Less than a month to go! OMG!

I’ve been grateful for how welcoming my fellow Supporting Authors have been and the fabulous tips they’ve shared for those people going to GRL.

Today we meet author LE Franks. She recommends I ‘fake it till I make it’. Sounds a good plan to me.:)

Meet LE Franks

Welcome! Thanks for agreeing to answer a couple of questions. Hopefully you won’t find then too difficult. 🙂

Thanks Nic! I appreciate you having me. These are great questions (I waited to thank you until I’d answered them all—hedging my bets!) I’m looking forward to seeing you in person in San Diego along with as many readers and authors as possible. So if you see me—don’t be shy, please come up and say hello!

Thanks LE. I’ll definitely be searching you out!

Is this your first GRL? If not, do you have any advice for authors and/or readers who are attending? If it’s your first, what made you sign up this year?

Actually my first GRL was Albuquerque in 2012? I was so intimidated – I’d never gone so far out of my comfort zone…but I’d traveled quite a bit on my own so I channeled the same spine I use walking by myself through some dicey parts of the world. You have to project confidence… you know, fake it until you make it. It really works. My strategy attending that first GRL was to go early, volunteer (which gave me a role), and hang out in the lobby. By introducing myself to everyone who looked like they were attendees that first day I made some great friends. Just remember, everyone is in the same boat.

What are you most looking forward to about GRL this year?

Honestly? I think it’s mainly to reconnect with the friends I’ve formed over the last few years. I’m hoping to meet some of my Facebook friends in person, to forge new relationships hopefully get a few new readers to visit me, and have some great Mexican food.

What inspired you to start writing in the gay romance genre?

I think GRL Albuquerque did. I met an author I respect greatly who was kind enough to read a draft of a story I’d been working on and she encouraged me. It was a time when the state of gay rights in California was in flux – and it felt right to celebrate love between men.

What was the first m/m romance book you wrote? Can you share a little about the story?

The first story I finished in the genre was 6 Days to Valentine. It’s a story about a bartender named Nick Valentine, who hates Valentine’s Day, and it’s set in the six days running up to the holiday. I’m currently finalizing the draft of the sequel, which picks up the story four weeks later.

However, the first story I published was co-written with Sara York – Prodigal Wolf.

What book are you currently reading or have just finished reading? Tell us a little about it.

Piece of Cake by Mary Calmes. It’s her short story putting a pin on the Matter of Time series, which was one of the first m/m books I ever read. I love her—everyone loves Mary, with good reason—but her writing style resonates with me, and when I get bogged down in my own words, I go back and dip a toe in her dialog and get refreshed.

Please share an interesting fact your readers may not know about you?

I used to dance barefoot on burning pallets, pallets we may have possibly liberated… if you want to know more—come visit me in the author lounge in San Diego. I’ll give you tips.

I’ll definitely be visiting you! See you in October.

About LE

LE Franks lives in the SF Bay area and writes M/M Romance in a unique mix of humor and drama with enough suspense to produce fast paced stories filled with emotion and passion and featuring characters that are quirky and complicated and sometimes a little bit dark. LE Franks is a best selling author Published through MLR Press, Dreamspinner Press and Wilde City Press and is a a 2014 Rainbow Awards Finalist for Can This Be Real, and a 2013 Rainbow Awards Finalist for Prodigal Wolf co-written with Sara York, available at MLR Press, Amazon and online bookstores.

Social media:

Check out LE’s books at: lefranks.com email: le.franks.books@gmail.com twitter: @boxtersushi

 

Featured book from LE Franks

Blurb

 

For a man who made his career in intelligence, falling for an Afghani national in the middle of a war zone wasn’t the smartest thing a Marine could do.

Marine Captain Sean Kelley loves his country and the men he serves with, but when he meets Akim, he’s tempted to throw it all away for the mysterious man. He knows better than to chase after a local, but repeat encounters culminating in a moment of passion leave him reeling—he’ll do almost anything to figure out how they can be together.

Akim Bijan has a secret of his own—one large enough to get more than just himself killed if it’s revealed. But from the moment he first lays eyes on the handsome Marine, he’s tempted to do just that rather than hide his growing attraction to the man. Being a translator allows him access to the base and he finds Sean alone one night. They take things farther than he ever intended. If only he could tell Sean everything, but his lips are sealed.

When tragedy strikes, Akim is afraid he’s lost Sean for good and he’s forced to make a decision that will change both their lives. Will love win—or will Sean and Akim be separated forever?

Publisher’s Note: This story has been previously released as part of the Semper Fidelis anthology by Totally Bound Publishing.

Buy Link

Buy Links: https://www.pride-publishing.com/book/my-marine

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/My-Marine-Franks-ebook