The Nightmares Series by Sage Marlowe @SageMarlowe @Totally_Bound

The Nightmares - Series by Sage Marlowe

  

What if the old, folkloristic tales are true and nightmares exist? What if a nightmare isn’t just the vivid and frightening scenario our tormented subconscious presents to us as we sleep, but a paranormal being that is as substantial and real as you and I—an incubus, a demon that feeds on human emotions? Could a man fall in love with such a demon, and could the demon love him in return?

Colin Meighan, co-owner of the small but successful gay porn production company Centre Studs is also the company’s biggest star. He sports a pretty exterior, but there’s more to him than meets the eye. Too young to know the full extent of what he is, he has to learn that the world he lives in isn’t what it seems. There are powers at work that exceed everything he’s ever believed in and the lines between nightmare and reality become blurred as he discovers the truth about himself and his gruesome heritage.

This, in short, is what the Nightmares – Series is about, but there’s more to it. A lot more. A cast of intriguing, likeable and mysterious characters takes you on a ride with more twists and turns than the average rollercoaster. Hot sex is more than just fun for these guys—it’s vital. And yet, while one man alone can never be enough for demon Colin, romance and love are far from dead.

Try the Nightmares but be warned: they’re addictive and will possibly—probably—leave you sweating, tossing and turning in your bed…or wherever you choose to read them.

Here’s the beginning of A Nightmare Come True, Book One in the Nightmares Series, to whet your appetite (Copyright Sage Marlowe, 2013):

When the day I was supposed to meet Colin Meighan finally arrived, I still couldn’t believe my luck. I was dying to meet the man in person, so, unsurprisingly, I arrived early at the address Uncle Tony had given me. It was a somewhat run-down former warehouse and far from the sexy and glamorous location I’d been expecting to find.

My uncle Tony, who always knew someone who knew someone, had set me up for a job. "It’s cash in hand," he’d told me, shielding me from my mother’s suspicious glances. "A fairly good rate, too, as long as you’re willing to keep your eyes shut for some of the time."

It had been our monthly family gathering and I, true to form, had arrived with the news of having been sacked once again. Just what did it say about me that my mother hadn’t even seemed surprised and my father, who once upon a time would have considered this a perfect reason to warm my hide, had just shrugged and continued to pick at his food?

"What exactly does this job involve?" I’d asked under my breath, watching my parents’ wordless argument.

"A bit of everything," Tony had replied. "It’s a low-budget film production and they just need a capable pair of hands to help move around equipment, put up lights and screens and stuff like that. I’ve done it a few times myself, but I’m busy that day."

Young and naïve as I was, the words 'film production' had blocked out the adjective 'low-budget' by far, but it hadn’t been until I’d cornered Tony on the doorstep, when he’d been about to leave, that I had managed to extract further information on the film production in question.

"Gay porn," he’d said, smirking. "But don’t worry, the guys keep their hands to themselves—or each other, anyway. You won’t need to watch the action either. Just turn around when you’re done with your part of the job."

I hadn’t pointed out the double-entendre in his last sentence. He certainly hadn’t suggested I turn around and show my butt to some of the hottest guys in Britain. Pursuing the topic of gay porn or even gay sex any further wouldn’t have been wise at the best of times, but on the doorstep of my father’s house, jobless and on the wrong page of my father’s books, it could have rendered me homeless within minutes.

Of course, my sexual orientation had always been a well kept secret at our home. My parents knew but the rest of the family remained in the dark, so dear Uncle Tony probably thought nothing of sending me to the set of a porn film. Little did he know that it was like asking an eight-year old to help guard a candy store. When he’d mentioned the name of the production company, Centre Studs, I’d barely been able to stop myself punching the air in victory. Centre Studs was a small company and a lightweight compared to the big overseas porn industry, but they made high quality films using the nation’s finest gay porn stars. And for me, when it came to gay porn stars, there was no one better or hotter than Colin Meighan.

The inside of the building kept the promise its outside had given. Bare stone walls, naked, chipped and paint-stained concrete floors and cheap, too bright overhead lights. I was a guy and it didn’t take much to get me in the mood, but somehow I’d imagined the location for a porn film shoot to have just a tad more of a sexy atmosphere.

