Zach and Angelo have settled into their new lives in Coda, Colorado, finding their place in the community with the help of their good friends Matt and Jared. Zach and Angelo are also working out the particulars of their relationship, but when they make a decision Jared disagrees with, Angelo finds himself at odds with his partner’s best friend. And his best friend’s partner.
When the four decide on a quick trip to Vegas, Angelo thinks he and Jared may be back on the right track. But a chance encounter with Zach’s ex-boyfriend will make Angelo question everything about himself and his relationship with Zach. Matt and Jared have always been there when Zach and Angelo needed help. But when it comes to sorting out their relationship, their friends may do more harm than good.
The Letter Z will be released by Dreamspinner Press on May 12, 2010. You can purchase it here.
*****
Some background and details regarding POV:
For those who read my blog, you know I came home from a quick trip to Vegas at the end of January completely obsessed with the idea of a story in which Matt, Jared, Zach and Angelo take a trip to Vegas. I slammed that story out in record time (record time for me, at any rate: first draft of 31,000 words was done in six days). It was so much fun to spend some time with my guys again. I truly love this story.
The Vegas story is officially a sequel to A to Z, and is called The Letter Z. It’s about 32,000 words (that’s roughly half the length of Promises and A to Z), and it will be released in ebook format in May, 2010. Because it is only a novella, it will not be available in paperback format.
I have been asked if The Letter Z is still dual POV like A to Z. The answer is yes, but instead of Angelo and Zach, it is told by Angelo and Matt. Angelo is a lot of fun, but he’s too quirky and too dishonest with himself to handle it all on his own. And yes, Angelo is still in present tense. I’ve tried to make him past tense, but he’s not nearly so fun when he abides by the standard rules of narration. He totally loses his edge. Trust me.
So in short, if the dual POV drove you nuts in A to Z, I’m sorry to say it will probably drive you nuts here, too. The good news is that since Matt is telling half of the story, you get what many of you have been asking for – more of Matt and Jared. And I do mean more.
That’s right. You know what I’m talking about!
Amie
/ August 19, 2010Despite the infamous first 10 pages (or what we will call as what happened in New Year’s Eve), I definitely get what you are trying to say here. I love Zach and Angelo, and I love how you define that their relationship is different than Matt/Jared. I love this story as much as the rest. Thank you for writing it
Marie Sexton
/ August 19, 2010Thanks Amie! It’s really nice when people GET IT.
Kensaku
/ July 27, 2010Marie, since reading “Promises”, I was so impressed with its emotional impact that I continue to read “The Letter Z”. I enjoy the romance aspect being depicted, its emotional processes and aftermath. But, the vivid graphic sex scenes really make me blush. I am wondering if this is the norm in M/M fiction. Can’t we conservative readers have M/M fiction with no graphic sex scenes? Do you know of any that you can recommend? I’d like ones that I can fully enjoy and can also make them required readings for my high school and college students! :>
Marie Sexton
/ July 27, 2010Kensaku-
For better or worse, graphic sex scenes are the norm in this genre. That doesn’t mean that ALL m/m romances have them, but I’m betting more than 75% do. For high school or college students, I would recommend Hayden Thorne. She writes some really fabulous m/m romances that are geared more toward a YA audience. I especially liked Icarus in Flight.
Anybody else have a suggestion for m/m books without the graphic sex?
Thanks for your comment!
Rebecca
/ May 11, 2010I just got through reading Promises and A to Z, i also read these in the wrong order, but still really enjoyed both books, your style of writting is just the way a love it, with a perfect mix of romance, humour, angst & sex. Think my favourite character as to be Angelo, there is just something about his whole what the fuck, ever attitude.
I was really looking forward to reading The Letter Z when it comes out in a few days time, but must admit after reading the Excerpt, i’m a little worried about reading it now, that if Angelo does cheat on Zach regardless of if Zach says it’s okay or not, i just don’t think i would be able to connect with my favourite character if do does that. Guess i am just going to have to bit the bullet & hope it turns out for the best.
Marie Sexton
/ May 11, 2010Hi Rebecca! Thanks for your comment. I’m glad you enjoyed Promises and A to Z.
Regarding The Letter Z, what I guess I would like people to realize is this: there is a very intimate part of Angelo that is Zach’s alone. No other man will probably ever even SEE it, let alone touch it. That secret part of Ang belongs only to Zach, and it is something so much MORE than sex. It’s something much deeper. The bond that Zach and Angelo share could never be threatened by something as trivial as sex. Now, meeting Zach’s ex in Vegas, on the other hand… that’s a much bigger hurdle for them to overcome.
I hope you’ll feel better about it after reading the whole thing.
Thanks again, and happy reading!
