Author Saturday Spotlight : C. Zampa *Interview and Giveaway*

C. Zampa is an author some may have heard of while others may have not. She came into my life when a friend went nuts telling me to read Candy G by her. Of course I did and I freaked out. Totally in love with it, the characters, all of it. I HAD TO READ MORE! So I got Honor C and flailed like a girl at a 1D concert! SO AMAZING! I just knew I had to spotlight her!

I immediately messaged her, begging like I do. She agreed and I was thrilled. Imagine my SHOCK when she says to me, "You know I also write under the pen name Vastine Bondurant." WHAT!?!?! I know!

So if you don't know the name C. Zampa perhaps you've heard of Vastine Bondurant. In the interview I ask about both pen names and about her future writings! So you're in for a treat.

She is also offering a Reader's Choice Giveaway! YOU can choose ANY ebook by either C. Zampa or Vastine Bondurant! EEEEEEE!

Let's talk C. Zampa books...

HONOR C

Blurb:
When Honor Castillo convinces himself he isn’t gay, he begins a new life. He ends his affair with his lover, Jorge Villagomez, and marries Rebecca to establish a life with her as a respected San Antonio businessman. They have a son and he tells himself he is happy.

Eleven years later, Jorge returns to San Antonio, and his path crosses with Honor’s once more. The flame of their passion never died, and neither did Jorge’s love for Honor.

When Jorge approaches Honor to design his studio, Honor believes he can walk the line between friendship and lovers. But when a sudden crisis threatens to take Jorge from him forever, Honor must choose between his duty and his heart. Most of all, he’s forced to decide what he’s willing to lose in order to be true to who he really is.

OH JORGE! You'll understand it after you read it! *Whispers* I hear rumors of a sequel...

Blurb:
What kind of man drives a bulletproof Mercedes and carries a high-powered pistol in the glove compartment along with his boyhood teddy bear? Candy G does, that’s who. Once the exclusive attorney for the most powerful drug lord in San Antonio, he turned his back on Teirso Flores and walked away. But at what price?

Moving on with his life despite the threat of Teirso’s revenge, Candy meets gorgeous, streetwise Carlos Alvarez, and thus begins a passionate love affair rife with danger, secrets, and specters from the past that just won’t let go. When truths are revealed, will the one thing that brought their worlds together be the test that strengthens their love or the knife that severs their bond forever?

*Sigh* my heart still is all bleedy and emotional just thinking about this book.

Of course be sure to check out C.Zampa's Goodreads page for reviews and such.... C.Zampa on Goodreads

VASTINE BONDURANT BOOKS:
Purly Gates

Blurb:
A lonely stretch of beach becomes a hiding place for two men who, when their paths cross, are determined not to be ships just passing in the night.

Purlman “Purly” Gates—dark, brooding, mysterious, hiding from his past and the hefty price on his head—is hopelessly attracted to the young man who strolls the beach every morning. At the risk of his own exposure and its deadly consequences, Purly succumbs to his desire and sets out to lure the beautiful enigma into his lair.

Lucky Cleary wants the swarthy stranger who watches him from the shadows of the cottage deck, and his morning promenades finally pay off when the man steps out onto the beach and into Lucky’s life in a move to bring their paths together.

But Lucky has a secret as well—a past mistake following close behind him, promising certain death if it catches up with him.

When each man discovers the other’s identity, the truth forms a powerful bond between them and fans the flame of their passion.

But is the meeting of these two lonely souls a beautiful destiny or merely a cruel twist of fate in which their desire is nothing more than the kiss of death for them both?

Glory Lands 

Blurb:
A Texas Piney Woods Story

Rural East Texas, 1931. Preacher’s son Emory Joe Logan and a fiddler from Shreveport, Glory Lands, meet and form a tender bond. When they are caught and arrested for homosexual acts by Sheriff Elihu Bishop, the lawman’s sanctimonious bigotry threatens to rip the young men from their families.

