My First M/M Experience
by Melissa Collins
Since publishing Let Love Live, many readers have asked me how I felt about the process seeing as it was my first M/m novel. The previous five titles in my series are all M/f and up until about a year ago, I had primarily read M/F novels. This wasn’t because I had anything against M/m romances. Sadly, I just didn’t know the existed.
So, how does someone who’s only read and written M/f novels make the transition to gay romance? It was actually a fairly easy one. Dylan and Shane were characters who were already in my previous books so I already knew their back story. For me, they fell in love like and man and woman would. I mean, love is love, right? For that reason alone, I didn’t treat it any differently than I would have. They learn about each other’s feelings, test the waters of their physical attraction, say or do the wrong things at times, and learn how to make up. For those of you who have already read Let Love Live, you know why Dylan and Shane can’t be together. And, for those of you who haven’t, a word of advice: get tissues.
Part two of the novel focuses on Dylan eight years after part one ends. For this part, I was a little nervous because I had to bring in a new character – new to my series and new to Dylan. But again, I wanted to treat it like any other romance. I didn’t want there to be stereotypes or make it feel like I was a woman writing what I think men would say or do. So in Dylan and Conner, I created two very assertive and confident men – a counselor and an ex-MMA fighter.
Now, I did do a lot of internet “research” for certain sexy scenes, but I won’t complain about that one bit. I had so much fun writing Let Love Live and I honestly feel like it was a very successful novel, let alone my first M/m novel. You can definitely count on more coming from me in the future.
About Let Love Live
Who would you become if you lost the only person who ever mattered?
For twenty-six year old Dylan Hopkins, the answer is easy. He’s become no one. Memories of the happier times are all he has left as he finds himself meandering numbly through his now dull life. Though he cares about his work and family dearly, he’s yet to let himself find love again. Afraid of letting go of what he once had, Dylan chooses to keep his heart buried, where it belongs, having died a long time ago.
Conner Michelson is about to change everything Dylan knows. He’s every bit the bad boy persona – tatted up, ex-MMA fighter, but after an injury leaves him unable to fight, he has to rethink his goals. Having just opened his own gym, Conner can cross his first major life accomplishment off his very short list. Next up: find a man he can settle down with and build a family. Seems simple enough – a dream most people have, but when he meets Dylan, his carefree, easy-going life is thrown into a tailspin.
Determined to keep Dylan in his life, Conner vows to resurrect Dylan’s long ago buried heart and let love live once more.
About Melissa Collins
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Melissa Collins has always been a book worm. Studying Literature in college ensured that her nose was always stuck in a book. She followed her passion for reading to the most logical career choice: English teacher. Her hope was to share her passion for reading and the escapism of books to her students. Having spent more than a decade in front of a classroom, she can easily say that it’s been a dream.
Her passion for writing didn’t start until more recently. When she was home on maternity leave in early 2012, she read her first romance novel and her head filled with the passion, angst and laughter of the characters who she read about it. It wasn’t long before characters of her own took shape in her mind. Their lives took over Melissa’s brain and The Love Series was born.
Connect with Melissa on her Website, Facebook or Twitter.
Melissa has kindly offered up a chance to win a $5 Gift Card to Amazon.com to one lucky winner!! The giveaway starts now and ends September 23, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. To enter, just click the link below!
Please be aware that the only way to enter the giveaway is to click the Rafflecopter link above. Any comments on this post will not count towards entering the giveaway, except to verify your Rafflecopter entry.
Don’t forget to check out JustJen’s review of Let Love Live to see what they thought of it!
Good luck!
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