BLOG TOUR: Jamison by A.N. Waugh (Excerpt & Giveaway + Q&A with Author)

BLOG TOUR

Book Title: Jamison: A Maxim Novel

Author: A.N. Waugh

Cover Artist: Midnight Designs

Release Date: June 7, 2022

Genre: Contemporary MM Romance

Tropes: Friends to lovers, second chance romance, rockstar

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: approx 45 000 words

It is book one in a new series. It does not end on a cliffhanger for the couple, but there are some unresolved conflicts that will reappear later in the series.

Goodreads

Buy Links

Universal Link | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Blurb

Vance
Jamison Black. Lead singer for the band Maxim, and my first love. He broke my heart to follow his dream. Now, six years after the heartbreak, he is my job. I’ve worked hard for this internship and to get close to him again, but it doesn’t take long to realize we can’t be anything more than friends. Not when Maxim is so close to the success they’ve been chasing all this time.

Jamison
I never knew how much I missed Vance Martin until I saw him in the last place I expected. He is my heart. Always has been, always will be. I’m his client, and he’s determined to keep me in the friend zone. A place I refuse to stay. I might have left my heart behind six years ago, but I won’t let him go again.

Jamison is the first book in the Maxim series. An MM Rockstar, best friends to lovers, second chance romance with two stubborn main characters, a too observant, witty and flamboyant interfering coworker, entertaining bandmates and friends, and a fake girlfriend who has forgotten her love isn’t real.

Excerpt

“Hey, you should come out with me tonight. I know this great club.” Klaus interrupts my thoughts about working with one of the biggest and most well-known record labels.

“Sure, why not?” I agree. I need to make friends and Klaus, with his big personality and flashy attire, seems to be the most welcoming. Besides, I should get to know the man if we are going to be working together for the next few months. What can it hurt? He’s harmless, right?

A few hours later, I’ve resigned myself to the knowledge that Klaus is anything but harmless as he drags me inside a crowded club. Every head turns in our direction, and while I’m not ashamed to be seen with him, it means I garner just as much attention for being at his side. The tight leather pants and black see-through top he’s wearing leave nothing to the imagination. Every man and woman we pass can clearly see the size of his package and the piercings in his nipples. I look and feel out of place in comparison with my jeans and an old Nirvana t-shirt.

When we reach the bar, Klaus orders a couple of shots and some fruity concoction for the two of us. I look around, taking in all the people. My eyes drift across the club, over the dance floor, and up to the second floor.

A glass wall surrounds a balcony sitting area where the VIPs avoid the crowd of commoners literally beneath them. Sitting at a table in the corner is a face I would recognize anywhere, even at a distance. I blink and he’s gone. Did I imagine it?

Klaus hands me a shot and I toss it back, letting the burn that slides down my throat bring me back to reality and the here and now.

“Here.” He hands me one of the fruity drinks. “Let’s dance.”

Maxim’s latest hit plays over the sound system and the buzz of alcohol and the steady beat of the music flow through me. The sexy, gravelly voice of Maxim’s lead singer lulls me into a sexually charged state. I close my eyes and let the rhythm take over, my body swaying in a dance learned years ago.

Jamison Black’s voice has seduced me, consoled me, and left me wanting since I was a teen. His rockstar looks: long dark hair and ice-blue eyes lined with kohl stirred my libido before I fully understood my attraction to men. Late night fantasies of his talented mouth on my skin, fantasies that still claim me when I’ve gone too long without release, flash through my mind.

The DJ switches songs, and my Jamison-induced spell is broken. I open my eyes and take in the club. Klaus, in all his flamboyant splendor, is dancing between two well-dressed men, probably corporate businessmen here to unwind. Too bad Klaus has set his sights on them.

I laugh and move from the dance floor to the bar for another drink. My inhibitions slowly drift away as the warm and sensual caress of alcohol unfurls in my veins. I glimpse myself in the mirror behind the bar. My cheeks are pink with the heat that permeates my body, and my hair is a ruffled mess from dancing.

The bartender hands me another of the fruity drinks Klaus had ordered earlier.

“Damn. That’s too bad. I’d hoped to make it over in time to buy you a drink.” A man that screams sleazy Hollywood moves to stand next to me. “I’m Chad. I hope I’m not being too forward, but are you here alone?”

“Uh,” I stall, searching the crowd for Klaus. “I’m here with—”

“There you are. I thought I’d lost you out there.”

The rich, melodic voice comes from behind and I close my eyes as an arm wraps around my waist, fingers gripping my hip.

“My apologies.” Chad sounds more annoyed than apologetic about the newcomer’s intrusion.

“No problem.” I can practically hear the forced politeness in his voice and open my eyes to tell Chad that I am not here with anyone but a friend. But he has since moved on to another target farther down the line of people at the bar.

