accepting if one
of their sons happens to have interests that are attributed to girls.</span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Such is the case with Julio Malavé, one of my main characters’
father. He’s belligerent on a good day, abusive on a regular basis, and
he’s drunk most of the time. His mission in life is to make sure Santino
becomes a boxing champion and behaves like a “real man,” and he has no
qualms in destroying his son’s spirit in the process.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You see, coming out as gay wasn't really an option for many Puerto
Rican boys. They faced discrimination, mockery, bullying, and downright
abuse. A lot of times they’re killed for their sexual orientation. I
wouldn’t say Puerto Rico isn’t a safe place for gay men. Hundreds of
them are out and proud, but they are the exception, not the rule, and
there’s a price to pay.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Heavy Hitters is a love story...a self-discovery story...self-acceptance story, and a reconciliation story with family, culture, and life. I hope you all join Luca and Santi in their journey through life. :-) </span></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Do *you* have any experience with machismo? Any stories or
opinions on the matter you’d like to share? Leave a comment below for a
chance to win a copy of Heavy Hitters. I’d love to “hear” your thoughts.</strong></span></span>Taylor V. Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129740318557596072noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210488729328874510.post-26786262172609669712016-03-28T09:38:00.000-04:002016-03-28T09:38:59.971-04:00Music Monday<span style="font-size: large;">Hi all!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I give you DNA by Little Mix, one of the songs in my Official Heavy Hitters Playlist. Also, I'm obsessed with these girls. You need to check them out, especially their acapella stuff. So good! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Taylor V. Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129740318557596072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210488729328874510.post-70225744034665586852016-03-21T16:38:00.000-04:002016-03-21T16:38:52.235-04:00Music Monday<span style="font-size: large;">Hi guys!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Today I give you Years and Years' "Take Shelter" because I've had a lot of pressure in the past few weeks and I'm tired and ready to do whatever I need to do in order to protect myself. :-)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Taylor V. Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129740318557596072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210488729328874510.post-13583271574652483552016-03-14T11:44:00.000-04:002016-03-14T11:44:50.962-04:00Music Monday<span style="font-size: large;">Hello, my beautiful followers. :-) </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I want to share a huge favorite of mine for Music Monday, Troye Sivan and his Blue
Neighborhood masterpiece. Today we have Wild, Part 1 of this
heartbreaking Trilogy. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I can't tell you guys how many
times I played these tracks while working on Heavy Hitters.
Childhood friendship, homophobia... domestic violence... the Blue Neighborhood Trilogy theme
complimented my story arc <i>so</i> well, it often inspired me to keep
on writing. And, let's just say, a story as long as Heavy Hitter's is
required a LOT of pushing. :-)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Enjoy!</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fdXNNveYOfU" width="480"></iframe>Taylor V. Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129740318557596072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210488729328874510.post-56356778188765605142015-06-23T00:30:00.000-04:002015-06-23T00:30:01.031-04:00Teaser Tuesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZKulojODaF2KhxTftzAE2OhyphenhyphenhbP-ANuY7r2BDWJRD6zYsQn5OefZmiizmuz6H-7LA0XpM_GjLqANv4hICbQ7miPKox02Li2T6Y7WKgz2ACLNT85RquvILdD_wIKTQW05lf5Ub4HmMYAU/s1600/HeavyHitters_500x750+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZKulojODaF2KhxTftzAE2OhyphenhyphenhbP-ANuY7r2BDWJRD6zYsQn5OefZmiizmuz6H-7LA0XpM_GjLqANv4hICbQ7miPKox02Li2T6Y7WKgz2ACLNT85RquvILdD_wIKTQW05lf5Ub4HmMYAU/s320/HeavyHitters_500x750+%25281%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hey all!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's been quiet round these parts, so I figured I'd post a little</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">something something from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23196813-heavy-hitters?from_search=true&search_version=service_impr">Heavy Hitters</a> now that the </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">release date is (FINALLY!) getting close. ;-)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is an excerpt from Chapter Fourteen in Round Three:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Conflicted Years. Santi and Luca are new adults at this</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">point, becoming successful in their respective careers, and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">realizing they can't lie to themselves about who they really are.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Enjoy! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Ladies and gentlemen, the official time this fight comes to an
end is at 49 seconds of round number eight. The winner by technical knockout
and new WBC welterweight champion of the world, Santinooo Malavééé…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The green title belt was firmly secured around Santi’s waist
