Author Spotlight + Giveaway--Andrew Jericho

Welcome to Author Spotlights on Mondays! This week my guest is Siren ManLove author Andrew Jericho. Great to have you visit, Andrew! He's here to share his latest release, Something Beautiful, with us! Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy!

Here's a peek:
Blurb:
Transman, Reed Collins and his partner, Levon Kruger, an openly gay drummer for the heavy metal band Hardcore, have been in a committed relationship for eight months. The couple is continuing to explore the love and passion that began in an online chat program a year ago. Recently, they further defined that commitment as a marriage.

While on their honeymoon, Avery Gaines walks into their lives in what he calls, “a chance meeting.” The couple is immediately attracted to the tall, dark-haired stranger, with deep green eyes. Reed is the first to admit his love for Avery, but Levon holds his emotions in check. Avery wants the trio to share love and a commitment, not readily understanding Levon’s reservations.

The romantic triangle goes through a period of conflict and turmoil, until Levon finally reveals a promise that he made to Reed, and how loving Avery would call into question the very foundation of the marriage he shares with his partner.

Story Excerpt:
Watching as Levon moved towards the front desk, Reed’s eyes became fixated on a sketch that stood alone in the corner. Unlike all of the other framed drawings, this one rested on a golden easel. Breathtaking. Smiling at his thought, Reed moved closer to the image of what looked like three pairs of hands intimately twined. There weren’t any faces, just arms that seemed to appear from the edges of the paper. Reed felt himself flush, when he realized that the three pairs of hands were masculine. Amazing detail. Such tenderness. Moving his hand towards the glass of the frame, Reed ran his fingers across the image.

“That sketch is one of my favorites. However, it’s not for sale.”

Hearing a smooth mellow voice next to his ear, Reed turned to stare into deep green eyes. Mesmerizing. Feeling himself blush again, he quickly looked back at the drawing, trying to rid his mind of the thought. Hating the fire he felt in his cheeks, Reed knew this time it wasn’t from the entwined hands.

The man standing behind him was at least as tall as Levon, maybe an inch or so taller. He had straight, dark brown hair, cut in a shag, which fell almost to his shoulders. A few bangs hung on his forehead, stopping right at the top of his eyebrows. The haircut perfectly framed the angles of his face. To add to the effect, he was wearing a pair of black slacks with a forest-green dress shirt. The combination only further highlighted those mesmerizing eyes. Feeling a twinge of guilt for the romantic attraction he felt, Reed was thankful when Levon returned from the front desk, draping an arm around his waist.

“Is this man bothering you?” Levon asked, as Reed felt him hook a few fingers through the belt loops of his pants.

Before Reed had a chance to reply, the stranger spoke, looking at Levon, “I’m sorry, I didn’t introduce myself to your partner.”

“Husband,” Levon quickly spoke. “I’m assuming that you are Avery Gaines?”

Reed watched Levon decline the hand that was offered to him. Instead, Avery crossed his arms across his chest.

“Mr. Gaines, are you aware of who I am?” Levon asked, tightening his grip around Reed’s body.

“Yes, you’re Levon Kruger, drummer for the heavy metal band Hardcore, and this is your husband, Reed Collins. I have fairly eclectic tastes in the arts, and one of those is rock music. Besides, both of your faces have been plastered on a few tabloids in the last week or so with rumors that you have quit Hardcore.”

“Then you know that I’m a transman?” Reed cut in.

“I know you’re a very handsome gay male, if that’s what you mean?” Avery responded, as Reed caught his gaze once more. “Levon, you are quite lucky.”

“Quit flirting with my husband!” Levon spoke sharply.

“I know Reed belongs to you, and likewise. I see the love that you both share, and I’m not trying to come between that, nor would I ever. I was not flirting, merely stating a fact. Levon, if you weren’t so worried about establishing your relationship to your husband with me, then you would have noticed my eyes subtly expressing that fact about you as well.”

“Okay, stop it!” Reed cut in. “What’s wrong with you, Levon, and frankly you too, Avery? I’m assuming that I can call you that, Mr. Gaines, after this episode. My husband and I came here to thank you for buying our meal this morning, and to find out the reason.”

“To be quite honest, I am surprised that both of you are here. Whose idea was that?” Avery asked.

Reed stood quietly, watching as the artist looked directly at Levon’s face.

“The idea was mine,” Levon replied, staring at Reed instead.

“I see.”

“I like to be careful when it comes to who I have contact with, particularly now, since I am responsible for more than just myself.”

“I haven’t been completely truthful. While I didn’t know whether or not I would see the two of you again, I was hoping that I would. That’s why I left my card with the waitress. I bought your meal because it’s not every day that someone sees two men so openly in love, and outwardly expressing those same feelings. I think your husband has already figured out that I am gay, based on his interpretation of my sketch.”

“I didn’t make any type of interpretation.”

“Yes you did,” Avery replied. “I saw the expression in your eyes, and your fingertips tracing the image beneath the glass.”

“I told you to quite flirting with Reed! That’s the last time I will tell you! The next time my fist will make the point!”

“I don’t believe you really want to do that. My day job as a forensic and police sketch artist requires me to be acutely aware of the human body. As part of my training, I studied facial expressions, mannerisms, in additional to the anatomy and physiology of the human body. The body language from you speaks otherwise.”

“Oh really!” Levon said sarcastically, moving within an inch of Avery’s face.

Stepping between the pair, Reed realized that both men were oblivious to his presence, as he watched his husband’s gaze lock with Avery’s eyes.

“The other reason I paid for your breakfast was because I felt an instant attraction to both of you, not just Reed, as you so wrongly perceived. Now, before that statement is misconstrued into something cheap and ugly, I am not in the habit of paying for other men’s breakfast in the hopes of returning them to my studio for a quick seduction! In fact this is the first time I have done anything like this.”

Buy link: http://www.bookstrand.com/something-beautiful
Video Trailer Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtGoUPFkRlY

Author Bio:
Andrew Jericho is a ManLove erotic romance author for Siren-BookStrand Publishing. As a long supporter of LGBTQ rights, he is thrilled to be able to reflect this in the publication of his books that explore the lives of gay men in real situations of life and love.

Andrew’s writing proves that love and erotic attraction are the same regardless of gender and/or sexual orientation. Often his characters select themselves, as they are provided with a literary voice. Once a story develops, Andrew is compelled to see it through to completion. His characters make sure of that fact. Love and eroticism are two very important and powerful emotions that drive not only Andrew’s characters, but his style of writing as well. In their purest forms, Andrew has seen those concepts transform characters into better individuals.

Andrew is a gay transgender man, who lives with his partner, John Jericho, and family. When not writing expect to find him enjoying spending time with family, photography, eclectic tastes in music and the arts, and browsing the local library and art galleries.

Links:
Website: http://andrewjericho.com
Blog: http://andrewjericho.com/blog
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AndrewJerichoAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndrewKJericho
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+AndrewJericho/posts
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/andrewjericho

Remember to comment for a chance to win a copy of Something Beautiful!

Mellanie Szereto
Romance...With A Kick!