Dante Eternal's Virtual Bookshelf: Designs of Desire by: Tempeste O'Riley w/ Interview

Title: Designs of Desire

Author: Tempeste O’Riley

Series: Desires Entwined, #1

Genre: M/M Erotic Romance, with lite BDSM/Kink

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Release Date: July 2013

Edition/Formats Available In: Audio, eBook, Print

Blurb/Synopsis:

Artist James Bryant has forearm crutches in every color from rainbow for fun to sleek black for business. He even has a pair with more paint splatters than metal. After his family’s rejection and abuse from a man he thought loved him, James only just gets through the day by painting. He lives in constant fear that he’s not worthy of anything, let alone love.

As CEO of his company, Carrington Enterprises, Seth Burns is a take-charge kind of guy, and he is instantly smitten by the artist helping with his newest project. When he witnesses James suffer a panic attack, a protective instinct he never knew he had kicks in. He truly believes nothing is unobtainable—including James—if he’s willing to put in the time and effort.

James is shy and confused by Seth’s interest in him as a person. With Seth’s support, can he work through his fears to finally find the true love he deserves, or will someone finally land the crushing blow he won’t survive?

James allowed his gaze to wander around the entryway, taking in the welcoming setting. Noticing a worker passing through, he asked, “Excuse me. Do you know where I can find Mr. Burns?”

“Yeah, he’s in the manager’s office over there.” The man was covered in dust. He gestured toward a closed door near a large desk, then continued on his way. James couldn’t help looking around once more to admire the rich wood tones, marble tiled floors, and beautiful crown molding, before he headed off in the right direction.

Before he could knock, the door swung open and a harried looking woman stormed out, slamming it so hard it popped back open. Maybe now isn’t the best time, he thought and started to turn away when Mr. Burns appeared in the doorway.

“James,” he said. “Thank God you’re here. Please tell me you brought some ideas, before Stacey drives me to drink. She wants to start painting but can’t until we have everything settled with the designs.”

The way Seth’s eyes pierced him made James feel both nervous and ten feet tall at the same time. “If you have some place I can set up, sure. I have a few designs for you to look over.” He kept wondering why they had waited so long to employ Skye Designs. Normally you do all the branding much earlier in the project.

Motioning down the hallway, Seth led him into a large room—probably meant to be a conference or reception room, considering the carpet and acoustic tiles in the ceiling. “Come in. What can I do to help?” he asked, watching James settle into a comfortable chair before unloading his pack.

James was nervous. He’d never had such a significant or large account before, but he was excited as well. “We normally have the designs approved before getting to this point, but I’ll do my best to catch up. Give me just a minute to set up, then you can see what I have.”

“We’ll get to that in a few. I want you to finish setting up then come with me.”

James stopped midmotion and looked up, confused. “I thought—” He shook his head. “Never mind. Okay.”

Seth led James out of the room, into a wide hallway with large windows spilling filtered sunlight onto the veined marble floor, and began showing him around. Seth stayed close, so close James occasionally caught a whiff of his intoxicating scent, something bright yet deep—cardamom and cedar with a light musk. He wasn’t sure, but he was beginning to think just being near Seth could become a delicious addiction.

As they exited the elevator on the second floor, James stopped dead in his tracks. His heart beat so fast and loud he felt certain Seth would hear it slamming into his ribs. He stared ahead and prayed he was having a terrible nightmare. Those he could wake up from. Please!

Standing there, looking him up and down, was a phantom from his past. Victor d’Leone was even more powerfully built than the last time he had seen him. He stood in the hall, his arms crossed over his barrel chest, scowling. The sea-foam green eyes James once thought so beautiful and loving now bored holes through him. The ghosts of the last time Vic had been near him shot pain-filled shards of memory through him. Away. Yes, he had to get away.

“I… I… I…,” James stammered. He scrambled back into the elevator and almost fell when his left crutch slipped on the metal edging. He punched the close door button repeatedly while fighting the panic attack threatening to destroy his job and sanity. “No, no, no. Not happening,” he mumbled.

He hadn’t waited for Seth to react, nor had he explained anything; he’d just bolted. James headed toward the exit as soon as the elevator doors opened—forget the damn presentation. He scrambled for the steps, desperate to reach the car before he completely lost it.

