A warm Love Bytes welcome to author Will Parkinson who stops by here at Love Bytes for a visit on his blog tour
He answered a few questions and for this last blog tour date he also wrote a beautiful bridge piece he allowed me to be posted here!
Also there is a double giveaway
Welcome Will!
Book Name: Wet Paint
Author Name: Will Parkinson
WILL PARKINSON believes that no matter what obstacles are thrown in the path of young love, it will always find a way to win in the end. He wants his characters to have their happily ever after, but that doesn’t mean that it’s going to come easily.
None of this would have happened if he had followed the advice he was given many years ago. “What are you wasting your time on that for? It’s never going to amount to anything.” He believed it for the longest time, abandoning characters he’d created in his childhood.
He picked up his very first m/m story by a writer named Eden Winters, who was an absolute joy when they corresponded. She asked him if he wrote and he told her the story. Eden explained to Will that the voices in his head would never go away and how he needed to let them out. With that thought in mind, Will put e-pen to e-paper once more. It was truly a liberating experience and one he has no intention of giving up again.
Author Contact:
Website: http://www.willparkinson.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WillParkinsonau
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/will.parkinson.520
E-mail: will@willparkinson.com
Cover Artist: Reese Dante
Publisher: Harmony Ink Press
Press Video trailer: Here!
Buy links:
Blurb:
Although Addy’s heart and body bear the scars from his life before he was adopted by the Deans, he’s ached for something he thought he would never find. Until he met Benny. He isn’t sure how anyone can care for someone as broken as he is, even though he wants it desperately.
High school senior Benny Peters has his whole life planned out for him, until a chaste kiss at summer camp opens a new world of possibilities. Determined to erase Addy’s insecurities, Benny works to take away his boyfriend’s pain and replace it with love.
When Addy’s past intrudes on their future, it’s going to take everything Benny can muster to show that no matter what – or who – they face, they belong together.
Hi Will , Welcome to Love Bytes your final stop in your “Wet Paint” blog tour.
Thank you, Dani. I really appreciate Love Bytes hosting me.
There are a few questions I would like to ask you starting of with
Aw, I thought you invited me for hot cocoa and cookies. 🙁
Ok ok Here you go 🙂
So Continuing 🙂 What can you tell us about Wet Paint?
Wet Paint is the story of Benny Peters. In Pitch, he was Taylor’s best friend, and a wildly popular character. This time around he has his own story, one where he finds his life turned upside down after a chaste kiss.
When you wrote Pitch did you think you would write a sequel to that story
Originally no. Benny was supposed to simply be the best friend. He was never meant to have his own story, but as Pitch progressed, Benny evolved. And at one point during Pitch, his whole story opened up for me and made me realize that there was something there who was perfect for Benny.
People screamed for Benny and Addy’s story after reading Pitch.How was that for you ?
Did it put a lot of strain on you , unknowingly?
When people asked for Benny and Addy, I was shocked and amazed. I really wanted to do Benny’s story because even though Pitch was Taylor’s book, Benny was my favorite character. And Addy was perfect for him because Benny needs to be the white knight. He has to have someone to take care of, because he loves with his whole heart.
It wasn’t a strain at all. I adored Benny and Addy, and I needed them to have something. Addy needed his happily ever after. Though some people think the ending is over the top, it’s something I see Benny doing because of who he is.
You make no secret of the fact your write under two pseudonyms shifting YA and Mature M/M with those names
Do you ever see yourself just writing under one pen name?
Nope. There will always be a Will and Parker. I want to continue writing young adult stories because people need to know they’re not alone in the world. There is so much now that wasn’t there when I was a kid, and it opens up the world for people. Unfortunately it also opens up a person to the world. Cyberbullying is done by so many people, that it’s like a contest to see who can be the most hurtful.
Is there more coming from Will Parkinson or is it Parker Williams who has the momentum at this time ?
Well, right now Parker does. I just submitted a story to my editor called ‘Protector of the Alpha’, the story of Jake and Zak who find out that their lives were never really theirs.
You brought with you a special surprise for our readers and the followers of your blog tour.
A very special crossover brought to us by means of Jackson his perspective.
Can you tell us why you decided to write this little (amazing!) piece?
Uh, because you made me? :p
I loved doing this gap between Pitch and Wet Paint because it shows that Taylor is a true friend and his feelings toward Benny and Jackson, and how he sees Benny and Addy. And I was grateful when you asked for something special, because that gave me the opportunity to revisit the beginning of the story.
Thanks for answering these questions 🙂
Time for you readers to read this wonderful piece I was talking about ……
Jackson Kern watched as his boyfriend Taylor entertained Benny Peters and Addy Dean.
It hurt him to know that he was going to be laid up in the bed for a few more weeks, and that he was keeping Taylor from going to summer camp this year. He’d tried more than once to talk him into going, telling him that the children needed a stable factor in their lives, just like he and Benny had done for Addy.
Taylor refused, though. And secretly he was grateful. The thought of being alone scared him more than he wanted to admit.
Not long after Benny and Addy left, the nurse came in to draw yet another vial of blood.
He hated this part.
This nurse always seemed to miss the vein or take too much. Maybe she was drinking it in the back office.
She seemed the type. Taylor excused himself to go get a soda while Jackson pleaded with him to hurry back.
When the needle was jabbed into his arm hecried out, wanting Taylor back _now_.
And yet all he heard was a mirthful giggle.
“There now, that wasn’t so bad, was it?”
Jackson glared at the nurse. “When I can get out of this bed, let me return the favor,” he sniped.
She gave him an indulgent smile, patted him on the shoulder, and left the room with her ill gotten gain.