Breathing deeply, I step away until the man’s arm at my back falls away, then turn to face a blast from my past. A sexy as fuck blast from the past.

Q&A with A.N. Waugh

Tell us a little about yourself and your writing goals.

Hi! I’m A.N. Waugh and umm, I’m a boring introvert. Reading, writing, and editing are my hobbies and I love doing all three. Currently my writing goals are to finish the Men of Maxim series by July 2023. After that, I have vague plans I’m keeping close to the chest. I hope they pan out, but I guess we’ll see.

Congratulations on your new release. Please tell us a little bit about it. What’s your favorite aspect or part of the story? Do you have a favorite character? Who/Why?

Jamison is book one in a rockstar series that will be a total of five books, one for each band member. My version of a rockstar romance is a bit different than others as I don’t include too much of the performances/music, but rather more of their everyday life on the road, in the studio, and the challenges they face because of their profession. While I love all my characters, I do have a favorite: Anders. There’s just something about him and the way he sees things and experiences friendship and love. I can’t wait to get to his book and show the readers just what it is about him that I love.

Are you a planner or a pantser? How much do you know about your story before you start writing? How often does your plan change? Why does this work best for you?

Pantser. I’ve tried plotting, but I find it easier to just write the story than to plan it out and go back and write it. Usually I’ll know the very basics of the story when I start, which means that sometimes my characters don’t even have names when I start writing. Even though I don’t have an official plan/outline, the characters take the story in different directions than I expect, throwing me off course in my mind. But almost always for the better. Being a pantser works for me because if I try to plan and organize I get too caught up in the little things and have trouble finding the words. I work best when I can just go with the flow and make adjustments later if needed.

Do deadlines motivate you or block you? How do you deal with them?

Hmm. Both. 😂 It really depends on the story I’m working on. If it’s something I’m excited about the deadline pushes me to write it well in advance. If I’m not too thrilled with the story, the deadline blocks me. I usually end up discarding those projects as they won’t be anywhere near what I’m capable of and I don’t want to put out something half-assed just to put something out on a certain date. That’s one reason I don’t put firm deadlines on myself for solo projects until I’m almost finished or well in advance that I know I’ll have no problem meeting the deadline.

Do you schedule a certain amount of time for writing each day/week, or do you just work it in when you can? Would you like to change this, or does your current method work well for you?

I get words in when I can. I’d love to be able to schedule time, but as a pantser that falls into that organization that throws me off. If I plan to write I overthink and get less words than if I find myself with time and just go for it. I’d love to somehow become more organized, but the past suggests that just doesn’t work for me. Haha. I let my PA be the organized one and I just do my thing.

What was the most difficult part of writing this book? Why?

Ending it. Haha. Because I didn’t want to let the characters go. I know they’ll pop up throughout the series, but this was their story. Moving forward they will be secondary characters, unless I bring them back for a quick short, and they are my first loves. They are so special to me because this book is the first I’ve written where I wasn’t trying to conform to anyone else’s expectations other than my own. And that made them hard to let go of.

How do you develop a story idea? Do you always use the same method? Specifically, which do you develop first in your story building, the characters or the plot?

My ideas typically come as plot first, and are usually inspired by a song, photo, meme, or random story I see posted. If possible I save the song, meme, photo, or story so I can come back later when I have time to write it.

What are your favorite genres when it comes to your own pleasure reading? Do you prefer to read ebooks or print?

I enjoy both ebooks and print. As for genre, anything that’s not historical. Bonus points if it’s LGBT.

Does writing energize or exhaust you?

Depends on what I’m working on. Kinda like the deadline thing, if I enjoy what I’m writing it energizes me and I want to just keep going. But for the stories I’m struggling to find a connection with, they exhaust me. Sometimes to the point where I don’t want to write at all.

What is your writing Kryptonite?

I’m not sure if this counts, but my inability to find alpha/beta readers. I have searched and searched for alpha/beta readers to give me the feedback I need. Not being able to send my manuscript to someone for feedback stalls me out and can cause me to let a story sit for long periods of time. Sometimes I just need someone to give me the criticism require to push me past where I am.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Don’t listen to the naysayers. Follow your passion and make your dreams a reality.

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

Double vanilla. Hahaha. I love this flavor the most because I can add whatever I want to it. One day I could eat it dipped in chocolate, the next in a bowl with gummy bears and sprinkles. The possibilities are really endless. Also I don’t like chocolate except in small doses so that probably influences my tastes here.

Who would play you in a movie about your life?

Hmm. Never though about it. But I like Florence Pugh and think she’d wonderfully portray me. Also she’s my middle kid’s favorite so that would make them giddy.

Thank you.

About the Author

A.N. Waugh is an author of MM/MMM+ romances, a pansexual mess, and a firm believer that love is love.

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