Where Did the Wolf Title Come From?
One of the first things people say to me when they hear about my new book, Wolf in Gucci Loafers, is “I love the title”. Thank you! That’s one of the best compliments because I love creating titles and that creation is often an important part of my writing process. Maybe it’s because my day job is in advertising. Through my whole career, I’ve had to create headlines and they always come before the copy in the ad. The headline is the “essence” of the message. It has to grab you and suggest something special about the product or service it’s promoting. In many ways, like the title of a book. Whether or not that’s the reason, the fact is that I almost always create the title of my books before I write them, the title guides my story development, and the title seldom changes unless the story changes dramatically.
For example, back in 2011, my first year writing, I penned a little story about an art gallery owner who falls for a hunky Australian volleyball player -- or two. I had a title in mind -- David and Goliath -- but it wasn’t working. I changed it to -- yes, you guessed it -- Volley Balls. People liked the title, so when I decided to write another book in the series about David’s best friend, Rodney, I thought about titles. Rodney is a little fireball of a guy. Bingo. I would call the book Fire Balls and Rodney’s lover would be a firefighter. Literally, the title decided the profession of the hero. Since then, the “Balls” books have become very popular and people write me to suggest titles ending in Balls!
Wolf in Gucci Loafers follows a book called The Pack or the Panther. That book, my first werewolf romance, is about a sincere, young werewolf who meets a snarky, independent panther shifter who hates groups -- and packs. My hero has to choose -- The Pack or the Panther! That title leaped out at me as soon as I had a very basic idea of the story. In that book, I introduced a very popular character who is half werewolf and half human. He’s a wealthy socialite who is quite flamboyant while at the same time being a real hidden alpha male. His name is Lindsey and he’s a mass of sexy contradictions which entices my tough cop on the motorcycle. Lindsey is powerful and aggressive, but to the world he pretends to be a drawing room comedy -- just a Wolf in Gucci Loafers. I hope you enjoy my Wolf -- from his title to his purple shoes!
The Book
Book 2 of the Tales Of The Harker Pack series
Genre: PNR (LGBT)
About The Wolf In Gucci Loafers:
Socialite Lindsey Vanessen wants someone to love who will love him back — an impossibility for a gay, half-human, half-werewolf. Too aggressive for humans, too gay for wolves, and needing to protect the pack from human discovery, Lindsey tries to content himself with life as a successful businessman. But when someone starts kidnapping members of wealthy families, Lindsey meets tough cop Seth Zakowsy — the hunky embodiment of everything Lindsey wants but can't have.Source: Info in the About The Wolf In Gucci Loafers was from the press kit from the publicity team.
Seth has never been attracted to flamboyant men. What would the guys in the department think of Lindsey? But intrigue turns to lust when he discovers Lindsey’s biting, snarling passion more than matches his dominant side. It might mean a chance at love for a cop in black leather and a wolf in Gucci loafers.
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Excerpt:
Lindsey came up beside him. “So, let me look at you.” The guy stood back and regarded Seth up and down like a piece of prime beef. “Yes, well, lovely, but maybe a little casual for the occasion. I know it sounds like an athletic event, but really it’s more”—he waved a hand gracefully—“shall we say, social?” He walked around Seth, making a “hmmm” sound.
“Look, I don’t care about the social niceties. I just want to catch a fucking kidnapper.”
“Ah yes, yes, but we catch more flies with—Armani.” He laughed. “Come with me.”
It wasn’t a trial to follow that butt.
Lindsey threw open a door, and Seth walked in behind him. “Holy shit.”
Lindsey turned and placed a hand on his chest. “Yes, dear, I know. Decadent. It may be the sign of a devolving civilization, but this is my closet.”
This was a room his family home could fit in twice. “Department stores don’t have this many clothes.”
