#Musicmonday #Bandslash blogtour– SJ Frost Conquest Series

 

 

 

Thanks to Melanie Tushmore  for putting together this lovely tour for authors with books about rockstars in love! I’m happy to have fab author SJ Frost making a stop at Erotica With Snark!  Please give her your undivided attention!

 Author Questions – SJ Frost

Five about the author

 

1. Who are you, and where do you come from?

 

Hello! I’m S.J. Frost, an author of gay erotic romance stories. I’m the author of the rock star books in the Conquest series, which currently has seven books in it, all published at MLR Press. At the moment, I’m from a frozen tundra, also known at Northwest Ohio. I’ve lived in Ohio my whole life, and you’d really think I’d be used to these bitter cold winters by now, but nope. Whenever those temps get down to single or negative digits, all I want to do is hibernate with a fire, a blanket, my computer, and a book.

 

I’m excited to be here! Thanks so much for having me, and thanks to Melanie for organizing this event for authors and readers of rocker love!

 

 

2. What inspires you?

 

Art, music, books, the natural world. I find inspiration in a lot of places. Sometimes all it takes is seeing an image, and I start getting story ideas.

 

 

3. Describe your writing style in three words:

 

Sweet, steamy, and character-driven.

 

 

4. What style of music do you like, and who are your favourite bands?

 

 

I’m a fan of all types of music. Rock and classical are my top two, but I can appreciate and enjoy just about anything. Just focusing on rock, my all-time favorite band is Queen. For me, Freddie Mercury will always be the most gifted vocalist I’ve ever listened to. I’m also a fan of Maroon 5, Matchbox Twenty, including Rob Thomas’s solo work, Train, Imagine Dragons, and so many other spanning from classic rock to what’s playing on the Top 40 today. What I listen to really just depends on what mood I’m in and what artist can fit it best at the time.

 

 

5. Been to any good gigs recently?

 

I’m going to two concerts in February; Maroon 5 and Matchbox Twenty. I’m very excited to see both bands. But since at the time I’m answering these questions, I haven’t gone yet, I can’t really say what I liked or not, but I’m sure both bands will put on great shows.

 

Rob Thomas is such a gifted artist, and I’ve been a fan of his and Matchbox Twenty for years, but this will be my first time seeing him and the guys live. I’ve got really good seats, just eight rows off the stage, so I’m already anticipating that it’ll be a fantastic concert. I’m not real wild about the opening act, Phillip Phillips, but maybe he can turn me into a fan after I’ve seen him live.

 

For Maroon 5, all I’ve got to say is…Adam Levine. So long as he takes his shirt off at some point during the concert, it’ll be one of the best shows I’ve ever been to 😉 But seriously, I do enjoy Maroon 5’s music, so I’m happy to get the chance to see them live. And for them, I like their opening act, Neon Trees. I’m thinking it’s going to be an all-around awesome concert.

Five about the book

 

Title(s): Currently, there are seven books in the series; Conquest, No Fear, Keys to Love, Finding a Dream, Black Heart Down, Beautiful Harmony, Heartstrings, and Feeling the Rhythm.

 

Series: Conquest series

 

 

1. Who is the story about?

 

The series begins with the book, CONQUEST, and focuses on Jesse Alexander, the lead singer of the up and coming rock band, Conquest, and Evan Arden, a superstar singer who stepped out of the spotlight years before. The sequel, NO FEAR, also continues with their stories, and from there, the other books feature different characters as the leads, and different bands, too.

 

If you’re new to the series, I very much recommend starting at the beginning, as the series follows a timeline with the guys and the books build off themselves.

 

 

2. What inspired the idea for this story? Any real bands, music, or places from your experience?

 

The funny thing is, Jesse himself was the inspiration. I’ve always loved music and grew up around it, but I never thought of writing a music-themed story until Jesse came to me. I was writing fantasy at the time (unpublished), and still in college. I really hadn’t even thought much about getting published, I was just trying to pass my classes!