I was one of the first to arrive. There was another guy with a ponytail who was busy glaring at his smartphone, two cameramen and one man who was busy taping a large microphone to a rod.

"Hi there," I greeted no one in particular and no one in particular responded. The only replies I got from the four men were muffled grunts and a mumbled "Hello."

I went to the man with the ponytail. "Hi, I’m Mike. Mike Fawkes."

Tapping away on his phone, he barely looked up. "Peter Evans. Call me Pete. I’m the producer-slash-director-slash-casting agent. Any questions, talk to me."

"Yeah, all right." I let my gaze travel across the run-down film set. A super king-size bed was tucked into a corner, which was probably for the best as it didn’t look inviting. Its stripped mattress wore a multitude of stains in different shades—fading scars that had been earned in countless battles. An old-fashioned but large sofa sat in the middle of the room, its faded green corduroy covering threadbare in places. No, they didn’t put much effort into an appealing location. 

"So, this is where the action’s gonna happen, huh?" I observed, mainly just to say something.

Pete glanced at me. The corners of his eyes were wrinkled in a half-smile. "Yeah. You’re early."

"Well, yes. I figured it might be better if I came early."

A soft chuckle right behind me made my back tingle. "Sweetheart, in this business it’s never good to come early."

Pete looked past me and grinned. "You took the words right out of my mouth. Hi, Colin. You’re a bit early yourself."

"Yeah, I know," Colin drawled. He moved past me and leaned in to Pete who tilted his head. For a moment I thought he’d kiss him full on the mouth, then Colin turned the motion into a quick peck on the cheek, but it was too late.

A scene from the film I’d watched last night in anticipation of the meeting interfered with reality and a dirty fantasy began to unwind in my mind. I imagined Colin greeting me with a kiss, only that ours would be open mouths and tongue-touching and all. Blood shot into my dick, fast enough to make me dizzy. Fool that I was, I’d come prepared to meet the star of my dreams, but nothing had prepared me for Colin’s enormous sex appeal. On camera he was sexy as sin, off camera he was Viagra on legs. He wore tight-fitting, ripped blue jeans and a pale grey, long-sleeved T-shirt. The fabric of the latter was so soft that it not only hugged the curves of his pectoral muscles—I could also easily make out the shape of the nipple piercing underneath.

For the full series listing, please visit the publisher’s website at: https://www.totallybound.com/index.php?route=product/series&series_id=388

The first four books are also already available from

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GDJGQEG

and ARe: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-anightmarecometrue-1335054-340.html (the links take you to the first book in the series)

Or visit Sage’s world on www.sage-marlowe.com

About the author

Sage is a multi-published author of MM erotic romance novels and novellas and loves exploring the flavours of gay erotic fiction.

A willing slave to all the fascinating guys who keep queuing up and want their stories told, Sage can almost always be found cooking up the next hot story or daydreaming about new ways of rubbing sexy male bodies together to make the sparks fly.

Contact and buy links

Sage’s website & blog: www.sage-marlowe.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sage.marlowe0

e-mail: marlowe.sage@yahoo.co.uk

Twitter: @SageMarlowe

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/SageMarlowe

Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/sagemarlowe

For all books published with Totally Bound, go to: http://www.totallybound.com/sage-marlowe

For all books published with Siren-BookStrand, go to: www.bookstrand.com/sage-marlowe

Sage Marlowe First Anniversary Blog Tour and #G!veaway

Sage Marlowe’s First Anniversary Blog Tour & Giveaway

Knives & Feathers

Hello and welcome to the latest stop of my 1st Anniversary Blog Tour & Giveaway. Thanks for hosting me, H K! 

One year has passed since my successful debut novel, Sub-Mission, was released on May 14, 2012. A lot has happened during those twelve months. I’m taking the chance to look back and tell you a bit about the background of the books I’ve published, but also about things that happened in my life or that are on my mind. There’s one stop for every book, and of course, there are prizes waiting for you, because as always, good things for me mean good things for you, my dear friends and readers. Please read the “Giveaway” section below for details. 

