Cameron Habersham is Dev’s best friend. Cam loves Dev like a brother and will do anything for him, as long as he looks good doing it. So when Dev asks him to perform the summoning board’s ritual, he reluctantly agrees, but he knows nothing will come of it. Nothing ever does.
However, within a day, Dev and Cam’s lives are turned upside down as wishes begin to come true. They discover the existence of a supernatural world beyond their imagination, but peace between the species is tenuous at best.
Dev finally gets to see the Shadow Realm, meets the man of his dreams, and is inducted into the local male coven. But for all the desires that were summoned into existence, Dev soon realizes the magical community dances the line between good and evil, and Cam ends up on the wrong side of everything.
The old adage is true: Be careful what you wish for.
How did you come up with the concept and characters for the book?
The first chapter came to me while day dreaming. I had seen an image on the internet of a really handsome Indian man and my mind immediately came up with this story of using a summoning board. From there, the story kind of evolved itself – as my books tend to do. I’m not a great outliner or plotter of stories. They tend to take on a life of their own. I’m just the transcriptionist.
I have, however, written down an overarching outline for the second book in this series. I wouldn’t exactly call it plotting, more like watching where the story goes and making sure I write down the words the characters want me to say.
I think this will be a fun series to write.
Where did you come up with the names in the story?
I pick names really carefully. I try to make sure the characters feel real, with real names, but often there’s a hidden meaning behind the names I choose. I use several websites to make sure I grab a name that reflects who the character is in my head. For this series, which will revolve around The Guardian of the Night Grove coven (and we all know a coven typically has 13 members), I wanted a story for each of the coven members. I also wanted the guys to all be a little different, with different backgrounds and ethnicities. I spent a lot of time researching names from various different backgrounds.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
I absolutely adore Cam. He’s such a trouble-maker. He is flamboyant and extra, but also a pocket bear. To see him walking down the street, you might not guess he was gay…but within a few minutes of being in his presence, you’d have it figured out. And for as stocky, butch, and furry as he is, he’s also completely comfortable with his sexuality. I wish I was a lot more like Cam.
How did you come up with the title of your first novel?
Oh, that goes back a few years. My very first novel was called Daimonion – Book One of the Apocalypse. Now, full confession, I haven’t yet written books two and three, but they’re coming. Daimonion was described by one reader as the TV show Supernatural, from the demon’s perspective, if the demon was gay. Couldn’t have said it better myself! Daimonion is an actual term for demon/human hybrids, and that’s exactly what the story is about; a minor deity from hell who creates these hybrids as a way to fulfill a prophecy about the end of times.
Who designed your book covers?
I’ve been extremely fortunate to be picked up by NineStar press. As part of the publishing contract, all the covers are designed by Natasha Snow – who is an award winning artist. I love all the covers she’s done for me. Funny story – it wasn’t until I had signed my second contract with NineStar that I discovered Natasha lives in the same city as I do! In fact, she lived right down the street from where I worked.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Absolutely. But then every time I read anything I’ve written I go back and go, “Damn, wish I’d used this word instead.” Plot wise though, or in terms of character development? Nope, not a thing.
Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?
I do all kinds of strange and wonderful research while writing my books. This series – Magus Malefica – is all about The Guardians of the Night Grove. An all-male witch coven in Edmonton, Alberta. The coven house is in an older neighborhood called Old Strathcona. I had to do a little bit of history reading on that section of our city in order to accurately represent some details in the book. It was fun learning about the city I now live in and call home.
If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?
There’s an Indian actor, Ranveer Singh. Google him. My goodness. He’s probably a little too old to play Dev, but he was exactly what I was thinking of when I wrote Dev.
There’s an Australian singer-songwriter by the name of Matt Corby. His pictures where his hair is grown out is a dead ringer for Cam.
I build character sheets and collect images on both my Tumblr and Pinterest accounts so that I have visual images to reference while I’m writing. I sometimes spend nights looking for several images of the same person to use.
Anything specific you want to tell your readers?
Come say hi! I am everywhere. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Youtube, Goodreads – goodness, I have a social media account on just about every platform. Don’t ever be shy. Drop by and say hello. I love hearing from readers.
What is your favorite part of this book and why?
That’s so hard. There are several scenes where I wanted to be one of the characters. I think the very first chapter is probably one of my favorite scenes, just because you get to see how utterly clueless and saucy Cam can be. I love Cam.
