Guest Blogger Brynn Stein: Through the Years

Please welcome fellow Dreamspinner author Brynn Stein today! Brynn is here talking about her brand new release, Through the Years. Congrats on the release, Brynn! -Shira

Thanks Shira, for hosting me today. This is the fourth stop on blog tour for Through the Years.

On my last stop, I talked about Edward. I’d like to talk about my other main character, Gene.

The story is told in first person, through Gene’s eyes. He gets a full scholarship to an Art Institute in 1967 and piles everything he owes in a beat up Chevy and heads to Maryland. He meets Edward on his first day they and they become fast friends. We follow them through their college years and are just as befuddled as Gene when Edward leaves unexpectedly, not only the area, but the entire state. Gene goes through his senior year basically on autopilot, not understanding why Edward will correspond with their mutual friend, Robbie, but not with him.

When Edward comes back to Maryland years later, he has a wife and little girl in tow. Gene knows he’s back because he sees him from time to time, but they have little else in the way of contact until tragedy strikes and Edward finally reaches out to Gene again.

Immediately Gene is back in his life. He loves Edward’s wife and becomes “Uncle Gene” to their little girl and another one when she comes along.

Gene has always had little to no sex drive. He even thinks he might be completely asexual until he meets Edward. But even with him, it’s not an all-consuming desire. He’s content to just be friends and be included in his life.

Gene is there through all the celebrations and hardships that comes along with life. He unconsciously waits for Edward for years, but finally finds another man who peaks his sexual interest. Nick is good to Gene and more importantly, doesn’t think a relationship with him is wrong, like Edward did.

Lots of other things happen, but I’ll leave it vague for now.

Have you ever been attracted to someone you can’t have? Is there a friend who has stuck by you through the years, no matter what life has thrown at you? Comment below to be entered into the raffle.

Here’s how the raffle works:

I’ve listed the tour stops below and have given either the link to the blog in general or to my post specifically. Feel free to stop by as many as you want. For each stop that you comment on, you will receive one entry to the giveaway. I’ll check all the stops numerous times throughout the tour and will draw five winners on Thanksgiving Day, so even if you come in late to the tour, you can go back through the list and comment on past stops.

I’m giving away five prizes. 1) a signed paperback copy of Through the Years; 2 and 3) electronic copies of Through the Years, 4) your choice of either a signed paperback copy or an audiobook of Living Again (the audiobook won’t be available until December), and 5) an electronic copy of Haunted.

Blog Tour Stops for Through the Years

Thanks again Shira, for letting me stop by today.

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5539

Blurb for Through the Years

Edward and Gene were instantly drawn to each other when they met at college in Maryland. Fast friends, they developed a “closer than brothers” relationship. But then Edward began to feel more for Gene. In 1967, those kind of feelings would not be tolerated. Not even by Edward himself.

Gene always thought he was asexual. He had never been attracted to anyone… until he met Edward. He dreamed of Edward as more than a friend throughout college, but he knew Edward would not welcome that kind of attention. So Gene wasn’t surprised when Edward reacted badly to a drunken kiss just before Edward’s graduation. He was surprised when Edward moved to Florida and had little to do with him for years afterward.

When fate finally brings them back together, Edward is married and has a little girl. Gene gladly accepts the role of “Uncle Gene,” happy to have Edward in his life in any capacity. Together, they face all the trials and tribulations life throws at them, including the death of Edward’s wife, and as each grows and matures, their life views change. The relationship they’ve secretly wanted all along is closer than ever, and if Edward can break free from his homophobic upbringing and admit his feelings for Gene, there might still be a chance for them to share their lives in the way they both desire.

A Bittersweet Dreams title: It’s an unfortunate truth: love doesn’t always conquer all. Regardless of its strength, sometimes fate intervenes, tragedy strikes, or forces conspire against it. These stories of romance do not offer a traditional happy ending, but the strong and enduring love will still touch your heart and maybe move you to tears.

Brynn Stein has always loved to write. Fan fiction, original fiction, whatever. While Brynn wrote in numerous genres – everything from mystery, to contemporary, to supernatural – she had always tended toward strong male characters. And then she discovered ‘slash’, male/male romance, and all those strong male characters were finally allowed to express their love for one another. It seems that there are always at least two characters clamoring to tell Brynn their story.

Brynn lives in Virginia with one of her two two-legged children, and two four-legged ones. Her supportive family encourages her writing and provides a sounding board for fledgling stories. When she isn’t writing, Brynn teaches children with special needs. In free time, when such a thing exists, she reads anything she can get her hands on, and haunts bookstores. She draws and paints, and enjoys the outdoors—especially if she can get to the beach—and is always thinking about her next story.

Please feel free to contact Brynn at any of the following:

https://twitter.com/BrynnStein

http://brynnstein2.wordpress.com

https://www.facebook.com/

or

brynnstein2@gmail.com