A warm welcome back to author Sean Michael joining us today to talk about new release “Inked Music”.
Thank you to Love Bytes Reviews for hosting me today.
One of the main characters in Inked Music is covered in tattoos, so it was important to me that the character on the cover represented those tattoos, and I was very happy with the results – I think the cover rocks, and it gives the feeling of the book as well.
Anyone who has met me in person, knows that I love tattoos. I’m covered in them. Colorful and bright, I have them from head to toe.
My very first tattoo is on my chest – a pumpkin ink pot with a feather quill. The one I got most recently is a hummingbird, right in the center of my chest – filling the hole of uncolored flesh that sat there for the longest time. I knew I wanted something there, but I didn’t know what. Then it finally came to me – a hummingbird, which is a harbinger of joy.
Each one of my tattoos have been chosen carefully. Once I knew what I wanted, I would talk to my tattoo guy and he would draw it up for me. I can’t draw to save my life, but he’s managed to draw up what I’ve been picturing in my head like he’s can see right into my brain.
Gavin’s also chosen all of his ink carefully. He’s had a lot going on in his life and the tattoos are both armor and badges of honor. They are for himself and until Rene comes along, aside from his Sunday nights on a tiny stage, pretty much nobody sees them but him.
Gavin still has some room for a few more tattoos. Maybe he’ll find something that he wants to honor his new relationship.
Sean Michael
smut fixes everything
Blurb:
Can a wealthy but bored businessman rescue a tortured musician from his self-imposed purgatory with a scorching kinky romance?
When Rene Conette attends an intimate performance at a local bar, the guitarist moves him enough that he attempts to go backstage but is stymied by the man’s bodyguard. Putting it down as not meant to be, he goes on with his life only to run into the man again, late at night at a bookstore.
Gavin Turner used to be a famous musician until an obsessed fan kidnapped and tortured him. Then it came out that he was into the BDSM lifestyle, and the court of public opinion ravaged him. He lost his Master and his self-confidence. Now he hides behind his ink and his bodyguards, who make sure he doesn’t come into contact with anyone or anything he doesn’t want to. Though it’s been years since he satisfied his needs, he doesn’t think he can trust again.
If Rene can work his way past Gavin’s defenses, they might find they complement each other perfectly.
Buy links:
“You’ve got a barefoot customer back there, you know.” That was from a pinched-face young man who was carrying a handful of graphic novels. “That’s not cool. You don’t know where he’s been.”
“He’s my brother. I know. I’ll take him some socks.”
Drake’s brother? What were the odds that the night manager here would know the man Rene wanted an introduction to? He waited until Drake had rung up the young man’s books and the door had clicked shut behind his skinny ass.
“Your brother?” he asked.
“Yeah. He hangs out one night every couple weeks. He drinks tea and buys thirteen books to make it through the rest of the time.”
Through the rest of the time? What did that mean? “The rest of the time?”
“When he’s not here. You know. The other days.”
“So it’s a lucky coincidence that I came in tonight.” Very lucky. When he hadn’t been able to meet the guitarist after the show, and then the Painted Dog owner had been a dead end as well, Rene had figured that was the end of it. He hadn’t been able to forget the man, though, his thoughts often returning to the inked body and the incredible music.
“I guess?” Drake shrugged. “He’s here every other Wednesday like clockwork.”
“Is he really your brother?” Could he get an introduction this time? Rene was a regular here himself, and now it seemed like kismet, like they were meant to meet. Fate had put them together yet again, after all.
“He really is. He’s my younger brother.” Drake sighed softly. “Please, he’s no trouble. He buys books. He’s polite and quiet, and I’ll ask him to wear socks. This place is important to him.”
“I wasn’t going to make trouble—I was going to ask for an introduction, actually.”
“Yeah? Uh… he’s pretty shy.” Drake paused, clearly thinking it over. “But you’re a regular too, huh?”
“I am.” Rene was more than a regular, wasn’t he? But it was something he didn’t share, and he didn’t want to make it weird for Drake, to suddenly find out Rene was actually his boss.
“Let me see if I can tempt him up to the front with cookies. Hold up.”
Rene sat in one of the chairs catty-corner from the sales counter and ate one of the aforementioned cookies. They weren’t bad at all and went well with the scent of the steam rising from his cup of tea. He knew he was trying to distract himself, and it wasn’t really working. His entire focus was on the path Drake and his brother would have to take to come up to the front of the store.
Drake came back with the man in tow, heavy clothes like a costume around the slender body. Drake wasted no time in making introductions. “Gavin, this is Rene. Rene, Gavin. He’s a regular like you.”
“I’m sorry about stealing your chair.” Gavin winked at him and gave him a smile.
Rene chuckled and offered his hand. “It doesn’t have my name on it.”
“Good to know.” Gavin shook with him. “Still, you looked so disappointed, I had to move.”
“Well, I appreciate that you did. But I thought I should make it up to you if I could.” Rene mentally thanked Gavin for the opening to more than an introduction.
“Oh, you don’t have to. I don’t need anything.”
“You’re not hungry? Zak’s is open twenty-four hours and is just around the corner….” They had the best milkshakes in the city too.
Gavin shook his head without even letting a moment pass. “Oh, I couldn’t possibly, but thank you.”
Rene frowned at the immediate dismissal. “Why not?”
Gavin looked to Drake, a panicked expression on his face, and Drake smiled, one hand on his brother’s arm. “You’re cool, man.”
“I am. I appreciate the offer, but I’m really not comfortable going out with someone I don’t know.”
Rene pointed to the other chair in this area of the bookstore. “Then how about tea and cookies and a chance to get to know you?”
“Tea and cookies is acceptable.” Gavin offered him a smile.
Best-selling author Sean Michael is a maple leaf–loving Canadian who spends hours hiding out in used book stores. With far more ideas than time, Sean keeps several documents open at all times. From romance to fantasy, paranormal and sci-fi, Sean is limited only by the need for sleep—and the periodic Beaver Tail.
Sean fantasizes about one day retiring on a secluded island populated entirely by horseshoe crabs after inventing a brain-to-computer dictation system. Until then, Sean will continue to write the old-fashioned way.
Sean Michael on the web:
WEBSITE: http://www.seanmichaelwrites.com
BLOG: http://seanmichaelwrites.blogspot.ca
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SeanMichaelWrites/
TWITTER: seanmichael09
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/seanmichaelpics/