A.D. Ellis has a new contemporary MM romance out: “Hearts Ablaze.”

Chase Steele and Xander Copperfield are down on their luck, as similar as they are different, and ready for a love they didn’t even realize they’d been waiting on their whole lives.

With two gorgeous “tough guys” discovering and exploring their true selves, Hearts Ablaze is a steamy, slow-burn, friends-to-lovers, opposites attract, bisexual awakening romance.

*This is the first book in the Forged in the City series.*

Amazon | QueeRomance Ink | Goodreads

About the Series:

Love will find you whether you’re ready for it or not. Join the men of the Forged in the City series as they navigate the twists and turns of falling in love when it’s least expected. This series contains steamy, M/M age-gap, opposites-attract, friends-to-lovers romance tropes.

Series Link

• Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones? I do read a lot of my reviews. Unless I’m feeling super strong or super feisty, I likely won’t read the bad ones. I celebrate the great ones, try to learn from the okay ones, and have friends read the bad ones (and then they give me a synopsis, tell me anything constructive, or advise me to just ignore and move on.) The best reviews (to me, at least) are ones that tell the reader how the book made them feel, what they liked, didn’t like. I prefer those types of reviews over a retelling/summary of the book. As a reader, I want to know what I’ll feel; I don’t want a recap of the whole story.

 

• How long on average does it take you to write a book? It really depends on the time of year, what my kids have going on, how easily the story is flowing, and my mental status. I’ve had a book take 9 months from beginning to end. I’ve had a book take one month from start to finish. I generally write 50,000-60,000 words (which isn’t super long) and when the words are coming easily, I can really get into the flow of the story.

 

• What do you do if you get a brilliant idea at a bad time? This almost always happens right as I’m falling asleep. I’ll tell myself I’ll remember it and 99% of the time I do NOT remember it. Sometimes, if I’m awake enough, I’ll get up and grab my phone to make a few notes, but usually I have to rely on my brain slowly recalling bits and pieces over the next few days. If I’m awake, I’ll grab my phone or paper and jot down notes about the idea.

 

• Let’s talk to your characters for a minute – what’s it like to work for such a demanding writer? Hey, I’m Chase. I really liked working with A.D. She’s a writer who stays on a schedule as much as possible and I liked knowing she’d always give me a chance to tell my story. A.D. is like a lot of writers in that she makes a few plans here and there as to how she thinks a story might go, but she didn’t fight (much) when I let her know I had other plans. I love that A.D. was always willing to let Xan and me have our steamy time as well as sweet moments. And she enjoyed the funny parts of our story as much as we did.

 

• What’s your core motivation in this book? My motivation was to get a stable job and place to live. I honestly wasn’t planning for anything more than that. But damn, I sure got a lot more than I was expecting.

 

 

• Are you happy with where your writer left you at the end? (don’t give us any spoilers). Definitely. Without any spoilers, I am so happy with where Xan and I ended up at the end of Hearts Ablaze. My life is truly so full with my friends and family. Even by the end of the whole Forged in the City series, I was very satisfied and happy with where my story went. I’ve got a lot of really special people in my life and I’m a very content man.

 

• Were you a voracious reader as a child? My mom used to read to my brother and me daily. I loved to read and I know I got that from her. I was always the kid with my nose in a book. In high school, friends laughed at the way I was always reading. College brought a slow down to my reading, but I picked it back up as college was ending. I remember my then-boyfriend’s family (now my in-laws) being in awe that I read a novel all in one day at their house. I read as much as possible these days.

 

• What’s your writing process? Plot or character idea–> make notes–>make more notes–>what’s the problem, the solution, what’s the character like, does he need to change, who does he fall for, is that good or bad, will he change, what’s the obstacle…I ask all of that and more while making notes–> if the story is going to be born, I do character interviews to get to know both main characters–> then I’ll make note of big scenes or funny things or where I think certain things MIGHT happen–> then I start writing and see where the characters decide the story is ACTUALLY going to go

 

• What other artistic pursuits (it any) do you indulge in apart from writing? I taught myself to crochet and really enjoy doing that. I’ve also managed to keep a few house plants alive and they make me happy. I enjoy journaling (but I don’t get into it all fancy, I tried that and failed so now I just make it my own.)

 

 

• We know what you like to write, but what do you like to read in your free time, and why? Always romance. And in the past 4+ years I mostly read in the male/male gay romance genre. I started reading it because I needed to become familiar with it to write my first M/M book. I had no clue I’d fall in love with the genre and almost 20 M/M books later still be a big fan/reader of it.

 

• Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre? If you write more than one, how do you balance them? I wrote Sawyer (and his twin, Decker) as children in my first series. They were mentioned in an epilogue and that was that. But then I opted to write that series into a continuation and I knew I was going to write Sawyer (plus Decker and their cousins Kendrick and Zach.) The issue was that I knew Sawyer was gay the moment I wrote him. Knowing I wanted to write his story brought me to a moment when I realized I’d read no gay romance stories. (At this point, several people told me to just write him as straight in a male/female story, but I was against that because I knew Sawyer was gay and wanted to let him have his story and his happy ending.) A reader introduced me to her son (who is now one of my best friends) and he helped me a lot when I had questions. I also started reading almost exclusively gay romance (mostly male/male) and fell in love with the genre. Writing Sawyer felt right and a lot of stories were bouncing around in my head. So, after finishing the rest of that series, I started writing gay male/male romance and I’ve never looked back.

