My guest today is M Leanne Phoenix, and author I know primarily through the Rainbow Snippets project [check it out, it’s good fun] but I’m looking forward to getting to know her better.
Welcome, M Leanne, and thanks for answering my questions.
What led you to pick your source material for your story?
Macbeth has always been one of my favorite plays by The Bard, and to have the chance to use it in a story… it’s a dream come true. I knew that Romeo and Juliet would likely be taken, and since I’d somewhat used R&J before, the witchy and Scottish side of me jumped on Macbeth. The only hard part was choosing a story. I also immediately knew which story beginning I wanted to use, being Winter had already mentioned loving the Bard.
Shakespeare definitely has a way with words. What is your favourite insult/endearment/inspiring passage? Which bit do you wish you had written?
Favorite insult? Hmmm… that could take some time. There are many of Mercutio’s in Romeo and Juliet, but I also love Kate’s biting wit in Taming of the Shrew; I almost think it’s an impossible choice for me. Favorite endearment– I use it plenty in Sun of Tomorrow! Koray refers to Winter as “bright angel,” from the end of Romeo’s opening lines as he’s marveling over Juliet on the balcony at the begining of Act Two, Scene Two. The banter I wish I’d have written? That’s easy. When Romeo arrives after Mercutio and Benvolio had been talking about him in Act Two, Scene 4. The plays on words are countless and the dance between Mercutio and Romeo is quick and sharp! I love it!
What are you working on now?
I’ve been finishing up little bits lately, a few short stories just made it through my two editors. One I have had ill luck getting into anthologies, timing and an early close on submissions for the first two attempts. I am thinking to just put it up as a free read on my website if I cannot find a home for it soon. Another was supposed to be added as an epilogue of sorts to a short story released on my blog at the end of the book tour I did for Covenant in January. Right now, it’s in my editor’s hands. It’s called Bescreen’d in Night, and it’s from the universe I’ve finally made a return to, The Covenant. I hit a roadblock in January about mid-book two, but thankfully, my boys started speaking again, so I’m hard at work on book two, titled AETERNUM.
Could we please have an excerpt?
From THE SUN OF TOMORROW:
He squeezed his eyes shut as he hugged his arms, finally processing what had almost happened in Marchand’s office… and what had actually transpired. Cold realization swept over him, flood waters high over his head, taking his feet out from under him, and just when his lungs burned for much needed oxygen, a hand shot out to wrap around his own, bringing him up to the surface to breathe.
Their eyes caught, Winter’s pale grey held captive by his companion’s jade green, and the taller man slid his arm under Winter’s shoulders to tug him up against his chest, one hand curving over the back of Winter’s tousled gold head as the man whispered, “I’ve got you. I didn’t rescue you to just leave you stranded, by the way. I came back to the East Coast to help my sister, who loves this city, but you came along, my first week back in Boston.”
Leaning his forehead to the man’s shoulder, Winter unfolded his arms to light his hands on slender sides, causing his savior to wrap his own around Winter’s slight form in a tight and reassuring hug. Winter pushed closer to the man, giving in to the embrace and holding on to his savior tightly as he shuddered with the force of emotions he couldn’t name but that crashed over him in waves. Before he could fully comprehend it, Winter’s face and the man’s leather jacket were wet with tears.
“I’m sorry. Please—” Winter sniffled as he attempted to dry off the collar with the sleeve of his grey fleece sweatshirt.
The man wrapped both his slender hands around Winter’s one as he shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. If I wanted to, I could be selfish, but I don’t want to. I don’t want you to feel indebted to me.”
As requested, the author bio and contact links:
Author Bio
M. LeAnne Phoenix would tell you that the worst time of her life was the two years that she attempted to take off from writing. If you asked her to explain exactly why she did such a thing, you would most likely get the mad attempt to arch an eyebrow like her dad and then a shake of the head as she told you it was unlucky to speak of such things. Suffice it to say, it will never happen again!
Born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas in the mid-1970’s, Ms. Phoenix was young and wild (and even free!) during the crazy wondrous decade known as the 1980’s and the even crazier but now grungy decade of the 1990’s. Music is second only to the muses that live and breathe to fill her mind with beautiful men, and music always helps them to tell their stories. She is never without her iPod or her computer no matter where she goes, although, she does like to hike and take pictures of the sky and the moon, and even the occasional shot of the sun through the branches of a tree.
An avid cat lover, Ms. Phoenix has been owned by many throughout her life, though her current owner is one Lily-Rose, who really would like for her to step away from the keyboard and pay her some attention! After all, hasn’t she earned it?
Contact Information:
Email Facebook Twitter Website
Release Date: 12th of August
Cover Art: Jay Aheer Simply Defined Art
Genre: MM Mixed*
We have modern retelling of some plays, interpretations of others and one of the sonnets, and delightful referencing of anything Shakespeare.
There is gentle YA romance next to very hot 18+ stories and all kinds of relationships – first love, May/December, interracial, second chances, happy endings and even a tragic one.
We’re travelling from Ancient Rome through Renaissance England to modern day UK, Venice Beach and other places in USA, Vancouver and Havana.
There’s fun, drama, tears, angst, joy and, above all, lots of true love.
Note: All proceeds of this collection go to the It Gets Better Project™.
Buy Links:
amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Summers-Day-Shakespearean-Anthology-Twist-ebook/dp/B01JH97LVA
amazon.co.uk:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Summers-Day-Shakespearean-Anthology-Twist-ebook/dp/B01JH97LVA
amazon.de: https://www.amazon.de/Summers-Day-Shakespearean-Anthology-English-ebook/dp/B01JH97LVA
amazon.com.au: https://www.amazon.com.au/Summers-Day-Shakespearean-Anthology-Twist-ebook/dp/B01JH97LVA
amazon.ca: https://www.amazon.ca/Summers-Day-Shakespearean-Anthology-Twist-ebook/dp/B01JH97LVA
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/655310
Elin Gregory 
Terrific interview M! I love learning these little bits about you.