Revisiting Larkin

Just when I think writing new material for Collective Obsessions is behind me…

The next book due for release in the saga is The Twilight (tentatively scheduled for early summer). Last week, it was decided some new scenes needed to be added for two specific characters, so I put my "collective" hat back on.

Having thought I put all of the characters to bed with the physical completion of Megan's Legacy in 2011, it was odd to suddenly jump back into the saga mindset (especially considering my work schedule of late with Bloodlust, which has nothing to do with the saga). However, after a few hours, I began to enjoy myself. Keep in mind it took an on-off period of more than twenty years for me to write all eight books in the Collective Obsessions Saga, so revisiting my fictional places and characters was actually rather pleasurable.

While all eight books in the saga were complete and contracted in 2010-2011, they have been incrementally released by my publisher since.

1. Passion Forsaken (released 2011)
2. Quixotic Crossings (released 2011)
3. The Twain Shall Meet (released 2012)
4. Enthrallment (released 2012)
5. The Keeper's Journal (released 2012)
6. Hearts Desires (released 2013)
7. TheTwilight (coming in 2013)
8. Megan's Legacy (coming in 2013)

It kind of reminds me of movie releases. Films are made one year, and then released the next or the one after that. You work on a project for a long time, giving it your heart and soul, and then move on after it's finished. Revisiting the project a year or more later – whether it's a book or film - is almost surreal.

Whatever the case, I managed to write the requested new scenes for The Twilight within four days and delivered them electronically to my publisher.

So now it's back to my Bloodlust writing schedule.

Array of Books

The Books Photo Gallery is the newest feature on my web site:

 

Click here to view the gallery.

Hearts Desires

In the past, there has typically been about a six-month interval between releases of books in the Collective Obsessions Saga. It's not my doing, but rather done at the discretion of my publisher. Therefore, I was more than pleasantly surprised when Hearts Desires was released today, just two months after the publication of The Keeper's Journal.

The Collective Obsessions Saga continues with book six, Hearts Desires.

Brose Larkin finds himself falling in love with a local "tomboy" who bests him at every turn. Despite having known her since high school, she is the antithesis of his ideal woman in her simple attire and direct manner. Brose knows he has met his ultimate match in Bridget Gallagher.

Shannon's son Jamie Page begins to understand his lifelong yearnings but fears his family will never accept them. His first love affair with a nefarious character nearly costs his life, but brings to light his hidden desires.

Jamie's sister Angela Page suffers an emotional collapse after discovering she cannot have children. She holes herself up in the attic at the Larkin mansion, much like her ancestors Molly and Patrick Larkin did before her.

Happiness continues to elude the family, as if a dark shadow of evil has settled over the Larkin estate.

I'm also pleased with the book cover, which depicts two main characters in the specific storyline: Jamie Page and Jack Sansovino. The back photo frame of the dog is significant as the pooch figures prominently in a final scene with Jack in Megan's Legacy (to be released around the end of 2013).

 

 

With the release of Hearts Desires, there are only two more books to go before the Collective Obsessions Saga is finally complete (The Twilight and Megan's Legacy). The long journey has almost come to a full-circle. Quite literally, it's a dream come true.

Character Comparisons: I'm fairly liberal in my political and social views, so same-sex relationships and marriage have always been issues I consider to be basic human rights. It shouldn't be an issue at all in 2012, frankly. We are all free to choose our own path in life, and it's not up to anyone else to restrict our choices or to pass judgment. Judge not lest ye be judged…Or is it people who live in glass houses should not throw stones?

Throughout all eight books in the Collective Obsessions Saga, there are only two central male characters that are gay in relation to the Larkin family. This wasn't something I did on purpose, but rather the characters just happened to blend into the storyline with their lives already written in my imagination. In other words, the two specific characters simply - and inadvertently - worked out that way. They are also related by blood (second cousins twice removed), but never actually meet as they appear in different time periods.

The first man was Jean-Claude Sullivan (grandson of Colm Sullivan from Passion Forsaken), who appeared in Quixotic Crossings, followed by The Twain Shall Meet and Enthrallment.

