My friend Sid is stopping by to talk about his new – and first – release, Holding on to Hope. Sid was a friend before he set out to corner the market on MM Romance reviews by starting his own MM Romance Review Site – The Blog of Sid Love. He’s since decided world domination would require become a best selling author as well – enter Holding on to Hope. Read on to learn more about what makes him tick and be sure to enter the contest at the end of the interview.

Guest Author: Sid Love

Welcome Sid, why don’t you start by telling everyone a bit about yourself?

People have known me as a blogger for a year now, who reads and reviews books on his blog. I love reading to the extent of an addiction. lol I am from India, so till high school the most books I read were the ones written by local authors. And one day, a book written by Jane Austen fell into my hands. That was the year 2006, I remember and I read all the books by her back to back. So yes, I am a fan and I have been a Romance fan ever since.

A year later, I was introduced to the M/M genre by my very best friend – “Google” and here I am now – reviewing and recommending books, I find fascinating in the genre, to anyone who cares to stop by my blog.

Everyone around me was quite surprised and of course, happy too, when I told them there was a book coming out from me. I guess, I never advertised my writing skills to anyone.

We’ve known each other a few years, so I know you’ve been writing for a while. Talk about when you started writing and why?

I’d say 2007 was the year, because that was the time I actually penned down one of my ideas on the paper. But to be honest, story ideas have been popping up in my mind for who knows how long. I used to make them up and enact the scenes with one of my best friends back then in front of our families. I had so much fun doing that and the pleasure it brought me – I guess, that is the reason I write.

You’ve your first novella–Holding on to Hope–will be released in a few days, tell us how it felt when you learned Dreamspinner Press accepted your book?

There are no words to express the joy I felt reading the acceptance email that came from Elizabeth. I was psyched, nervous, confused all at the same time and most of all, I couldn’t believe it even after re-reading it twice! Actually, I still can’t believe it’s happening.

Cover art is always something near and dear to an author. It is the face of the book.  Tell us a bit about your reaction when you got the final cover art?

I wanted to kiss Paul’s feet and worship him forever. God! That man is so talented! The cover art is the exact replica of what I had described my dream cover-art to be. So, picture a guy staring wide-eyed at his laptop screen with his mouth hanging open … that’d be me finding my final cover art in my mailbox!

Okay, let’s talk specifics; tell us a bit more about Holding on to Hope.

The blurb says it all actually. It’s a paranormal story which is written breaking most of the cliché’s in the genre. In this story, vampires are evil and let me be clear on this – neither of my main characters are vampires. Secondly, the whole story is written from Leslie’s POV (Leslie is Brad’s best friend and her involvement is the heart and soul of the storyline). That is done for a reason – readers will understand once they read the story.

Where did the inspiration come from for these characters?

There has been a trend after the infamous Twilight books became popular and one after another books based on vampire-human relationships kept coming. I was truly tired and sick of them all. I used to think, the basic instinct of a vampire is to feed on human blood and a relationship working that way was beyond me! That’s where the villains in my story came from. I wanted all of them to be the bad guys and my main characters (Brad and Leslie) would find themselves pulled into the whole bloody mess.

Your book is set in the United States, but you live in India, have you been to the US and if not, talk a bit about how you make sure your book is accurate?

No I haven’t been to the US before and that I found to be a challenge in my writing process. But go fetch me on Facebook and you will find me surrounded by some amazing friends who live in the US (you included, Andrew!). They tell me about it all the time, send me pictures and point me in the right direction to carry on my research. A couple of them even beta-read for me and told me if there seemed to be an issue.

Tell us something interesting that is not in the blurb?

I think I have shared a lot above and I don’t know if it’s interesting enough or not but I wrote this story last year for the Spring Anthology on GayAuthors site and the theme was “A Night to Remember”. The plot just came to me after reading those words.

One thing that might interest the readers is that this book is the first in a WIP series. 😉

Have you ever based characters on anyone you know?

Not fully, but yes, my characters do possess certain qualities of people around me. It’s a mix and match process, I think, and that usually ends up giving me characters that have entertaining personalities. The ones I love to work with!

What’s your favorite part of the writing process?

My favorite would be coming up with perfect names for my characters.

What’s your least favorite?

That would be writing a scene where your main character is depressed or hurting a lot. It sucks to see them suffering.

Since there is always another story to tell, what are you working on now?

I am working on multiple books as of now. One is the sequel to Holding on to Hope and I have some great ideas for it. Hopefully it should be done before April. My second WIP is a novel that only you and a few others know about. It involves the delicious white collar men (Yes, Andy, delicious they are!) and the concept is somewhat challenging. That’s all I can tell you right now.

What have you read lately that most people haven’t read but should?

Holding on to Hope by Sid Love 😀

Nice try, but that book isn’t in print yet. Try again.

