Like yesterday’s A Long Time Coming, this one is a little outside my norm but it also is one that appealed to me greatly so I couldn’t resist. Check out today’s guest post from Michael Holloway Perronne, author of Men Can Do Romance.
*****
A Big Easy Romance
Despite it being almost sixteen years since I lived in the New Orleans area, time and time again I find my writing taking me back to the eccentric and one of a kind city that is the Big Easy. To me, there has always been something undeniably romantic about the high energy, colorful history, diverse architecture, unique music, street performers, renowned jazz clubs, and lively nightlife of the French Quarter. The city tends to be as much of a character in my books as my protagonists as the culture of the New Orleans often has a direct impact on the journey of my characters.
In my new novella, Men Can Do Romance, Troy is a military veteran who recently returned back to U.S. and has only just coming to terms with his sexuality. The unabashedly in your face open sexuality of the French Quarter helps ease him out of the closet. As for Elliot, Troy’s eventual love interest, the close-knit community that can be found in the Quarter has provided him with a loving, accepting second family comprised of his circle of friends who help give him the confidence to go after his dream man.
I’d love to hear from those of you who’ve had the chance to visit and/or live in what I believe to be the most distinctive city in all of the United States and what some of your favorite memories are during this holiday season. And if you haven’t had a chance to explore the Big Easy, I encourage you to do so as few can resist the charms of this special city that has always followed the beat of its own drummer.
If you’re lucky enough to visit, I encourage you to also check out and support one of the few LGBT bookstores left, FAB Arts & Books in the Marigny area of the city snuggled between some of the hottest jazz clubs found in the area. A trip to FAB and a visit with its proprietor, Otis, can give you a crash course of information about one the most gay-friendly cities in the nation.
I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season!
— Michael Holloway Perronne
*****
Men Can Do Romance: A Novella
Release Date: 10/2013
Genre: Romance/Gay, Literature/Gay
Blurb:
Despite living in free-spirited New Orleans, Elliot finds that his career as an insurance actuary has him constantly weighing the risks of every move he makes in his life. When Troy, his teenage crush, returns home to the Big Easy after a stint with the Marines and unexpectedly announces he’s gay, Elliot must decide if he’s willing to take a chance and find out if men really can do romance.
Buy Links:
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/men-can-do-romance-michael-holloway-perronne/1116860892?ean=2940148808046
AllRomanceEbooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-mencandoromanceanovella-1281806-341.html
*****
Author Info:
Michael Holloway Perronne is the author of five novels: “A Time Before Me”, “Starstruck: A Hollywood Saga”, “Falling Into Me”, “A Time Before Us” and “Embrace the Rain” and the novella “Men Can Do Romance.” His debut novel, “A Time Before Me” won the Bronze Award, Foreword Magazine’s 2006 Book of the Year Award in the Gay/Lesbian fiction category. In addition, Michael recently released his first travel guide, “The Quickie Gay Guide to Cape Town, South Africa.”
Michael was born and raised in Mississippi. He received a BA in Film from the University of Southern Mississippi and a MFA in Drama and Communications from the University of New Orleans.
To find out more about Michael, please visit www.michaelhperronne.com.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chances-Press-LLC/464594523611777
*****
Excerpt:
“Oh, hi,” I said, thrown off when a muscular handsome god opened Louie’s door. It took a few moments before it registered who stood before me. He was as handsome as ever, but now there was an added maturity to him. “Troy?”
“Elliot! Long time, no see. Come in,” he said, opening the door wider for me to walk inside.
“I’m sorry…I…uh…wanted to bring back Louie’s camera. He’s such a night owl. I thought….Well, I hope I didn’t wake you up or anything. I didn’t know you were in town.”
I found myself feeling hot and flushed all of a sudden. I had always had a crush on Troy growing up. He had been Louie’s older, dreamy brother. Over six feet tall, coal black hair, emerald green eyes, and a wide killer smile that would leave you breathless. My first big crush. Sure, Louie and I had been close friends since elementary school, but when I hit puberty, around the time Troy must have been a senior in high school, I came up with an endless supply of excuses to visit Louie’s house in the hope of just catching a glance of his brother.
