Book Name: Black Hurricane
Author Name: Erica Pike
Author Bio: Erica lives in Iceland with her adorable little twin boys. She often says that her real name sounds like Klingon to foreigners. Seriously, if “Eyjafjallajökull” looks like a random strings of characters, it’s nothing in comparison to Erica’s name.
She’s been writing for several years, or ever since reading became an obsession. Aside from a business degree, Erica has taken English courses at the University of Iceland and gulped down anything that might help her in her career as an author. She takes great interest in English, but will break every single grammar rule for the sake of The Voice.
Author Contact:
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorEricaPike
https://www.goodreads.com/EricaPike
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/94436-gay-romance-by-erica-pike
Cover Artist: Scarlet Tie Designs
Publisher: MLR Press
Buy Links:
Blurb:
Twenty-three year old Jasper Jones fell in love with Dean McQueen at fourteen, but after a disastrous relationship, Jazz would like nothing better than to see the rock star choke on his own vomit.
After a catastrophic reunion, Dean seems bent on destroying Jazz’s life. It all started when an impromptu bar performance ended up on YouTube and Jazz became an internet sensation overnight. The name “Jazdean” keeps popping up in headlines and the paparazzi stalk his every move. To make matters worse, Jazz is about to end up on the streets for the second time in his life.
In a desperate attempt to keep his home, Jazz signs a deal with Dean’s band, Black Hurricane, to perform at a couple of concerts. It feels like one of Dean’s feeble attempts to get Jazz back, but painted into a corner like he is, Jazz has no choice.
How rock music played a part in Black Hurricane
When I wrote Black Hurricane, I did something I normally never do while I write: I listened to music. Usually, I write in silence because I have a hard time focusing when there are two or more things happening at once. If there are three things going on at the same time (radio, TV, and my kids talking) my brain sometimes short circuits. However, while writing Black Hurricane, the music helped me get into a certain mood when I needed it. Granted, I mostly listened to it in between writing, when I took breaks, but there was one scene where I listened to Nine Inch Nails’ Closer on a loop as I wrote and that was during the video shoot scene. With that song in my ears while writing made the scene all the sexier, because Closer is without a doubt the sexiest song ever written.
So, what other music did I listen to? I made a playlist, but the main music was The Queen of the Damned soundtrack, Linkin Park, Quarashi, and Jet Black Joe. Those last two are probably unknown to you because they’re Icelandic bands, but both perform their music in English and both are very unique. That’s what you have to be when you live on a small island with only 300,000 inhabitants and want to make it in the big world (just look at Bjork’s weird style). Unfortunately, for both bands and their fans, they broke up before reaching that fame. In the case of Jet Black Joe, they were neck-deep in drugs when their lead singer joined a Christian cult (normally, I’d scoff, but I really do believe that joining that cult saved his life). Quarashi seemed a bit more in control, and the reason given was that the lead singer wanted to study at the university and some other members wanted to focus on other things. I often wonder what sort of drama must have happened behind the scenes during these decision makings and how hard it must have been to leave the music behind. They had a huge following in Iceland, and Quarashi also had a big international following. I heard their songs in various American TV shows and movies, like Smallville, Alias, and 2 Fast 2 Furious. Quarashi is my favorite rock band (actually rock-rap) of all time. And the best thing? They just got back together this year after ten years of silence! That means more awesome music in the future.
Those who have read Black Hurricane might remember the back alley scene where the two groups are close to getting in a fight. Quarashi’s “Stick ‘em Up” played in my head the whole time as I wrote that. Then I played it during my pauses to get back into the fighting gear.
Although I’ve gone back to writing in silence, as lonely as that may sound, it’s nice to know that I was able to write a book with music to get me in the mood. Who knows, maybe this will become my preferred method in the future.
“Jazz, take pictures!” Eric pokes me hard in the side with his bony elbow.
I wince and raise the camera, clicking a shot.
“Go to the front, like they’re doing.” He points at the photographers running to the front and clicking madly on their cameras.
Heaving a sigh, I drag my ass off the chair to walk forward. I rake my hand through my hair before I glance back at the monstrosity on the platform. Never in a million years would I have thought I’d be in this position. Suddenly oil paint and new guitar strings don’t seem all that important. I just wanna get out, but Eric needs these pictures for the magazine and I’d rather die than let one of my friends down.
My heart thuds when I see Dean looking right back at me as I approach. His brow furrows as if he’s trying to place me. Typical. Of course he wouldn’t remember me. Why would he? My heart hammers a fast beat as my body breaks out in sweat. The inside of my throat thickens, stopping half of the oxygen from reaching my lungs. And still, I’m having the hardest time looking away.
Am I nervous under his green-eyed gaze? Or is it just the hate? It’s been years since I last saw him.
Not wanting to give the wrong impression of an adoring fan, I narrow my eyes and spew out all the venom I feel for this man into one, hateful glare, just before I raise the camera and snap my shots.
Tour Dates/Stops
August 11: Because Two Men Are Better Than One
August 18: Full Moon Dreaming
August 25: MM Good Book Reviews, Hearts on Fire
September 1: Velvet Panic, Fallen Angel Reviews, Havan Fellows
September 8: Decadent Delights
September 15: Up All Night, Read All Day, Love Bytes
September 22: Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Smoocher’s Voice
September 29: Prism Book Alliance
October 6: It’s Raining Men, Michael Mandrake
October 13: Cate Ashwood
October 20: The Novel Approach
October 27: The Hat Party,Dawn’s Reading Nook
November 3: Tara Lain
November 10: My Fiction Nook
November 17: Emotion in Motion, Kimi-Chan
November 24: Amanda C. Stone
Rafflecopter Prize: A $50 Amazon Gift Certificate and signed paperbacks of A Life Without You, Hot Hands and The Walls Have Ears. One (international) winner for the lot.
Love Fleetwood Mac!
I love Sloan (especially Chris Murphy), but also Redd Kross and the Posies…
I don’t think I can answer that question because there are too many bands I love.
I love Pink, System of a Down, Three day grace.
Ville Valo!
Five Finger Death Punch, love the band and the lead singer is just as awesome in person as on stage.