Today, I’d like to talk to you about tears. Yes, tears. Emotions. One of the most frequent feedbacks I receive on my books is “It moved me to tears” or something along those lines. Now, honestly, crying over a book is nothing to be ashamed of and I totally understand it. I’m the kind of reader who just recently got in a funk over the death of a fictional character and spent an entire afternoon grieving him. Actually, make that an afternoon and an evening—the book was really well written and haunting. 

Anyway, whenever I hear this from a reader, I’m torn between feeling sorry—who wants to be the reason someone cried, after all?—and being one hell of a proud author. I know it’s been said that making people laugh is even harder than making them cry, but hey, moving someone to tears means I have succeeded in stirring emotions, doesn’t it? 

Incidentally, the first person ever to say this to me was my editor Sue. She sent me an e-mail one day, informing me that she was just about to start editing Knives & Feathers. It was the first time we worked together and I didn’t really know her back then so didn’t have a clue what to expect. Less than an hour later, I received a second e-mail: “Bloody hell, I’m crying here.” That was all, six words, but bloody hell, I was crying, too, after that. 

I still get a knot in my throat when someone tells me they cried over my books, although I have to admit that there’s also always a little devil sitting on my shoulder. Guess what this little bugger says? I bet you’ve already thought it. “Maybe they cried because the book was so bad…” Well, I keep hoping that my writing makes people cry because they feel for and with my characters so much.

Ladies & Gentlemen, this is the book that made my editor cry:

Knives and Feathers

They say that love can heal all wounds - even the ones that are self-inflicted?

When best-selling author Chester Banning requires inside information on the life of a forensic pathologist, he comes across an enticing yet rather unwilling study subject in the shape of sinfully attractive Dr Nicolas Sheridan.

After a hot and slightly unsettling one night stand, Sheridan turns out to be as inapproachable as he is intriguing but clearly not interested in intensifying the liaison. Chester however finds himself falling head over heels in love and doesn’t rest until he succeeds in cracking Sheridan's icy shell. What he discovers underneath is a man who is well capable of love and affection but caught up in a web of lies spun by his abusive and possessive partner, Jake Simmons.

Led to believe that he is responsible for the death of his past lover, Sheridan's sense of guilt makes him tolerate the mistreatment he receives from Jake and seek punishment in self-harm.

Will the love and support Chester can give be enough to help Sheridan free himself from the demons that haunt him or is all Chester can do watch him go further down the road to self-destruction?

Amazon US

Amazon UK 

Amazon Canada

Total-E-Bound 

Barnes and Noble 

BookStrand 

Giveaway—Here’s what you can win:

#1 - Sage’s Goodie Package:

Contains a signed copy of Sub-Culture, a set of signed book cover photographs and some surprise goodies to spoil you

#2 - Create a character

Here’s your chance to create your very own fictional character that will be featured in one of my next books. The winner gets to pick the name and distinct features like hair / eye colour, height and a few personality quirks of a hero (male characters only, and please keep it doable…). Depending on the specification, I will either include him in a current WIP or use him as inspiration for a brand new story. The winner will also receive a free e-copy of this story once it’s published.

How to enter:

Leave a comment in the comment section asking to be entered in the giveaway. The winner will be picked at random and announced on my blog on May 20th. Multiple entries are allowed and will increase your chances to win. For additional terms and conditions, please go to http://www.sage-marlowe.com/p/contests.html

You can find the full tour schedule here: http://www.sage-marlowe.com/p/blog-tour-may-2013.html

About Sage Marlowe

Sage is a multi-published author of gay erotic romance novels and novellas and loves exploring the flavours of gay erotic fiction.
A willing slave to all the fascinating guys who keep queuing up and want their stories told, Sage can almost always be found cooking up the next hot story or daydreaming about new ways of rubbing sexy male bodies together to make the sparks fly.