But then there’s also the scene where Dev and Tully get together for the first time. It is literally magical, but the tension of being so physically close to someone you’re attracted to, and who you admire because they have abilities you’ve always dreamt of – oh, I wish I could live that moment over and over and over.
Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
My friends ask me this ALL THE TIME. “Which one am I?”
Honestly, my characters are 100% from my imagination. I can’t completely lie, most have little snippets of me in them, or tiny pieces of characteristics from friends, family, or strangers I’ve seen on the street, but usually, they are all made up.
Saves me a lot of grief and keeps everyone around me guessing.
Setup: Dev, having just discovered the summoning board has granted him his first wish, has also found a new friend, a fellow witch – and a handsome one at that!
Tully patted the cushion right next to him.
“Come, I don’t bite. Sit. Chat.”
Dev rolled his eyes. “I probably seem desperate.” He sighed.
“Ha. Not at all.” Tully chuckled. “Okay, maybe a little. Come on, handsome, sit next to me. Tell me everything.” Tully grinned as he raised the glass to his lips and took another sip.
Dev wandered over and sat on the cushion next to Tully, glanced at him and his glacier-blue eyes and half grinned. He reached for his own glass and had a sip.
“Oh. That’s really good.” The wine was chilled, but the alcohol burned his throat pleasantly. Sour cherries made his cheeks pucker, but a hint of spicy black pepper warmed him. Dev took another sip.
“Thanks.”
“For what?”
“Rescuing me. Don’t get the wrong idea, my family is everything, and despite the constant chaos, they mean well. It’s just…they don’t understand.”
“As I said to you earlier, families are complicated. Mine is. Why should yours be any different?” Tully chuckled. “So is anyone in your family magical?”
Dev nearly spit his wine out, being mid sip when Tully asked him. “No, they think my interest in all of this is nuts. They have no idea.”
“Well, if I’m being honest, magic is nuts. Wait. The more you learn and experience the better it gets, I promise.”
Dev hung on every word from Tully, staring into his incredible eyes. After a couple of silence-filled minutes, he summoned up the nerve to respond. “I’ve been reading and practicing runes and tarot and…well everything for years. You know,” Dev started and then stopped. He studied Tully’s face, trying to determine if baring his soul, sharing his hopes would be handled with care. For so many years, Dev’s interests had been branded as silly and a waste of time. The only person he ever opened up to was Cam, and even his best friend often made fun of him.
Tully picked up on his hesitation, put his hand on Dev’s thigh, and inched closer. “It’s okay. You can tell me as much or as little as you want. I’m not going anywhere, and I’m not going to think you’re crazy.”
“This is all so weird.” Dev took a deep breath and exhaled. That simple gesture released so much stress. A weight he’d been carrying around for years. Dev glanced at Tully, an awkward grin plastered across his face.
“Have you tried to release another magical burst yet?” Tully asked, his hand still on Dev’s leg.
“God, no. I wouldn’t even know where to start. I don’t know what happened to begin with.”
“Well, we can work on that.” Tully winked. “It’s tricky, this magic stuff, and you know it has a cost, right?”
“No, I…” Dev tilted his head. “What do you mean ‘a cost’?”
“Nothing comes for free in this life, including magic.” Tully grinned, leaned forward, and placed his glass down. “So, there’s energy everywhere, right?” Tully’s hands waved in front of him. “Every single living thing has pulsating energy. Animals are different from humans, plants are way down the evolutionary totem pole, so to speak, but they all still contain that zap. A buzz, a spark of life. That energy? As a witch, you’ll come to sense it, be able to harness it, and eventually wield it.” Tully waggled an eyebrow and put his hand back on Dev’s thigh. “But you have to be careful. All life forms have an expendable amount. A finite resource, if you will. So you can’t cast spells or use your abilities endlessly. You’ll drain yourself and everything around you if you’re not careful, and then…well…that’s lights out for you, and anything else around you.”
“Jesus. Really? That’s…frightening. So, blow a fuse and you die?” Dev’s eyes widened.
“Well, all energy is eventually replaced. So you cast a small spell, you’re drained a little, but by morning your reserves are back up. You cast a bigger spell and you lose more energy. Energy takes time to replenish. But despite the recovery, the leaching takes its toll. A witch’s lifespan isn’t long. We tend to deplete ourselves. We’re lucky if we live to seventy.”
