Title: Sol’s Solstice (New Beginnings #1)

Author: Leona Windwalker

Publisher: Rune Tree Press

Publication date: 17 Dec. 2014

Word Count: 40,510

Blurb:

Sol is used to flying under his family’s radar, unless focusing unwanted attention away from his more outgoing, older twin.

The day comes when he pays a steep price for attempting to shield his brother.

Running for his life, he is nearly run down by a car driven by Seth. Can Seth help Sol find his way back from the darkness?

Buy Links:

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Sol’s Solstice takes some wonderfully dark turns. Did you have the whole plot planned out before you began writing or were you as surprised as the rest of us?

To answer this I have to explain how I write, and I’m definitely going to come off as a rather crazy lady ::laughs:: What happens is I’ll be minding my own damned business, when suddenly, my Muse brings along a buddy. In this case it was Sol, and he told me what was happening. My Muse said, “Look here, bub, this here’s Sol. That guy over there is Seth. They’re having a HEA, but boy, did they have a hard start.” Then Sol started from the beginning. I pretty much just sat and let my fingers fly.

 

Parts of this story were rather difficult to read. (Ok, that’s a total lie. I loved the angstier parts of this book!) Did you find the darker scenes in the story difficult to write?

I honestly tried to not be so terribly cruel, but Sol would get angry. “Tell it like it is! You’ve seen these things happen to other people! Don’t take the easy way out!” I admit I had to stop at times, take a break, eat some chocolate, go for a soak in some relaxing bubbles, because the sheer weight of those scenes pierced my soul. It was all the worse because I grew up among people similar to these. I witnessed some of the bigotries first hand, whether from race, choice of religious faith, sexual orientation, or gender identity, so I knew Sol was right. It had to be shared that way, consequences and all. I owed it to all who have suffered, and all who still do. I also owed it to all who work to make it better.

 

Do you have a favourite part? Any bit you want to brag about because you know that you just nailed it?

I have two actually. My first is where Ben first gets a clue that he’s been a self absorbed twit. He’s realized something not quite right was up, goes to check out, and yet his first thought upon entering Sol’s former bedroom is, “Hey, my old baseball glove!” He’s so focused on his own wants, again, that he allows himself to become trapped. His reaction as he begins to fully comprehend what happened there and what is likely to happen to him next, with his resulting empathy, gave me a great sense of satisfaction.

 

My second favorite scene is where Sol and Seth have bought a house. It’s in Maryland and the location (but not the house) is quite real. As a teen, I was sent off to go live in a Victorian house with an aunt for several months, and that house is in the real Marion Station. I attended school in nearby Crisfield, which also gets a mention. The scenery is beautiful, the people warm and friendly, and I still love them all to this day. Like Sol comes to see the day he formally moves in, family can be those you love, and who love you back. He has a made family there.

 

How did you celebrate your first release day?

Much to my children’s chagrin, and to the utter horror of my cats, I Snoopy danced as the first congratulations began to scroll across my social media platforms and accompanying sales appeared. There was also much squeeing via IM to and from my long suffering friends and betas.

 

So, this is book #1 of the New Beginnings series. Any hints about what’s coming next?

Ben had to face the consequences of his attitudes towards his twin being gay in this book. In book #2, he’s back at school and in therapy, facing the emotional damage he and others inflicted upon himself by his unthinking actions. He’s determined to be a better person, championing his brother and Seth’s right to love, but finds that he still has a lot to learn when he meets Marty. Marty confuses and confounds him. A gender fluid gay male, Marty is no one like Ben has ever met before. ::laughs:: You’ll have to wait and see just what that means for Ben.

 

Book #3 sees Andy’s return. He comes out, just as he talked to Seth about doing. His life changes and he finds his way. I will say that this story has a soldier from Hunter Army Airfield in it as his love interest. I grew up an Army brat and lived on that very post, as well as on the nearby Ft. Stewart, which also makes an appearance. Fun fact: Ft. Stewart is the RL inspiration for Ft. Swampy in the comic strip, Beetle Bailey. It’s even affectionately called that by locals and Beetle Bailey tshirts are sold.

 

Leona is a longtime staunch supporter of human rights and environmental causes. Her favourite genre to read is M/M fiction and she particularly enjoys science fiction, fantasy, and action/suspense subgenres—especially if they have a nice seasoning of romance. She has far too many books on her Kindle, has overloaded her phone with even more and, when not reading, writing, being driven to distraction by her children, or being overlorded by her three cats, can be found trying to locate the portal that the sock monster uses to steal socks from her dryer.

 

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Leonna is generiously giving away two copies of Sol’s Solstice!

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