 

In my last creative writing class, the professor announced a new dialogue assignment, but it couldn’t be from any of the pieces we were already working on for the class. I left the class annoyed, because I didn’t know what to write about, and as I was walking across campus, Jesse burst to the front of my mind. I’ll never forget how strong and clear he was.

Next thing I knew, I was writing his story, and for the assignment, I submitted what would become the first chapter of CONQUEST. I got an A, too J

 

 

3. What is it about musicians that make them irresistible?

 

In the Conquest series, there are A LOT of musicians, since three different bands make appearances in it and have books about them. Conquest is the main band, but there’s also Black Heart Down, and my Scottish, kilt-wearing rockers, Lions Rampant, who are featured in HEARTSTRINGS. Each of the guys in all the bands have different personalities, looks, and attributes, but I’ll pick just one of the guys to focus on for this question; Jesse Alexander.

 

 

At the start of CONQUEST, Jesse’s twenty-years old, so he’s young, and full of cocky swagger and confidence. For me personally, I love a confident man. I think there’s nothing sexier. And yes, he’s got an ego, because he knows he got talent, he knows he’s gorgeous, and he’s not afraid to flaunt it. That goes right back to the confidence factor, because really, what’s sexier than a rock star strutting across the stage like he owns the world? That’s how I like my rockers J

 

But for all his ego, Jesse also has a gentle and caring heart. He wants to see everyone around him happy and there’s nothing he won’t do for those he cares about. When it comes to Evan, he’s not afraid to show his love for him, and he loves him with all that he is. I think having that confidence in all things, especially in love, is what makes him irresistible.

 

 

4. As a story comes in three parts, and this is a music story, pick me three music videos that reflect how you feel the story goes.

 

Hmm, this is actually pretty tough! Since there are so many books in the Conquest series, I think I’ll dedicate a video to a few different couples.

 

Jesse and Evan actually have their own song that’s mentioned in the books, Pachelbel’s Canon in D, but for here, I’ll go with Queen’s “Love of my Life”. This song fits beautiful with Jesse’s emotions during a certain part of the book, and also, Freddie Mercury’s voice is so pure and beautiful, his style in playing the piano very classical, all if it makes me think of Jesse:

 

For Kyler Christenson and Robbie Russo from BLACK HEART DOWN, Book 5 in the Conquest series, I’ve got to go with Kelly Clarkson’s “My Life Would Suck Without You”, because the lyrics pretty much sum up their relationship:

 

And last, for Las Lamont and Quinn Patrick from HEARTSTRINGS, Book 6 in the Conquest series, I’ll go with La Califfa, originally composed by Ennio Morricone and played here by David Garrett. This song’s mentioned in the book with violinist, Las, playing it for rocker boy, Quinn. And also, David Garrett, is my favorite violinist, was also the inspiration looks and talent wise for Las:

 

 

5. If your book was a music video, how would it go? Talk me through it.

 

In the first book, I do talk about Conquest making their first video, but if a video was going to be based on the full book, I could see it getting banned from TV and having adult warnings on YouTube 😉

 

Overall, it would be very romantic, because that’s the kind of couple that Jesse and Evan are, but they’re also practically incapable of keeping their hands off each other. I’m sure with every sweet and loving scene that would get filmed, it’d lead to touching, kissing, and clothes dropping to the floor.

 

 

Thanks for answering!

 

 

Author links

Website: http://www.sjfrost.com/

Blog: http://sj-frost.blogspot.com/

Yahoo Group: The Sweet Spot – http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheSweetSpotMM/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sj.frost.3

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SJ_Frost

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3009736.S_J_Frost

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/S.J.-Frost/e/B003WZ0LPE

 

Book link: http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=CONQUEST

 

Book title: Conquest

Series: Conquest series

 

Blurb

 

As the vocally gifted lead singer of his band, Conquest, Jesse Alexander refuses to let anything hold him back from achieving his dream of becoming one of the greatest performers to ever hit a stage.  Evan Arden was thought of as a musical genius when at the height of his career, he vanished from the spotlight.  Together, their relationship is just as intense as their music careers, but with the pressures of success and fame pushing down on them, Jesse must decide what’s more important to him, his life of music, or his life with Evan.

