Chasing Death Metal Dreams, my free novel for the Love is an Open Road event is now out. You can find the story posted here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/17032945-chasing-death-metal-dream-by-kaje-harper-8-1
Since it is 93K, the lovely event organizers have also made it immediately available for download. You can get a copy in .pdf, .epub or .mobi here: http://www.mmromancegroup.com/chasing-death-metal-dreams-by-kaje-harper/
blurb
Carlos Medina has spent years of sweat, pain, effort, and money becoming the man he is. He writes original songs, plays lead guitar, and wears his death metal front-man persona like armor. With an excellent drummer and a talented bassist, his band, KnifeSwitch, has what it takes to succeed, if they can just catch a break. But it’s been a long road already, and there’s still a mountain left to climb. Carlos isn’t looking for anything more in his personal life than an occasional hook-up with a hot guy, preferably outside the less-than-gay-friendly metal scene.
Nate Goldstein has no intention of dating a musician. His twin brother fronts a band, and he knows band guys are all busy, broke, and obsessed with their music. But Carlos catches his artist’s eye. Nate is wary – he has a history of picking the wrong guys. Still, he might be willing to break some personal rules to find out what’s behind Carlos’s dark gaze and imaginative lyrics.
Getting together the first time is easy and fun. The second time is more complicated. And when music, ambition, and personalities clash, the guys will have to decide if they have a future worth fighting for.
This story was written for Melissa’s prompt– A young bare-chested man stands staring boldly outward from below his raised arms, hands pressed together in his black hair, elbows winged out, colorful dagger tattoos on his forearms. Another tattoo near his neck forms swirl of dark curves with “Boy” over his left collarbone. His biceps are strong, his stomach and pecs flat, his nipples small, above a thin treasure trail leading downward. Below each nipple is the unmistakable, long-healed scar of top surgery.
STORY LETTER:
Dear Author,
I was sent to the US at the age of 10 by my father who could not accept me. You see I was misgendered at birth and I started fighting against my body at a young age. My father sent me to live with my cousin’s family along with enough money to pay my way for a few years. Little does he know he helped to fund the many surgeries and hormones to fulfill my dream of having my outside gender match the gender my brain has always known myself to be.
What do you think Author? Not many know of his secret. He is a gay man. Is he in a gang? Is he in a band? How will he find love? How will he be accepted?
Thank you!!
Sincerely,
Melissa
The picture caught my imagination. So many people helped me write it and I’m grateful to every one of them. I hope readers will enjoy where I took Carlos and Nate in this book.
Thank you dear Kaje; loved it!
That’s lovely to hear – thanks 🙂
An awesome story, Kaje. Well done.
Thank you <3
Is there going to be a second story for Caleb and Nelson?
That I don’t know. The end of their story was pretty tentative, but at the same time, it was planned as a single short story, written on short notice. They might nag me to find out how they made their issues work out, but it won’t be soon anyway. I’m glad you liked them though 🙂
Loved their story, and they have a lot of issues.
They do, and it would be fun to see how they work through it. Maybe someday…