Hi everyone,
To celebrate Pride Month, I’m sharing
a look at the making of my gay romance, A Secret Match. It’s a sizzling
contemporary novel set in the world of professional wrestling.
Before we get started, let me answer the question lots of folks may be asking: “Why do you write gay romances? You’re not a man or gay.” I generally respond with: “Why shouldn’t I? I wrote a vampire romance, and I’ve never been a vampire.”
Before we get started, let me answer the question lots of folks may be asking: “Why do you write gay romances? You’re not a man or gay.” I generally respond with: “Why shouldn’t I? I wrote a vampire romance, and I’ve never been a vampire.”
But seriously, I’m a writer. And as
a writer, I write whatever story comes to me, whether it’s a contemporary,
historical, paranormal, or gay romance. My romances are about people who meet,
fall in love, and overcome obstacles to be with each other. This basic
philosophy applies whether the characters are same-sex, different sex, or space
alien and earth girl. Love is love and romance is romance. I’m not married to
one specific genre or heat level. I go where the story and the characters take
me.
So, how did A Secret Match come
about? I’ve been a wrestling fan my whole life and A Secret Match is a
follow-up (of sorts) to my other wrestling romance, A Deceptive Match. That
book is about a straight couple (Vin and Danni) and Everett (the main character
from A
Secret Match) is a secondary character (and Vin’s best friend).
I loved writing for Ev—he’s one of
those characters who tries to run away with the book. I always thought that “one
day” I’ll give him a story of his own, but I didn’t have a clue as to what the
plot would be. I put thoughts of him aside and wrote other books. Then, one
morning as I was driving to work, he popped into my head with a four-line book
summary. Within an hour, I had the whole story in my head and I started writing
the outline.
A big part of the story centers
around Everett dealing (or rather, not
dealing) with his sexuality and his (un)willingness to be open about who he
really is. Ev’s longtime partner, Josh, is tired of being kept in his “walk-in
closet” and wants Ev to come out (at least to his friends and family) but
Everett is concerned about losing his job. Will fans accept a gay wrestler? How
will his boss react? Part of him wants to keep everything just as it is because
that’s safe. But another part of him longs to stop hiding the truth.
When
I wrote the book, I focused on Ev’s anguish over being caught between two
worlds: his job (where his wrestling persona is a horny womanizer) and his
secret, private life with Josh. Everett can’t balance the two and worries about
what the other wrestlers would think of him coming out.
As
Ev tells Vin (while discussing the issue of gay athletes in sports): “… a gay
baseball player doesn’t have the type of physical contact with other guys like
we do. There are all sorts of issues—changing in the locker room, showering
together… Can you imagine some of the things that would go through the guys’
heads when I tried to put a hold on them? You think they wouldn’t freak out
when I touched them if they knew?”
Vin’s
reply: “You won’t know if you never take the risk.”
And risk Ev does. After he comes out
(twice, in fact—I loved writing those scenes!), he discovers a different side
to himself, embraces who he is, and even faces down intolerant fans and
homophobic coworkers.
I enjoyed showing Everett on his
journey of self-acceptance. He’s a bit of a cocky wise-ass, and he’s definitely
a fun character to write for. I was glad to give Ev and Josh the
happy-ever-after ending they rightly deserve (and some hot love scenes!),
because no matter what, love is love, and that’s all that matters.
I hope you’ll check it out. It’s a
fun blend of drama, humor, romance, and action that M/M romance fans will love.
Here’s the book summary & links.
Happy Reading!
Kelli
A SECRET MATCH
Everett Kinkade is a world-famous professional
wrestler and the sexy heartthrob of millions of adoring female fans. But Ev has
a secret he doesn’t dare share with anyone. He’s gay.
After years of being Ev’s secret lover, Josh is tired of hiding in the shadows and wants Ev to openly acknowledge their relationship. Coming out is the last thing Ev wants and fears it will ruin his career.
One night in a moment of truth, Everett outs himself on live TV. There’s no going back, and his announcement sparks a firestorm of problems—both personally and professionally. He’s forced to come to grips with who he really is while facing down a manipulative boss and a tag-team out to destroy him.
Torn between living a lie and losing the man he loves, Ev has risked everything… can he find a balance between his career and his heart?
After years of being Ev’s secret lover, Josh is tired of hiding in the shadows and wants Ev to openly acknowledge their relationship. Coming out is the last thing Ev wants and fears it will ruin his career.
One night in a moment of truth, Everett outs himself on live TV. There’s no going back, and his announcement sparks a firestorm of problems—both personally and professionally. He’s forced to come to grips with who he really is while facing down a manipulative boss and a tag-team out to destroy him.
Torn between living a lie and losing the man he loves, Ev has risked everything… can he find a balance between his career and his heart?
Order A SECRET MATCH here:
All
other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/md6rZb
Visit my NEW site: www.kelliwilkins.com to catch
up on ALL of my romances!
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