Contact and buy links

Sage’s website & blog

Facebook

e-mail

Twitter

Goodreads

Amazon

For all books published with Total-E-Bound, go to: http://www.total-e-bound.com/authordetail.asp?A_ID=224

 

For all books published with Siren-BookStrand, go to: www.bookstrand.com/sage-marlowe

I'm at Sage Marlowe's today. I hope you'll stop by. She asks some great questions. From has life changed since being published to do I prefer a walk in the park or cocktails. I hope you'll stop by and check out the fun.

Sage Marlowe's Tuesday Teaser

Happy Reading, My Streetlight Peeps

H K

Welcome Author Sage Marlowe ~ Interview ~ Excerpt from Sub-Culture

Please welcome multi-published author Sage Marlowe to Pick a Genre Already. Today Sage is sharing an excerpt from Sub-Culture, the sequel to Sub-Mission and has kindly sub-mitted to my version of an author interview.  (that's bad, I'm sorry)

Welcome Sage...

What was your favourite book as a child/teenager?

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. I had to read it in English class, and I must have been the only one who loved the book.

Who was the first author or what was the first book you read that introduced you to the genre that you most enjoy writing in?

Hmm, I can’t actually remember the first book, but some of the first MM erotic romance authors I read were Ally Blue, TA Chase, LB Gregg and Harper Fox.

Do you believe in love at first sight? And if so have you ever been so afflicted? Did you do anything about it? (Did you go for it?)

Well, the first time (literally) I set eyes on Mr M, I had this peculiar feeling. Nothing definite, but somehow I just knew we were meant to be together. We were work mates and spent the best part of two years fighting like cat and dog until he ditched his partner and we started going out. It took all of two weeks for him to move in with me and this New Year’s Day was our seventh anniversary so I guess yes I believe in love at first sight.

Is there a particular word you overuse or writing technique that your editor(s) ride you about? Mine is over using the word ‘harshly’.

Really. Just. Quite. Doing instead of do. Too many adverbs. Way too many adverbs. But I think I’m beginning to get the hang of showing, not telling after my editors made me pour gallons of blood, sweat and tears into one manuscript in particular.

Have you ever suffered from writer’s block? (Or do you even believe in it?) If so, how were you able to overcome it?

I have never suffered from writer’s block as such – fortunately. Sometimes I’m too wound up to focus on a story after a hectic day, but usually just re-reading the last paragraph and beginning to type gets me back in line. On the rare occasions when that doesn’t work, I do other writing-related things like writing blog posts or I just grab a book and read a couple of pages, because that is the best way to make me itch for a writing session.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

Hmmm… Tough one. London and Texas are the two places where I’d most like to live but it would be hard to pick one  

If you could bring one of your own characters to life, who would it be and why?

I’d love to meet all of them, but if I had to choose just one, it would be Noah from the Sub-series. Sub-Mission is my first published book, so Noah and Pierce will always hold a special place in my heart, but Noah is also an amazing person. His strength and loyalty never fail to impress me and while he has his flaws just like the rest of us, he is a great friend and a wonderful dad.

What are you reading right now?

I’m actually in between books and trying to figure out which one of the titles on my huge tbr-pile I should pick.

If you were to do a reality show, which one would it be?

I’m extremely camera-shy, so if I ever got involved with reality TV, I’d be the one behind the scenes, writing about it.

What is the craziest, most exciting, or most dangerous thing you’ve ever done?

Saying yes to Mr M

Matt Bomer

Name a celebrity, athlete, musician, etc. you’d most like to get naughty with.

Hah, easy. Matt Bomer.

  

         H K  (Sigh)

 If there was a movie made of your life what would it be called? Which celebrity would you want to play you?

Good grief, who would even want to make a movie of my life? The only title that comes to mind is This Madness Is Called My Life, and I think Natalie Portman would be great for the role. I really liked her performance in Black Swan, especially the scenes when her character was about to go insane. Yes, very much me.

Favourite movie?

There are too many movies I like. I can’t possibly narrow it down to just one.

  

Dream Vacation?

I don’t have it planned yet, but what comes to mind are sunshine and horses, possibly Texas. Oh, I guess I see cowboys…

Dream Car?

Aston Martin DB9, the all black version please.

Favourite Ice Cream Flavour?

Chocolate chip

Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions?

