Title: Through My Own Lens
Series: Horizons, Book Five
Author: Mickie B. Ashling
Publisher: NineStar
Press
Release Date: November 6, 2017
Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 54700
Genre: Contemporary, intersex,
gay, family drama, romance, contemporary, addiction, coming of age, mental
illness
Synopsis
Luca
Dilorio begins his freshman year at Cornell, while his boyfriend, Chyna
Davidson, embarks on a modeling career based out of Manhattan, New York.
Although Luca is only a five-hour drive away, he may as well be on another
planet. Having watched Chyna’s back for years, Luca struggles with the
separation. His new roommate, Zeb Araneda, lends an ear, and a solid friendship
is born, but it doesn’t keep Luca from worrying.
Chyna
learns to navigate the ups and downs of the modeling industry on his own.
However, this proves difficult with Luca micromanaging everything, from Chyna’s
diet to his choice in a roommate. After rejecting several candidates, Chyna and
Luca decide on fellow model, Alex Boulet, who turns out to be perfect in more
ways than one.
An
unexpected appearance raises a multitude of concerns, and the entire
family—Lil, Grier, Clark, Jody, and Chip—descend upon the young couple to offer
their help. Will Luca and Chyna weather the storm or succumb to pressure from
multiple fronts?
Excerpt
Through
My Own Lens
Mickie
B. Ashling © 2017
All
Rights Reserved
Chapter
One
Lowering
his camera, Ian Carmichael squinted across the divide of harsh lights and
eviscerated me with one question. “Do you always look like this, or did someone
come in your mouth without your permission?”
Stunned
by the unexpected attack, I struggled to catch my breath while deliberating my
next move. I could throat punch the asshole—and get on the blacklist—or choose
the high road and keep my dignity intact.
“Don’t
just stand there, Red. Answer me when I ask you something.”
My
pulse sped up, and I was tempted to walk out the door, but that would only
prove I was an incompetent newbie. I decided to tough it out, but not until I
had my say.
“First
off, my name is Chyna Davidson, not Red, and you might consider rephrasing your
question.”
Instead
of backing down, Ian challenged. “What the hell kind of name is Chyna anyway?”
“Not
that it’s any of your business, but my mother was a fan of Wilson Phillips.”
“Who?”
“Forget
it.” Clueless motherfucker.
“Listen
up, kiddo. Once you’ve attained supermodel status, you can patent that
insouciance, but at the moment, you’re nothing but a wannabe. Start making love
to my camera or find another career.”
“Sorry?”
“Jesus
fucking Christ!” Ian roared. “Pretend I’m your boyfriend and you’re craving
some attention.”
Ooh,
that did it. Yelling had never worked with me, and unfiltered words projected
out of my mouth like vomit. “Dude, I have a boyfriend, and he gives me plenty
of attention. And just so we’re clear, I’m not your bitch, so get over
yourself. Fame doesn’t give you the right to be a first-class prick. You.
Chose. Me. Stop acting like a bully and tell me what to do without insulting
me.”
“Give
me a goddamn break.” Ian turned his back and reached for one of several bottles
of water he kept on the table piled high with camera lenses and filters. He
drained the liquid in a few gulps while I stared at his backside, which, I had
to admit, filled his faded jeans rather nicely. The world-renowned
photographer, who’d begged for a fresh face to represent Armani’s next spring
collection, knew damn well what he was getting when he requested my presence. I
never said I was experienced, and instead of treating me with compassion, he
was being an utter jerk.
Ian
hollered for Melinda, my agent, who appeared at his side within seconds. She
and her husband, Dan, owned Elite Plus, the Chicago-based agency who’d first
discovered me.
“What’s
the matter?” she asked, rubbing Ian’s back gently.
“Do
something with your boy or get me a replacement.”
Hell
no. I gnawed at my lower lip, terrified by the prospect of being fired on my
first day of work. Ian was the most famous photog in Manhattan, the best of the
best, or so I’d been told, and he wasn’t too hard on the eyes if one was into
silver foxes, which I wasn’t, but that was beside the point. Making a good
impression was the right move if I hoped to conquer the fashion world, but so
far, this meeting had been a disaster. Ian tossed the empty bottle into a
recycling bin and continued to glare at Melinda.
“I’m
aware you have a deadline,” she conceded softly, “but honestly, Ian, a little
sugar would go a long way to make this easier on our collective nerves. You
wouldn’t have asked for Chyna if you didn’t believe he had potential.”
“I
don’t have time to babysit,” he snapped.
“No
one’s asking you to feed and burp the guy,” Melinda argued. “Chyna’s a natural,
but he doesn’t know you or what you’re hoping to achieve. You’d get a lot more
cooperation if you encouraged rather than criticized.”