Marie Sexton
/ May 11, 2010Which is not to say that sex is trivial to everybody. It’s certainly not trivial to Matt and Jared. But for Zach and Ang, it’s something else entirely.
Rebecca
/ May 13, 2010I just got through reading The Letter Z for the second time in 2 days (read with more of an open mind second time around), after not being so sure if i wanted to read it after reading the excerpt, omg, i am so happy i gave it ago. Not wanting to give anything away to those that haven’t got around to reading it yet, I will admit i did find it hard to understand the way of Zach & Angelo’s relationship, because i got it into my head that Zach was weak, & the only possible reason he would have for being okay with things, was because he had no other choice if he wanted Angelo in his life, but as the book went on, i realised more & more, that Zach & Angelo’s relationship as never been a standard one, & i kept that in-mind when i re-read the book, and i found that although it didn’t change my thoughts on the love side of their relationship, it changed the way i looked at the sex side of it. What i got by the end, was how strong & right Zach really is for Angelo, that for some people on the outside looking in, their relationship may look odd or wrong, while others will see it as perfectly normal, but as long as they are both happy with how thing are, doesn’t matter what other people think as long as they are not hurting anyone. I am really excited at the thought you may not be done with Zach & Angelo yet, i think their relationship still as a lot of growing yet, i could sit & read stories about them all day.
I kind of feel like i’m leaving Matt & Jared out now, because i did enjoy their parts in The Letter Z too, but felt it was the other couple that took a big step forward. Not much left for me to say other than i will be keeping a look out for your new stuff, really looking forward to Strawberries for Dessert, from what we have seen so fare i think Cole is going to be very interesting character to get inside of.
Marie Sexton
/ May 13, 2010Rebecca, I’m glad to hear that you ended up liking it! Zach and Angelo really are absolutely perfect together. And I’m glad you’re excited about possibly seeing more of them, because they still have so much room to grow. And for better or worse, Angelo owns a pretty large portion of my brain.
About Matt and Jared: they’re so happy together. I feel like they’re wrapped up in a nice little package and tied with a bow. They’re just coasting now, enjoying their life… Not much left to tell there, unless I wanted to make trouble for them. And I really DON’T want to make trouble for them! And I don’t think any of my readers would want that either.
And regarding your comment about Cole being a “very interesting character to get inside of.” Oh, I can’t pass that up…
Cole
/ May 13, 2010Honey, I really am GREAT to get inside of. And that IS a sexual innuendo.
Ines
/ May 6, 2010I love your books. Promises is my fav, then come A to Z. My fac characters are Matt, Jared and Angelo. I don’t like Zach much because he seems a bit sipneless for a hero, but he makes my Angelo happy. However, I just read the excerpt of The letter Z and I was a bit shocked. Angelo cheating? Or is it not cheasting when you have the conscent e3of your partner? In A to Z Angelo seemed like Zach’s hero, savior. Zach had such a low self-esteem he let himself be treated like crap by his boyfriend. Then Angelo came and showed him he was a great man and deserved to be treated well, to be loved well. Now I find from The Letter Z excerpt that Angelo is making out with some man he felt in lust with at firs sight, and Zach is OK with that. It makes me uncomfortable, not because of the “arrangement”, but because of where Zach is coming from. Zach has such a low self esteem, he was used to accept anything from his past boyfriend as long as he kept them in his life. Now he is supposed to be with someone who really love him boom! His lover fall in lust with someone else. I mean, what is wrong with Zach that he is NEVER enough for a man? And My Angelo, my wonderful guy, how can he do that? He knows how low Zach’s self esteem is, so how can go forward with the affair just because Zach said he can? I can’t wait to read the book, I have so many questions!!!
Marie Sexton
/ May 6, 2010Ines: I’m glad to hear you’re intrigued at least by the excerpt. I know some people will balk at what happens early in the story, but I hope you will read the whole thing. I honestly think you might change your mind about Zach altogether by the end.
Ines
/ May 12, 2010OHMYGOD, you were sooo right! Zach has depths I couldn’t even imagine. He is actually strong. And I thought him spineless !!! It’s funny, I reacted exactly like Jared, I jumpec to conclusions too quickly. I’m so happy Zach is strong and knows what he wants and knows that Angelo really loves him and only him. Their relationship is just beautiful, so full of love, trust, respect, undertanding. It is a wonderful story. My Angelo is still my Angelo, strong and fragile at the same time, a school drop-out and a very smart guy at the same time. I like how he explained the meaning of those movies in A to Z and in Letter Z. He makes me think of Malcolm Gladwell (one of my fav authors) with his original view on things. He makes me think of my husband too, who always sees things nobody else sees in a situation. Thank you. I was not surprised Angelo loved admiring the paintings. He has the fragility, the sensibility, the strangeness, the depth, the strength of great artists. Are you thinking of a sequel where he becomes a painter? It seems to me like you are not done with Angelo, am I right? I wa half expecting to see him as a painter befor the book ended, I don’t know why. I felt like I could see your mind working, but I may be wrong. I was thinking: he does not know how to express things with words, and Marie Sexton is going to make him learn how to paint, and he will finally have a language to express himself and say all the things he is dying to say to Zach. OK, I’m too excioted about yout stories, but you have to forgive me, your characters are sooo cute!