Emory Joe’s father, Pastor Charles Logan, is brought to his knees in terror, confusion, and anger. He still regrets not standing up against Bishop when the lawman murdered a youth in cold blood nine years ago.

Now there’s no longer a choice for the preacher to stand up to the lawman. Cold-blooded justice, bigotry-disguised-as-religion, and hatred take on a whole new meaning when they’re standing on his doorstep, ready to take the son he loves.

Again, be sure to check out Vastine's Goodreads page: Vastine Bondurant on Goodreads

4 books... 4 choices... 2 pen names... ONE author! CRAZY TALENT!


INTERVIEW

 You have 2 pen names. Can you tell us aside from C. Zampa what the other is and what the differences in writing they both offer?

 Okay, so this is silly...but when I first started writing, my good friend and mentor was an older Italian gentleman. With his influence, I began with stories about the 40's Mafia. Always Italian characters. So I wanted an Italian pen name (told you it was silly!), and it was easy. I just chose 'Zampa', which is the name of my favorite opera. I truly did it for fun, never intending to really ever be USING the name.

But, then my heart and soul went also to my deep passion---the south, rural east Texas (my roots). My true voice, I believe. And...well...I felt this 'other' voice was calling for a name that fit its heart. Our company had a customer ( a man, believe it or not) whose first name was Vastine. I LOVED that and used it. Then the 'Bondurant' came from a character I loved, Big Pete Bondurant, from James Ellroy's novel, 'American Tabloid.' So, sure, folks may think I'm off my nut about a mile an a half... but it just had to be. And the Zampa now is my pen name for contemporary, usually Latino based; and the Vastine is for my vintage self. LOL

 There have been talks of a sequel for Honor C. Can you confirm or deny this?

 I can absolutely confirm it! I wasn't expecting the feedback from readers (and it made my heart so happy, by the way, for them to love my boys), wishing for Honor and Jorge to have their happy ending. Well, that was funny, because I honestly thought they DID have a happy ending. But, well, Jorge's health was a question. And I thought...yep...they need a follow-up. It's taking a long time to formulate, because I'm letting my heart direct a story for it. I just didn't want it to be focused on Jorge and his health. So still musing.

 I had a conversation with a friend about the titles of your books. Honor C and Candy G. They aren't part of a same series but you titled them after a MC. Is this something you will typically be doing? Or is this coincidental?

 It's intentional. What nobody knows is that, when they were planned, they WERE supposed to be a series. But at the time of publication for Candy G, the second in the series was SO far in the future, I couldn't commit to actually titling it as a series. What's funny is that the sequel is NOT going to be patterned that way because it's about the two MC's from Honor C, and I didn't want to call it 'Honor C, Part II'...lol. BUT...there IS going to be a follow up story to Candy G, involving his best friend, and it will be Jesse D.

 What is your writing ritual like ie... Writing Cave, out on the porch, after the kids go to bed you pull out the laptop and write wherever you are?

 I could produce faster if I HAD a ritual. I really don't have one, but when I DO write, it is at the dining room table where my desktop is located. Oh, I dream of a laptop, though! I'd like to write on the patio!

 Do you oversee the design of your book covers or do you get little say in the matter?

 Both. Dreamspinner (where I have two Zampa works and one Vastine work) are absolutely wonderful about the author having input.  I was a greenhorn at the time Candy G was published and I'll admit I didn't have much input, I was kind of afraid to react if I didn't like something. And I have regretted that. But the other books? The artists (Paul Richmond and Reese Dante) were determined to not let that cover go out the door until I could say I loved it. They were magnificent in their effort to please. For a WIP I'm working on, I had a cover made as incentive. I haven't been able to reveal it yet, as the book is not ready, but the artist (A. J. Corza) worked very closely with me.

 What advice would you give new writers entering this genre?

