Q) Is this book part of a series?
If so, can you tell us about it?
This is the second book in my Tea and Empathy series, which
takes place in the twenty-sixth century on a colonized planet. As the result of
genetic engineering, a small percent of humans have empathic abilities, and in
order to stay sane in a sea of emotions they bond permanently with an anchor.
There’s nothing more intimate than being an empath’s anchor, nor any greater
responsibility. All of my men find love where they least expect it!
Q) What gave you the
inspiration for your book?
Book 1 brought
up the topic of empaths being sold off by their parents, and I wanted to
explore how it would be possible to go from such an awful experience to happily
ever after. Along the way, I think the story became even more about Gabe’s
issues, somehow, but these things happen. Inspiration is only the start, and I
have to take the story where it wants to go.
Q) Do you have any habits that get you in the writing frame of mind?
Not habits per se, but I do have music. My favorite writing
song is “Beautiful Mind” by Travis A. King. It gets heavy rotation when I need
to block out distracting sounds so I can focus on writing.
Q) Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do
they develop as you write?
I have a general idea of my characters, who then tend to
reveal more details of themselves to me as I write. For this book, I absolutely
knew Nacio going in, but Gabe was unusually reticent. His outer layers – the
public persona, if you will – were readily accessible, but his wounded core
developed much later. I know some people say our characters, as creations, are
entirely within our control, but sometimes it feels very much like they exist
independently and keep secrets from the author.
Q) How much real life do you put into or
influences your books?
It varies from story to story. The theme of
wrestling with the emotional legacy of one’s parents is of particular interest
to me personally, but direct influences in this book are minimal. I’d say the
biggest one is Nacio’s confusion over sports fans getting so clannish, which is
an observation taken from my own, non-sports loving life.
Q) What are your upcoming projects?
I’m editing the next Tea and Empathy book, His for Keeps, which I expect will be
out in May or early June. It’s my first foray into kink, so it was fun to write,
and I decided that a great benefit of writing sci-fi romance is how easily the
author can invent sex toys.
Blurb:
Love may
be within his reach… if he is able to trust in it.
Gabe
Thorne was disgusted by his sister’s plan to purchase an empath. She wanted
someone who would be compelled to please her, and only her sudden death
interrupted the plan. The empath she’d chosen, Ignacio, needs to bond with an
anchor almost immediately, and Gabe volunteers to prevent him from being
auctioned off to an abuser by his greedy parents.
Ignacio
proves to be a sweet, enchanting guy, and soon Gabe begins to develop real feelings
for him. Despite this, and the lifelong commitment he made when he let Ignacio
bond to him, Gabe doesn’t believe they can have a real relationship. His long
habit of pessimism has protected him from a lot of disappointment over the
years. This time? Expecting the worst might ruin any chance of a happy
relationship.
Excerpt:
Having Nacio around and frequently reading, Gabe found himself reading more as well. So he was lying in bed, finishing a short story before going to sleep for the night, when Nacio said, “Gabe, I think it’s happening.”
“You’re bonding with me?”
Nacio nodded. “I can’t fight
it.”
“Hey, you don’t have to fight
it.” Gabe set aside his tablet and rolled on his side so he could face his
bedmate. He pulled Nacio into his arms. “I’m here for you.”
“This is forever. I’ll always
need you.” Nacio’s blue eyes darted around, a sure sign he was nervous.
“I know.” While it was rushed
and he’d have liked more time, they didn’t have that option and he truly
thought this was the best thing for Nacio. It was nerve-wracking because Gabe
didn’t know if it was the best idea for himself.
If they were fortunate, they
might just end up in the kind of relationship Gabe wanted, two men in a
long-term, loving, monogamous sharing of lives. He was far from certain that
would happen, and if the future didn’t work out the way he hoped, Nacio would
forever be in his life in some capacity. Gabe knew what he was signing on for
and he would honor the commitment, whatever the personal cost. He could do no
less for this endearing man who trusted him so completely.
He kissed Nacio’s forehead.