 

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

**In this scene from Chapter six, main character, Jesse Alexander, is visiting the mansion of superstar singer, Evan Arden for the first time.  Evan is giving him a tour and they’ve just entered the music room.**

 

Jesse walked further into the room, turning in a circle to fully take it in. Electric guitars of numerous styles and brands hung on one wall with bass guitars and acoustics. Of the electric, Jesse guessed there had to be over thirty. Against one wall, dark walnut shelves displayed several violins and violas with two cellos and a full-sized harp sitting close by. On the other side of the room, shelves and wooden tables held still more instruments, though many of these were exotic, some of which Jesse didn’t even know existed until that moment.  He moved across the room to them, his fingers all but twitching to touch.

 

Evan could see on Jesse’s face how he battled for control to not finger the instruments. “Go ahead. You can touch them. From the moment it’s created, an instrument’s only wish is to be held by a loving and skilled hand.”

 

Jesse gently laid his fingers on a zither near its strings and caressed the wood. “It’s true, isn’t it? Sometimes I think they’re almost living, the way each one has a unique voice. Kenny thinks I’m nuts. He says, a Strat is a Strat. But to me, every instrument has a subtle pitch difference that makes it its own, and when it gets held in the hands of someone who respects and understands it, the sound of that instrument becomes as individual as the soul of the person playing it.” He looked over his shoulder at Evan and smiled. “You probably think I’m mental, too, for thinking like that, don’t you?”

 

“No, not at all,” Evan said softly, in awe at the serene beauty that came over Jesse’s face when he was surrounded by instruments.

 

Jesse stopped before the violins, admiring each one.  “They’re so beautiful.  I’ve always wanted to learn to play, but I haven’t had the chance.”

 

Evan headed over to him.  “I could teach you.  I’ve seen all the instruments you can play.  Picking up one more would be easy for you.”

 

Jesse turned a hopeful smile on him.  “You would do that?”

 

“I would love to.”

 

Evan pulled down a violin case from the top shelf and set it on one of the lower ones.  He opened it, revealing a violin inside with a rich brownish-gold finish.  Though it lay silent, as the light in the room washed over it, Jesse swore he could hear the echoes of the countless songs the instrument had known, and all the emotions its voice had evoked from its listeners, joy, sadness, hope, seemed to have become as much a part of it as its neck, body, or stain.

 

Evan lifted the instrument from its case with the tenderness of a father lifting his child from its crib.  He set it against his left shoulder to check the tuning, placing a soft white cloth where his chin would go since the model didn’t have a chinrest, and when the final adjustments were made, he said, “It’s been a while since I’ve played, so don’t laugh at me if I screw up.”

 

Jesse shook his head and sat down on the stool for the harp.  “Never.”

 

Evan raised the bow and closed his eyes, calling the song he wanted to play to his mind.  The music flowed through his mental ear, telling him the notes he needed.  He settled the bow on the strings and played the first gentle notes of Pachelbel’s Canon in D major.

 

Jesse’s lips parted, the pure, divine sound of the violin stealing his breath to add to its essence.  Like a heavenly being residing in the mortal realm, Evan wove the notes together with expert fingers and created a blanket of music that wrapped around them both.  Though the piece normally called for more violins, Evan’s rendition and skill made it so the other instruments weren’t missed.  Enraptured, Jesse stared at him, at his lips that looked so soft, at his fingers of such deft skill, and in that moment, the newly awoken part of himself became fully alert, and he knew then it was his very soul that Evan had roused.  It responded to Evan, called to him, and there’d be no silence within himself until Evan was his.

 

© SJ Frost

 

 

 

NEXT WEEK!
Z. Allora Allora hosts Melanie Tushmore

Check out the #bandslash blog tour dates here: http://cocktalesandhotsauce.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/bandslash-blog-tour-dates-for.html