I recently discovered TJ Masters by reading Bear Among the Books. It was such a wonderful read I wanted to devour all his works. So imagine how happy I was when he agreed to be my Author Saturday Spotlight. We will take a look at some of his books, do an interview, and of course end it with a giveaway. Let's get started!!
Forty-eight-year-old Ben
Thompson is a librarian, a passionate book lover, and a man who
embodies the definition of a bear. He’s also lonely after the loss of
his long-term partner. Young ex-gymnast Jason Barnes piques his
interest, but Ben quickly realizes there’s more to Jason than his good
looks. While Jason visits the library almost every day, he never checks
out a book.
With gentle persistence, Ben befriends Jason and
learns the nineteen-year-old’s tragic secrets. After years of abuse at
his father’s hands, Jason was kicked out of his family home for being
gay. And despite his apparent love of books, Jason never learned to
read. Ben offers to teach him, and the two men bond over their lessons.
Ben can’t deny his attraction to Jason, but he wonders if Jason is too
young and too handsome to return his interest. With the help of the
close-knit library team and Jason’s growing self-confidence, they move
beyond the books and into the bedroom, where their own story is just
beginning.
The Gasman Cometh tells
the story of sexy young central heating engineer Chris who is sent to
the home of the older and more confident Colin Andrews to repair a
fault. So far the lad's life has amounted to little but Colin takes a
shine to his repair man and circumstances now lead him to want to help
turn things around. Of course mistakes must be punished, but who says
that love cannot start with a spanking?
There's 7 book sin this series : Check them out
Amateur rugby player
Richard Doyle is injured in a match and after a visit to a hospital A
& E he seeks the help of a sports therapist to get him fit to play
again before the next important game. Physiotherapist Alan Jennings is a
very fit, attractive and skilled man. Ex-army, divorced and gay, Alan
is immediately attracted to his stunningly good looking new client and
wastes no time in seducing the younger man and introducing him to the
joys of masculine m/m sex. As Richard’s shoulder is treated so a
powerful relationship develops between the two men.
The therapist’s
powerful hands work their magic on the handsome rugby player and soon he
is fit to play again. At the same time he has become a hungry
submissive partner in their discrete but intense sexual adventures. The
day of the semi-final arrives and Alan accompanies his lover at the
request of the team coach in order to look after their star player.
After winning a great game the team are ready for their traditional
night of drunken celebrations but Richard just wants to get his sexual
mentor back to their shared hotel room as soon as possible.
Interview
Thank you, TJ, for being here today as our author Saturday
Spotlight! I am a huge fan and have recently been stalking you on social media.
You are fabulous all around. I have a
few questions today to get to know you a bit for me and your fans J Hopefully I won’t
scare you or make you run away. So let’s get down to it.
In your own words; what is the power of a book?
Books can mean many things to many people but for me the
real power of a good book is it’s ability to take you on holiday. A vacation
from your everyday life where to get to meet new friends in new settings and
share their stories.
You were a teacher for 33 years, what subject did you teach
or were you a grade teacher?
Most of my teaching career was spent in Primary schools and
over the years I taught all age groups from 4 to 11 year olds. I started off as
the science specialist but once computers started creeping in I ran with IT and
spent the final 20 years developing that.
What’s one thing your readers might be shocked to know about
you?
I’m not sure that anyone who knows me would be shocked by
anything but maybe some of my readers would be surprised at how much of a geek
I am when it comes to all things scientific or technological.
Bear Among the Books was such a wonderful book. It was literally
filled with so much information. Let’s talk about all the gardening in the
book. Where does that love and knowledge come from?
I have loved gardens and gardening since I was a toddler. My
family home in suburban north west London had a typical garden with a fine veg
patch too. As a teenager I also worked as a part time gardener for local people
and in a very large convent garden!
Jason Barnes has so much to overcome in this book. His story is heart breaking. But I want to
talk about his inability to read. How common is this and as a writer and
teacher what resources can people seek?
For me there is no greater goal in education than the
teaching of reading and it offends me that too many young people still fall
through the net and are failed by the adults in their lives. There are many
adult literacy schemes out there but at the end of the day it takes a good
teacher (does not need to be a professional) who gets to know enough about the
young person to find out what drives and motivates them. Once you have that you
can choose or create the right materials to help them. Teaching is not about
delivering information, it’s about creating an environment in which people want
to learn.
Who are some authors that have ignited your love of reading?
From an early age I have been an avid reader of science
fiction, especially the real story tellers like Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, Isaac
Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke. I love some of the ‘less factual’ science from
Anne McCaffrey and Terry Pratchett. Of course there were the great gay writers
of the 1970’s and 80’s like John Preston, Gordon Merrick, Larry Townsend and my
personal storytelling hero Armistead Maupin.
Can you tell us what you’re currently working on or what we
have to look forward to in the future?
I have a feel-good Christmas story due for release in early
December. My current WIP is an expansion of a short story called Hands of Power
to a full novel about the relationship between a rugby player and a
physiotherapist. That will be closely followed by a tale of intrigue and
romance about a secretive international Master and slave organization.
You were at the UK Meet this year. Are there other
conventions you’ll be attending this year or next?
I attended my third UK Meet this year and loved every minute
of it. I try to support all the small local meets around the country if I can
and next year I will be in Berlin for my third EuroCon but this time as part of
the organizing team.
You have experience coaching people in bringing books to
life so to speak. What is some advice you’d give people who are scared to
publish their book?
Know who you are writing for and just write, write, write.
Don’t get hung up on perfection, that’s the editor’s job. They will happily
correct a rough draft page but they cannot edit a blank one!
How can your fans follow you? Facebook, Twitter, Website?
I am something of a social media whore!
Twitter: @timorahilly
And: @TJMasters
What would you say has been your best accomplishment?
Teaching thousands of young people.
Fast Fire Questions:
Favorite color? Green
Favorite Holiday/vacation? Cocoa Beach, Florida
Ice cream or cake? Cake.
Coffee or tea? COFFEE
Favorite time of day? Early Morning
Dogs or cats? One of each please.
What is your birthstone? Amethyst
Favorite movie? The Hunt For Red October
Favorite smell? Home made bread.
Okay, TJ, you are free to go now. Lol. Thank you immensely
for your time and answers! I can’t wait to read more from you.
Giveaway
One lucky commentator will win their choice of any Book in
TJ Master's Working Hard Loving Harder series to the best comment/memory about learning to read
So answer the question in the comments and please put your contact email in the comments!
Thank you