What? That doesn’t qualify? Oh well! lol I read this amazing sci-fi book by Libby Drew called “Paradox Lost”. It had everything I loved in a book – time-travel, action, drama, hunky men, great sex, romance … and so much more!

There should be a review on my blog soon. But, really people, just go and buy it!

If you could meet any writer, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

Jane Austen and Agatha Christie… I know you asked one but these two ladies have really impressed me with their writing skills. But I especially would have loved to meet Ms. Austen because while she only had countable books written over the years, these books are still selling hot! I praise this author for her story-telling abilities and I think there will never ever be an author like her.

What’s a fun – non-writing – day for you?

It’s either hanging out with friends or spending quality time with my parents.

Besides reading and writing, what else do you enjoy?

TV Shows!! I follow so many of them. Game of Thrones is my top favorite at the moment and I can hardly wait for the fourth season to begin. Till last year, Fringe used to be up there at the top but then it was cancelled and I am still so upset about it! But well, it will always be my favorite.

Very close up there are both Moffat creations – Doctor Who & Sherlock, followed by HIMYM, TVD, Grey’s Anatomy, Elementary, Glee, Suits and Supernatural!!

Last question is all yours – feel free to talk about anything you want your readers to know about you, your book, anything at all.

Don’t forget – 14^th February is the date! If and when you read the book, do let me know what you thought of it. I would really like to hear your views and opinions!

Find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sid.love.16?ref=tn_tnmn or tweet me anytime: https://twitter.com/FatefulMercy, or simply e-mail me at sidlovethewriter@live.in.

Thanks for being my guest, now it’s time to plug your work.

TOUR WIDE GIVEAWAY:

5 ecopies of Holding on to Hope
1 Amazon GC worth $25

(Click the link below for more details on the giveaway.)

A Rafflecopter giveaway

Blurb:

Bradley Parker has waited twenty years for Mr. Right, and on Valentine’s Day, he finally finds him. It’s love at first sight, and Brad even loses his virginity to the man of his dreams. But when he wakes up the next morning unable to remember anything—even what the man looked like—his best friend, Leslie, is convinced he imagined the whole thing. Brad knows he didn’t make up the best night of his life, but he has no idea of the danger he’s putting himself in as he struggles to recall the details of his perfect man. His search may lead him to parts of New York City he never dreamed existed and a war being waged in the shadows.

Buy Link:

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4724&cPath=1042

Excerpt:

“Okay, remember how I said it is huge?” Brad finally spoke, and Leslie nodded her head to let him know she was all ears. “Well, it is. Last night, something happened, something unimaginable… beyond any of my wildest dreams. I never thought….”

“Brad.” Leslie yawned. “To the point, please. I don’t have all day.”

“Okay, all right! What happened is….” He paused, plastering a big grin on his face. She tried very hard not to roll her eyes, letting him tell her at his own pace. “Last night, my dear, I finally got laid!”

When he broke the news to her, Leslie’s subsequent yawn was cut short by the initial shock she went through. Her body jerked forward, now fully awakened. There wasn’t any amount of caffeine that would have made her feel as lively as she felt at that moment.

This was definitely huge, and not just for Brad. Over the years, Leslie had constantly tried and consequently failed in hooking him up with several guys. Bradley Joseph Parker had the arrogance of a drag queen, she thought. He was too picky when it came to dating and relationships; never wishing to settle for anything less. He dreamt of a guy whose mere presence would take his breath away, who would be so handsome that every girl and every gay guy in the world would yearn to have him in their lives. “Such a guy would only belong to me, holding my hand in a roomful of envious people,” he would say with a smirk. “I would look around and say to them ‘Suck it up, bitches! He is mine!’”

Brad had wasted years with these stupid fantasies, and he had remained a virgin. So Leslie never thought the day would come when Brad’s whining would ever end.

But it had. And Leslie thought she would faint, even with the adrenaline rushing through her veins.

“Wha—?” She became aware of the fact that she had left her mouth hanging open for too long and shut it immediately. A smile crept across her lips, getting bigger by the second, and it turned into a cheek-hurting grin. “Oh my God! Shut up. Seriously?” She quickly sat up, hopping on the bed to cross her legs.

“Very seriously, Les.” Brad’s cute face beamed with wonder and excitement. Leslie couldn’t blame him. She remembered the day she had had sex for the first time, and even though it was a while back, she couldn’t forget the bliss she’d felt after finally losing her virginity or the hunger she felt for getting some more. Leslie was ready to bet that Brad was experiencing similar whirls of emotions in him.

“Last night, on Valentine’s Day…?” she asked.

Brad gave a nod. “On Valentine’s Day.”