“Dear, dear. We never shop at department stores.” He waved a hand down his body. “Obviously, nothing that fits me is going to fit you.” He touched the epaulet on the leather jacket. “Those shoulders. Oh my.” He sighed. “Anyway, I happen to have a blazer that was delivered to me in the wrong size. My guess is that it’s divine plan, because I think it will fit you perfectly.” He walked to the racks of clothing and pulled out a deep-green blazer.
Seth touched the material. Butter. Shit, not his style. He shook his head. “I don’t need this. Thanks, though.”
Lindsey hooked the jacket on a display hanger and crossed his arms. “Listen, dear. You asked me to take you to this event. I’m also very interested in you capturing these horrible people. After all, their victims are my friends. So do this my way.” He pointed at the coat. “That jacket cost half your annual salary. No one is going to smell cop when I get through with you. They’ll talk to you because you’re a friend of mine and that’s all they need to know. Understand?”
Seth frowned. “What do I say when they ask what I do?”
“You work for the government in a classified capacity. End of story. You could tell them, but—”
“I’d have to kill them.” He cracked half a grin. “That’s pretty ingenious.”
“But of course.”
“Look, I don’t care about the social niceties. I just want to catch a fucking kidnapper.”
“Ah yes, yes, but we catch more flies with—Armani.” He laughed. “Come with me.”
It wasn’t a trial to follow that butt.
Lindsey threw open a door, and Seth walked in behind him. “Holy shit.”
Lindsey turned and placed a hand on his chest. “Yes, dear, I know. Decadent. It may be the sign of a devolving civilization, but this is my closet.”
This was a room his family home could fit in twice. “Department stores don’t have this many clothes.”
“Dear, dear. We never shop at department stores.” He waved a hand down his body. “Obviously, nothing that fits me is going to fit you.” He touched the epaulet on the leather jacket. “Those shoulders. Oh my.” He sighed. “Anyway, I happen to have a blazer that was delivered to me in the wrong size. My guess is that it’s divine plan, because I think it will fit you perfectly.” He walked to the racks of clothing and pulled out a deep-green blazer.
Seth touched the material. Butter. Shit, not his style. He shook his head. “I don’t need this. Thanks, though.”
Lindsey hooked the jacket on a display hanger and crossed his arms. “Listen, dear. You asked me to take you to this event. I’m also very interested in you capturing these horrible people. After all, their victims are my friends. So do this my way.” He pointed at the coat. “That jacket cost half your annual salary. No one is going to smell cop when I get through with you. They’ll talk to you because you’re a friend of mine and that’s all they need to know. Understand?”
Seth frowned. “What do I say when they ask what I do?”
“You work for the government in a classified capacity. End of story. You could tell them, but—”
“I’d have to kill them.” He cracked half a grin. “That’s pretty ingenious.”
“But of course.”
Meet The Author
Tara Lain writes the Beautiful Boys of Romance in LGBT erotic romance novels that star her unique, charismatic heroes. Her first novel was published in January of 2011 and she’s now somewhere around book 23. Her bestselling novels have garnered awards for Best Series, Best Contemporary Romance, Best Ménage, Best LGBT Romance, Best Gay Characters, and Tara has been named Best Writer of the Year in the LRC Awards. In her other job, Tara owns an advertising and public relations firm. She often does workshops on both author promotion and writing craft. She lives with her soulmate husband and her soulmate dog in Laguna Beach, California, a pretty seaside town where she sets a lot of her books. Passionate about diversity, justice, and new experiences, Tara says on her tombstone it will say “Yes”!
Giveaway
I have read The Pack or The Panther. I enjoyed it and am looking forward to the Wolf in Gucci Loafers.
ReplyDeleteI do like heroes who are a mass of contradictions--much more intriguing that way!
ReplyDeleteTrix, vitajex(at)Aol(Dot)com
Thank you soooo much for hosting my wolf on your beautiful blog! Love being here. : )
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of Tara's PNRs, just her regular contemporary romances, but I love my PNR too.
ReplyDeletei have not read them yet but would like to and have them on my tbr list thank you
ReplyDelete