Little CJ interviews LB Gregg!

Gobsmacked, the first novella in LB Gregg's Men of Smithfield series comes out on February 6th, and LB Gregg is here on DIK Island! (At least part is. We'll get to that in a moment.)

First off, the blurb:

No more Mr. Nice Guy.

Mild mannered Mark Meehan’s good judgment flies out the window when he finds his lover banging another man. Things go from bad to worse as Mark’s crazy revenge scheme uncovers shocking secrets—sending him straight into the arms of hunky lawman and old friend, Tony Gervase, a man of limited patience and secrets of his own.

Little CJ: LB Gregg, thanks for making time in your busy day for me! Okay, you know what? I love your picture - you are so hot and masculine, but I'm mad we don't we get to see the rest of you. What's up with that? I want to see what you LOOK like!

LB Gregg: That’s not my picture, that’s a Man from Smithfield. You know…he’s a strapping New Englander. The yummiest kind of man. It’s obviously the height of summer, otherwise he’d be wearing long johns, a henley, a flannel, a polar fleece, a down jacket, a toboggan…. You’re supposed to imagine the face, little one. IMAGINE.

Little CJ: I'm supposed to imagine the face? What are you talking about? I meant the BOTTOM HALF of the picture. Who can think about the face when you have your pants unbuttoned and you cut the picture off there?  Dude, I have been hanging on a wall for over three decades! Come on, give it up.

LB Gregg: Stony silence.

Little CJ: Okay, let's get right to it. Is there any hot sex in Gobsmacked?

LB Gregg: No beating around the bush with you, is there? Of course there’s hot manloving m/m action. Plenty of tension and some smooching. And other things that you'll enjoy.

Little CJ: You mean, the cop in the story will wear only a cop hat and utility belt during the hot action and say sexy things in a walkie talkie voice?

LB Gregg: Er. No. ::scribbles that down for future book::

Little CJ: Hey, I read your excerpt. Twice. I love how Tony the cop gets all stern and sort of cop-like with the main character Mark. It's super hot. Why are cops so hot?

LB Gregg: Oh that's an excellent question! Cops represent justice, right from wrong, black and white. So when they break the rules, or in this case, make mistakes, it humanizes them. I find it makes for a good character dynamic. They are straight shooters, plus they always have handcuffs.

Little CJ: I am liking the sound of this. Okay, this cop has a secret. Why is that even hotter? Can you tell us what the secret is?

LB Gregg: No. Sorry, doll, you'll have to read the book. But his secret will take you by surpise. Which is the point of a SECRET.

Little CJ: *sniffs* Okay. *stops sniffing, smiles prettily.* I read the blurb. OMG, these two characters are really different from each other! How would they even, ever, like, agree on a restaurant?

LB Gregg: Mark and Tony have been friends for a long time, and like most friends, they enjoy many of the same things while being very different people. As Mark’s life spins out of control and he gets deeper into hot water, Tony becomes the voice of reason. He’s actually rather bossy but…he’s decided now is the time to make his move on Mark. He’s not entirely heroic here. I like him even more for it.

And hey, sweetie, everybody likes pizza. My guess is that Tony would order sausage, and Mark would get a meat lovers special.

Little CJ: My kinda man! Now, there has been tons of buzz about the first scene. Where did you get the idea for it?

LB Gregg: Tons of buzz. Hm. Sometimes I get divine inspiration, in this case quite literally. Most of the time, ideas come when I'm driving around town.

St. Joe’s, the church where the opening scene is set, is a combination of my own Parish and the Parish next door. Yes. Next door. I was sitting in church one Sunday, looking at the stained glass window, and I thought about how restrained everyone is while they’re in the sanctuary. I thought….what if someone lost their cool, picked up a bible, and beaned their spouse for some act of stupidity? It would be dramatic, unexpected, horrifying….and because I’m irreverent…it would be pretty damn funny.

Little CJ: What's your favorite part of the book?

LB Gregg: I think the ending, when Mark has to make the decision to help someone he doesn't like. Mark's had a few difficult days and for the first time we see him as proactive, instead of reactive. I also love the scene with Mark and his sister, Sarah, because Mark, unlike many m/m heroes, has a great relationship with his family.

And, naturally, all the lovin' with Tony, particularly in the bedroom. Tony is a great guy and he likes to lead.

Little CJ: Why Smithfield?

LB Gregg: I can’t think of any series that takes place in the Northeast, never mind gay romances. This place is filled with lonely, hunky available men! Men in plaid jackets! And work boots! And preppy boys who like to row on the lakes (and if that isn't what God intended Preppy Men to do, I don't know what is), and scholarly boys at our fine Ivy League Colleges, and all those wonderful men in Provincetown. Men who sail. Men who hike. Men who chop wood. And let us never forget, the men who ski. Basically? Write what you know. I know this place like the back of my hand.

Little CJ: Cool! Thanks for coming, LB Gregg!! You are the best.

Okay, the dirt: The ebook comes out February 6th from Aspen Press, and the print edition comes out from MLRP in March.

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