“That’s so funny.” Leslie laughed out loud. Even though Valentine’s Day never meant anything to her, something this huge happening to her best friend did force her to consider it a special day. “Okay, you have to tell me everything, dude! Don’t leave out a single detail. I don’t care if it’s too much

information. I just have to know. How long has this been going on between you two?”

Brad laughed. “Not too long. I just met him yesterday.”

“And you slept with him already?” Leslie’s mind was drawing up the picture of the perfect guy in her imagination, a guy who had managed to entice someone like Brad in such a short time. She was sure he would be down-to-earth, with an impeccably charming personality. “Way to go! I won’t deny it; I like the spontaneous Brad. Who is this guy, by the way? Do I know him?”

“No, you don’t.” His smile wavered a bit.

“Well, what’s his name?”

Leslie watched him hesitate for a moment. “I… don’t know.”

It took her by surprise.

“I think my devilish side just had a mind-blowing orgasm. You not only have sex with a guy for the first time, but you are also telling me it was simply a one-night stand?” She put her hand over her heart and mockingly said, “Mama Les is so proud of her boy!”

“But Les,” he knitted his eyebrows together as he stood up and came over to sit by her side. He took hold of Leslie’s hand, and she felt his grip tightening when he said, “It wasn’t a one-night stand. Definitely not, uh-uh.” He shook his head, and she immediately wondered if he was trying to convince her or himself. “It was special to me, and I could tell it was special for him too. Why else would he go to extremes to make that night an unforgettable memory? He lit up hundreds of scented candles in the room for me, and there were rose petals all over the bed where we did it.” Leslie didn’t miss the blush forming on his face again as he spoke. “There was champagne, sweet music, and he was a perfect gentleman. He kept asking me if I was sure about this.”

“WOW! Sounds utterly cheesy to me….” Leslie said, although she was quite impressed by all of it and maybe a bit jealous too.

Brad let go of her hand and sighed. “It was damn romantic.”

Leslie moved her gaze around the dorm room, scrutinizing it. “I am guessing it wasn’t here you did it then?” She inquired, turning to face him and watched him slowly crossing his legs like she had.

“No, he took me to his place.” Brad had his mouth open to probably add something more, but he stopped abruptly, scrunched his nose up, and glanced at her with some doubt. “I think it was his place… I don’t know. Where else would he take me?”

Leslie noticed uncertainty, even when he shrugged. What Brad was saying didn’t make any sense to her. “The champagne! Did you have too much of it?”

He frowned. “God, no! Why would I want to give him the impression I’m an idiotic drunkard on our first meeting?”

Of course she didn’t believe him. “Right, says the one who’d put Britney Spears to shame with his underage drinking. Seriously, dude, I’ve had to pick you up in a drunken state from God knows how many parties by now. So don’t shit me by saying you didn’t have any amount of alcohol in you last night.”

Brad reddened and carefully said, “I may have had a little bit of alcohol.”

Typical. Leslie rolled her eyes. “Weren’t you at Ian’s party last night?” She tried to keep her face straight as she asked. The party he had gone to was for all the single men and ladies from their college. Leslie knew exactly how that turned out every year by the end of the night.

He gave a nod in reply.

“Well, maybe you did it at his place?”

“No, it can’t be because we were partying at a nightclub last night.”

“Since when do nightclubs allow in a bunch of twenty year-olds?” she asked, certain they must have been stopped at the door for IDs. She couldn’t say about the others, but Brad’s cute baby face did give away his age.

“They don’t, but Ian somehow knew a few guys working at this nightclub that we went to, so we were able to sneak in.” He grinned.

Leslie suddenly wished she could have joined them. “Lucky you!” Now she couldn’t wait for May to arrive; that was when she turned twenty-one. She had been planning it in her mind forever. “So you met this mysterious guy in that club?”

“Yes, I think so.” Brad chewed on his lower lip.

“Well, what did he say to you? What did he look like?”

Brad turned sorrowful. “If I only knew….” He hung his head down and began to pull on his hair. “Fuck, Les!” He yelled, then looked up, scowling at her. “I can’t seem to remember any of it. The only thing that has managed to stay stuck in my memory is the mind-blowing sex that I had with him. I even remember all the positions we did it in, and God, that guy has the stamina of a wild lion, I tell you.”

Bio:

Sid Love grew up in one of busiest cities in the world, Mumbai, listening to the excerpts of Indian epics from his father every night. While it served as an inspiration back in time, he has always had an ambitious mind. In 2007, when he had just turned sixteen, he decided that he would make his lifelong dream come true—to become a well-known, respected author some day.

Ask him and he would refuse to accept that he is obsessed with books. Or movies. Or TV shows. Addicted may even be the right word. He is a die-hard fan of Jane Austen’s romance novels and loves to reread them time and again.

Social Media Links:

Blog: http://sidlove.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sid.love.16?ref=tn_tnmn
FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/428135920611583/?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FatefulMercy