Guestpost & Giveaway: L.A Witt – Just Drive

A warm welcome to author L.A Witt joining us today to talk about her new release “Just Drive”.

Welcome Lori 🙂

 

Welcome to the Riptide Publishing/L. A. Witt blog tour for Just Drive, the first book in the new Anchor Point series!

 

Every comment on this blog tour enters you in a drawing for a choice of two eBooks off my backlist (excluding Just Drive and Afraid to Fly) and a $10 Riptide Publishing store credit. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on November 26^th. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries.

 

 

Age Gaps in Romance

 

I like age gaps. Anyone who’s been reading my books for any length of time is probably not shocked at all. Just Drive is no exception, with 20+ years between the main characters.

 

I’m not into the kind of age gap that creates a serious power imbalance. Like when the older character clearly holds all the cards, and the younger one just has to nod along and toe the line. Not my cup of tea. I don’t mind it being a hurdle, but I don’t care for it as a means of putting one or both characters into an irredeemably unhealthy situation.

 

Age gaps are not, in my mind, deal-breakers. Much like a relationship where one person makes significantly more money than the other, the gap has as much power as the people give it. If the wealthier character lords the money over the other, or uses it to manipulate the other, it’s a problem. And of course, age or income gaps—which often coincide—can be disastrous. But if both characters can be mature about it and find ways to balance things out, then why not?

 

I’ve heard the rule that you’re supposed to divide your age by two, then add seven. Anyone younger than that is too young for you. By that rule, were I single, I couldn’t date anyone younger than 25. And maybe, off the cuff, I wouldn’t have much in common with someone who was 25 or younger.

 

But then again, maybe I would. I’ve been on the other side of that equation. My two longest—and arguably healthiest—relationships prior to meeting my husband were with men who were 16 and 25 years older than me. I’m married now, they’re both married now, and we remain friends to this day. Is our situation the norm? Probably not, but that’s the experience that colors my perspective on age gap relationships.

 

That perspective is something I enjoy exploring in my books. It’s fun to see how things play out when the younger one has his head screwed on a little straighter. In Just Drive, Sean is the more rational one, while Paul, despite being a commanding officer, will always be a fighter pilot on the inside. In other words, a teenage boy in a billion-dollar toy.

 

What I experienced both times I dated older men was that there comes a point when you don’t really think about it anymore. We’d joke about it sometimes, and we got the side-eye from plenty of people, but as a day-to-day thing, it didn’t really come up. We had similar hobbies. Similar interests (they were both photographers, as am I). None of us were interested in partying, clubbing, or drinking, instead being content to stay home with a movie or try a new restaurant somewhere. Eventually, aside from the occasional joke or side-eye, you just kind of… forget about it.

 

And that’s what I like to play with in my stories. Age gaps that are noticeable, but sort of fade into the background as the relationships itself blooms. Like… Sean and Paul’s. 😉

 

 

About Just Drive

 

For Sean Wright, driving a cab in the tiny Navy town of Anchor Point isn’t an exciting job . . . until he picks up just-dumped Paul Richards. A drive turns into a walk on the pier, which turns into the hottest hookup Sean’s had in ages.

 

After a long overdue breakup, Paul can’t believe his luck. Of all the drivers, he’s picked up by the gorgeous, gay, and very willing Sean. Younger guys aren’t usually his thing, but Paul can’t resist.

 

One taste and neither man can get enough . . . right up until they realize that Paul is Sean’s father’s commanding officer and the last man Sean should be involved with.

 

With two careers on the line, their only option is to back off. It’s not easy, though; the sex and the emotional connection are exactly what both men have been craving for a long time. But Paul has devoted twenty-four years to his career and his dream of making admiral. If he’s caught with Sean, that’s all over. He has to choose—stay the course, or trade it all for the man who drove off with his heart.

 

Just Drive is now available from:

Riptide Publishing

Amazon

 

About L.A. Witt

 

L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer who has finally been released from the purgatorial corn maze of Omaha, Nebraska, and now spends her time on the southwestern coast of Spain. In between wondering how she didn’t lose her mind in Omaha, she explores the country with her husband, several clairvoyant hamsters, and an ever-growing herd of rabid plot bunnies. She also has substantially more time on her hands these days, as she has recruited a small army of mercenaries to search South America for her nemesis, romance author Lauren Gallagher, but don’t tell Lauren. And definitely don’t tell Lori A. Witt or Ann Gallagher. Neither of those twits can keep their mouths shut . . .

 

Connect with L.A.:

• Website: www.gallagherwitt.com
• Author Blog: gallagherwitt.blogspot.com
• Personal Blog: navywifeadventures.blogspot.
• Twitter: @GallagherWitt
• Facebook: facebook.com//L-A-Witt-MM-Fiction
• Goodreads: goodreads.com/GallagherWitt

 

 

To celebrate the release of Just Drive, one lucky winner will receive their choice of two eBooks off L.A. Witt’s backlist (excluding Just Drive and Afraid to Fly) and a $10 Riptide Publishing credit! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on November 26, 2016. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!