Fate continues to entangle the Larkin and Sullivan families amidst madness, murder and obsessive love. Colm and Molly's grandson Jean-Claude Sullivan finds his life driven by greed and perversely tainted pleasures. Beloved family chef Claude Mondoux watches helplessly as Colm slowly loses his mind in ghostly visions of Molly, while Colleen Larkin seeks love in the arms of another man with deadly consequences...

Jean-Claude was married with a son (George Sullivan aka Ben Webb) when he meets Mason Berger, his co-worker at the Larkin Gazette. Jean-Claude's storyline occurs between 1934 and 1985, the earlier portion of which was not known as a time of sexual tolerance. Jean-Claude and Mason are eventually forced out of Larkin City. They begin a new life in Paris, where they are able to live together relatively free of harsh judgment.

From Quixotic Crossings:

It didn't take George long to fully understand the true nature of his father's relationship with Mason Berger. He was slightly repulsed but not overly shocked, having suspected Jean-Claude's inclinations for a long time just by the tone of his letters and the affectionate mentions of Mason. The more time he spent with the two men the more he realized how instinctive their relationship was.

Jean-Claude and Mason seemed to flow together. They finished each other's sentences, or they sniped at each other playfully, just like an old married couple. In truth, the two men were married in a spiritual sense, their unconditional love evident in every touch and vocal gesture.

The second gay man is Jamie Page, son of Shannon Larkin and Scott Page, who appears in parts three through eight of the Collective Obsessions Saga. However, Jamie's sexuality is not really explored until Book Six: Hearts Desires (which takes place from 1996-2000).

Jamie's first romantic experience comes about in the form of Jack Sansovino, who first appeared in Enthrallment as Carly O'Reilly's sous chef. During a Christmas party in Enthrallment, Jack spikes Carly's drink with Flunitrazepam (aka roofie, date-rape drug) and then takes her to his flat, where he rapes her. He also allows several of his "buddies" to take turns with her. The "buddies" are actually bookies and loan sharks to whom Jack owes money. He permits them to rape Carly repeatedly in order to erase his gambling debts to them.

Now back to Hearts Desires – it is the first of my books to be classified in the LGBT genre. Hearts Desires also falls into family epic and romance, where it sits with the other titles in the Collective Obsessions Saga.

Jack Sansovino knew Jamie Page was staring at him. He saw the young man from the Amber Whale kitchen as he cooked lunch dishes, and took a particular interest in his flawless handsomeness and quiet demeanor. When Jack entered the dining area, he deliberately walked toward the window overlooking the harbor. The lunch crowd had been fast and furious, and he was ready for a break, but his real reason for venturing out was to get a closer look at the solitary diner.

Jack paused just to the left of Jamie's table, pretending to take a long look out the window into the harbor. He crossed his arms and drew a great sigh, knowing the action would attract Jamie's attention.

In Hearts Desires, Jamie is unaware of Jack's sorted past and falls promptly in love with him. Jack is not gay, but hooks up with Jamie in order to take advantage of his wealth and prestigious family name. The deception takes a psychological toll on Jack, so he begins to drink and gamble heavily again. He beats and rapes Jamie in a drunken rage one night, and then flees Larkin City a wanted man.

Not to worry, though. Jamie finds gentle love with another man in The Twilight, which is part seven of the Collective Obsessions Saga (due for release this summer). While I don't want to give too much away, Jack ultimately gets his comeuppance in Megan's Legacy, the final book in the saga.

 

Hearts Desires is also about the unlikely love match between Brose Larkin and local road crew worker Bridget Gallagher, as well as the emotional upheaval suffered by Jamie's sister, Angie, when she discovers she cannot bear children. In addition, readers of Hearts Desires will get a first glimpse of the gaudy but heartfelt Désirée Sansovino, Jack's younger sister.

Read excerpts from Hearts Desires >

Hearts Cover History

This was the "working" cover for Hearts Desires for a long time, pre-book release:

The red room was indicative of a bloody scene where Jack Sansovino rapes Jamie Page and then beats him to a near-pulp. The incident takes place in the bedroom of Jamie's cottage, a short distance from the Larkin mansion.

