Carter Quinn : Q&A

July 9, 2013 by Pip

We are thrilled to have Carter Quinn here today, to celebrate the release of his new book “Out of the Blackness”. It seems like just yesterday that we had you here at LYLBTB. You were my first 🙂 Thanks for coming by again.

Thank you. It’s an honor to be back, just as it was an honor to be your first! lol I can’t believe it’s been so long!

So a year and a bit has gone by – and we finally get to meet Noah and Avery – has it been a long road for you?

Oh, man. Avery started whispering in my head right after I’d finished Riley and Jason’s story. That was August or September of 2011, so it’s been almost two full years. It wasn’t a hard decision to write his story because he needed the healing and happiness so desperately. It was a hard writing process, though. He dragged me through hell and back. It was difficult to be in his headspace for long stretches at a time. 

Was it a tough decision to go the self pub route? I guess in some ways it allows you to stay faithful to your muse, if that makes sense.

Self-publishing was more of a time issue than anything. The initial draft was rejected with zero explanation, which pissed me off no end—the lack of explanation, not the rejection. At least tell me what you didn’t like, right? Anyway, so then I had a few friends read it and they offered suggestions. What you’re getting here is a much lighter, happier version of Avery in the second half than what I’d originally written. I’m actually much more pleased with this version than I was the one I submitted to the publisher. They were right to reject it, although I maintain that feedback would have been appreciated (and appropriate). The problem with re-writing half the book was that I didn’t have the time to re-write, re-submit and release before GRL in Atlanta, which I really wanted to do. So, here we are, a zillion headaches later. 🙂

Let’s talk covers – this cover is dark. Literally. It actually makes me kinda scared to read. Is it quite a dark read?

It is a dark cover, but isn’t it beautiful? You’ll understand it more once you’ve read the book. As I said above, this is a much lighter read than it was to begin with, but yeah, the first half is pretty dark. Avery is emotionally vulnerable and, basically, scared of his own shadow. Thankfully, he learns to live and love.

Have you enjoyed the freedom of self-pubbing? And does that mean your future books will follow this route? Or will you mix it up?

I haven’t decided yet if I like the self-pubbing thing. There is so much to do, so many vendors to consider, details and issues and problems to resolve and avoid. Depending on how this goes, I will probably mix it up a little bit. If/when I get more of Trick and Nate on the page, I’ll probably self-pub them. I can’t imagine sharing them with anyone.

I know you love Marie Sexton, as does LYLBTB, an anthology with her would be kinda cool.

LOL I adore Marie. You might remember from the blog hop we did last year, she organized a group of us Colorado-based writers. Some of them have combined to put out an anthology of stories that take place in Colorado. Because of her crazy schedule and because I was so focused on Avery’s story, we weren’t able to participate in the original Out in Colorado. I’m not sure if she’s going to have a story ready for the second volume, but I’m hoping to.

She’s such a great writer. She’s definitely one of my heroes. I’m afraid trying to put the two of us together would just highlight how much I have to learn yet.

If you’re interested in the OiC anthology, you can find info about that and the rest of us here: Out in Colorado Fiction. ~ we were actually part of this Bloghop again and I did miss you and Marie being part of it.

I love your new logo by the way. Very, very clever.

Thank you! I sketched it out one night and my brilliant friend Scott Latimer made it a reality. He also drew the cover for “Out of the Blackness.”

What little tid-bits can you share with us about “Out of the Blackness”? Is it a standalone? Or the beginning of a series?

Hm. I have a few favourite scenes in there. Christmas, New Year’s, Sick Noah. It is currently a standalone, although I do have a thought for a short follow-up. It’ll give a peek into Avery and Noah’s life a year or so down the road. I need to do a little research before I start on it, if I do at all. We’ll see what kind of reaction this book gets. It’s very different from “The Way Back”.

Are you excited about going to GRL again? This time as a registered author….. I do hope that doesn’t mean you have to behave. 😛

I am! Last year was such a great experience! I think I was actually lucky to be able to go as a reader and just soak up the atmosphere. This year, I’m going to participate in the workshop the day before the actual retreat starts. I hope to learn heaps. I won’t be one of the in-demand writers, so I’ll have plenty of time to get into trouble. 😀

You went to your first Pride this year. Are you going to GRL early so that you can attend Atlanta Pride?

