GRL Featured Blog Post: Guestpost & Giveaway Lane Hayes

A warm welcome to author Lane Hayes , the next author featured on our GRL Blog Tour

Welcome Lane 🙂

Last year I attended my first ever GRL in Chicago. I went as a reader and absolutely loved it! I had no idea what to expect. It was my first time at any convention. Ever. I’ve been tempted to attend a couple in the past, but real life and the feeling I’d be horribly out of place kept me home. I was sure I lacked the commitment necessary to fit in. I never had the chutzpah to rock a Star Trek costume properly and when I really thought about it, I wasn’t sure I cared. However, I had a feeling GRL would be different from the moment I’d heard it existed. To meet people who shared the same interests and knew the same authors in a genre I hadn’t known existed a mere few years ago… priceless!

When I first discovered MM romance books seven or so years ago, I knew I’d found something special. I’ve always been an avid reader (aka obsessed). In the days before e-readers, I made sure to travel with suitcases large enough to fit a stack of books. If there had been danger of being fined for carrying excess weight in my luggage, I would have tossed my clothes out before surrendering any of my precious romance novels. You think I’m exaggerating? I assure you, I’m not. My husband would roll his eyes but he never argued. In fact, one day he actually said… “Why don’t you write those kind of books? You read so many, I bet you could do it”. It was an interesting suggestion but I wasn’t convinced. As entertained as I was by my favorite authors, I didn’t feel passionate enough about it to try my hand. Until I began reading MM and everything changed.

These weren’t your everyday love stories. They were extraordinary. The best MM books had a message that spoke to me on a completely different level than straight romance novels. That message was hope. Hope for justice, equality and love. It was the kind of hope that drives away fear and strengthens resolve when fighting ignorance and prejudice. As the mother of a gay son (who at the time was a struggling teenager), I assure you hope matters. While my contemporaries were worried about who their son would ask to the prom, I was worried mine wouldn’t leave his room. Campaigns like “It Gets Better” spoke to me on a whole new level. It wasn’t a matter of empathy any longer. This was personal.

Discovering MM romance was magical to me. It felt like a beacon of sorts. A hint that there is life out there. I wasn’t alone. There were other people who not only loved romance but cared deeply about LGBT rights and were dedicated to crafting quality fiction with life-affirming messages of love and hope. Suddenly I was inspired. I may or may not fail, but all I could do was try. I wrote Better Than Good, book 1 of the Better Than Stories series, just as my oldest son was leaving for college. It was a story about self discovery as told from the point of view of a bisexual young man who meets someone extraordinary. Someone who challenges his views of sexuality and of himself. The story is a simple one. And yes… it is about hope with a good dose of bravery. Seven books later, I haven’t looked back.

This year I’ll be at GRL as a Featured Author and I’m more thrilled than I can say to be part of this fantastic event! It feels dreamlike. I look forward to meeting the readers and authors who share my passion for romance as well as a concern for LGBT equality and respect. Everyone deserves love. And hope.

Lane Hayes

Blurb:

Paul Fallon is a fashion advertising guru. He’s a genius at dealing with difficult editors, art directors, and designers alike. He thrives on the chaotic atmosphere and constant challenges. But in his personal life, he’s hoping for peace and stability. Settling down with a nice doctor or lawyer sounds perfect. Anyone but an artist. He’s been there, done that, and he doesn’t want to relive the heartache.

Seth Landau is a model, occasional guitarist, and aspiring painter. He’s quirky, flighty, and wise beyond his years. Life has taught him some tough lessons, then given him opportunities he never dreamed of. He’s learned to appreciate the fragility of life and to express it in his work. Seth’s flare for the absurd combined with a supple mind and a beautiful body are too alluring for Paul to ignore. Against his best intentions, Paul is drawn to the younger man whose particular brand of crazy challenges Paul to accept that things aren’t always as they seem. Sometimes taking a chance is better than being safe.

Pre order Link:

Dreamspinner Press

Lane Hayes is grateful to finally be doing what she loves best. Writing full time! It’s no secret Lane loves a good romance novel. An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to a well-told love story with beautifully written characters. Lane discovered the M/M genre a few ago and was instantly hooked. Her first novel was a finalist in the 2013 Rainbow Awards and her third received an Honorable Mention in the 2014 Rainbow Awards. She loves travel, chocolate, and wine (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband and the coolest yellow lab ever in an almost empty nest.

Contact the Author:

Lane’s Blog: http://lanehayes.wordpress.com

Twitter: LaneHayes3

Facebook: LaneHayesauthor or Lane Hayes

Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Lane is kindly offering a backlist copy out of her collection to one Lucky commentor!