Happy Author Saturday Spotlight Day! It's awesome to have Keelan Ellis with us talking about her books and all about writing them. We have some awesome for you of course. There's an interview, we will look at some of her work, there's also a review of her latest book, The One Thing I know. So, stick around and stay till the end where there's a giveaway!
Series: B-Sides
Publisher: NineStar Press
Publication date: August 14, 2017
Cover Artist: Natasha Snow
Length: 180 pages
Synopsis
Talented studio musician, Henry Cole, is offered the dream job of touring with popular rock band, the Vulgar Details. Things aren’t all rosy, though, as he is hired to replace Dell Miller, creative force behind the band, who recently flamed-out in a car accident.
Henry is all too aware that he’s no replacement for someone like Dell. He’s not the only one who feels that way, either. Terry Blackwood, band front man, has been giving him a hard time even before the tour start. He seems to resent Henry’s presence beyond all reason. What Henry doesn’t know is that Terry and Dell’s relationship was both intensely close and fraught with conflict.
Terry’s grief over Dell’s death is overwhelming and threatens to destroy not only the band but his life. It doesn’t help that the new member of the band makes him feel things he doesn’t want to. Worse, when he sings, Henry sounds just like the man Terry cared so deeply for.
With so much at stake, everything could come crashing down around them and mean the end for the Vulgar Details. Or, just maybe, Henry and Terry will find the one thing they need most.
Sometimes redemption comes from the last place you expect to find it.
Henry is all too aware that he’s no replacement for someone like Dell. He’s not the only one who feels that way, either. Terry Blackwood, band front man, has been giving him a hard time even before the tour start. He seems to resent Henry’s presence beyond all reason. What Henry doesn’t know is that Terry and Dell’s relationship was both intensely close and fraught with conflict.
Terry’s grief over Dell’s death is overwhelming and threatens to destroy not only the band but his life. It doesn’t help that the new member of the band makes him feel things he doesn’t want to. Worse, when he sings, Henry sounds just like the man Terry cared so deeply for.
With so much at stake, everything could come crashing down around them and mean the end for the Vulgar Details. Or, just maybe, Henry and Terry will find the one thing they need most.
Sometimes redemption comes from the last place you expect to find it.
Review
Henry Cole is hired as the replacement and pretty much is accepted by the entire band. Minus the leadsinger Terry. There's always one right? It was harder for Terry than anyone else when Dell died. It felt like losing a limb and he's forced to navigate being different, feeling lost, not himself. I was sympathetic about it. I can't really judge people when in the strong hands of grief so I was able to excuse his jerkiness a few times there.
I was born in 1979. This book is set in the 70's so I can't sit here and say I felt nostalgic. I didn't live in this time but I did live in the 80's and though it was a decade of innocence for me, I will say that the 70's was a decade my parents had a hard time leaving behind. It all seemed accurate and I was wow'd by the author for doing such a great time with it. It felt really genuine.
Now, back to Henry and Terry... They have a journey in this book, one you, the reader, take with them. You will have your "I hate Terry" moments. But you need to let yourself feel it all and understand because when Henry and Terry do fall, it's stunning.
This is a book that will make you feel all sorts of emotions between happy to sad. There's stages to this story so I recommend taking them.
Other Books By Keelan Ellis
Misinformation
Ethan Daniels, host of a popular conservative cable news program, has never thought of his bisexuality as a problem, though he has never acted on his attraction to men. Since his divorce, that desire has become more acute. When he meets Charlie Woods, his daughter's first grade teacher, they have an instant spark, but Ethan hesitates to act. His contract is up for renewal, there are already rumors swirling about him because of a brief encounter from his past, and the last thing his employers want is for one of their stars to come out publicly.
Charlie avoids romantic entanglements because he prefers living on his own terms. He keeps love and sex completely separate, never seeing anyone more than a few times. Hooking up with a closeted celebrity like Ethan seems safe from emotional involvement, even if they have to keep their fledgling relationship secret.
The last thing they expect is to fall in love, but their strong mutual attraction moves them both to make changes neither of them thought they wanted or needed.
Charlie avoids romantic entanglements because he prefers living on his own terms. He keeps love and sex completely separate, never seeing anyone more than a few times. Hooking up with a closeted celebrity like Ethan seems safe from emotional involvement, even if they have to keep their fledgling relationship secret.
The last thing they expect is to fall in love, but their strong mutual attraction moves them both to make changes neither of them thought they wanted or needed.
GOOD BOYS
BOOK ONE: THE SOLOMON SERIES
Paul Solomon is a homicide detective in Baltimore, a city with a high murder rate and a complicated relationship between the police and the citizens they are sworn to protect.
He’s also a gay man who has been out on the job since he first joined. Being out on a tough police force hasn’t always been easy, but living with integrity is important to him.
Paul’s love life becomes as tumultuous as his job with the demise of his relationship of eight years. While dealing with the emotional and physical upheaval in his personal life, a case comes across his desk that hits a little too close to home—the murder of two gay teenagers.