You know, Pride was just so amazing. I saw all the wonderful shades of our rainbow and loved every bit of it. There were kids—I should probably say young adults—there who were just so incredibly brave. One of them was this adorable young blond boy. He had on the shortest shorts imaginable and fishnets (I think that’s what they’re called anyway) with no shirt and this glorious eye shadow. I saw him several times and he always had a huge dimpled smile on his face. He was so adorable, I just wanted to hug him. But it made me think how much the world has changed since I came out in 1992. I’m glad he doesn’t have the fear I did at his age.

Alas, I won’t be able to attend Atlanta Pride, although I would love to. I just don’t have the available vacation time or the extra money it would require.

Now  I need to ask you about “The Way Back” and of course Eric…. do we get him on his own? In a book, at least. Ever?!

You really want Eric’s story? I’m glad to hear that because it’s what I have next in the pipeline. It’s going to be fun to write. He started screaming at me as soon as I was finished with the final version of “Out of the Blackness”. ~ insert Barb squeeee HERE

What are you working on now? Can you share anything about your next book? Or has this been all-consuming?

Avery has consumed me for two years, but he’s in a good place now, so I’m able to hear the other voices in my head again. I have 1100 words for Eric’s story, which I think I’m calling “The Way Home”. Or it could be “The Way Forward”. I haven’t decided yet. All I can tell you now is it’s going to be fun. Hopefully it’ll be funny, too. Our Eric is about to be blown out of the water—after he suffers sufficiently for what he put Riley and Jason through, of course.

Q U I C K F I R E    R O U N D  :

Tea or coffee

Tea, iced. Sweet, please. It’s one of the things I’m most looking forward to about Atlanta. No one does sweet tea like the South.

Boxer briefs or Commando?

Boxer briefs. Commando is just dangerous.

Wine or Beer?

Beer. I haven’t touched wine since I became an adult.

Pizza or Pasta?

I prefer pasta, but it’s easier to call for pizza. I’m not the world’s best cook. I can burn water. Lol

Cats or Yashe.. I mean dogs. 😛

Dogs! Cats are too much like me. 😛

Arrow and Ice hockey – yes! The Stanley Cup final! Are on at the same time… which do you watch? And which do you record?

Well that’s just rude! Lol I’d have to watch the final and tape Arrow. (See how old I am? I still “tape” things.) Actually, I don’t even have a television, so I’d listen to the game on NHL radio or catch it at a sports bar. Then I’d watch Arrow on You Tube after.

Finally… where can we buy “Out of the Blackness”? and when.

It will be available at Amazon, Smashwords, and All-Romance Ebooks, and (maybe) iTunes. As I write this, we’re still working on the print version. I know that will go to Amazon, but I’ll update you about any other vendors.

Thanks so much for answering these questions Carter! Best of luck for your new release, and all subsequent ones! And I hope you let me buy you a drink in Atlanta. Or two. 🙂

Absolutely! Looking forward to it! Thank you for having me back!

 

O U T   O F   T H E   B L A C K N E S S :

A childhood of abuse has left Avery so physically and emotionally scarred he believes he shouldn’t be alive. His only sanctuary has been his relationship with his older foster brother Sam. Avery finally lets Sam convince him to start therapy to help overcome his crippling anxiety, but even that can’t prepare him for the upheaval caused by meeting Noah Yates. 

Noah is everything Avery fears. He’s large and physically powerful—and undeniably capable of destroying Avery’s hard-earned progress. Although Noah seems to have a tender streak when it comes to him, Avery is terrified of being victimized again. But no matter how many times he tries to push him away, Noah never goes far. 

Noah wants to save Avery, but can he be the catalyst Avery needs to begin the journey out of the blackness?

Author Links:

carterquinnbooks.com ~ Goodreads ~ Facebook 

Thanks Carter for stopping by again, and the best of luck with your new release!!

One copy of “Out of the Blackness”  is up for grabs ~ one comment and you’re in the draw!

 

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