Yes. I have decided to read more this year because I was so busy writing last year that I barely had the time to just relax with a book in my hand.

What can readers look forward to next?

My next release is the third book in the Romeo& Julian series, A Life as a Ghost, which will be published with Siren-BookStrand in March. Then there is Shifting Perspectives, the first book in my new shifter series Shifting Changes. It is currently submitted and will hopefully also make it for a March release.

My next novel is titled Fantasy for Sale. It will be published on June 3rd, 2013 by Total-E-Bound.

My current WIPs include the sequel to Re-Submission, the next books in the Shifting Changes series and many more.

Please tell us about your newest release.

Sub-Culture is the sequel to my debut novel, Sub-Mission. It finds Noah and Pierce five years after the bumpy start to their relationship. They have settled well into their lives as a happy couple but raising two children, combined with a lot of pressure in their jobs, is beginning to take its toll.

Sub-Culture takes a look at an essentially happy and well-tuned couple who have to understand that life requires constant adapting to circumstances and that loving your partner also means giving them the freedom and space they need to develop.

 Blurb:

When life gets on top, delving into a sub-culture may be just what it takes to keep a sinking relationship afloat

Five years after the bumpy start to their relationship, Noah and Pierce have settled well into their lives as a happy couple. The arrival of a new child should have made their matrimonial bliss complete, but the strain of raising a baby and a teenager, combined with a lot of pressure in their jobs, is beginning to take its toll.

In the midst of what already is a potentially explosive situation, Noah’s younger brother Jonah comes to stay with them, forcing Noah to face the issues he still has regarding his homophobic parents and adding to the emotional pressure he is under.

When Noah starts behaving oddly and Pierce just can’t seem to put his jealousy to rest, the cracks in their relationship become too severe to ignore any longer. They struggle to keep their sinking love afloat but as Noah craves the comfort a certain sub-culture can offer, Pierce finds himself wondering just how far he is willing to step out of his own comfort zone to save their love.

Reader Advisory: Sub-Culture is the sequel to Sub-Mission and a part of Noah and Pierce’s story is also featured in Re-Submission. Whilst each book stands on its own, to enjoy the story in full, it is recommended to read the books in the order of release (Sub-Mission, Re-Submission, Sub-Culture)

Story excerpt

"Fuck, not again!" Shifting, Noah snatched the duvet under his arm, turned around and buried his head in the pillow.

"Uh, it’s your turn, love," Pierce reminded him, struggling a little to recall how to work his voice, if only he wasn’t so incredibly, mind-numbingly tired. He dragged an eyelid open and glanced at the clock on the nightstand, but only because it was there anyway, straight in his blurry line of vision. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have bothered.

An assembly of cool, greenish dashes informed him that it was half past two. That meant he would have three more hours of sleep until he had to get up. Noah would have four—in theory.

"No way!" Noah’s protest was muffled by the pile of pillows and duvet he’d buried himself under, but was nonetheless vehement. "It was my turn last night already."

"Sorry," Pierce mumbled, half apologetic, half relieved and completely anaesthetised with fatigue. "That was the night before last."

"Fuck." He felt the mattress bounce as Noah sat up. There was a noisy inhalation of breath—Noah yawning. "Shouldn’t he be able to make it through the night without another feed by now anyway?"

Right on cue, another long, heartbreaking and ear-splitting wail sliced through what was left of the night’s peace and quiet.

"Try telling him that," Pierce retorted.

"Pheebs stopped needing night feeds—"

"When she was six months old. I know. But Phinneas just isn’t Phoebe. He is who he is and he happens to need his milk at night so we have to give it to him. You have to give it to him."

"Yeah, right," Noah grunted but pushed to his feet. "Coming," he grumbled on the way out into the hall, then, seconds later, his voice sounded much gentler as he said, "Well, hello, you little sleepless gremlin. Got the munchies again, haven’t you?" More words followed, but they were too low for Pierce to make them out. 

