A warm welcome to author K-Lee Klein joining us today to talk about the rerelease of her book “Unbreak My Heart”.
K-Lee talks about some funny facts and there is also a giveaway you can enter!
Welcome K-Lee 🙂
Hello! Thanks for dropping by. I’m happy to say the rerelease of Unbreak My Heart by Dreamspinner Press went off without a hitch yesterday. After losing my original publisher, it was a great feeling to send this book back out into the webiverse. Whether you’re new to the Unbreak My Heart series or already know Brett & JT, I hope you enjoy their journey.
I need to give a big shout out to Dani and Love Bytes for hosting me. Today I’ve decided to bypass my regular blog babble and try something I saw on the web—10 strange or just plain facts about my book. So here we go…
- Unbreak My Heart didn’t have a title until the first draft was written, beta’ed, and ready for submission. Unfortunately, I’m not one of those authors who has a title before the book begins, but generally the title pops into my head at some point. This one definitely did not do that. It was difficult just like Brett Taylor can be.
- The title did in fact come from the 1996 song of the same name by Toni Braxton. I was in Colorado visiting my BFF, and we were toying with titles with a play on ranches or barns or guitar cases, but nothing worked. Our next big idea was using the word heart because the story really revolves around Brett Taylor’s damaged heart. Song titles came to mind, and poof, that one finally fit. Silly random fact – more often than not when I read or type the title, I involuntarily start humming the song. I’ve also heard others say the same thing, and hey, I admit having readers remember the name of my book is definitely not a bad thing.
- Almost everything about Brett Taylor was inspired by a favorite actor/singer of mine–Christian Kane. I borrowed Christians physical appearance, voice, love for music, and even his devotion to his mama. Brett’s original name was Eliot (named for Christian’s character in Leverage) but eventually that made me a little uncomfortable so Eliot became Brett and I can’t imagine any other name fir him now. And as an added bonus, I get to meet my Brett…I mean, Christian at Wizard World in August. I’m so excited!
- My high school boyfriend’s name was Bret but with one “t” not like my fictional Brett. But some family members and childhood friends insist I named the character after the original. I also have a cousin named, spelled the same, but I swear the name just suited my cowboy.
- One of my favorite things about writing this book and this series is that I got to pull out poetry-Klee. I love poetry and I actually write a lot of poems that I usually just keep to myself. The things that Brett writes are my first public forms of poetry, but in Brett’s voice not mine.
- There were a couple scenes—particularly one—which I had to stop writing because I couldn’t see the computer screen through my tears. Same thing happened during my original edits, galley proofs, and now in rereads and re-edits. Verdict: it’s very hard to see the screen of my laptop when I’m crying.
- My secondary characters, Millie Taylor-Montgomery-Allan and Ray Durant, were a blast to write. I actually laughed out loud a few times because they both know Brett so well and never let him forget exactly that. I definitely love Ray and Millie and they place prominent roles in the rest of the series as well. Quickie fact: the only other character in Unbreak My Heart is a brief appearance by a sheriff.
- I listened to nothing but Christian Kane for most of Unbreak’s writing until I got to the sex scenes–which I left mostly until last—then Backstreet Boys made their way onto the playlist. Random – I have vastly differing tastes in music that includes a not-so-secret love for The Backstreet Boys, as well as Christian Kane, Seether, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Three Days Grace, One Direction, City & Colour, Skid Row, Hedley, Pearl Jam, Queen, & so many more. The song I most see as Brett & JT’s is a lesser known song by Christian called Dusty Rose.
- When I was writing and editing Unbreak My Heart (both times), I’d find myself thinking or even talking with a Brett’s Southern accent. Luckily, my family has always known I’m a special snowflake. When I’ve had to do readings from the book, I’ve always been careful to not include a dialogue scene so as not to completely embarrass myself.
- Out of all my characters, Brett Taylor is the one I tormented (psychologically) the most, and he’s also the one I fell most in love with. Even now, three years later, he still visits to tell me what his and JT’s next adventure should be. When I’m not writing them, I miss them.
Bonus! Brett & JT’s story did not end with Unbreak My Heart. I published two novellas and two short stories starring Brett, JT, Millie, Ray and a few more friends with my original publisher and I hope to rerelease them, as well.Well, there you have it. I hope these eleven things acquaint you with Unbreak My Heart a little bit. In order to thank you for reading this far, I’ll be giving away an ebook copy of Unbreak My Heart or a book from my backlist. All you have to do is leave your name, email address, and answer the following question to be entered in the random draw on August 12th. Thank you for stopping by!
“What is one strange fact you can reveal about yourself?”
Unbreak My Heart by K-lee Klein
Release date – August 5, 2016 from Dreamspinner Press
Blurb:
Brett Taylor’s world collapsed three years ago when he lost the love of his life. Almost as bad as the grief is the advice he’s starting to get from everyone and their brother, telling him it’s time to move on. They’re flat-out wrong. He left his career as a musician and escaped to his ranch because he needs the peace and quiet, and he’s doing just fine. He doesn’t want anyone invading his memory-filled, booze-fueled solitude.
JT Campbell’s world has been defined by his parents’ money, status, and his own empty relationships, until he’s desperately sick of it. A quest to find something meaningful leads him to Brett’s failing ranch. It’s supposed to be a brief stay. JT never wanted to be anyone’s savior or compete with the ghosts of lovers past. Still, he can’t help wanting this gruff and grieving man.
JT’s mind knows it’s a bad idea, but his heart keeps pushing him to find out what lies beneath Brett’s rough and broken exterior. Brett’s not going to make it easy. JT can only be patient, keep his sense of humor, and hope for the day he may be allowed far enough into Brett’s world to unbreak his heart.
