The story behind the story…
When I decided to write a story with one MC positive, and one MC negative, I reached out to one of my very good friends who is the negative partner of fifteen plus year relationship. His husband is positive and was when they met. I met Jeffrey roughly six years ago at work and the two of us clicked right away. We affectionately refer to each other as “work hubs” and “work wifie”. Somewhere along the way he shared with me that his husband, Jerry, is positive. So, when it came time to write William and Beau’s story, I reached out and the guys were happy to share the pros and cons of living with HIV. Much like Beau, Jerry is HIV positive, has been for a long time and manages his status with diet and the proper medical care.
I felt the need to add the clinical aspect of living with HIV into the story as well. I didn’t think I would have done the characters, Jeffrey and Jerry, or anyone else out there living with HIV/AIDS justice if I just made the book just about the romance. Being a Certified Pharmacy Tech at my day job, I already knew the medical side of the virus. The reality, the life that is lived by people with the virus is where my guys came into play. Little things that I, and probably many of the people that will read the book, wasn’t aware of; like being cautious with kissing or blow jobs after you’ve brushed your teeth. Why? Because the gums can bleed. Never tear open a condom wrapper with your teeth. Why? Because you can tear the condom. Something as simple as a common cold that myself and the majority of people would simply take a day off work, take vitamin C and drink chicken broth and be all better the next day, can be devastating to someone that is HIV positive. Why? Their immune system is already compromised; it is weaker because of the virus.
Then I had to balance that aspect with lots of passion, some romance, and just a teensy bit of angst. When Beau first tells William about his status they spend their first night together sleeping in the same bed. When they wake up the next day, William just wants the guy he’s been ruthlessly pursuing for the past six months to just bang him already. But Beau refuses. He tells William that he will not add that level of intimacy to their relationship until William is fully aware of what having sex with someone that is HIV positive entails. I loved that I came up with this part of the book while writing. It shows other things they can safely do, Beau shares a couple of dos and don’ts with William, and they become closer without having actual sex and it’s really a beautiful scene.
With advances in medicine, it is possible to live a long and full life if you are HIV positive. I think the most famous or highly recognized Pos/Neg couple would be Matt Schiermeier and Cameron Earnheart . They’ve even done talk shows and such going into their relationship, how they make it work etc…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLum1Uk3tM8
There is also a movement, much like the NOH8 campaign. ALDO fights AIDS. You can visit www.aldofightsaids.com for more info. And if you are a Twitter user, the hashtag is #FriendsFight
Now, everybody go grab your copy of Live for Love and fall in love with these two guys that were so much fun to write!
Beauregard Boudreaux is a native of New Orleans Louisiana, born and raised there, he never thought he would ever stray far from home. The untimely death of his first love left Beau lost, adrift, looking for a place as far away from the pain as possible. Initially, he came to New York to visit a friend, the city growing on him, so he decided to stay. His law degree comes in handy at the LGBT Center he runs, but his bar is his baby.William Richards grew up in Chicago, his family oddly normal and very accepting of his sexuality. Modeling paid the bills, gigs across the country as a model, male entertainer and a personal trainer giving him the opportunity to see the world. He hasn’t experienced loss or pain as Beau has, the common denominator between them is the loneliness. As All Cocks big, brooding bottom Connor, William has found friendship, family and an outlet for his craving to be more submissive than men of his size and stature usually are.
The two men are perfect for each other, their tastes and lives align and the writing seems to be on the wall. But Beau has a secret he shares with a choice few, a secret that not only threatens to keep them apart, it’s deadly. Determined to keep a wall between himself and William, Beau fights the attraction, pushes William away every time he steps closer. Can one man’s determination and strength be enough to tear down a wall that holds back decades of pain and darkness? And if he can, will either of them survive the flood?
Review w/Exclusive Excerpt Part 1
w/Spotlight
w/Guest Post (The story behind the story)
Review w/Spotlight
w/Exclusive Excerpt Part 2
Review w/Song & Scene
w/Author Q&A Part I
Review w/Exclusive Excerpt Part 3
Spotlight only
w/Spotlight
w/Author Q&A Part II
Review w/Exclusive Excerpt Part 4
Live Interview
w/Dream Cast
Spotlight only
Spotlight w/Exclusive Excerpt Part 5
Spotlight
Review w/Spotlight
Review w/Exclusive Excerpt Part 6
Review w/Spotlight
w/Guest Post (This or That)
w/Spotlight
w/Playlist
w/Exclusive Excerpt Part 7
Review w/Spotlight
Review w/Author Q&A Part III
Guest Post only (Would you Rather)
Also, there is a 3 part Author Q&A. Again, to read each part, you’ll have to follow the tour.
A military brat born and raised at Ft. Benning Georgia;TM Smith is an avid reader, reviewer and writer. A Texas transplant, she now
calls DFW her home. Most days she can be found curled up with a good book, or
ticking away on her next novel.
decidedly different kids, one of which is Autistic. Besides her writing, she is
passionate about Autism advocacy and LGBT rights. Because, seriously people,
Love is Love!
Gay for Pay – Book 1
Dare to Hope – Book 4
Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon AU | ARe | Smashwords
Grand Prize
*US only shipping*
NOH8 tote bag full of William and Beau goodies!
A signed paperback copy of Live for Love (signed by the Author and the cover model), one of Beau’s favorite T-shirts (Size L or XL), a Grown up swear word coloring book with glitter markers (compliments of Beauregard Boudreaux), a bracelet like the one William gives Beau, some fleur de lis magnets and a Live for Love magnet
Runner Up Prize
*US only shipping*
An All cocks mouse pad with a complimentary All Cocks goodie box!
(All Cocks magnet, Live for Love magnet, All Cocks soap, All Cocks keychain, All Cocks chapstix and a fan to help cool you off after you read Live for Love).
ONE winner – International – an e-book copy from my backlist (excluding Live for Love) OR a $5 Amazon giftcard (winner’s choice)
Keep in mind, if you are International you can purchase any of the All Cocks stories books in paperback from either Amazon or Createspace then email me and I’ll mail you a signed ‘book plate’ for your book to make it a certified signed copy. OR you can pay the cost for shipping to your country – the US cost when you purchase the books from me.
Great post Dani, thanks for hosting me today!
Thank you for sharing your inspiration behind the story Tammy. Congrats on your new book and good luck with the release =)