  OH, man. Advice for this genre. Tough question, because---for me---writing is writing. In all genres I might write, I want to show respect for my characters, for my subjects. But if you're contemplating the m/m genre? Just please enter into it with love for it, not because it happens to be a genre that is steadily growing in popularity. Well, for that matter, don't go into any genre for money alone. In my opinion, as it's a still fairly new genre, with lots of speculative eyes watching it, it's at a delicate stage in its history. And, as with any genre, as for any author, give it your very BEST.

 Can you tell us about any future projects you have in the works?

 Working on a contemporary Latino story, another San Antonio based setting. I can't reveal the title yet. I'm working on a sequel to Honor C, a sequel to Glory Lands (Vastine's story) and another Texas Piney Woods story whose title I also can't tell yet.

 What inspires you?

 Mostly music. Surroundings. For my Latinos, I'm submerged in Hispanic music---anywhere from Latin club mixes, 'gangsta' style music, traditional Mexican folk songs. For surroundings, I love hanging out in the---gods, what would you call it?---well, the barrio districts in the city where I grew up, Pasadena/Houston, Texas. The rich culture, the vivid color, the flavor. But mostly music. For everything.

 Writers tend to be very ambitious people. Where do you hope this career will have taken you in 5 years time?

 I plan to have won a Pulitzer within the next five years. Just kidding. Seriously? I really do not know. Where I'm leaning, to be honest, is more into mainstream. What I'd write and---most of all---what I'd do with it once I DID write something mainstream? I'm not sure. Probably self publish. But I honestly don't see any sort of big thing in my future as far as writing. The fun part will be seeing where it does lead me. As far as ambitious? I am not. I truly do this for the pure love of it. I'm an odd ball who---when I got my first contract---saw the part where it asked, "How do you want to be paid?".....and I thought, "Oh, man, oh, man! I'm getting PAID for this!" I truly, truly was not ambitious enough to even have thought of that part.

 Can you supply us with ways to keep up with your career (In both pen names) via Social Media?

For C. Zampa

Email: czampa1953@gmail.com

C.Zampa on Blogger

On facebook

Twitter @Authorczampa

For Vastine Bondurant:

Email:      vastinebondurant@gmail.com

On Blogger 

Facebook 

Twitter @VastineB 

With all her amazing books you're sure to find it hard to choose just ONE ebook! So choose wisely... Then buy all the other ones :D Seriously she's worth every penny...

NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY!

Enter below. The contest runs for 5 days. I will email the winner and you will have 48 hours to respond with your book choice and format preference.  Then C. Zampa will email you your winnings :)

GOOD LUCK!

GIVEAWAY:

 

 



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Blog Fail

Anyone who has been following me on Facebook or Twitter is aware of the drama that is Blogger. I came home yesterday from the beach to find my entire blog was deleted. In my email was a message from Blogger stating my blog violated terms of service and was marked as SPAM and removed.

I freaked! A LOT! It was gone! I had schedules to fulfill! Authors to flail about and a blog hop coming up!

Then I see on my Facebook timeline not 1 or 2 but a bunch of Blogger users having the same issue!

I disputed the deletion of my blog. It took awhile since I couldn't access my dashboard and had to have Blogger text me a verification code. Of course they tell me "We are reviewing your request for your blog to be reactivated, please allow up to 20 days for a response." OH. MY. GOD!  TWENTY DAYS?

I started looking at other sites. I had commitments! But in less than 24 hours Blogger reinstated my blog. The reason "Due to an automated error your blog was deleted. After further review we apologize for the error and any inconvience it has caused."

Thankfully it was only minor heart explosions on my part, but alas I am back up and running :)

July Top Reads

If you're like me you never know what you want to read. OR you have too many choices lol! Last month I started a monthly top reads on my blog in the hopes to help you out. Each month giving you 5 books. These are only recommendations from me. I loved these books, found them very entertaining, well written AND they made a monthly top read!

Publication date has nothing to do with my choices. Some of them might be a year or 2 old. I just happen to love them and wanted you to love them too. So, in no particular order I give you the top reads for the month of July.

KEEP SWIMMING by, Kade Boehme

Blurb:
After his partner dumped him with a pregnant surrogate four years ago, Cary Whitmore was forced to play single parent while starting up a new business. With the dog bakery now semi-successful and his son healthy, Cary thinks he may be ready to date again.

Heath Cummings is trying his damnedest to get his charter boat service off the ground and dreams of one day soon being able to quit his job as an offshore driller. Paying off his dream requires making it through a couple more years, which means being open about his sexuality isn't in the cards just yet.

When the two take their flirting to the next level, Cary wonders if he can handle another guy who might take off, while Heath has to decide if he can risk his dream of a laid back life—and giving up his long-held and much enjoyed bachelor status while taking on a child when being a father was never on his to-do list. Will they sink, or will they keep swimming?

My GR and Amazon review: I held on not crying as long as I could in this book. But alas, I did. Tears on my kindle!!!! Kade has the amazing ability of making all his characters relatable. I love how he nails each emotion. Written by someone who has clearly lived a life in every feeling there is. This story tugged at my heart and immersed me into a story that I never wanted to end.  

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WHAT HE WANTS by, Kate Aaron

Blurb:
Christo's life fell apart when his partner of eight years walked out on him. There wasn't even a reason for it: sometimes love just fades, as quickly and mysteriously as it appears in the first place.

Enter Damien. Damien's the guy with a different man on his arm for every event, he's smooth and arrogant and always impeccably turned out. Christo hates him. But God, he's gorgeous. Damien could be exactly what Christo needs to get him over John.

It's only going to be a fling. Nothing serious, nothing that will affect their working relationship or the rest of their lives. So why are they fighting through the night rather than letting go and walking away? Why does Damien's secretive nature bug Christo so much? And why does he even care that the other man might not be as tough as he pretends to be?

My GR and Amazon review:
This is my favorite Kate Aaron book so far! That's saying something since I think she's extremely talented in all her writings. This book is wonderful! Damien and Christo go from boardroom enemies to bedroom lovers. Watching the entire thing transform before your very eyes is entertaining and joyful. Both men are as stubborn. Both want the same thing. I want to hide Damien away for my very own and never return him. LOL! This is a beautiful story and I loved every part of it. 

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Yakuza Pride by, H.J. Brues

Blurb:
When yakuza underboss Shigure Matsunaga meets Kenneth Harris at a boring social event, he’s surprised to find himself attracted to the blond gaijin with the mismatched eyes. Shigure is even more pleased when he discovers Ken not only speaks Japanese fluently, but is fluent in Japan's ways, even the more violent of the martial arts. Ken’s expertise at kendo is not his most striking quality—it’s the passion beneath his quiet, almost fragile exterior that ignites Shigure's lust, and the two come together as explosively as they spar.

Shigure is a dangerous man in a dangerous position. He’s been trying to keep the peace with the Daito-kai—Shigure's hated rivals—but the danger on the streets is escalating, threatening those Shigure most wants to protect. He may claim to love his gaijin, but before he can keep Ken safe, Shigure will have to overcome hostility from his people, a hidden enemy, and, the most insidious opponent of all, his own hard-won pride

My GR and Amazon review: I don't know where to start. I love this book so damn much! I don't know much, if anything, about Japanese culture. I've heard of the Yakuza and I dated a Japanese guy in high school. I love the food... I'm a typical tourist I guess. This book was descriptive to the point of art! I'm usually a dialog person but H.J. Brues painted the scenery and I was transfixed. Ken blew me away. He's strong and American and probably one of if not the most bravest character I've ever read. 

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HONOR C by, C.Zampa

Blurb:
When Honor Castillo convinces himself he isn’t gay, he begins a new life. He ends his affair with his lover, Jorge Villagomez, and marries Rebecca to establish a life with her as a respected San Antonio businessman. They have a son and he tells himself he is happy.

Eleven years later, Jorge returns to San Antonio, and his path crosses with Honor’s once more. The flame of their passion never died, and neither did Jorge’s love for Honor.

