Author Q&A ft @DianneHartsock | BIRTHDAY PRESENTS Book Tour + $25 GC #Giveaway | @GoddessFish Presents M/M #EroticRomance

Goddess Fish Promotions has organized a Virtual Book Tour for BIRTHDAY PRESENTS by Dianne Hartsock, a m/m erotic romance, crime drama available now from Less Than Three Press.

Dianne Hartsock will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Be sure to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found at the bottom of the post.

Birthday Presents by Dianne Hartsock
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GENRE: m/m erotic romance, crime drama
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BLURB:
For Tracey, life has become a nightmare. Kidnapped from a nightclub in Boulder, Colorado, brutalized and raped by the killer known as Crimson, he's held captive alongside Kyle, a young man Crimson keeps chained to his bed and is slowly torturing to death. Though Tracey manages to escape with Kyle's help, he is forced to leave Kyle behind.
Gene has never stopped looking for his brother Kyle, abducted from a nightclub seven months previously. The case breaks open when Tracegy comes forward, claiming to have knowledge of the whereabouts of Crimson's hideout.
A manhunt begins, but Crimson's birthday has come and gone, and he will kill again.
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AUTHOR INTERVIEW:
How did you come up with the title of your book or series? Most titles of my stories come to me during the writing process. Birthday Presents is pretty obvious once you start reading the book. Crimson is a serial killer who chooses a victim once a year, on his birthday, to seduce and kill. Kind of his birthday present to himself. As you read the story, you come to realize why he does this and know why the title is appropriate.

Who is your favorite character from your book and why?
That would have to be Kyle, the young man Crimson kidnapped and is holding hostage during the story. Despite the horror and pain he has endured, he’s remained brave and hopeful, knowing somehow his brother would never give up and one day find him. He does what he needs to do for Crimson to stay alive, but risks his life to help Tracey escape, and in the end of the story, is able to find the strength to help himself.

How about your least favorite character? What makes them less appealing to you?
That would have to be Detective Stegman, Gene’s boyfriend. He seems like a nice enough guy, and Gene likes him. And he’s essential to the storyline. But he’s always the cool, reserved detective with the superior attitude. And though he’s very good at his job, I always thought he wasn’t quite right for Gene. But then I feel that way about some of the guys I know in real life, so who am I to judge?


Where did your love of reading/storytelling/writing/etc. come from?
When I was a kid my older sister would read bedtime stories to us, or told us fantastical tales she’d make up. Once I learned how to read and write, I started making up my own stories to tell, and soon was writing others to read. I was so proud! And realized I wanted to write stories for everyone. I’ve been writing ever since.

Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?
*winks* You mean besides writing? Just kidding. I work as a floral designer in a locally owned gift shop and delight in creating gorgeous arrangements for people. I can say they’re gorgeous because it’s the flowers themselves that are so beautiful. I simply put them in vases or floral containers for everyone to see and enjoy. It’s a wonderful creative outlet for me when I can’t be writing.

What's the strangest thing you have ever had to research online for your book? When I started writing Birthday Presents I never meant to get so personal with Crimson’s victim, Kyle. But as the story progressed, I found myself wanting to write from his POV. These scenes were later cut from the story, maybe a dozen pages, but at one point I needed to know what his pee would be like after being half starved and dehydrated for days on end. Something I’d never thought I’d ever need to know. It was odd to pick through information to find what I was looking for, but also very sad when I thought about it. My poor Kyle.

What can we expect from you in the future? What are you working on now?
I’m very nearly finished with my psychological thriller novel involving a psychic named Alex, the third book in his series. Once I send that off to my publisher, I’ll start a romantic suspense story based on a winter legend I recently learned about. After that, probably something involving hoodoo in New Orleans. Oh, and I have a fantasy book to finish. Lots to do!


Is there anything else you’d like to say? Thanks everyone for your interest! Birthday Presents is a book that may be grim and difficult to read in places, but I also believe it’s a book about hope and friendship and the loyalty and love of family. It’s about the human spirit overcoming tremendous, horrifying obstacles. And it’s also a love story where love is given unconditionally. It will leave you smiling at the end, promise. I can’t write a book without a HEA.

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EXCERPT:
"I know." Paige gave him an intense look. "I will find them, Gene."
Gene sighed, scrubbing at his face with his hands. "How many men do we have out here?" he asked, staring into the darkness below them.
"There's a team two ridges over, working their way toward us, and another sweeping from the west. We have Crimson boxed in, as long as no one gets careless. Another reason I wanted to stop. Can't risk him doubling back and getting behind us."
Gene nodded, though his skin crawled with nerves. He let out a long breath and shifted, stretching out on the hard ground.
Paige leaned back on his elbows, his gaze on the dark trees in front of them. He flicked Gene a glance. "You should get some sleep."
"Fuck that." Gene saw him flinch. "Can you find Crimson in this?"
"Yes. He's very good, though. The signs I've been finding have been left by Tracey. A footprint here, bent twigs, a button. "
Gene pictured Tracey as he'd last seen him: beautiful, strong, despite the shadows lurking darkly in his eyes.
"Okay," Genes said, nerves on edge. "We've had Crimson cornered several times and he's managed to get away every time. And now he has Tracey again." He rubbed his aching forehead. "How did that happen, exactly? How'd Crimson find us?"
"I have no idea. You, Craig, Klinton, and me were the only ones who knew the location. My money's on Craig."
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Dianne is the author of paranormal/suspense, fantasy adventure, m/m romance, the occasional thriller, and anything else that comes to mind. She lives in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon with her incredibly patient husband, who puts up with the endless hours she spends hunched over the keyboard letting her characters play. She says Oregon’s raindrops are the perfect setting in which to write. There’s something about being cooped up in the house with a fire crackling on the hearth and a cup of hot coffee warming her hands, which kindles her imagination.
Currently, Dianne works as a floral designer in a locally-owned gift shop. Which is the perfect job for her. When not writing, she can express herself through the rich colors and textures of flowers and foliage.
Blog: http://diannehartsock.wordpress.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/diannehartsock Twitter: http://twitter.com/diannehartsock Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4707011-dianne-hartsock Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Dianne-Hartsock/e/B005106SYQ/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1361897239&sr=8-1 Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/Dianne-Hartsock-Author-107985445959828/

Birthday Presents:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076C5XNDD/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1507823212&sr=1-3&keywords=dianne hartsock Less Than Three Press: https://lessthanthreepress.com/books/index.php?main_page=product_bookx_info&cPath=90&products_id=1453&zenid=3ghdqc3p4kqgu5lb4rcb2gk4l6
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/birthday-presents-2
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GIVEAWAY::
Dianne Hartsock will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS:
December 4: Erotica For All
December 4: Fabulous and Brunette
December 5: Christine Young
December 6: Books, Dreams,Life
December 7: Lock That Door!
December 8: Sharing Links and Wisdom
December 11: It's Raining Books
December 12: Romance Novel Giveaways
December 13: Long and Short Reviews
December 14: Readeropolis
December 15: Emily Carrington - review only