Knowing Noah, it was a mix of sweet little nothings and good-humoured insults, which was his usual way of dealing with the baby whenever he was overtired and needed to vent some of the resulting grumpiness. Noah would never allow himself to let the fiery side of his temper show around either of their two children. It was what made him a wonderful dad—part of it, anyway. He was patient, generous, funny… Pierce found it increasingly hard to focus on the noises Noah was making in the kitchen while he was preparing the baby’s bottle.

No, they weren’t in the kitchen any longer. Already, Noah’s light-hearted chatter was growing louder as he approached their door on the way back to Baby Phin’s bedroom. Listening to the soothing, familiar tone of Noah’s voice, Pierce let the sweet melody of the faint accent in it lull him back to sleep.

The peace didn’t last long. Thirty minutes, according to the cool, greenish dashes on the alarm clock. The mattress bounced again but, instead of Noah’s six foot tall, hard-muscled body, something—or rather someone—significantly smaller, and also a lot bonier, crept into Pierce’s bed. A tiny, but pointed elbow hit him in the ribs with an accuracy that would have made a professional wrestler proud.

"Fu—Phoebe!" Pierce gasped as the air left his lungs a lot faster than he’d intended it to. "What are you doing here?" He rubbed the spot just left of his sternum. It was going to turn into a nasty bruise.

"Phin woke me up," Phoebe complained.

"That’s no reason to be out of bed at this time," Pierce pointed out.

"But I can’t sleep."

"No, of course you can’t sleep when you’re walking around and—Oi!"

Occupying the space Noah had deserted only half an hour ago, Phoebe had snatched the duvet in a very good imitation of her father. Just like he had earlier, she turned around, buried her head in his pillow and started snoring. So much for not being able to sleep.

Pierce knew he should move her, but the notion of getting out of his warm, almost comfortable nest was more than he could face. Besides, his own limbs felt like lead. How he was supposed to move with the added weight of a twelve-year-old if even his own body was too heavy for him to drag out of bed was beyond him. He was still contemplating whether or not he should try to carry her back into her own bed or simply ignore the late-night visitor and go back to sleep when Noah returned. Another half-hour had passed, as the numbers on the alarm clock pointed out.

"Taken," Pierce warned and indicated Noah’s side of the bed.

"Fan-fucking-tastic!" Hovering in front of the bed, Noah glared down at his sleeping child. "Why didn’t you tell her to go back to her own room?"

"Couldn’t. By the time I realised what was happening, she was already rolled into that duvet, tight as a tick. 

What was up with Phin? You’ve been gone quite long."

"I know." Noah let out an exasperated sigh. Or maybe it was just another yawn. "I had to change him after I fed him, then he was awake and wanted to play, puked on himself, so I had to change his clothes again—the usual." He watched Phoebe for another moment, then he murmured, "What do you think I should do about her now?"

About the author:

Sage is a multi-published author of gay erotic romance and loves taking romance to the edge. The edge of passion, the edge of pleasure, the edge of propriety.

Hopelessly in love with books from a very early age on, Sage has dreamt of writing one for years while working on the day job instead. It took a very persistent character in the company of a much-adored Muse to finally get the first novel going. The fact that this gorgeous guy was gay came as a bit of a surprise, but it explained a lot.

Ever since, Sage has been the willing slave to all the fascinating guys who just keep queuing up and want their stories told. This has resulted in several published books and countless manuscripts at various stages of completion, so there's always something to work on—preferably at night when the rest of the house is asleep.

Sage's characters often have a dramatic and sometimes traumatic past and need to battle some demons to be with the one they love. But don’t worry, they get quite a lot of naughty action along the way to keep them happy and there will always be a happy end!

Contact and buy links

Explore Sage’s world on www.sage-marlowe.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sage.marlowe0

e-mail: marlowe.sage@yahoo.co.uk

Twitter: @SageMarlowe

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/SageMarlowe

Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/sagemarlowe

For all books published with Total-E-Bound, go to: http://www.total-e-bound.com/authordetail.asp?A_ID=224

For all books published with Siren-BookStrand, go to: www.bookstrand.com/sage-marlowe

Re-Submission has been nominated for Best BDSM book of 2012 in the LRCafe Awards. Voting ends January 19th, so go out and vote!! Check out Sage's website for more info.

Thank you for joining me today, Sage.