Author: Shea Balik
Genre: MMRomance, Gay
Release Date: July 20, 2016
Bookstrand Goodreads
Blurb:
Welcome to Cedar Falls, a small North Carolina town nestled amongst the Smokey Mountains. Where the people are friendly and the men are hot.Eddie Wollard has been beaten down by life. If his constant screw ups didn’t reinforce what a loser he was, his Uncle Ira was more than happy to remind him every chance he got. No one could ever love a klutz like him.
Axl Rhodes just moved to Cedar Falls. Axl had promised he would slow down and smell the roses, but he hadn’t counted it being quite so...slow and boring. Then he met Eddie Wollard, a man who fascinated him. Now he just has to convince Eddie how well they fit together.
But even in a small town like Cedar Falls, nothing is ever that easy. Can Axl show Eddie they belong together? More importantly can he convince Eddie of the pleasure that can be found with the Kiss of Leather?
~ Q and A with Shea Balik ~
A: I grew up in the north, mostly Illinois and Michigan, but in high school my family moved to Nashville, Tennessee. I graduated from high school there before marrying and moving to Norfolk, Virginia where my husband was stationed in the Navy. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it and ended up divorced but I did get an amazing son out of my marriage, so I can’t complain.
Now I live in sunny Florida, where the weather is always warm, or so we like to brag to the Northerners who are freezing their asses off in the winter while under six feet of snow and driving on ice. Nope, there is no ice down here, except for what we put in our drinks to keep cool on the sandy beaches with the sun baking our skin to a golden brown. Well, unless you are me, who burns instead of tans.
It is the perfect life, if one discounts the hurricanes and rainy season. Still, it beats having to shovel snow for months out of the year.
As for traveling, I am still working on traveling to every state within the United States. I’ve been to at least half. My favorite mode of transportation is the car, for I feel it is the best way to see the country. Okay, okay. It may have something to do with my being afraid to fly, no make that terrified. I always felt if we were meant to fly, we’d have wings. Not that I won’t get on a plane, because I will, and do. After all, how else does one get to Hawaii quickly?
For out-of-the country traveling, I have been to every Caribbean country that cruise ships visit, several times. Being a Floridian means easy access to ports and cheaper rates. Although, now that I’ve cruised so often, I get discounts for being a frequent cruiser. In a perfect world, I would cruise around the world, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon, unless I win the lottery.
I have also been to India, three times. Each time I went it impacted my life in profound ways. But for me, the thing that sunk in the most, was just how lucky I am to live in the United States. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always known that, but seeing just how people live in other countries, especially the poor, isn’t something one can easily forget. Not that it was all I saw, for it wasn’t. The people I dealt with were kind, generous and eager to please. I enjoyed getting a chance to visit there and experiencing their culture, which was rich with history.
Q: Why did you decide to become a writer?
A: I have always developed stories in my head growing up. I finally decided to put those stories down on paper. I’m just grateful others like my stories too.
Q: Where do you get your story ideas?
A: My favorite thing to do is people watch, even going so far as to listen in on their conversations. It doesn’t take much, just a few words and my mind is off and running with a new story.
Q: What is your typical day like?
A: Well right now I’m working full-time for my family’s business. I am up working most mornings by 7 a.m. but working for my family gives me some flexibility to take a couple of hours off each afternoon to write. Wednesday is my only day off and I spent most of that day writing.
Q: What are your hobbies?
A: Reading, need I say more? Seriously I read every chance I get across most genres. I also love to travel. It allows me to meet new people, see new sights and try new things.
Q: Who did you look up to the most growing up?
A: My sister. She is several years older than I am and I always wanted to be just like her. Even to the point of doing things I didn’t like. She was a softball player and so I tried to be the same. I quickly realized that wasn’t a good idea. Even now she is one of my best friends and I still look up to her. Love you, sis.
Many thanks to Shea for visiting with us, and letting us into her world.
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REMINDER
Shea’s “Kiss of Leather” Scavenger Hunt runs through July 31st. Join the event and join the hunt for a chance at over a dozen prizes that include ebooks, ice cream gift cards, and the items pictured below! https://www.facebook.com/events/1587424421563469/
Thanks for the assist! ❤
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