when Julito and Héctor picked him up on their shoulders. His discipline and
drive had paid off, and hopefully his life would be better because of it. Luca
couldn’t be happier for him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Santi approached Hacine and gave him a quick hug. Hacine was
gracious in his defeat. He patted Santi’s back and congratulated him. Luca
decided Hacine was a classy guy even if he’d been a jerk while promoting the
fight.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There were two dozen people crammed into the ring by that point,
but Santi sidestepped officials, camera crews, and interviewers until he
reached the side of the ring that was closest to his family. He stood on the
ropes with a huge grin and blew them a kiss, then his gaze locked on Luca’s,
and his exhilarated expression morphed into what could only be described as
sinful intent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That was <i>want</i> gleaming
in Santi’s eyes. It was physical attraction and carnal desire—his true nature
peeking from beneath the surface and taking control. It was the same thing Luca
had seen in his eyes that time Santi jumped him in the back of his truck, and
Luca’s entire body reacted in response.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The usual conflictive emotions warred in his chest, but his
throat got hot and tight, and his cock rose to full mast. They stared at each
other for hours… maybe seconds… Luca couldn’t tell. It was impossible to be
certain of anything when he was flaming inside and shivering from head to toe
at the same time. Years of suppressed desire were raging through his system,
burning up his veins and melting his brain and religious restrictions. If he
didn’t get out of there fast, he’d jump over the ropes and throw Santi to the
mat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You’re mine, pai… No
matter what you say or don’t say, you’re mine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Up in the ring, Santi gulped. He must’ve guessed Luca’s
thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The pay-per-view commentator shoved a microphone under Santi’s
nose. Before shifting his attention to him, Santi made a quick gesture with his
head that Luca knew from all the times they’d used it in the past. Santi wanted
to be somewhere else, and he was asking Luca to come along.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Was it to talk? Did Santi want to go have dinner together like
they always did or did he want to blow his wad and wanted Luca to give him a
hand? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Santi’s words from earlier slammed into his chest. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ejaculating before a
fight weakens energy levels and decreases aggression, so… you know… It has to
be after.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The commentator wrapped up his interview. Santi walked to his
corner and stepped out of the ring. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Luca didn’t hesitate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He ignored the voices in his head warning him against acting on
impulse and sneaked away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">His decision wasn’t impulsive—it was instinctual. In that moment
Luca was more than willing to go against catholic rules, not because he had a
sudden urge to jerk off another man, but because he’d been thinking about it
his entire life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #1d1b11; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He was born liking men. Wanting to touch them and kiss them came
naturally to him. Besides, this was <i>Santi</i>
he was talking about—the guy whose presence set Luca on fire until he felt like
he was burning alive. He had no idea what was about to happen between him and
Santi, but not even the ten plagues of Egypt descending upon him could’ve
stopped him from finding out.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Taylor V. Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129740318557596072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210488729328874510.post-86232355763829259922015-06-22T20:44:00.000-04:002015-06-22T20:50:40.427-04:00Music Monday<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Years and Years is a fairly new band hailing from the UK. I adore these boys and can't wait to see them live! Their first album hasn't even dropped yet, but I've listened to the few songs they have released so far way more times than I care to admit. :-D</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Shine" is my current second favorite song of theirs, probably because it fits Luca and Santi from <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23196813-heavy-hitters?from_search=true&search_version=service_impr">Heavy Hitters</a> so well, I've been playing it on a loop for days. You should take a listen. I'm sure once you start reading this story you'll be able to see why "Shine" made it to the Top Five Heavy Hitters Tracks. :-) </span></div>