The second cover was rather vague, but I liked the design anyway:

 

 

The final cover was rendered by my publisher, and features Jamie, Jack and Jamie's dog in frame:

 

 

I was a bit uneasy about having two bare-chested men on the cover at first. Not because the men happen to be gay, but rather suggestive nudity - even with women - is just not my cup of tea. Passion Forsaken is another example of partial nudity, although I was relieved when the woman on the cover was not shown completely bare-chested.

None of the books in the Collective Obsessions Saga are heavy on sex scenes. How many ways can one write a romantic interlude for a connecting series of books that span 140 years? I tried to be creative as the storyline progressed, which sometimes resulted in violence or mild kinkiness, but the scenes are a backdrop rather than the focus.

However, I've come to appreciate the cover for Hearts Desires. Not so much for the half-naked men depicted, but for the inclusion of the dog in a framed picture behind them. The image threads into the final part of the saga (Megan's Legacy) in subtle fashion, which will only be realized by readers when they finish the last book roughly ten months hence.

Not So Fictional Pets

Even though I'm a fiction writer first and foremost, more than once I've integrated the physical appearance or character traits of real people into my writing. These people can be family members, friends or complete strangers who just happen to catch my eye during the course of a normal day. The aforementioned people rarely recognize themselves after I've written fictional accounts around their characters, unless I choose to tell them about it.

Animals and treasured pets also figure into the mix on occasion. My beloved pooch Foofer, who passed away in 2007, makes his appearance in The Keeper's Journal where he is discovered abandoned by Jamie Page. Jamie, who is also a veterinarian, adopts Foofer. The two become inseparable, exemplifying the master and devoted canine relationship. That being said, there is more to Foofer's seemingly casual presence in the book, which is scant when compared to the unfolding human drama in the storyline. Foofer is Jamie's vigilant protector in Hearts Desires (due for release in spring 2013), where he distrusts his master's new friend Jack Sansovino with keen canine instinct.

 

 

However, Foofer's true purpose becomes quite clear in Megan's Legacy, the final book in the Collective Obsessions Saga (due for release near the end of 2013).

My demonic feline Kiki also appears in Megan's Legacy, where she is found abandoned by the main character Megan Larkin. Kiki is mentioned fleetingly throughout the book, but she is part of the dramatic saga finale albeit in subtle fashion.

 

 

I have yet to find a fictional place for my darling Rainee, the Black Lab mix I adopted in Spokane in 2004. I've felt bad about it, wondering why something for her hasn't come to mind. Not to worry, though. I recently came up with the perfect story-bound scenario for her, although it probably won't see the light of day for a few years.

 

 

Rainee is streamlined, elegant and behaves with purpose. Even as a puppy in 2004, she feared nothing in her path (including Foofer, who at the time was 109 pounds to her wispy but lively 13 pounds). Her main focus is food, followed by her desire for daily trips in the car. She loves nothing better than to stick her head out the window as we tool down the road, although I'm careful not to give her too much leeway. She's a living doll.

Since Foofer's passing, Rainee and Kiki have been at odds with one another so I have to keep them separated for the most part. Both seem to think they inherited the mantle of dominance after Foofer left us, which has resulted in several hysterical confrontations.

Both female, neither Rainee nor Kiki give an inch to each other.  I love them both to bits, so it's our way of life for now. I liken it to having two very different – and difficult - children. The more difficult they become, the more I seem to treasure them.

 

Unconditional love is a wondrous and rare thing.

Bloodfrost Cover History

Bloodfrost was released in June 2012, the first book in The Bloodline Trilogy.

The book cover history has been varied. While writing the story, I toyed with two reddish designs that were meant to signify blood as it relates to the trilogy. This was the first go-round:

 

 

And this was the second, which over time I found to be too dark:

 

 

The second cover was built around a model photograph taken by Anton Belovodchenko, a contributing member to Stock Xchng (of which I'm also a member).

For the third (and hopefully final) cover of Bloodfrost, I built the design around another model photograph, this time taken by an artist named Tomas Bobrus from Poland (also a contributor to Stock Xchng).