 

• What are you working on now, and when can we expect it? I hope to have a romantic suspense finished by the time anyone reads this interview. I’m also working on a story that’s been banging around in my head for over six months and is probably my kinkiest one yet. I’m planning both of those stories to release in 2020.

 

A.D. is giving away a $20 Amazon gift card with this tour. Enter via Rafflecopter for a chance to win:

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As I quietly opened the door, I was overcome with nervous anticipation. Sage and Bode were nice, they invited me to stay, there was no reason to feel like I was intruding or needed to sneak around.

Yet, I found myself just outside of the kitchen eavesdropping on Sage and Bode. I hadn’t meant to slink in the shadows and listen to their conversation, I just wasn’t exactly sure where I wanted to be and their words caught my attention. Before I knew what was happening, I was spying like a damn spying spier.

“Think about it. It’s like fate. Remember when you didn’t want me to move in here? You did everything you could to convince the guys to pick someone else. But you ended up with me and it turned out to be fabulous.” Sage’s words were low and persuasive. “Ginny finds her long-lost nephew, he discovers his aunt and a sister he never knew, and it looked very much like he and Xan are totally hitting it off.”

“Babe, he’s a complete stranger.” Bode’s words were gruff.

“Ginny had his records checked. You checked his records—even had Mark check them which I’m still not okay with. We could run a complete check for employment.” Sage paused and I heard the soft noises of a gentle kiss.

Bode groaned.

I was a total perv hiding in the shadows and getting turned on knowing Sage and Bode were kissing.

“We need an employee. We have an extra room.” Sage was laying it on thick. “We could help bring two siblings together and maybe even strike a love connection.”

Bode began to speak, but I missed what he said because I nearly shit myself as Rosie gripped my hand and basically screamed, “Whatcha doin? Why you hidin?”

Sage and Bode stuck their heads out of the kitchen and I prayed to melt into a puddle right there. Rosie shrugged when she realized it wasn’t a game and went back to playing with Oliver.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to listen in.” My words poured from me like the pathetic excuse they were. “Really, I came for coffee, heard Sage and didn’t want to interrupt. By the time I realized you were talking about me, it was too late and I was frozen.” I ran a hand over my face, my cheeks on fire. “Shit, I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t sweat it,” Sage assured and waved a dismissive hand in the air. “Coffee?”

Since I wasn’t lucky enough to die on the spot, I nodded and entered the kitchen. “Yes, please.”

“Well, what would you think?” Bode leaned against the counter.

“About?” I stammered.

Sage beamed at Bode. It was clear Sage had won. Something told me Sage often won when it came to winning over Bode.

“Sage is right. We do need an employee at The Lizard. We lost quite a few people to college graduation or busy school schedules.” Bode shrugged. “We planned on inviting you to be around as much as possible to build a relationship with Rosie. If you’d be willing to have a complete background check, the position and room are yours.”

I stared at him for years. Decades even.

“What’s wrong with him? Did I break him?” Bode scowled and spoke out of the corner of his mouth to Sage.

Sage chuckled and moved closer to me. He pushed my jaw up. “Close your mouth, sweetie.” He stepped between me and Bode. “Chase, would you like a job at The Salty Lizard? It’s not glamorous or exciting.” He frowned. “Actually, it can be kinda exciting sometimes. And it’s always fun. Great people.” He dipped his head to catch my eyes. “Chase? Job? You want it?”

I nodded and tried to work my sandpapery thick tongue. “Yes, yes, of course, I want it.” I tried to breathe, but my lungs seemed to be faltering.

“We have a room here. You’d pay rent, but it’s a decent price. We’d set some ground rules. You’d have to be okay living with kids.” Sage spoke slowly as if trying to explain quantum physics to me. “Would you like the room?”

“I, um, I just can’t. I mean, yes, of course I’d want the room, but I can’t ask you guys to give me a job, give me a room, and let me hang with my sister. It’s too much.” I moved to the right and leaned against the sink.

“Want to talk about the rent and salary? Make a decision from there?” Sage patted my arm.

I nodded mutely.

Sage went to check on the kids and set them up with crayons and coloring books along with Kidz Bop on a tablet.

A.D. Ellis is an Indiana girl, born and raised. She spends much of her time in central Indiana as an instructional coach/teacher in the inner city of Indianapolis, being a mom to two amazing school-aged children, and wondering how she and her husband of almost two decades have managed to not drive each other insane. A lot of her time is also devoted to phone call avoidance and her hatred of cooking.

She loves chocolate, wine with friends, pizza, crocheting and naps along with reading and writing romance. These loves don’t leave much time for housework, much to the chagrin of her husband. Who would pick cleaning the house over a nap or a good book? She uses any extra time to increase her fluency in sarcasm.

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