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Taylor V. Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129740318557596072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210488729328874510.post-7227359103628756232015-05-22T22:49:00.000-04:002015-05-22T22:49:50.197-04:00June, 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Taylor V. Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129740318557596072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210488729328874510.post-5784988582017181472015-04-28T10:07:00.000-04:002015-04-28T10:07:14.681-04:00Six Degrees of Separation... Second Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Hey, guys!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Just wanted to let you all know that I have a spiffy new cover and a release date for the second edition of <a href="http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6394">Six Degrees of Separation.</a> It's been edited and fleshed out a bit. The scenes remain the same, but there's definitely more information in some of them. Wouldn't hurt to read this one in preparation for Six Degrees of Agony, later this year. ;-)</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For those of you who are new to "By Degrees" and have e-mailed me asking where to purchase Six Degrees of Separation, please know the first edition has been retired, but you can pre-order the second edition at Dreamspinner Press. May 22 will be here before you know it!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And for those of you who are old fans of Tean Yum, the wait for the third installment is almost over, you guys. Thanks for being so patient with me. I really appreciate it. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><3</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Taylor</span></span>Taylor V. Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129740318557596072noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210488729328874510.post-90185103761020840002014-12-31T10:23:00.000-05:002014-12-31T10:23:10.217-05:00Happy New Year!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Taylor V. Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129740318557596072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210488729328874510.post-7534904909756858492014-12-11T20:02:00.003-05:002014-12-11T20:02:45.848-05:00Amazon Made a Mistake with Heavy Hitters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In case you guys didn't get to see this, here's part of a massage I posted yesterday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I can't dedicate time to my writerly persona right now. For the longest time I've been engaged in a race against time, but I need to stop. My day job is my priority at the moment, plus I need to think about my health, and guys, I can't deal with the stress anymore. One mental breakdown was enough. :-(</i></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14.1666660308838px; line-height: 16.0999984741211px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;" /><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Many of you know I don't like doing things half-assed, so I'm going to concentrate on my job and take a brief break from the gay romance world. Just a few weeks, but nothing TVD related will happen until I come back. This means the release of Heavy Hitters (December 12th) will be postponed until then. I'm sorry for disappointing all of you who were looking forward to it, but I hope you'll understand that I wouldn't do this if I absolutely didn't think I had to. Like I said before, it won't be for too long, and you can be sure I will give you quality stuff upon my return.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Amazon was supposed to un-publish the book, yet I got an email saying it was delivered to everyone who pre-ordered it. I hate to tell you all this, but you got Six Chapters. That's not even a third of the book. I never uploaded the entire story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And I'm fuming.</span></div>
Taylor V. Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129740318557596072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8210488729328874510.post-70461594539282732192014-12-10T13:53:00.000-05:002014-12-10T17:34:15.819-05:00Life Happens, so Bad News<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Hey all! Hope you're having a great holiday season. All shopping done? Good for you! I haven't even started mine yet, but what else is new? I don't have time for much these days. I don't do much other than work. :-(</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So, I'm going to keep this post quick and simple. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In the past few months I've been feeling like this...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and at some point in the past couple of weeks I realized I was like this...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">then I became this...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and had no choice but to do this...</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I can't dedicate time to my writerly persona right now. For the longest time I've been engaged in a race against time, but I need to stop. My day job is my priority at the moment, plus I need to think about my health, and guys, I can't deal with the stress anymore. One mental breakdown was enough. :-(</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Many of you know I don't like doing things half-assed, so I'm going to concentrate on my job and take a brief break from the gay romance world. Just a few weeks, but nothing TVD related will happen until I come back. This means the release of Heavy Hitters (December 12th) will be postponed until then. I'm sorry for disappointing all of you who were looking forward to it, but I hope you'll understand that I wouldn't do this if I absolutely didn't think I had to. Like I said before, it won't be for too long, and you can be sure I will give you quality stuff upon my return.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I love you all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">xoxo</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Taylor </span><br />
<br />Taylor V. Donovanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129740318557596072noreply@blogger.com7