Storm Warning by Thom Collins

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Hi. Thanks for having me here on the blog today. It’s a real pleasure to talk to you.

Welcome to It's Raining Books. What do you write in your genre? What draws you to it?

MM romance was a natural progression for me. For over twenty years I wrote gay erotica under a pen name. My stories appeared in gay magazines from the mid-1990s through to the demise of the industry in the mid-2000s. I also wrote for gay anthologies and wrote two erotic novels. So, I’ve always written gay fiction. Around seven or eight years ago, I felt I’d kind of exhausted myself in the erotic fiction genre. I took some time to regroup and did a creative writing diploma, and once I was ready to start writing again, gay romance was the natural outlet. It allowed me to continue writing gay characters but with the emphasis more on relationships and story development rather than just linking one sex scene to another.

Sex is still an important part of my books, but it’s not what the stories are about.

What research is required?

It depends on the story. All my books are contemporary, so I don’t have to do any intricate world building or disappear down a historical rabbit hole. The research for Storm Warning was probably the best. I took a two-week cruise to Iceland in June 2019 and it was simply the best holiday I’ve ever been on. I loved everything about it: the ship, the sea days, all the places we visited. That was all fresh in my mind when I started working on the book and I used the cruise and itinerary as a backdrop for the love story between Jamie and Dexter. I’m familiar with ships and the ocean and weather conditions so that was already there in my head and didn’t require a lot of research.

I also write a series of books called Jagged Shores, which are set in a small town on the North East coast of England. One of the main characters in the first book North Point is a volunteer in the Lifeboat service and gets involved in a lot of dangerous sea rescues, so I had to do some research into that beforehand. Luckily my brother used to be a lifeboat crew member so I could bombard him with questions when I needed to.

But I try not to get bogged down in research. It can sometimes lead to procrastination and so I like to do just as much as I need for the story.

Name one thing you learned from your hero?

Jamie is unlike anyone I’ve ever written. He’s a damaged soul. A widower who bears the emotional and physical scars of an incident five years earlier which took his husband. Jamie has become something of a recluse during those years until his sister in law talks him into joining her on the cruise for a working holiday. It’s a massive step forward for him and requires a great deal of bravery. So, I think the thing I have learned from Jamie is to face your fear head on and it won’t be as bad as you expect.

Are you a plotter or pantser?

I’m a serious plotter. Pantsing has never worked for me. Whenever I have started a story without knowing what’s going to happen, I have always gotten lost and abandoned it part way through. I like to develop a full chapter by chapter outline before I write a word of the book. Things can and often do change along the way, but it allows me to relax into the writing when I know where I’m going. Another advantage of plotting is it provides a much cleaner first draft, which requires less revision and makes for a smoother editing process.

It’s different for every writer, but plotting is what works for me.

Anything new coming up from you?

Yes, I do. Book 2 in the Jagged Shores series is complete will be released by Pride Publishing in 2021. The first book North Point came out this summer and was my best received book yet. I had an absolute blast writing the follow up and can’t wait to share it. And if Storm Warning goes down well with readers, I have plans to develop that into an ongoing series of novels set onboard the Atlantic Star cruise ship. Storm Warning is a standalone story, but the cruise setting gives me a lot of scope for future romances. I adore writing about love and adventure at sea and don’t think I’ll ever stop.

Jamie Johnson is going to sea for the first time in his life. Atlantic Star is one of the most luxurious cruise ships in the world, and a two-week trip to Iceland offers Jamie the perfect escape. His life has been on hold since the death of his husband and a working holiday onboard a state-of-the-art ship is an opportunity to explore the world he’s been hiding from. A chance to think about his future and decide what he wants to do with the rest of his life.

When Dexter Fordyce steps onboard, all he wants is a good time. The cruise is his first holiday in years, and workaholic Dexter is ready to relax and enjoy himself. If he can manage a little fun with someone like Jamie, even better. Jamie is flattered by the attention. Dexter is handsome, charming and great fun and proves impossible to resist.

Jamie’s hopes of romance died with his husband. The prospect of a shipboard passion is attractive, but Jamie’s heart has been broken for too long and he can’t take the risk of falling in love. With stormy weather ahead, the two men are set for a voyage they will never forget.

Read an Excerpt

Jamie gazed at Dexter again. From his expression, bemused embarrassment, he appeared to share Jamie’s feelings on the matter. Their eyes locked, lingering for a long moment. Jamie looked away before any of the others noticed the exchange.

Maybe Dexter wasn’t as young as he first thought. There were lines around his eyes, suggesting maturity, which put his age in his thirties rather than twenties. Was there just a hint of grey at the temples of his otherwise jet-black hair? Jamie couldn’t be sure in the soft light of the restaurant. There were seductive shades of hazel and amber in his eyes, very like his mother. He didn’t know what his father looked like, but Rachel was right about Dexter inheriting some of Davina’s striking looks.

Whatever his background, Dexter didn’t share Davina’s accent. There was no trace of America in his voice. The soft, southern delivery suggested an upbringing exclusive to England, most likely a posh area of London.

It was impossible for Jamie to keep his eyes off him. Dexter was the most attractive man he’d met in years.

About the Author:

Thom Collins is the author of Closer by Morning, North Point and the Anthem Trilogy. His love of page turning thrillers began at an early age when his mother caught him reading the latest Jackie Collins book and confiscated it, sparking a life-long love of raunchy novels.

He is currently working on a new series.

Thom has lived in the North East of England his whole life. He grew up in Northumberland and now lives in County Durham with his husband and two cats. He loves all kinds of genre fiction, especially bonk-busters, thrillers, romance and horror. He is also a cookery book addict with far too many titles cluttering his shelves. When not writing he can be found in the kitchen trying out new recipes. He’s a keen traveler but with a fear of flying that gets worse with age, but in 2013 he realized cruising is the best way to see the world.

Check out his website for news updates and a free ebook The Night

Links:

Website: http://www. thomcollins.co.uk
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/thomwolf
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ThomCollinsAuthor
Email: thomcollinsauthor@aol.com

Storm Warning Links

Amazon USA: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GNH34CQ
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08GNH34CQ
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08GNH34CQ
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08GNH34CQ

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