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I have been asked this question a few times regarding The Bachmann Family Secret, so I decided to tackle it here! The book contains an insta-love romance between Jaret and a guy he meets in Fremont, which has prompted some reviewers to say it is unrealistic while others seem okay with the notion.

I think the root of the differences in opinion come from the fact not everyone sees the world the same way. I realize that sounds simplistic and dodgy, but it’s how I feel. I know people who fall in insta-love! And I know people who think it’s a crock. So it boils down to a matter of preference.

Let me offer the background on why I had Jaret fall in insta-love. He’s a high school senior, and he’s never been out before these moments in the novel. His hormones are raging, he’s lustful, and he’s longing for a different world from his closeted existence. He meets a hot guy – and BOOM! Lust. Longing. Passion. As an 18 year old, Jaret feels that as love. It’s a young adult novel, so I didn’t feel the need to include some long existential rumination of the meaning and truth of love. Jaret felt the emotion strongly and expressed love!

Seriously, I think a lot of young people feel that way. Remember, the novel takes place over about a week. Nowhere does it imply this first romance became one for all eternity – we have no way of knowing such a thing. Jaret expresses a loud and strong emotion and identifies it as love.

I suppose one aspect of my writing his insta-love is somewhat personal. I “fell in insta-love” several times right after I came out. LOL! My adult self looks back and knows – that wasn’t deep passionate love. I tell my younger self to get a grip. Of course those romances couldn’t last. But tell that to my early-twenty something self. I would not have listened.

Anyway, back to the question. Yeah, I stand by Jaret’s insta-love for the reasons described. I understand why it rubs some people the wrong way, but I hold to its genuine feeling for Jaret in his moment.

Hi, Everyone!

With all the publicity and focus on the release of The Bachmann Family Secret – which you can buy here: BUY NOW! – I haven’t updated folks on what’s going on with my writing of late. So here goes!

I am super excited to announce that NineStar Press and I signed a contract to publish The Vampire’s Witch, the third book in my vampire series, THE REALM OF THE VAMPIRE COUNCIL. That will bring us up to date on reprints and the series: Books I and II are reprinted by NineStar and available, as is Book IV which they originally published. Also, note that The Bachmann Family Secret, just published last month, is a companion novel to the series. WTF does that mean?! Well, Jaret – the main character in it, appears as a main character in The Vampire’s Witch! Anyway, it means a lot that NineStar will have everything available to you!!

And – drum roll – I am currently writing Book V: The Vampire’s War!! All my time and attention for writing are focused on this one right now!!! I won’t tell you more right now . . . so stay tuned!

Things are heating up, folks! The Bachmann Family Secret comes your way in a couple weeks. Today we get the cover reveal!! As always, NineStar Press hits it out of the park every time!!

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been introducing you to the primary characters in The Bachmann Family Secret as we gear up for its release later this July. First was our main character, Jaret, followed by his family, and then a local guy Jaret meets in Fremont, Steve. Today, it’s time for you to meet Darth.

If Jaret controlled this blog, he would have introduced Darth first and told you she is the most important character. You see, Darth is Jaret’s very best friend, one he’s had since a very young age. She follows him everywhere – they are inseparable. Yep, Darth is Jaret’s loyal dog.

And as Jaret confronts the myriad of problems facing him when he travels to his Gramps’s funeral, Darth stands by his side the entire way, ready to defend, console, and otherwise be there for her companion. Fun Darth fact: the copyeditor made a note to me in the margin at one point while going over my novel: “Darth is my favorite character.” I’m quite fond of her, too.

Continuing on our journey of meeting the characters as we move toward a July release of The Bachmann Family Secret, today I am introducing Steve! Our main character, Jaret, and his family, travel to his hometown for his Gramps’s funeral. Amid the grief of this loss, Jaret must contend with an angry ghost and struggle to come to terms with his sexuality.

And speaking of his sexuality, on an evening stroll through Fremont he runs into a local teen who insists on chatting with him – Steve. Jaret has no idea how to handle the hot football player in front of him! Run for the hills because he’s shy?! Get to know the hottie because Steve sends his hormones into overdrive?! And why does this guy act so sweetly toward Jaret and Darth? Is Jaret’s attraction reciprocated, or is Steve just a nice guy?

Jaret figures he might as well add the flutterings of a crush to the mix of issues he’s already dealing with in THE BACHMANN FAMILY SECRET!

In the continued build up to this summer’s release of THE BACHMANN FAMILY SECRET – today I introduce Jaret’s family. Last week, we met Jaret, the high school senior who is struggling to come out and learn about his hidden powers. Let’s meet his family!

Jenn: Jaret’s younger sister and best friend in the world. They confide everything to each other, support and love each other. More than anyone else, Jaret wants to protect Jenn as the ghost prepares to attack the family.

Lincoln: Jaret’s older brother, who Jaret looks up to and relies on for his humor and steady presence.

Mom and Dad: A pretty typical mom and dad, who love their children, worry about them constantly, but sometimes misfire on how to support them and believe in them because of the pressures swirling around. They have long worried about Jaret because of his claim to see ghosts.

Jaret’s aunt, uncle, and cousins also make an appearance! The Bachmann’s represent a loving, close family – and they will need all the nurture and care for one another they can muster to fight the legacy haunting their family.

The Bachmann Family Secret comes your way later this summer – a gay coming of age ghost story! To gear up for the release of this young adult novel, I want to introduce some of the characters over the next few weeks!

Today, introducing Jaret: A high school senior who serves as the main character. While struggling with the death of his beloved grandfather, he fights to deal with his power to see ghosts. And he has no idea what to do when the ghost of his grandfather visits him with a warning about the future.

To spice up his life even more, Jaret knows he needs to come out of the closet. A shy, sensitive young man who loves his family and dog dearly, Jaret must navigate the danger ahead while realizing his true self and discovering his hidden powers.

As we head into the summer, I wanted to remind everyone about sharing some time with gay vampires so they don’t get agitated and come after you. While we practice social distancing, we can still enjoy the warmer weather with a good book! Thank you for checking them out! Click on the title for the buy link!

The Vampire’s Angel

In The Vampire’s Angel, as Paris devolves into chaos amid the French Revolution, three lives intertwine that will either throw each person into complete chaos or save their very soul from the turmoil swirling around and within them.  Xavier, a devout priest, struggles to hold onto his trust in humanity only to find his own faith threatened with the longing he finds for a mysterious American visitor. Thomas fights against the Catholic Church to win Xavier’s heart, but hiding his undead nature will threaten the love he longs to find with this abbe.  Xavier’s sister, Catherine, works with Thomas to bring them together while protecting the family fortune but falls prey herself to evil forces. The death, peril, and catastrophes of a revolution collide with a world of magic, vampires, and personal demons as Xavier, Thomas, and Catherine fight to find peace and love amidst the destruction.

The Vampire’s Quest

The Vampire’s Quest brings back the beloved gay vampires, Xavier and Thomas, in the anticipated sequel to The Vampire’s Angel. In 1822, the Archangel St. Michel orders Xavier to go on a quest to America, a quest that violates the Vampire Council’s laws to the point of a possible death sentence. Worse, Xavier must abandon his lover, Thomas. Xavier runs to his aging sister and pleads for Catherine’s help as Thomas races after them. With Thomas and the Vampire Council vying for Xavier’s soul, Xavier and Catherine struggle to obey the former priest’s divine calling before their inevitable capture.

The Vampire’s Protege

In The Vampire’s Protégé, a sinister vampire offers Charon a choice he can’t refuse: play a deadly game of winner takes all, losers die. Charon relishes the competition and molds himself into a sexy vampire who defies vampire law, relishes his power, and embraces the role of villain. He also loves surrounding himself with hot young men. But what happens when an alluring vampire stalks him and threatens to turn him into the Vampire Council unless he helps with a seemingly impossible task? Will Charon risk his perfectly narcissistic life on this challenge? Does he have any other choice?

Exciting news: THE BACHMANN FAMILY SECRET finished up the latest round of edits, to correct grammar, for clarity, or gaps in my feeble logic. (My NineStar editor, BJ, kicks ass at fixing all the problems I create! And she’s super funny. I know her humor hardly matters to you, my readers, but it makes sprucing up even the worst mess I create a fun adventure.) It’s off to the next stage of preparation, on track for a July release. I’ll keep you posted!

In The Bachmann Family Secret, Jaret Bachmann travels with his family to his beloved grandfather’s funeral with a heavy heart and, more troubling, premonitions of something evil lurking at the Bachmann ancestral home. But no one believes that he sees ghosts, and no one else saw his grandfather’s ghost warning him to stay home except his dog, Darth. Grappling with his sexuality, a ghost that wants him out of the way, and the loss of his grandfather, Jaret must protect his family and come to terms with powers hidden deep within himself.