Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews: Something Like a Love Song by Becca Burton

Author Name: Becca Burton

Book Name: Something Like a Love Song

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26223074-something-like-a-love-song

Publisher: Interlude Press

Cover Artist: C.B. Messer

Release Date: November 19, 2015

Blurb:

One tragic night left Landon and Dylan’s dreams of happily ever after in apparent ruin. Forced to overcome physical and emotional trauma, the young lovers turn to a network of family and friends as they attempt to rebuild their lives. But can their one constant—their love—survive the changes both undergo on the road to recovery?

Pages or Words: 308 pages

Categories: Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance

Excerpt:

Landon's bed is in the center of the room, and Dylan’s heart begins to pound in his chest as he takes a step forward, hesitates. Landon looks so small, tucked into the middle of the bed, and everything about the scene is unnatural and wrong. His head is wrapped with thick bandages, for which Dylan is grateful—he isn't sure he could handle that. Just the thought of what's happening to Landon, to his fiancé, is enough to make his throat constrict, his chest tighten.

A ventilator tube parts Landon's lips, and his chest rises and falls in equal, rhythmic whirrs. IVs line his arms; the wires snake from under his hospital gown. His freckles stand out starkly against the unnatural pale hue of his skin, except where the deep purple of a bruise creeps from under the bandages and swells down to his left cheekbone. It seems impossible that only hours ago they were laughing in the park, holding hands and eating ice cream from the small corner stand; it’s like some distant memory, a fading dream. But the ache deep in Dylan’s chest, the way his stomach is knotting itself, the too-clean smell of the hospital burning his nose, Landon's face, battered and bruised—Dylan can't look away—all this is too real to be a dream, no matter how badly Dylan wants to just wake up, wants all this to go away and everything to be okay.

"You can touch him, if you want," Brittany says, her voice soft. "We need to make sure to reduce extra stimulation, to allow his brain time to recover, but it's okay to hold his hand."

Dylan looks up at her. Her smile is kind and understanding. Then he turns back to Landon and takes a small step forward. Landon's hand is right there, resting above the covers, and Dylan doesn't know why he's so nervous; he's held Landon's hand more times than he could begin to count. But, surrounded by machines and tubes, Landon has never looked so utterly fragile, as if he could shatter at the lightest touch.

"It's okay," Brittany says from behind him, and Dylan squeezes his eyes shut, tears pricking behind his eyelids. "You won't hurt him."

Landon's skin is cold; his hand is unnaturally still. Even in sleep Landon's hand would always find Dylan's, their fingers would curl together like a reflex.

Not now.

"I'm so sorry," Dylan whispers, holding on a little tighter. "I'm so..."

His voice catches, the words bottling up in his throat, unable to escape. Landon's chest rises, falls, in, out.

In, out.

"You're so hurt, and it's my fault," Dylan manages, his voice barely audible above the machines keeping Landon alive. "It's all my fault and I'm..." He exhales slowly. "I'm so sorry."

He swipes his thumb across Landon's knuckles, over the dips and grooves, and vaguely notes that Brittany has left them alone. He sinks down into the small chair beside the bed, not letting go of Landon's hand.

"You need to fight, okay? I need you here, with me, and I can't..." There's nothing left inside him except an empty, hollow feeling and the knowledge that Landon can't hear him. Landon’s engagement ring is in a dish on a table beside the bed, along with his watch, and Dylan fishes them out and tucks them into his pocket.

Buy the book:

IP Web Store: store.interludepress.com

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1MC9hTN

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/582321

Apple iBook Store: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/something-like-a-love-song/id1046777707?mt=11

Barnes & Noble: h ttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/something-like-a-love-song-becca-burton/1122752995

Q & A with author Becca Burton

Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Becca Burton, author of Something Like a Love Song. Hi Becca, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book.

Thank you for having me. Something Like a Love Song is my first novel, a story about two long time boyfriends who find themselves facing a life changing tragedy and have to find the courage and love for each other to fight through.

While this is my first novel, I have posted many stories online, and have been writing ever since I learned how. I currently work as a nurse in a Neonatal ICU, and medicine has been a big interest in my life, and always seems to find a way into my writing. I am passionate about diverse, LGBTQ fiction, and am very excited to contribute to this genre.

1) What is the biggest thing people think they know about your subject/genre that isn’t so?

I think a lot of people think that LGBTQ fiction consists only of coming out stories and angst, when in fact, there is a large variety in the genre with many different stories and subjects. While coming out stories are very valuable, the genre isn’t only limited to that, and I think it’s something that surprises people when they start to delve into the genre. I also think that people believe they need to be a member of the LGBTQ community in order to read the genre, when anyone can read and learn from it.

2) What are some references you used while writing this book?

While I was writing this story, I used a large variety of references. I did a lot of internet searching and read pretty much everything I could find on the subject. I did a lot of reading on a few traumatic brain injury support groups and information websites, both for factual information and personal accounts of recovery. I also used many references from my nursing textbooks and resources we had in our classes. I took a lot of inspiration for Landon from the patients I cared for with brain injuries.

3) Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I’ve been writing as long as I can remember knowing how to write! I wrote my first story with crayons in a self made book about a lady bug that had to move a farmer’s hat to save her bug friends. I graduated to writing stories about flowers and how they got their names (my favorite is the lilac, which at the time I thought was spelled lie-lock), to writing fanfiction about Nancy Drew and the old Doctor Who series (think Tom Baker era). I think writing has just been in my blood – I can’t imagine not doing it and I have no idea what my life would be like without it!

4) What do your plans for future projects include?

Without giving too much away, I am planning on exploring female LGBTQ characters in a young adult story. I have a plan that includes a slight fantasy element to it that I’m very excited about, but I don’t want to spoil to much yet!

5) Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I just want to say a serious thank you to everyone who has read my writing and supported me through these many years I’ve been posting my stories online. People seem to like them and the response I’ve gotten has completely blown me away. I couldn’t be more grateful for all of everyone that has helped me and encouraged me and listened to me rant about writing (or my lack thereof). It means so much to me.

Meet the author:

Becca Burton penned her first Nancy Drew fan fiction at the age of nine and has been an avid writer ever since. Currently working as a Neonatal Intensive Care nurse, Becca is a recent Oregon transplant from the Midwest. Becca has a weakness for coffee, the smell of old books, rainy days and her cat, Luna. Something Like a Love Song is her first novel.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: facebook.com/missbeccaburton;

Twitter: @missbeccaburton