 

 

I felt the white backdrop was more effective in displaying the blood drops and trails. The main character in Bloodfrost is sickly pale (at first), and has blue-eyes with graying hair. I'm not fond of the color pink, but it seems to work on the final cover (see lips and author name).

Both images from Stock Xchng were used according to their standard restrictions license. I'm careful about following usage guidelines because I also create my own images, so I know how much hard work goes into the process. Whether it's an image based on a photograph, sketch or a graphic created from scratch, it's important to give credit where credit is due (including one's self). It's as essential as respecting copyrights on other media such as books and sound.

I'm grateful to be a part of places like Blur Designs, Logopond, RGB Stock Photos, Shutterstock and Stock Xchng, where artists share their work and sometimes learn a thing or two from each other. I'm an amateur at best, so I stand in admiration of many stunning and unique images.

Jack Sansovino

Jack Sansovino was a nasty piece of work, probably the most loathsome character found in the Collective Obsessions Saga.

 

He first appeared in Enthrallment, working for Carly O'Reilly as her sous-chef de cuisine (under-chef of the kitchen) at Harbor View Catering (HVC). Jack was smooth, self-confidant and as unruffled as a tranquil lake. He was tall (6'5"), with black hair, dark eyes, olive-tinted skin, and thin yet somehow still sensuous lips. He drove a black 1968 Corvette C3, given to him by older brother Antonio.

Jacopo (Jack) Sansovino was born on May 12, 1967 in Little Italy, Manhattan, New York. His mother Adelina named him after Jacopo d'Antonio Sansovino, an Italian sculptor and architect known best for his works around the Piazza San Marco in Venice. Jack had one older brother, Antonio (Tony, 1964), and one younger sister, Desideria (Désirée, 1971). Their father Mario owned Sansovino's Restaurant & Italian Market on Spring Street in Little Italy. The family home was contained in an apartment above the restaurant and market.

Jack worked in the family restaurant as a teenager, but left to find his own way after Mario decided to eventually give the family business to his oldest son. Jack moved to Larkin City to attend Larkin City University's Chefs Program, where he also got a job at Harbor View Catering in 1989. HVC was owned by Carly O'Reilly, Liam Larkin's wife.

Jack had a problem with gambling. He frequented the Showboat Casino in Atlantic City, and later the Hollywood Slots at Bangor Raceway (Racino), where he played slot machines, table game roulette, and placed bets on live harness racing.

In December 1990, Jack attends the HVC Christmas party. He spikes Carly's drink with Flunitrazepam (aka roofie, date-rape drug) and then takes her to his flat on King Street, where he rapes her. He also allows several of his "buddies" to take turns with her. The "buddies" are actually bookies and loan sharks to whom Jack owes money. He permits them to rape Carly repeatedly in order to erase his gambling debts to them. Because Flunitrazepam impairs memory, Jack dresses Carly after the gang-rape and puts her back in her car, which he then parks a short distance from the Larkin mansion.

Carly is not certain about what Jack has done to her. Because she has no vivid memory or concrete proof of what happened, she does not confront him. He never mentions the night she came to his flat, nor does she question him about it. Their working relationship remains the same. After Carly commits suicide in September 1995, Jack continues to work at HVC for another six months, but then takes a job as Executive Chef at the Amber Whale Tavern.

In Hearts Desires (coming in 2013), Jack sees Jamie Page having lunch at the Amber Whale. They begin a friendly conversation that soon leads to a dinner date. Despite his penchant for forceful rape, Jack is not known to interact with men. However, after meeting Jamie and understanding his relation to the Larkin family, he decides to plunge into a full-blown sexual relationship with Jamie. Jack is more interested in the wealth of his new lover, hoping it will benefit him somehow.

Jack rapes and beats Jamie one night after a drunken argument, forcing him to flee the country. Jack's reign of terror didn't end there, however. In Megan's Legacy (coming in late 2013), Jack returns to Larkin City to demand money from his sister Désirée.

Instead, Jack finds his own swift justice from where he least expects it.