BLOG TOUR – EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY: “Starstruck” by LA Witt
Welcome to the Riptide Publishing/L. A. Witt blog tour for Starstruck, the first in the multi-author Bluewater Bay series!
Every comment on this blog tour enters you in a drawing for a choice of two eBooks off my backlist (excluding Starstruck) and a $10 Riptide Publishing store credit. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on November 9th, and winners will be announced on November 10th. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries.
Excerpt from Starstruck:
(Carter and Levi are still just friends. Levi is directing a play at the local playhouse, and after rehearsal, is alone on the stage with Carter. He’s trying to figure out how to redo the sets for the upcoming production.)
Levi tried to go through the various sets in his mind, mentally cutting out the silhouettes they’d need, but who was he kidding? His concentration was shot. Had been since the second he’d realized Carter was here.
He had all day tomorrow to figure this crap out, so he jotted a quick note on his clipboard. “Okay. I think I’m just about ready to get out of here. Let me leave these where the crew will find them.” He headed toward the front and center of the stage, where he and Jack often left each other notes and information.
Behind him, Carter said, “So, uh, there’s another article making the rounds on the set.”
“Another—” Levi froze. He swallowed as he laid the clipboard on the lip of the stage. “What are they saying?”
Carter rolled his eyes. “Someone saw me having lunch with Hunter Easton the other day, and they spent half the article speculating about what you thought of me hanging around with him.”
“Seriously? They spot us walking together once, and suddenly I’m Mr. Territorial Boyfriend?”
“You know how it is.” Carter shrugged. “If you’re snapped in the same frame, you might as well be engaged.”
“Yeah, that sounds about right. So what is everyone on the set saying about it?”
“Eh, just gossip.” Carter waved a hand and laughed, though it sounded forced. “I mean, people can talk all they want. Two guys can be friends, right? Even if one’s gay?”
“Of course. Why not?”
Carter studied him for a moment. “Only one of us is gay, right?”
Levi froze. Standing there, center stage and under the hot lamps, where only one person in the universe could see him, he had never felt so out in the open. It wasn’t just the overhead glare heating his skin right then. The whole world had sometimes stared into the fishbowl Hollywood had dropped him in, but he’d been able to shut them out. Carter’s gentle scrutiny was inescapable.
“Uh . . .”
“You don’t have to answer.” Carter offered a reassuring smile. “I mean, I’m curious, but . . .”
Out of habit, Levi normally would’ve looked around, making absolutely sure there was no one else here except for them, but he couldn’t pull his gaze away from Carter. He didn’t want to, no matter how damning this relentless eye contact might be.
A board creaked under Carter’s foot. The space between them narrowed. Levi needed to move closer as much as he needed to retreat, and both canceled each other out, freezing him in place.
“I’m sorry,” Carter said softly. “I didn’t mean to put you on the spot. I’m just . . .”
“Curious.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer currently living in the glamorous and ultra-futuristic metropolis of Omaha, Nebraska, with her husband, two cats, and a disembodied penguin brain that communicates with her telepathically. In addition to writing smut and disturbing the locals, L.A. is said to be working with the US government to perfect a genetic modification that will allow humans to survive indefinitely on Corn Pops and beef jerky. This is all a cover, though, as her primary leisure activity is hunting down her arch nemesis, erotica author Lauren Gallagher, who is also said to be lurking somewhere in Omaha.
- A.’s backlist is available on her website, and updates (as well as random thoughts and the odd snarky comment) can be found on her blog or on Twitter (@GallagherWitt).
Starstruck Blurb:
Hollywood is full of dirty secrets, but Carter refuses to be Levi’s.
Retired action star Levi Pritchard has made a quiet life for himself in the sleepy logging town of Bluewater Bay, Washington. But then Hollywood comes to film the wildly popular television series Wolf’s Landing, and Bluewater Bay isn’t so sleepy anymore. His retirement doesn’t stick, either, because he’s offered a part on the show—exactly the kind of complex role he’d always wanted, one that would prove him more than a glorified stuntman. The only catch? He has to stay in the closet—no matter how attractive he finds his co-star.
Carter Samuels is the critically-acclaimed male lead on Wolf’s Landing. And now, the man who inspired him to take up acting—and made him realize he’s gay—is joining the cast, and sparks fly between them instantly. But Carter is out and proud and determined to stay true to himself.
Remaining just friends is the only thing to do, as both the studio and Levi’s disapproving, dysfunctional family keep reminding them. Except their friendship deepens by the day, tempting them with what they can’t have but both desperately need.
Starstruck is available November 3rd from Riptide Publishing. And the second book in the series, LB Gregg’s There’s Something About Ari, is out November 10th.
Wanted the book, but what really sold was when I read about L.A. being a abnormal m/m writer? and of course, the penguin brain! What can I say…..l.lesar@sky.com
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Thanks for the giveaway!
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Thanks for the giveaway. Count me in.
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I’m looking forward to starting this series all the authors are favourites of mine.
ShirleyAnn(at)speakman40(dot)freeserve(dot)co(dot)uk
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I’m almost done with the book and really enjoying it. I’m already looking forward to the other books.
debdeege (at) optonline (dot) net
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I always look forward to hearing about new (and old) books by LA Witt. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
– K
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Sounds like a great series (and book). Thanks for the excerpt and contest!
jen.f {at} mac {dot} com
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I really enjoy Witt’s books. This series looks really good.
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Thanks for the great excerpt and the giveaway!
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I’ve been looking forward to reading all 3 books. Thanks. :-)
aelnova@aol.com
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Thanks for the excerpt and giveaway chance. I can’t wait to read all of the books centered around this town.
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Great post & giveaway!
rockybatt@gmail.com
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That was a great excerpt. Thank you for the giveaway!
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Glad to see new story by L.A.Witt. “Must try author” for me. Got a sample already. (Stored in authors personal folder on my kindle with 23 others books and samples :)
Thank you so much for the excerpt!
Such a coincidence – I’m reading “Out of Focus” at the moment.
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Nice excerpt to give us some character info. Seems like interesting changes are coming.
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Looking forward to reading this and thanks for the giveaway!
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Add me too please, thank you!!!
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This is already on my TBR list. Thanks for the giveaway.
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Sounds like an awesome series.
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I’m a big fan of LA’s books – looking forward to reading this new series.
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I have Starstruck already and would love to win, because although I own many of your books there are some other I would love to have. I like buying books from Riptide because I know that they will have been properly edited.
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Thanks everyone! Sorry I’ve been so slow to respond to comments/posts — this week has been madness with moving from Nebraska to Seattle. I do read all the comments, though, and thank you all for your kind words!
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Looking forwards to reading this series- sounds fun!
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This one appeals to me!
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