Everybody in school knew of Troy. He had been the big man on campus from first grade to graduation…quarterback, dating the head cheer-leader, most likely to succeed at…well…everything. I used to practically swoon if I happened to walk by him in the halls at our tiny Catholic school, and he’d say, “Hey, Elliot. What’s up?” to me. This walking sex on a stick would actually acknowledge me…little freshman me. It made me feel special each and every time.
He’d joined the military right after high school. Louie said his brother wanted to give back to his country in this time of war and crisis which of course made him even more swoon worthy to me. When he came home he usually stayed at his and Louie’s parents in Mandeville about an hour from New Orleans, and I hadn’t seen him in years now.
“No problem. Come in,” he repeated.
I tried to pull myself back together. Damn. In a matter of seconds, he had turned me back into a shy awkward teenager.
“Thanks,” I said, finally walking inside. “Is he here? I just stopped by on the off chance to return this.”
I laid the camera on the coffee table, and then nervously stuffed my hands into my pockets.
“Nah, he went out with some friends. He hasn’t come back in yet. You want anything to drink?” he asked.
“Ah, that’s okay. I should probably be heading home myself. I bor-rowed his camera for a trip I took to Puerto Vallarta. I never get around to buying a good digital camera myself. Why should I when I can borrow Louie’s, right? I just left meeting up with a da…friend, and since he’s always up late, I thought I’d stop by to see if…”
Dear God! I’m rambling. Someone stop me please before I embarrass myself even more!
“You know, see if he was home.”
Finally. I shut myself up.
“I’ll make sure he knows you dropped it back by,” Troy said. He started to open his mouth again as if he were about to say something else. Then, he paused for a bit before saying, “So, how you been all these years? When I’ve asked about you, Louie says you’ve been working as an…uh… actuary here in town.”
He’s asked about me! Don’t. Stop. Please don’t further embarrass yourself by reading more into a casual conversation.
“Yeah, for a few years now. I’ve never made it too far away from New Orleans. Sort of stayed close to home. How are you? Louie said you were finishing up with the military. He didn’t say you’d be in town though.”
“Yeah, I sort of surprised him. I was going to travel around for a bit before you know…making my mind up about my next move. But I decided I should spend some time with my little brother.”
“That’s great. Maybe I’ll see some more of you while you’re in town. Any idea on how long you’ll be here?”
He shrugged his shoulders, and I couldn’t help but notice how his blue t-shirt pulled tightly in all the right places.
“I’m still figuring some things out. What the next move is. Stuff like that,” he replied.
“Cool,” I said, momentarily unable to think from the impact of gazing at him. “Well, I better head home and let you wind down. Thank Louie for me again.”
“Sure. I…” Troy started to say before trailing off.
I stood there waiting for him to finish. Why did Troy look so nervous? I could never recall seeing him look nervous about anything. Then again, it had been a long time, and I couldn’t even imagine some of the things he must have gone through in the middle of a war zone.”
“See you around,” he finally said.
I had the nagging feeling that that had not been the phrase on the tip of his tongue.
“You, too, Troy. Take care,” I said, walking out and shutting the door behind me.
Damn. Some guys just got better looking with age. As I walked back down to the street, I wondered what he had been about to tell me…and what had stopped him.
*****
Check out the other great stops on the tour:
Dec.9th: Behind Closed Doors-Spotlight
Dec. 10th: myeroticnotions.com- Spotlight
Dec. 11th: Romantic Reads and Such-Guest Post
Dec. 13th: Must Read Faster– Guest Post
Dec. 16th: YGRR-Spotlight
Dec. 17th: Inner Goddess-Spotlight
Dec. 18th: Bookbliss– Spotlight and Review
Dec. 20th: Sizzlinghotbooks.com -Spotlight
Romantic Reads and Such 