“My
God, woman! Do you have any idea how long it’s been since anyone asked me to
adjust my attitude? I’m not the one with a problem. It’s your brat who needs a
swift kick in the ass.”
I
could feel my anger—and humiliation—rising again. My hands curled into fists as
I got ready to punch Ian’s lights out.
“You’re
the one acting like a diva,” Melinda shot back. “Chyna’s a hard worker with a
lot of potential star power. It’s up to you to unleash the magic, not snuff it
out with your craptastic posturing.”
Ian’s
mouth gaped. I wondered how long it would take security to escort us out of the
studio, and I was surprised—honestly flabbergasted—when it didn’t happen.
“Okay,”
Ian agreed, backing down. “I’m willing to give this another chance, but I want
to see more sass and less pouting.”
Nodding,
Melinda acknowledged his request with a curt “Got it.”
She
covered the short distance between us in a few determined strides, and I braced
for whatever was coming next. Mel was fired up, willing to go the extra mile to
ensure my success, but the responsibility now rested squarely on my shoulders.
If I didn’t live up to her hype, I might as well pack it up.
My
family would probably be relieved if I walked away, but Mel’s reputation was on
the line, and I owed her big-time. When I walked into Elite Plus four years
ago, I’d been passing for female, due in part to being born intersex, but
mainly because of my mother’s irrational desire to have a daughter. Against all
medical advice, and despite my fully formed male genitalia, she’d been raising
me as a girl. Mel had seen through the charade and gently coaxed me into
becoming my authentic self. She was more than my agent—she was my mentor and
best friend. I couldn’t let her down after she’d put her reputation on the line
for me.
“What
an asshole,” I muttered. “He’s obviously too full of himself to mentor anyone.”
“I
won’t deny it,” Mel whispered, “but Ian’s very much in demand. You’re lucky to
be here.”
“Seriously?”
“Hon,
you’ll have to trust me on this.”
“Any
suggestions?”
“Put
some enthusiasm into your smiles,” she began, “and own your beauty.”
“Sorry,
but it’s difficult when he acts like I’m a waste of time.”
Mel
gave me the look she usually reserved for gossipy tidbits. “He’ll never admit
it, but I know Ian finds you attractive, and that’s a big plus right there.”
“How
can you tell?”
“His
nostrils flared when we walked in.”
Purchase Links
NineStar Press: https://ninestarpress.com/product/through-my-own-lens/
Amazon: http://hyperurl.co/eg1apf
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/754218
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/through-my-own-lens
Thank you for hosting my blog tour and giving me an
opportunity to talk about my latest release. Through My Own Lens is the
fifth book in the Horizons Series, but catching up isn’t necessary. This new
story can be enjoyed as a standalone.
As the blurb mentions, my main characters, Luca Dilorio and
Chyna Davidson, have just graduated high school and are headed east to start a
new chapter in their lives. Being away from home for the first time can be
exhilarating, but it also presents challenges neither one anticipates.
To celebrate the release of Through My Own Lens I
bring two gifts to make your holiday season a little brighter. One lucky winner
will receive a $25.00 NineStar Press Gift Certificate and the other will get to
choose one e-book (excluding Through My Own Lens) from the NineStar Press
catalog. Before I go, I’d like to thank Lori at IndiGo Marketing for her
excellent work in organizing this book tour.
Exclusive Excerpt - Clubbing
with the roommates.
Alex
had accompanied Zeb on a tour of the 911 Memorial while Luca and I dozed on and
off all afternoon. Eventually, the need to get out of the apartment to enjoy a
Saturday night together became imperative. My rash was practically gone, so
instead of taking another pill, I downed two cups of coffee to wake up. The
Benadryl would have to wait until we got home tonight.
Since
most of us were underage, Alex suggested Webster Hall in the East Village,
which was a club that catered to nineteen and over. I was surprised to see so many familiar faces at the club—models, photogs,
and their trusted minions—rushing over to greet me with enthusiastic hugs and
air kisses. On the surface, it couldn’t be friendlier, but I hadn’t been
around long enough to tell the phonies apart from the genuine admirers. They
sized up my outfit—skinny black jeans and a cropped top—and checked out my
companions to see if they were celebrities. Alex was well known, having graced
several magazine covers already, and greeted a few friends but didn’t leave our
side.
The
surreptitious glances and cliquey clusters reminded me of high school, only
this time the ante was much higher. Fame and fortune were at stake, and hanging
out with people who could make or break a career was an art form in and of itself. It took time to cultivate
connections, and more often than not, the ruthless pursuit of one’s career led
to conniving and left little room for true friendship. I was one of the newer
faces in town and hadn’t proven myself yet. Perhaps next year, or even in six
months, I’d be considered an A-lister, but for now, I was another aspiring
model trying to get ahead. It would take a lot more than the right name or
clothes to become a part of the “in” crowd.