Now I’m thinking: What will Jonathan or/and Cole story be like? I think, with someone like Cole, it’s going to be quite entertaining!
Thanks for a nice afternoon with my kids (me reading, them playing!)
Marie Sexton
/ May 12, 2010Ines, I’m SO glad you ended up liking it. And you’re right – I’m probably not finished with Angelo. Of all of my couples, Zach and Angelo are still the ones with the most room left for growth. I’m not exactly sure where they’ll go next, but I do have several things that could develop rattling around in my brain.
Thanks again!!
Mindy
/ March 31, 2010Mrs. Sexton.
I have read both of the stories Promises and A to Z- I fell in love with the story line and characters in Promises.Matt was a strong version of hetero male and the issues they all deal with regarding feelings you handled it so wonderfully. Jared was a great partner for Matt and the strength of patient he had was amazing.
A to Z was again a great book and the characters were again strong and a few funny ones.I am looking forward to any and all books you may put out.I hope you find inspiration for more books surrounding the guys they make good friends and great partners.
Thank you.
Marie Sexton
/ March 31, 2010Mindy – Thanks so much! I’m glad you liked them!
nicole
/ March 28, 2010ok opps- I just read your ‘coming soon’ page and saw that you were working on Jonathan and Cole’s story. Sorry about missing that. We havn’t seen Jonathan before have we?? He’s a new character? Oh and I just read the short, The Promise with Matt and Jared- it was great. Thank you!!
Marie Sexton
/ March 29, 2010Nicole – LOL. I’m just glad you’re interested in seeing more about Cole, since I’ve been dying to write more with him and finally have a good start on it. You haven’t actually seen Jonathan yet, although he is mentioned once or twice in A to Z. You will meet him in The Letter Z also, but his real story is with Cole.
nicole
/ March 28, 2010Hi!!
I love Promises and because of that I bought A to Z the first day it came out. I am actually rereading both of them right now. I can’t wait to read more of all four characters. Though, I know you’ve said you love Angelo and he is great, but I’m actually more fond of Matt and Jared. So I am super excited about the letter Z. I was also wondering if you think you might give Cole a story? He just seems like a great character and I would love to see him fall in love. Anyways, I just want you to know your books are great. I read a lot of books, especially romances and yours are really really good, a ton better than most. I look forward to reading more of your stuff. Tell your husband that your readers thank him for taking you to Vegas and giving us more of those four great characters
Marie Sexton
/ March 29, 2010Nicole – I’m glad you’re enjoying the books. It’s okay to like Matt and Jared more.
I’m very fond of all of my guys. Angelo was unique for me though in that he was the first one of them to move into my brain and take up residence there. I guess as a writer, he was my first experience with a character who just refused to shut the hell up. Now that I’ve finished The Letter Z though, he seems satisfied (at least for the moment). And I’m very glad to hear that you’re interested in Cole since his HEA is finally in production.
ElaineG
/ March 6, 2010Hi Marie!
I just read BOTH Promises and A to Z last night, and I loved them both. I actually read them in the wrong order, cause I had bought Promises when it came out, and it got put into the wrong file on my computer. I was in the middle of A to Z when I thought: “I wish there was a prequel to this book with Matt and Jared, as Matt really piqued my curiosity. Well, I did a search on my computer for your name, and BAM! Promises showed in an unread file…I was so excited I finished A to Z and jumped right into Promises. Stayed up til 4 am, but I finished both. I loved Matt from the beginning, and hoped he would see what an amazing person Jared is. I thank you for sharing your talent, and am jazzed about the thought of getting to visit the boys again. I am looking forward to seeing what you have in store for us next. Love your style and the way you really give insight into each character, you have a true talent. Please keep them coming, I will buy anything I can if you have written it. Have a great day.
ElaineG (new fan) YAY!
Marie Sexton
/ March 6, 2010Wow – I think I’m blushing! Thanks so much for your comment, Elaine. I’m really glad that you enjoyed spending time with my guys. I think they’re a blast, and I’m glad you think so too. I’m also glad to know that the stories worked okay in reverse order. I hope you get to catch up on your sleep tonight!
Thanks again!