“I’ll always be here for you, and I’m not going to take advantage of you.
There’s no need to fight, okay? You have so much to deal with, sensing all
those emotions. Let me help you.”
Nacio clung to Gabe, face
pressed into his shirt. “I’m glad it’s you.”
“Me too.” As much as this was
upending his world, Gabe spoke the truth. He did not at all like the idea of
Nacio having someone else as his anchor, someone who might not appreciate him
or support his individuality as much as Gabe did, and in the short time Nacio
had been with him, he’d grown incredibly fond of the young man. “Is there
anything I can do to make this easier?”
The answer was spoken into his
chest. “Don’t let go.”
Simple enough. It felt so good,
so right, to hold Nacio. They had similar builds and heights, with Gabe
slightly broader-chested but not as long-limbed, and it was easy to align their
bodies for optimal contact.
“I’ve got you, sweetheart.” He
rubbed circles on Nacio’s back in what he hoped was a soothing manner. “You
don’t have to fight it.”
“You’re so uncertain.”
“Well, sure. We haven’t even
known each other a week, and we have no clue what our future is going to look
like. Doesn’t mean I’m changing my mind.”
“Good. I really want you for my
anchor, Gabe. Not because of your family or money, because those aren’t so very
important. I want you because you’re kind and thoughtful, and you make me smile
a lot. Also, the fact that you’re such a good person despite your family speaks
very highly to your character.”
It was an incredible privilege
to be Nacio’s anchor, and while Gabe wasn’t convinced he was worthy of the
honor, he’d do his very best. “I feel the same way about you with your parents.
They’re so terrible and yet you’re a great guy.”
Nacio smiled. “I’m glad you
think so. I really am very lucky to get you for my anchor.”
Gabe wasn’t sure about that,
but hearing it felt damn good all the same. “I’m not big on making promises,”
he said, “because if I make one, I keep it. I’ll promise you this, though—I
will never, ever deliberately take advantage of being your anchor, and if I
don’t realize I’m doing it, tell me and I will stop.”
“I believe you,” said Nacio
quietly. “With you, bonding isn’t frightening the way I’d thought.”
“Good.”
For something as mad as
agreeing to be Nacio’s anchor, it felt remarkably right to hold him. Gabe was
content to lie in silence and let Nacio deal with the empathy. He didn’t think
he’d be much help in that department.
“You know, everyone uses the
term anchor, but now that it’s happening to me I think an old-fashioned compass
might be a better analogy,” said Nacio. “I’m pulled to you like a magnet, and
you’ll help keep me oriented in a sea of emotions.”
The description made sense to
Gabe, who wasn’t very well versed in empathy. He resolved to work on increasing
his knowledge. “So you can feel the bond forming?”
“Yes. Don’t let go, please.”
“I won’t.” In fact, he held
Nacio a bit tighter. “I’ve got you.”
Nacio’s next move could only be
described as nuzzling followed by a murmur of contentment. Gabe wasn’t sure any
physical contact had ever hit him the way this did. All the protective and
nurturing instincts he usually tried to ignore rushed to the surface, along
with great affection.
Nacio looked at him, wide-eyed.
“Oh, Gabe.”
Wishing he could hide his
feelings if only to protect his heart, Gabe resigned himself to the fact that
he was falling hard and fast. It would probably come back to bite him in the
ass later, but with Nacio looking at him with such wonder, in the moment he was
having a hard time finding the regret he knew was lurking just around the
corner.
“Would you mind very much to kiss me? I want
to know what it feels like.”
As if he could refuse Nacio
anything. Since this was presumably the younger man’s first kiss, Gabe kept it
light, a gentle press of his lips on Nacio’s, followed by another which
lingered a little longer. The third kiss Nacio shyly returned.
“So that’s kissing,” he said.
“I can see the appeal.”
Buy Links:
Evernight
(with new release discount): https://www.evernightpublishing.com/his-to-cherish-by-jessie-pinkham/
Amazon:
http://mybook.to/HistoCherishBookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/his-to-cherish-mm
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