Paul and his partner, Tim Cullen, must solve the double homicide, and Paul has to find a way to move on from his failed relationship.
BOOK ONE: THE SOLOMON SERIES
Paul Solomon is a homicide detective in Baltimore, a city with a high murder rate and a complicated relationship between the police and the citizens they are sworn to protect.
He’s also a gay man who has been out on the job since he first joined. Being out on a tough police force hasn’t always been easy, but living with integrity is important to him.
Paul’s love life becomes as tumultuous as his job with the demise of his relationship of eight years. While dealing with the emotional and physical upheaval in his personal life, a case comes across his desk that hits a little too close to home—the murder of two gay teenagers.
Paul and his partner, Tim Cullen, must solve the double homicide, and Paul has to find a way to move on from his failed relationship.
Interview
Thank you, Keelan, for being here today and talking with me. I haven’t had the pleasure of your company yet so this will be a lot of fun.
Writing is said to be in a person’s blood. What about sitting down and pouring out your soul for the world to read makes you feel complete?
In general, I’m not a super hard working person. I really, really like to relax. But the sense of accomplishment, and the unbelievable relief I feel when I’ve finished a novel is second only to childbirth. And since I don’t want to have any more kids, I’m just going to have to keep writing.
Do you have a book somewhere in your home that is one you reread a lot for inspiration?
My favorite rereads are Jane Eyre and The Stand--obviously completely different books in almost every way. What they share is a recognition that all humans are flawed, but that our flaws don’t have to define us. Our flaws don’t disqualify us from doing important things or living a fulfilled life. They both deal with breaking the patter of self-sabotage, overcoming the baggage from our past and the various ways we’ve been hurt, and finding a way to move forward as better people.
Where do you find your inspiration to write?
I find it all over. Sometimes a real life story or person will start me on a train of thought that leads to a story, or sometimes it could be something another person says in passing. Usually it’s something that strikes me as having an insight into human behavior.
What are the hardest and easiest things about writing a book?
For me, I think my biggest obstacle is anxiety. It’s a belief, somewhere deep inside me, that I can’t do it, despite evidence to the contrary. It really slows me down because it causes me to procrastinate and avoid the work. That’s the way I experience self-sabotage. Writing is rarely something that flows easily for me; it’s always hard work.
The easiest and most fun thing is figuring out who the characters are. I start with a cardboard cut out and end up with a fully formed person who I feel like I’ve known my whole life.
Do you use actual visuals for your MC’s or are they manifestations in your head?
I’ve heard it said that people are incapable of imagining a human face that they’ve never actually seen. If that’s true, then I guess I must be thinking of actual people, but it’s usually not something I’m conscious of. I don’t usually picture celebrities or people I know.
If one of your books could be on the big screen which would you want to go up and why?
I’d love to see The One Thing I Know on the big screen (or the little screen—I love TV). I think the story is compelling, and 1970s visuals are always really interesting to me. I think it would be beautiful to look at.
Can you tell us what you’re currently working on or what’s to come?
In November, I have the next installment in the B-Sides series coming out. It’s called Everything I Have, and it’s centered around Richard Gold, who is Henry’s best friend in The One Thing I Know. It’s going to be a very different book. It’s about a later in life relationship; both MCs are in their forties, and have both been fairly set in their ways, but in very different ways. I loved writing these more mature characters, and to me (as a woman in her forties) they were both incredibly sexy.
Also in November, I have a Hanukkah story coming out in the NineStar Press holiday anthology. It’s about family, and what happens when we are confronted with something painful from our past. It’s about dealing with our childhood issues with an adult perspective. All that, but there’s also some sweet romance.
I’m currently working on the second Paul Solomon mystery, which will be out in Spring 2018.
How can your fans follow your works: FB, Twitter, website…?
Blog: keelanellis.blogspot.com
FAST FIRE QUESTIONS
Coffee or tea? Coffee and keep it coming.
Day or night? Early morning
Favorite color? Green
Favorite smell? Lemongrass
Best comfort food? Cinnamon toast
Star Wars or Star Trek? Star Wars
Superhero or villain? Depends on the superhero and the villain. Whoever seems more human.
Dogs or cats? Cats
Thank you, Keelan, for hanging out with me today.
Thanks for inviting me! I had a lot of fun with these questions.
Giveaway
Keelan will gift one person the ebook The One Thing I Know.
Please enter the rafflecopter below.
Contest will end on August 25th!
Thanks!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I love finding new to me authors!
ReplyDeleteThis is a brand new author to me. Ive already checked her out on Amazon and cant wait to start reading her stories!! This book looks amazing! I love reading books set in different decades!
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ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new release Keelan it's great to find a new author and I wish you many sales.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new release, Keelan. You are a new author to me.
ReplyDeletei haven't read anything from Keelan before but The One Thing I Know sounds really good
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your new book Keelan!
ReplyDeletecongrats on the new release
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the interview! I don't usually visualize celebrities as characters either. Makes it more fun sometimes.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great story! I'm also a fan of cinnamon toast. :)
ReplyDelete