That was a punch in the gut.
“Well shit, that’s a shame.” Dev didn’t want Tully to think the concept of witches draining themselves to death might be somewhat frightening, so he resorted to making it into a flirty thing with a wicked smirk and a bit of the devil in his eyes as he stared into Tully’s. He swore immersing himself in those blue eyes would never get tiring.
“Look at you, taking this all in stride.” Tully winked. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were flirting, Dev.”
Dev laughed. His foot tapped under the worn and weathered coffee table. “I might look calm on the outside, but…” Dev rolled his eyes. “But my stomach is in knots, even now.”
“Why? Good lord, why?” Tully squeezed Dev’s thigh and leaned forward. “I hope I’m not adding!”
“No! No, not at all. If anything…” Dev blushed and turned away as he continued, his foot beating out a furious rhythm. “No, you’re the hunk who flew in and exposed a hidden world I had hoped and believed existed, but couldn’t find—”
“Oh, you’ve not seen anything yet.” Tully’s lips formed a half-knowing smile. “Hunk, huh?” Tully moved his hand closer to Dev’s crotch.
“Ooooh, yeah.” Dev noted the movement. Part of him said, No, no, not yet, but a larger part of his brain screamed, Farther, go higher! Dev grabbed his glass and took a large swig, then put the stemware down. His movement was clunky. Heat flushed across his chest making him all flustered. Dev needed to get a hold of his emotions.
“Well, that’s flattering, thank you, but the feeling is mutual. You’re damn handsome. So beautifully dark in comparison to my pale-ass skin.”
“Okay, now I know you’re putting me on.”
“No, I’m not. Geez, Dev, you kidding me?” Tully took a sip, swirled the wine in the glass then set it down. He glanced up at Dev with his crystal eyes. “You’ve got the darkest, thickest hair I’ve ever seen, and your eyes are mesmerizing.” Tully leaned in closer. “May I?” Tully asked.
“Uh, sure,” Dev granted permission, but to what, he wasn’t sure.
Tully leaned in and rubbed his face against Dev’s beard.
“You’re beard drives me wild,” Tully whispered while cheek to cheek with Dev, then returned to his own spot with a beguiling grin.
“Oh boy.” Another wave of heat flushed over Dev’s face. This couldn’t be happening. It was a stomach churning thrill to be sitting here with Tully. But, wow, all of this? Within one night? How’d Dev get so lucky? His pants were so tight right now.
Magic. Tully. Wine. Sitting with Tully on the couch right now, Dev didn’t care, but he wanted this night to go on forever. Dev cleared his throat and sat there, staring off, trying to focus and put things right in his head.
“Dev, everything okay?” Tully asked.
“Oh yeah, sorry, more than okay.” And from out of nowhere, Dev found an ounce of courage, something he didn’t have in situations like these, and he asked, “Can I kiss you?”
Dev’s cheeks blazed with fire, astonished at what came out of his mouth.
What are you doing?
“I thought you’d never ask.” Tully inched forward.
Dev leaned in and Tully met him half way. Dev closed his eyes as his lips met Tully’s. The rough rasp of Tully’s beard against his own, the heat, and warmth from Tully proved too much.
Dev let out a repressed moan. Months had passed since his last date, and that ended with a good night kiss after an awkward and silent dinner. Being close to another guy, especially one so good-looking had a hardening effect down under.
Tully took charge, grabbed Dev’s face in his hands and pulled Dev in close.
Everything on the coffee table slid away from them as their kiss deepened.
Tully pulled away first, his cheeks flushed.
Dev’s eyes were half-lidded.
“Wow, another burst.”
“Sorry, what?” Dev glanced around, confused.
Tully chuckled. “Look at the coffee table.” Tully nodded his chin toward the old rustic plank of wood. Everything sitting on its surface had been pushed outwards. The glasses hadn’t tipped over, but the wine sloshed around their insides. “Just like our first encounter at the coffee shop. Can’t you feel the energy when you release?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Dev furrowed his brow, causing lines to crease his forehead.
“You did that, man. You’re telekinetic.” Tully squinted. “Let me try something?” Tully’s eyes were bright and excited, and he still had a grin from ear to ear.
“Ah, sure?” Dev asked, insecure and embarrassed, yet his heart thumped in his chest, and his palms had gone hot and sweaty. He rubbed them on his jeans.