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Links
Amazon
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K-lee Klein loves guys with long hair and tattoos, and you’ll often find her front and center at her favorite rock concerts. She has bounced around Western Canada all her life, but will always consider the solitude and beauty of the British Columbian mountains home. Her life is blessed as the proud mother of three now-grown but still spoiled kids, the servant of two bossy felines, and the wife of a truly patient husband.
Her writing muse is terribly temperamental, so to keep him close by and in check, she had him inked on her left calf. The gorgeous, long-haired, mostly naked, kneeling angel that resulted is truly a work of art, although he’s still a handful and hopelessly uncontrollable. She writes on his schedule and inspiration.
K-lee tends to fall easily into obsessions. When something grabs her attention, she jumps into it headfirst with complete abandon. Actors, musicians, superheroes, fictional characters, and brainwashed assassins all hold spots on her cannot-get-enough list. She once followed Thirty Seconds to Mars around the United States and Canada and saw them perform fourteen times that year. Obsession sometimes leads to ideas for her kneeling angel to turn into stories.
Although an introvert in person, she’s extroverted online and has met many wonderful friends there, sometimes with the added fun of meeting them in person at gay romance conferences. She’s grateful for all the people in her life who accept her as she is and support her through her ups and downs as mom, wife, and joyfully obsessed writer.
Places to find K-lee.
Website – kleeklein.com
Blog – http://chaosinthemoonlight.blogspot.ca
Twitter – https://twitter.com/Klee_Klein
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/kleemoon
Facebook author/reader group https://www.facebook.com/groups/812548795471921/
All I can say is how amazed I am you could take picture with Bucky and Steve and still looked cool …I would’ve looked like a total mess between those guys!!
(Well, umm… that’s among the strange thing I often do. Blurt out whatevers on my mind…)
puspitorinid(at)yahoo(dot)com
Haha! I was a total mess but I share the pics anyway. It was a memorable experience for sure. Love them and they’re very sweet (ps Chris smelled amazing, he wore that soft plaid – my fave – shirt & Seb gives the best hugs)
Thanks for the comment and good luck!
Hugs,
K-Lee
I’ve been known to stay in my car after I get home and read for a bit before going in to face my kids… actually, that probably isn’t particularly strange. Or unique to me:)
Really looking forward to reading this
That’s a great strange fact. I’ll sit and listen to the rest of a song even though it’s playing from my iPhone. Lol.
Hugs & good luck!
K-Lee
Yay, give Christian a hug for me! Let me see…I tend to quote the Simpsons at inopportune times. (What can I say, there’s so much that’s relevant to crazy moments in life!)
vitajex(at)Aol(Dot)com
I hope to give Christian many hugs and also not too squee to loud while doing it. 😉 Love that you quote the Simpsons.
Hugs & good luck!
K-Lee
I don’t drink coffee at all so a pick me up for me is to read yaoi or m/m fiction in the morning to really wake me up.
humhumbum AT yahoo DOT com
Hey HB! Sounds like a good wake-up to me. 😀
Hugs & good luck!
K-Lee
Not discovered this series before but definitely one to try now. Hmm strange fact about me – I can not whistle, roll my tongue or click my fingers but I can pat my head while rubbing my belly : )
I’m thrilled you’ve stopped by to discover my book, Jess. Also, I can’t whistle or roll my tongue either. Thanks for the comment.
Hugs & good luck!
K-Lee
I’m afraid I’m a very ordinary person… I can read up to five books at a time, I cannot function in the morning without caffeine (I would eventually collapse due to low blood pressure) and animals tend to love me… These are the most strange facts about myself I can think of…
susanaperez7140(at)Gmail(dot)com
Great facts! You don’t “just” sound ordinary at all. Thank you for the comment.
Hugs & good luck!
K-Lee
i cant think of anything straight but i am addicted to reading
jmarinich 33 at aol dot com
That’s a great addiction. Thanks for dropping by. 😊
Hugs & good luck!
K-Lee
I like to work with crystals for healing.
That’s very cool! Thank you for reading my post.
Hugs & good luck!
K-Lee
I used to be able to bend my thumbs and tuck them on the back of my hands!
ree.dee.2014 (at) gmail (dot) com
That just makes me say Ouch! But thanks for sharing. Lol.
Hugs & good luck!
K-Lee
I have a bunch of stuffed animals that sit with me on my armchair and they “talk” to my kids, have favourite baseball and hockey teams and have massive arguments when they end up playing each others teams (yes….they have different teams! ….and ewwww some are not high on my list of teams I like!!) oh…and they are all gay 😉
I’m not schizophrenic….really….
leetee2007(at)hotmail(dot)com
Bet ha my very large team of Bucky & Caps could whip your teams with one hand tied behind their backs. lol. I have a lot of them so nothing about what you said sounds strange at all, Lee. 😉
Hugs & good luck!
K-Lee
Ugh. Sorry for the spelling mistakes. Autocorrect hates me. 😣
I always thought the title seemed familiar but until now I didn’t realize it was because of Toni Braxton’s song. 😛
serena91291@gmail.com
Damn. No I lost my originality. Ha! I do love the title. Thanks for stopping by. 😀
Hugs & good luck!
K-Lee
Bucky, my random generator, has chosen…
*drum roll*
Susana! Congratulations! I’ll shoot you an email.
Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway & if you take a chance on Unbreak My Heart, I’d love to hear from you.
Hugs & good luck!
K-Lee