When Jorge approaches Honor to design his studio, Honor believes he can walk the line between friendship and lovers. But when a sudden crisis threatens to take Jorge from him forever, Honor must choose between his duty and his heart. Most of all, he’s forced to decide what he’s willing to lose in order to be true to who he really is.

My GR and Amazon  review: LOVE LOVE LOVE! Seriously what a gorgeous story. And Jorge? WHAT A FEISTY ONE! This told in 3 different POV's and I was skeptical at first but that was short lived. Once again C. Zampa did a hell of a job bringing characters to life and building a visually beautiful world to us. 

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WOLF BOUND, by Theo Fenraven

Blurb
A year after suffering a disastrous end to his relationship with his partner, teacher Jon Anderson trades his apartment in the city for a lake house in the country. Told there is an author living nearby, Jon, who dreams of being a writer, goes in search of him and finds the attractive older man in a small, rustic cabin on a tiny island on a neighboring lake. Harrison Kalmes shows Jon around, but makes it clear he’d rather be left alone. Jon respects that wish until the night he and his friend, Suzie, drink a little too much scotch and impulsively decide to visit the island.

What happens then is the start of an incredible journey that will eventually take Jon all the way to mysterious and seductive Transylvania in Romania, where he searches for the answers that will save someone’s life while setting him on the road to rediscovering his own.

Beware the woods. Transylvania isn’t only about vampires.

My GR and Amazon review: I'm funny when it comes to paranormal. I either love it or hate it. I fear grabbing that sci-fi book from an unknown author and hope for the best. Theo Fenraven has dipped his hands in the paranormal before and I wasn't disappointing then and I'm not disappointed now.

It's rare when an author can make the unbelievable into something the reader can relate to. This story was not just about the shifting of the physical being but the shifting on the mental being too. Shaky ground and uncertain futures, about being in control even when you are pulled by things out of your control. We constantly struggle with that in our everyday. To see it from this perspective was fascinating.

Theo is a writer I very much look forward to reading when a new book comes out and I have been waiting for this. You can love paranormal or not, either way this book will suit you well. Wolf or human you will have no choice but to be pulled in by these majestic creatures and embrace the human in them.

How many times we wish we can hit reset, or wake up to find out that was a test and it all starts right now. Wolf Bound, for me, gave me that kind of feel. That, "You have no idea how big this world is and how much there is you'll never see unless you go and look for it," kind of feel.

It's a literary breath of fresh air that I highly and excitingly recommend!

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Win a chance to own 2 Jude Ouvrard Books!!

Jude was born and raised in a small village named Lacolle. She now lives in Montreal, Canada. She is the proud mother of a beautiful five years old son, and has spent the last twelve years with her partner.

French is her native language, but she prefers to write in her second language, English.

Besides working full time in a law firm and being a mother, Jude has a passion for books, both reading and writing them.

She is currently working on a novel called Ophelia. Coming soon!

Phoenix Silverstone more commonly known as Nix, is a twenty-one year old that has finally discovered her freedom. After living under the strict rules and protection of her mother, Nix moved out with her two best friends in a quaint little Seattle apartment. For the first time Nix is finally able to spread her wings and breathe. Together, they get a job working at a bar and for the first time everything is perfect.

Freedom, friendships, a great job and fantastic man on the verge of becoming hers. Tristan is the suave, intelligent, not to mention gorgeous law student that Nix has her eyes and heart set on. For the first time, she has her life together; that is, until her path crosses with Levi. The charming, tattooed and downright sexy bad boy that Nix knows she needs to avoid.

But when one of her friends moves out she is shocked to find that her new roommate is none other than Levi. Flirting. Desire. Undeniable temptations. Nix can’t deny the chemistry surging between them but she can’t forget her mother’s extreme hate towards bad boys.

Will Nix have the strength to listen to her heart? Or will her mother’s rules cost her everything?