Life was never that easy.

Seth appeared out of nowhere, sprinting after him in his expensive Armani suit and custom leather shoes. “James! Stop!” he commanded.

Fighting the panic, James tried to get a hold of himself. Stop? Is he nuts? “I can’t be here. I—I’ll come back later.” With protection!

A powerful hand grasped his right arm. Startled, he stopped. Staring at the hand that bound him to his worst nightmare, he begged, “Please, let me go.”

Try as he might, he couldn’t stop the panic and fear as it suffocated him.

♥ ARe

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♥ Trailer

Hello and thanks for stopping by and visiting with us today. It is so nice to have Tempeste O'Riley here. Readers I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did. Oh, hold on while Tempeste and I grab our favorite beverage.

What do you do when you are not writing?

Read, play with my kids, work with my temple, visit the doctor (no, not the fun, crazy one in the blue box, though I'd love to!). Again. My life truly revolves around those things, plus writing.

Where do you get your ideas?

Life. Books. Movies. People I know. Inspiration comes from so many places and sometimes I don't even know what sparked an idea, but I just go where my muse (the slave driver!) takes me.

Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?

All reading influences me and I'm totally addicted to the written word. Everything from Shakespeare and Poe, to Andrew Grey and C. S. Lewis—yes, I know that's a truly bizarre list, but it fits me :) To not read is to not live.

Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

The biggest challenge was having the faith in my own writing to submit it. I was terrified to send it in, but authors and reads alike encouraged me—Designs of Desire was part of Six Sentence Sunday, so it had a following before it was even done. I finally decided to go for it and made a list of my preferred publishers. I sent to Dreamspinner Press, and the rest, they say, is history!

How do you market your work? What avenues have you found to work best for your genre?

Tours, guest posts, Facebook groups, word of mouth. Honestly, word of mouth has probably been one of the biggest things to help my baby get noticed. There are some hard topics within the story, but being the lead, James, is based off me—including his disability/disorder—it's one that has love, reality, and hope throughout the pages.

If you had to go back and do it all over, is there any aspect of your book or getting it published that you would change?

Not on getting it published, but I would have spent more time foreshadowing certain issues in the story. I'm still happy with it as it stands, and stand by every word, but some more foreshadowing would be my main thing.

Tell us about the first story you ever wrote and how old you were.

Full story? Probably in middle school, though no one was ever allowed to read it. In high school, I wrote poetry almost exclusively and a couple of those were published in the artists and writers publication at my school. That first story was about a boy that didn't fit in no matter what he tried or how he worked to hide who he really was. It wasn't great, but it was something that meant a lot to me and my social awkward self. It's hard to be happy and outgoing when you fear who you are inside so I wrote and gave my boy in the story that love and friendship I wanted.

Do you prefer to live in a big city or in the country?

Small community in a bigger city. One where you can have parks and woods but still be within easy distance of bookstores, shopping, and all the fun of the city.

JUST FOR FUN

Night Owl or Early Bird?

100% Night Owl. That bright thing in the sky could sooo be done without, lol.

One food you would never eat.

Chitterlings! No, never! Not happenin'.

Pet Peeves?

Ignorance, hate, bigotry, and willful stupidity.

Plain or Peanut (M&Ms)?

Peanut butter M&Ms, lol. Or Almond M&Ms :D

Coffee or Tea?

Depends on the day. Coffee is life, but I love hot and iced tea (Southern gal raised by a Canadian, lol, go fig).

Thanks so much for having me over! I had a blast answering your questions and hope you and your readers enjoyed it as well.

Tempeste O’Riley is an out and proud pansexual gender fluid whose best friend growing up had the courage to do what she couldn’t–defy the hate and come out. He has been her hero ever since.

Tempe is a hopeless romantic that loves strong relationships and happily-ever-afters. Though new to writing M/M, she has done many things in her life, though writing has always drawn her back–no matter what else life has thrown her way. She counts her friends, family, and Muse as her greatest blessings in life. She lives in Wisconsin with her children, reading, writing, and enjoying life.

Tempe is also a proud PAN member of Romance Writers of America^®, Rainbow Romance Writers, and the WisRWA. Learn more about Tempeste and her writing at http://tempesteoriley.com.