Unquietly Me

 

Unquietly Me welcomes author Xen Sanders for the Shatterproof blog tour!

 

Intro

Hey there. I’m Xen Sanders, and thank you for joining me for the release of Shatterproof! (I will have you know that exclamation point was under duress. Grr. I am grrr and dour and deadpan man-thing. Really.)

I’m immensely grateful that some of my favorite blogs have opened their doors and given me an opportunity to talk about a book that means so much to me, and that comes from so much personal experience. Stick around to chat, ask questions, and join in the discussion for a chance to win a $30 Riptide gift card and a $25 Amazon or B&N gift card! (@*$%!#ing exclamation points…)

 

 

About Shatterproof

Saint’s afraid to die. Grey can’t stand to live.

Grey Jean-Marcelin wants to die. He thought painting his passion—vivid portrayals of Haitian life and vodou faith—would be enough to anchor him to this world. But it isn’t. And when the mysterious man known only as Saint saves Grey from a suicide attempt, it’s more curse than blessing—until Grey discovers that Saint isn’t just an EMT. He’s a banished fae, and can only survive by draining the lives of those he loves.

All Saint needed was a simple bargain: one life willingly given for another. But as Saint’s feelings for Grey grow deeper, centuries of guilt leave him desperate to save a man who doesn’t want salvation, even if Grey’s life means Saint’s death.

When Grey’s depression consumes him, only he can decide if living is worth the struggle. Yet his choice may come too late to save his life . . . or Saint’s soul. And whatever choice he makes, it may shatter them both.

Purchase at Riptide: http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/shatterproof

 

About Xen Sanders

Xen Sanders is a New Orleans-born Southern boy without the Southern accent, currently residing somewhere in the metropolitan wilds of the American Midwest. He spends his days as a suit-and-tie corporate consultant and business writer, and his nights writing genre-bending science fiction and fantasy tinged with a touch of horror and flavored by the influences of his multiethnic, multicultural, multilingual background—when he’s not being tackled by two hyperactive cats. He wavers between calling himself bisexual and calling himself queer, but no matter what word he uses, he’s a staunch advocate of LGBTQIA representation and visibility in genre fiction.

He also writes contemporary romance and erotica as Cole McCade. And while he spends more time than is healthy hiding in his writing cave instead of hanging around social media, you can generally find him in these usual haunts:

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: @thisblackmagic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xen.cole
• Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/ColeMcCadeBooks
• Website & Blog: http://www.blackmagicblues.com

He’s recently launched the Speak Project, an online open-access platform where anyone can anonymously or openly share or read stories of abuse—a way for survivors to overcome the silencing tactics of abusers to speak out against what was done to them, and let other survivors know they’re not alone.

• http://blackmagicblues.com/speak/

He also runs an advice column called Dammit, Cole, where he occasionally answers questions about everything from romance and dating to the culture of hypermasculinity, from the perspective of a male romance author:

• http://www.blackmagicblues.com/category/dammit-cole/

Looking for more? You can get early access to cover reveals, blurbs, contests, and other exclusives by joining the McCade’s Marauders street team at:

• http://www.facebook.com/groups/mccadesmarauders/

 

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Shatterproof, one lucky winner will receive $30 Riptide Credit and a $25 gift card to B&N or Amazon. Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on September 10, 2016. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

 

Original Content

If you and your muse were married, what would a marriage counselor say about your relationship?

The words “mind-boggling cyclone of self-destruction and sheer fuckery come to mind.” I can rather imagine the counselor sitting in the chair just looking at both of us in exasperation, a little something like…

Please. Mr. Sanders. [Character]. For counseling to be at all effective, you must communicate. You could at least look at each oth—

*sigh* I’m serious. Xen. You have to look at him. Make eye contact. How can your partner feel any sense of intimacy or think you want to connect with them at all if you won’t—

God.

Damn.

It.

So you’re not even going to look at me?

Are you even listening to me?

Are you even awa—

I don’t know what language that was in, but I understand tone quite well, young man. Watch your mouth. You’re paying me to help you. (to [Character]) Yes. I’m beginning to understand exactly what you put up with.

I’m aware that wasn’t a professional comment, Mr. Sanders. But it’s hard to be professional when you’re doing your best imitation of a department store mannequin. You do realize your intimacy issues and commitment issues are the entire reason [Character] is the way he is—yes, I know it’s because you wrote him. But he’s not words on a page. He’s sitting right here next to you, hurting, wanting to be loved, carrying all your damage on his shoulders, and you’re sitting there multiplying it exponentially. You crafted his damage. Which means in order to help him, you have to look at the source.

Or you could flip me off. That’s also an option.

Okay. Now you’re both doing it.

*sigh* Well. I suppose that’s one form of couples’ solidarity. At least you’re finally doing something together. I’d count that as progre—MR. SANDERS WOULD YOU PUT YOUR PHONE AWAY.

Fine. Fine. Either you’ll work things out or you’ll kill each other, but either way I wash my hands of this entire sordid affair. Get out. I said GET OUT. Oh dear god, you’re not going to—not on my Italian leather sofa—OUT.

Heathens.

---