Tully gave Dev a wink. “Trust me. Okay?”
“Okay.” Dev, overexcited, struggled to inhale.
Tully picked up the two wine glasses and walked them over to the kitchen counter. He went over to one of his bookcases and pulled out several books, placed the stack on the coffee table close to where Dev sat.
“Now, where were we?” Tully turned, facing Dev so that he straddled Dev’s lap, facing him.
“Oh boy,” Dev whispered.
Tully grabbed Dev’s face again. Dev’s heart continued to beat, but the rhythm pumped so fast he swore the organ would burst out his chest. The heat and warmth from Tully’s thighs against his own and his hands on Dev’s cheeks kept him focused on the electrical sensations coursing through his body.
Tully’s lips pressed against his. They were warm, and Tully’s beard scratched against his skin, which accelerated Dev into overdrive. He grabbed Tully’s waist and pulled him in closer, pushing Tully’s mouth open with his tongue wanting to taste more.
Dev slid his hands up underneath the tight grey T-shirt and ran his hands over Tully’s furry stomach. Dev continued to push his hands up to Tully’s chest. His pectoral muscles were well developed, and the fur continued. Dev laced his fingers through the hair covering Tully.
Oh my god, I could never get bored of this.
Dev lost himself in his own exploration and hadn’t noticed Tully’s hand had slipped between his legs until his crotch got grabbed, giving Dev’s concrete-hard erection a gentle squeeze.
The heat raging from Tully’s hand pressed up against his groin set fire to Dev’s inhibitions. He desperately wanted Tully to rip his pants open and free him, stroke him, touch him with no clothing as a barrier. In that moment, petting Tully’s hairy chest, while Tully gave his dick another squeeze, Dev’s mind exploded.
The books on the coffee table flew off in all directions.
Tully pulled away but kept his hand on top of Dev’s groin. He smiled with a lopsided grin, his eyes sparkling with excitement and his lips moist from Dev’s tongue.
“I thought so. So, you’re an aurologist.”
Dev sucked in air and then exhaled, shuddering. Making out with Tully made his head spin.
“I’m a what?” He continued to stroke Tully’s fur.
“Your energy comes from your soul. For me, I get energy for magic from the earth, specifically metal. You however, you take the vigor from the very essence of your life. Your soul. Aurologists are triggered by emotions. Not exactly common, mister. Like one out of every hundred or so. Me, I’m a dime a dozen.”
Dev pulled Tully in again and gave him a deep, wet kiss. Dev turned so his mouth was a hair’s breadth away and whispered into Tully’s ear, “I don’t think you’re common, not even remotely.”
Tully’s bewitching grin never waned.
“So, wanna get naked?” Tully asked.
“Dear god, yes.”
J.P. works as an IT analyst in health care during the day, where if cornered he'd confess to casting spells to ensure clinicians actually use the electronic medical charting system he configures and implements.
At night, the writing happens, where demons, witches and shapeshifters congregate around the kitchen table and general chaos ensues. His husband of 22 years has very firmly put his foot down on any further wraith summonings and regularly lines the doorway with iron shavings and salt crystals. Imps are most definitely not house-trainable. Ghosts appear at the most inopportune times, and the Fae are known for regular visits where a glass of wine is exchanged for a good ole story or two. Although the husband doesn't know it, Canela and Jalisco, the two Chihuahuas, are in cahoots with the spell casting.
J.P.'s other hobbies include hybridizing African Violets (thanks to grandma), extensive traveling and believe it or not, knitting.
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Congrats on your new release. Always looking for new M/M authors!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! It's been a wild ride so far.
DeleteThis looks like an intriguing read.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get the chance to read it! I had so much fun writing it.
DeleteElectrifying cover!!
ReplyDeleteNatasha Snow is the cover artist and she's amazing. I was so happy with this!
DeleteI love the cover, especially the colors. It sets the tone for the book.
ReplyDeleteI agree - 100% - I am lucky to get to work with Natasha Snow who does all my covers.
Deletesounds so good.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I hope you get the chance to read it.
DeleteJ.P. Jackson is a new author to me, but I look forward to reading this. I always love meeting new authors. Thanks to this blog for the introduction.
ReplyDelete<3 Thanks Audrey! I hope you get the chance to read it, and enjoy it as much as I did writing it.
DeleteThank you Romance Novel Giveaways for hosting my new release!
ReplyDelete