Jackson lay back and stared at the ceiling. The casts would come off soon, and the doctors told him that he was going to be okay.
Mostly. There was nerve damage and that sucked. Still, he was alive, he had his boyfriend back in his life,
and things had to get better.
“You are not going to believe what I just saw!” Taylor shouted as he rounded the corner and entered the room.
Jackson heard one of nurses shush him, and Taylor blushed.
“Sorry,” he whispered. “You’ll never guess. Try.”
The vibrations told him Taylor could barely contain his excitement.
“A sexy male nurse?”
Taylor’s jaw dropped open. “There are sexy male nurses? Why haven’t I seen any of them? Can you introduce me?”
“I will kick your ass,” Jackson threatened.
“Shut up. Listen to me. I went to get a soda and when I opened the door, I saw—“ Taylor stopped.
“Saw what? You can’t leave me in suspense.”
Taylor bit his lip. “I’m not sure if I should say anything. I realized it’s not my story to tell.
I lived in fear for years of someone doing it to me.”
“Then you shouldn’t say anything. I assume you’re talking about
outing someone, right?”
A slight nod gave Jackson the answer. He assumed that if it was something Taylor wanted to share, it had to be someone he knew.
“Benny?” he guessed.
Taylor’s eyes widened. “How did you know?”
“My dad told me he thought there might be something there, but you had insisted Benny was straight.”
“Well if that lip lock I just saw between him and Addy is any indication, I think your dad knows better than I did.”
“So what are you going to do about it?”
“Do? Nothing. Why? Should I?”
“Your best friend has been hiding a secret from you. One you shared with him when you were a kid.
It has to hurt that he couldn’t trust you with it.”
Taylor’s far-off gaze told Jackson that Taylor was thinking hard.
“I probably should be, but I’m not. Benny’s life isn’t like mine. My parents are open and accepting.
They knew a long time ago and waited for me to come to them.
Benny doesn’t have that kind of support system. He’s got me, and that’s it.
I understand him being afraid.”
“There’s your answer then. It comes to everyone in their own time.
Benny finally got to that point. He’s still the person you’ve always known, right?”
“Absolutely,” Taylor replied adamantly. “And the look on his face when I walked in on them. It wasn’t panic at all.
It was someone who’s deeply in love.”
“How do you know that?” Jackson asked.
“It’s how you look at me.”
And Jackson knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that things would work out for Benny,
because he had friends like Taylor who would always be there.
Jackson laced his fingers with Taylor’s. “Tell me a story.”
Taylor laid his head on Jackson’s shoulder. “Fifty years from now, two men sit on their porch, holding hands, much like we’re doing now.
One glances over at the other and his mind flashes back to the day he saw a young man walk into a classroom, and his heart began beating faster.”
“Fifty years? That’s being pretty hopeful isn’t it?”
“Shut up. This is my story and I’ll tell it like I want.”
Jackson pulled Taylor’s hand to his lips and brushed them over the knuckles. “No, you’re telling it like it’ll be.
Tell me how the story ends.”
“Ends?” Taylor asked, confusion evident. “That’s the thing. As long as we’re together, this story will never end.”
ADDY SAT in the car, worry creasing his brow. Not even an hour ago, he’d been so happy. Why was he so nervous now? His thoughts driftedback to his conversation with his dad. Would Benny still want him when he found out what had happened? Would he think Addy was too broken? Addy shivered. He tried to tell himself Benny would never be like that, but how could he know for sure?
“What’s up, little man? I can hear you thinking from over here.” Benny chuckled.
“Nothing, Benny. I’m okay.”
“Addy, c’mon. I can tell you’ve got something on your mind. I need to know what it is. I can’t help if you won’t let me.”
Addy took a deep breath. “I’m afraid,” he admitted. “Of what? Camp?” “No… of losing you.”
“I don’t understand. Why would you think you’d lose me?”
“Benny.” Addy sighed. “I need to tell you some stuff. It’s not going to be easy, and it’s really not going to be nice.”
Tour Dates/Stops:
9/22: Because Two Men Are Better Than One, Joyfully Jay, Velvet Panic
9/23: The Hat Party, Iyana Jenna, Rainbow Gold Reviews
9/24: Prism Book Alliance, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
9/25: LeAnn’s Book Reviews, Havan Fellows, Andrew Q. Gordon
9/26: Hearts on Fire, Lee Brazil
9/29: Decadent Delights, Foxylutely Book Reviews, The Novel Approach
9/30: Jade Crystal, Wake Up Your Wild Side, MM Good Book Reviews
10/1: Cate Ashwood, Book Reviews and More by Kathy, Kimi-Chan
10/2: Amanda C. Stone, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Fallen Angel Reviews
10/3: Emotion in Motion, Love Bytes
Rafflecopter Prize: A $25 gift card to Amazon or ARe
On top of this tourwide giveaway Will is giving away a copy of Wet Paint to one Lucky Commentor on this post!!
Read Donna’s Review of Wet Paint here
awesome post with an awesome giveaway:)
Loved this book!! Thank you for this giveaway <3
I don’t often read YA, but this book sounds sweet and I will definitely have to give this series a try.
Great except and interview. The book sounds fantastic.
What a great post! I loved finding out that you came back to writing through conversations with Eden Winters–I got to meet her a few weeks ago and she is a lovely person, indeed! Nice too, to get this bridge between the two stories. Thank you so much for sharing with us!
Loved both excerpts and the interview. Can’t wait to read Wet Paint!
Hi Will! Thanks for the giveaway. Wet Paint sounds fantastic. 🙂
I’ve been wanting to read this! (Mmm, cocoa and cookies…)
I want a cookie … and the book … preferably together 🙂
I want cookies too 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway!