A Wrench Wars Story
What is “normal”?
When Brandon Kenner shows up at Kasey Ralston’s garage with a 1970 Chevelle SS 454, Kasey is smitten by both the man and his car. But Kasey is hiding an embarrassing secret: his love for old muscle cars goes beyond what most would consider normal. His unusual fetish has kept Kasey isolated—estranged from his family and even distant from his coworkers.
But when Brandon figures out the hot mechanic’s secret, he’s not repulsed. In fact, he finds Kasey intriguing, and he’s determined to have him for himself.
Everything about Brandon revs Kasey’s engine, and he’s more than willing to get down and dirty with the charming man. What worries Kasey is what will happen after. Is there any chance of a future for them? In the past, expecting anything long term has only led to heartbreak. But Kasey can’t help hoping that, despite his fetish, Brandon will be the exception.
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Translations:
- Quasi normale – Italian
- Suffisamment normal – French
Making Waves is part of the Wrench Wars series — four connected novellas, two by myself, and two by L.A. Witt. You can find the entire Wrench Wars series here.
Reviews for the 1st edition of Normal Enough:
Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews says, “I loved this little story. It’s hot and sexy… but there’s also a really beguiling, captivating love story running alongside the heat.” Read the full review.
MM Good Book Reviews says, “This is a great sexy little number that is amazingly hot and has two great characters… I recommend this to those who love hot men finding common ground, sparks flying, erotic hot sex, great character development and two men at the beginning of a hot sexy relationship.” Read the full review.
Happy New Year! I hope 2015 brings you good health, great joy, and peace.
One of the drawbacks of social media is that people feel because they have direct contact with you they have a right to know your personal business. I will give Madison the benefit of the doubt and assume she had a genuine concern for you. I am very impressed that you replied to her and in the manner in which you did. Your decision to put your daughter first only makes me respect you more.
I really enjoy an author that tries different things. Writing the same old thing time after time is boring for you as well as me. When the writer is talented, it doesn’t matter if it is a dark and angsty story or a light and feel-good story. It is a story I enjoy reading. I have enjoyed everything I’ve read by you. Knowing you had fun writing Normal Enough makes me want to read it. I’m off to purchase! Take care of yourself.
Thanks so much, Lori! I really appreciate your support, and I hope you enjoy Normal Enough. 🙂
bold and humane. thank you.
Marie, I love your books… I loved Promises (who didn’t), Strawberry (who didn’t), but my most prized out of all was between sinner and saints, simply a amazing, the way you captured the story.
So I am saying all of this to say that I really appreciate your writing and I think that you are really gifted, however the new books, I find them lacking a lot… So I wrote it off to the fact that you are co-authoring but “normal enough’ boy it was just not your standard….
What is going on?
Again, you are one of authors I just blind buy anything you write! again I ask what is going on?
lots of love for you,
Madison
Well, honestly, that’s not an easy question to address, because the answer involves all sort of things authors aren’t supposed to talk about. We’re supposed to pretend that being an author is nothing but rainbows and joy. And maybe it really is that wonderful for some authors, but it hasn’t been for me. So, I’m going to give you an honest answer, knowing full well that some people will probably attack me for some of what I’m about to say.
First of all, I’d point out that the books you mention (Promises, Strawberries, and Saints) were written in 2009 and 2010, back before I knew how the world of publishing can totally crush a person’s soul and destroy their will to live. That sounds harsh, I know. Believe me, it feels harsh too. Maybe it isn’t that bad for other authors, but it really has been for me. I’ve also suffered through innumerable health problems and two surgeries over the past three years (most of which I don’t talk about in public). On top of that (and even more relevant, with regards to writing) I spent nearly eighteen months being so thoroughly depressed that it was all I could do to drag my ass out of bed in the morning. It’s better now, but the conflicts that led to that depression are still very real. Every day, I have to choose how much of my time and energy to devote to writing, and how much of that time and energy should be given to my family instead. My daughter will never be nine years old again. This has a been a particularly terrible year for her in school. She’s comes home in tears at least once a week after dealing with bullies and a teacher who is frankly more of a bully than most of the students. I often have to choose between writing (and the various other activities required to support a career in this business, like promotion, editing, blogging, answering emails, etc) and spending time with her. I have to decide every day if this job is worth missing her childhood for.
Part of coming to terms with my depression was accepting the fact that I get to decide what role writing takes in my life. And the truth is that over the past year, I’ve been putting my family and my own mental well-being first. Some people will say that’s wrong, and that writing should be my one and only priority, but that kind of thinking nearly destroyed me once already. I’m not ready to go that route again. (And for the record, writing wasn’t my number one priority when I wrote Coda and Saints, either.)
My writing doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Every book I write comes from wherever I am in my life. Coda was written at a time when I didn’t even know the m/m genre existed, back when I thought I could just write books in my spare time while happily living my life. Blind Space and Oestend were written during a time of great anger and confusion, when it felt like my career was going to consume me. Family Man was written during a particularly tough period with my mother. Release was born out of the very darkest, bleakest hours of my depression. I’ve spent the last year pulling myself out of that deep pit and doing everything I can not to fall back into it, which means writing stories that are sweet and light and uplifting. I’ve been co-authoring more because frankly, it’s fun, and I’m trying to maximize fun in my life right now. (I’m also putting the finishing touches on Release and its sequel, Return. And since those are rooted in the darkest, most difficult months of my depression, it’s hard to go back and finish them now, when I’m trying so hard to not revisit those emotions.)
The short answer, I guess, is that I am a human being, which means I change from day to day and year to year, and my writing is going to change with me, whether I want it to or not. I’m truly sorry you find my newest work disappointing. All I can really say is, I will probably never reclaim the blind naiveté of 2009 and 2010. I will probably never feel as carefree and optimistic as I did back then. I can only hope that whatever I encounter going forward will produce work that resonates with readers in some way.
Dear Marie
I disagree with Madison, i LOVED this book.
I read it 4 times, enjoyed the characters, and really felt for Kasey. It resonated with me, and I would love to read more like it! Do you have any more coming (series or co-authoring with the same author)?
Hi Marie! I’m so glad you enjoyed Normal Enough. I had a lot of fun with the story. I don’t have anything else lined up for Kasey and Brandon, but you never know. I may revisit them someday.
As for co-authoring, I assume you mean with LA Witt? We have Roped In, which we co-authored, and we will eventually be writing a follow-up as well. And of course, there’s also the Tucker Springs series. 🙂
Thanks again!