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www.facebook.com/judeouvrard

@JudeOuvrard

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The entire mass of guys sitting around my station flocked to Val’s, giving me some time to clean up. I looked up to find only one guy left, and he was watching me intently. It was the same guy Ty had greeted so enthusiastically earlier.

''Can I get you anything?'' I asked, taking empty glasses off the counter.

''A smile. Give me one and I guarantee you’ll get the biggest tip tonight.'' The slow seductive tone rolling from his shapely lips told me he wasn’t just fooling around. His green eyes stared at me like I was dessert. This guy was hot and he knew it. He was looking me up and down, biting on his lips. He was clearly not afraid to show me how much he liked what he saw. Me. His confidence and determination were fierce. The way his tousled light brown hair went every which way, hanging down across his forehead, told me right away he didn’t care about his looks. He didn’t have to.

He wanted a smile? I shook my head. ''You don’t want a drink? Just water, maybe?''

''No, just a smile. You're the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen and it's just a smile I want.'' He brushed his hand through his hair, making it even more tousled.

I knew I was blushing and bit my lip in embarrassment. His eyes refused to stray from mine, pinning me in place. I smiled, but not because he’d asked. No, this smile was solely because this random man had pulled it out of me himself. I saw the humour in his eyes as he slid fifty bucks out of his pocket and onto the counter. ''Thank you, Princess. You just made my night.''

He got up and walked away. I could see the hint of tattoos peeking out around his neckline and beneath his rolled up sleeves. His black Converse were worn out, giving him a laid back look and his perfectly fitted washed-out jeans fell low on his hips, accentuating what looked to be the most perfect ass I’d ever seen. The black, long sleeve Henley he wore was tight in all the right places. There was something about his mysterious and inscrutable demeanor which made me wonder about him. He’d wanted to get my attention and, well – he’d gotten it.

Who the hell was he? I knew he was the guy Tyler had been excited to see, but I’d never seen him around the club before. I knew I’d have remembered that tantalizingly gorgeous mystery man.

He didn't give me his name and I didn't give him mine. Not that he had to ask - I wore a name tag with my name engraved on it. It was the strangest thing which had ever happened to me. My eyes continued to focus on him until he opened the door of the club and left. I found myself still watching the door, even after it was closed, as though I wanted to chase after him – which was insane. I shook my head, willing myself to move on.

I began wiping down the counters, pausing to watch Val entertain her groupies at the station next to mine. As I turned to grab more lemons, my eyes were drawn again to the door. Tristan sauntered in with a few of his friends hanging around him, laughing at something one of them had said. Tristan had admitted to never visiting Black Shakers before and even after our dinner date tonight, I still hadn’t expected to see him turn up so soon. I couldn’t seem to figure out if I was excited by his surprise visit, or nervous about it. It felt like he was parading a bunch of his buddies around my bedroom, looking through my dirty laundry. This was my home away from home and I wasn’t sure if I was ready to let him in—yet. Not to mention I was still shaken up by the strange interaction with Mr. Mysterious.

Shouts from Val’s station caught my attention again. Val was lying on the counter and Bekka was squeezing some lime juice onto Val’s stomach. I wasn’t sure who was supposed to get the next shot, but right now, I needed it to be me. I made my way around the bar with determination as I kept the drink in my sights. Tipping my head back, I drained the liquor from the glass, and licked the lime juice and salt from Val’s belly. All eyes were on me now, as if I was some sort of prize. It was just a shot for heaven’s sake. The customers were used to this performance, most of the girls behind the bar were doing body shots throughout the night. The first time I visited Black Shakers to hang out, the waitresses did at least two shots each. As far as I was concerned, it really was no big deal.

I walked back to my section and was immediately surrounded by applauding and drunken guys, asking for my phone number. I laughed it off as I always did - none of them would get it. It was just one aspect of working in a club, dealing with the slobbering, horny drunks. At least I could handle their testosterone-fuelled innuendo now, and if anyone ever got out of hand, there were always bodyguards standing by to watch our backs.

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