Still,
I wasn’t invisible, and the sycophants
hanging around the scene hit on my companions and me with one goal in mind—sex.
Who you slept with was as important as who negotiated your contract. The
gushing and playful flirting could knock down self-imposed barriers, and it was
easy to fall into the bed-hopping trap.
If
nothing else, my past had taught me to be wary of overt signs of friendship. The
need to be accepted, carried over from my cheerleading days, had diminished
considerably, but like an old wound that ached when prodded, it didn’t take
much to revert back to the insecure
teenager.
An
aggressive blond with an impish grin flung himself at Luca and asked for a
dance. Pushing the interloper aside, I inserted myself in the vacant spot and snaked my arms around Luca’s waist
possessively.
“I
was going to tell him to back off,” Luca said, bemused.
“Saved
you the trouble.”
“Now
he’s giving us the stink eye while he chats up your friends.”
“Those
people aren’t my friends,” I pointed out. “They’re competition.”
“Isn’t
there one person in that group who might actually
give a shit about you?”
I
glanced over at the crowd of beautiful people and noticed that Ian Carmichael had
joined the group and was checking us out. The blond I’d pushed away was
whispering in Ian’s ear, probably reporting back on my territorial hold on Luca.
“None
that I can see,” I replied.
“That’s
sad,” Luca whispered close to my ear. My skin rippled with pleasure, and I moved
closer, loving the sensation of Luca’s hard body pressed against mine.
“Why
do this to yourself?” Luca continued. “There’s a spot ready and waiting for you
at Cornell. You’d be making lasting friendships while earning your degree.
Granted, it won’t be glamorous, and money will be going out instead of coming
in, but it’s real. How long do you think this make-believe world is going to
last?”
I
pressed my forehead against Luca’s. “Sometimes, I’m not sure why I’m here. When
you’re in town and I’m holding you close,
all the reasons that made sense at fifteen no longer apply. You’re not the only
one with jealousy issues. I think of all the hot guys on campus flirting with
you. Ugh. I can’t even.”
Luca
cupped my ass and squeezed possessively. “Why in the fuck are we doing this to
ourselves?”
“It’s
not you, Luca. I’m the one with this compulsive need to prove I’m as good, if
not better, than anyone out there.”
“You
can do that in college,” Luca said gently. “You don’t need to prove anything to
me. I’ve known how special you are for a long time.”
Someone
tugged at my elbow and I flinched. Ian was
looking at me hopefully. “Mind if I butt in?”
“I’m
busy….”
“Dude,”
Luca said. “He’s with me.”
“I
haven’t seen Chyna in a while,” Ian persisted. “It’s only a dance, buddy.”
Luca
frowned and looked at me for guidance.
“Ian’s
the photographer I worked with when I first got into town,” I explained.
“Right,”
Luca said, glaring at Ian. “I remember now.”
“One
dance?” Ian pleaded.
“I’ll
be back as soon as the song ends,” Luca said.
“Who
was that?” Ian asked when Luca stormed off. He leaned in so we could hear each
other over the pounding beat.
“My
boyfriend.”
“He’s
deliciously territorial,” Ian said.
“I
know.”
“Does
he model?”
“No.
He’s studying to be an architect.”
“I
could make him a superstar if he’d agree to a photo shoot,” Ian said. “Talk to
him.”
“Is
that why you asked me to dance? To get to Luca?”
“Among
other things,” Ian said. “How’ve you been?”
“Fine.”
“I
heard you had a reaction to waxing.”
“Why
is my allergy big news?”
“Your name
is starting to crop up more and more,” Ian explained.
Meet the Author
Mickie B. Ashling is the pseudonym of a
multifaceted woman who is a product of her upbringing in multiple cultures,
having lived in Japan, the Philippines, Spain, and the Middle East. Fluent in
three languages, she’s a citizen of the world and an interesting mixture of East
and West. A little bit of this and a lot of that have brought a unique touch to
her literary voice she could never learn from textbooks.
By the time Mickie discovered her talent
for writing, real life got in the way, and the business of raising four sons
took priority. With the advent of e-publishing—and the inevitable emptying
nest—dreams of becoming a published writer were resurrected and she’s never
looked back.
She stumbled into the world of men who
love men in 2002 and continues to draw inspiration from their ongoing struggle
to find equality and happiness in this oftentimes skewed and intolerant world.
Her award-winning novels have been called “gut wrenching, daring, and thought
provoking.” She admits to being an angst queen and making her men work damn
hard for their happy endings.
Author Links
Website: http://www.mickieashling.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mickie.ashling
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MickieAshling
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Giveaway
One lucky winner will receive a $20.00
NineStar Press Gift Certificate, as well as one e-book from the NSP library
(excluding Through My Own Lens).
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