Hello, lovelies.
Today I am joined by Devon McCormack, who is celebrating his new release, Clipped. Please continue reading for an exclusive interview, a super hot excerpt, and a giveaway for a signed copy of Clipped.
Title: Clipped
Author: Devon McCormack
Cover Artist: Adrian Nichols
Publisher: Wilde City Press
Jade’s Rating: 4 Stars
JADE’S REVIEW:
If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be rough. So much in this book is rough, from the characters to the subject matter to the sex. But rough is simply a descriptor. It is neither good nor bad, so don’t assume that by referring to this book as rough I mean that it’s a bad book. Sometimes the roughest roads lead to the most beautiful destinations.
*Be aware that there are some sensitive topics covered in this book. There is the religious aspect with the complete reversal of Heaven/Hell and God/Satan and with the issue of Maggie’s mother and her “faith.” There is also Jerry’s sex trafficking operation as well as the Kid’s sexual abuse as a child. It was handled well, I think, and it was not meant to titillate. But readers who may be affected by these should be aware that they are present.*
I think what I like the most about Clipped is the characters. The premise is what first intrigued me, the plot was good, the action was good, the sex was different (much rougher and, in some cases, a bit uncomfortably dubious, in my opinion) than any I’ve read; but to me, the characters are the best part of the book.
We have higherlings and fallens (think traditional angels and demons) who were originally created to be the utmost in aesthetically pleasing. Some, like Treycore, seem to be “holier than thou” and despise, loathe, and hate the mortals. But what we find is that, while he does feel that way about many mortals, Treycore has discovered that some mortals are not such filthy, nasty creatures and are actually worth saving. He shows a completely different side of himself to Kid, which I appreciated. I thought he was going to be some vapid, narcissistic elitist. I was delightfully mistaken. The same goes for Kinzer, Dedrus, Janka…don’t even get me started on Janka. All of these supposedly “perfect” creatures were beautifully flawed and had surprising depth.
I also really appreciated the strong female characters, Vera and Maggie. Vera was a total bitch, but she was a strong character and had what I think is the best gift (i.e., ability or talent) out of all the immortals, making her an exponentially more challenging villain than she might otherwise have been. And Maggie… on the outside, she appears to be nothing more than a drug-addicted whore, but as we get into her head, we learn that there is so much more to her than that.
And can I just say that the Morarke was so damn cool? Poor Hoddy. :(
I thought the ending was rather abrupt. I’m not sure what I was looking for so maybe that was just me. I was just surprised to read “The End” right after Kinzer’s last words. There were also several loose ends, but I think I read that there will be a sequel. I’m sure those will be addressed then. But the twist was so incredibly twisty, I was as shocked as Kinzer was. Can’t say more, because spoilers, but really shocked.
All in all, Clipped was a fast-paced, captivating, rough ride. Well worth the read.
*I was given a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.*
BUY NOW: Wilde City Press | Amazon
BLURB:
Though mortals have been convinced that God cares about their souls, nothing could be further from the truth. He created the world as a gift for his lover, Satan. But when Satan left him, he decided to end what he saw as his most grotesque creation.
Satan and his army of demons are man’s only hope…
The demon Kinzer and his lover, Janka, have been sent by Satan to spy on The Raze, a gang of rogue demons who are working with God to bring about Armageddon. When someone exposes their true allegiances, The Raze clips Kinzer’s wings and murders Janka. Kinzer manages to escape. He tracks down Satan’s allies to warn them about a mole in their midst when he learns that they’ve located the Antichrist—a powerful weapon that could prevent the apocalypse. Now, he’s on a mission to protect the Antichrist and avenge his lover’s death.
EXCERPT:
Dedrus scanned Kinzer’s body, admiring his massive biceps, his brown eyes, and his black waves of hair. Even with the wounds and tears that still tainted his face, he was beautiful. Dedrus wanted to press him back against the cushion, rip off his clothes, and provide him with the ease he deserved. But no! He was just wanting it for himself, and he was pretending that it was to serve Kinzer’s pain.
“I loved him so much.” The words cracked through Kinzer’s lips. His cheeks and forehead shivered. Tears filled his eyes. “I know we had so much time, but it wasn’t enough.”
The sting in Dedrus’s chest intensified. His cheeks flashed red as anger washed over him—anger that he loathed because it made him feel like a terrible, selfish creature.
He set his hand on Kinzer’s back, his palm stroking softly across the blue fabric of his polo. He wanted to say, “You’ll find love again.” He couldn’t, because he knew he’d really be saying, “Please find love in me.” He thought of saying, “Everything will be alright.” No. He couldn’t make that kind of promise. “It’ll take time,” felt appropriate, and yet, as an immortal, Dedrus never perceived time as a generous gift as much as a twisted, agonizing punishment.
“I wish I could think of something right to say about this,” Dedrus said, “but I can’t. I know how much you loved him, and I know how much he loved you, and I can’t imagine how hard this is going to be for you. But I’m here. As your friend. I don’t know if that means much, but I know the feeling of having something so perfect and wonderful torn from you.”
Kinzer’s gaze met his. His eyes were sad.
Does he know what I’m talking about?
“Tell me you’ve found someone,” Kinzer said.
“Of course,” he lied. “I’m just being overdramatic.”
“I figured as much. Considering where you work, I’m sure you get a lot of offers.”
It was true, but not the way Kinzer was suggesting. There were nights when Treycore dragged some pathetic mortal back to ease Dedrus’s pain. Those nights were the loneliest. Though he could bring himself to climax, it was an empty relief that just stirred the cruel memories of those moments filled with so much more.
Dedrus hugged him again. “Let’s get to bed,” he said. “You need some sleep.”
Kinzer nodded.
“We have plenty to sort through tomorrow. You can have my room. I’ll just sleep here.”
Dedrus released him.
Kinzer picked the sword up off his lap and stood. He reached his hand out. “Come on. It won’t be the first time we’ve shared a bed.”
The upward curl of his lip let Dedrus know that Kinzer was more than interested.
Dedrus’s dick swelled. “I don’t think I can.” He wanted Kinzer so bad, and if he put himself in that position, he was sure that he wouldn’t be able to resist making a move—especially if Kinzer initiated something.
“I’d rather not disrespect you like that,” Dedrus said.
Kinzer’s hand fell, bouncing against his jeans. His head drooped.
“Then I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Dedrus smiled. “‘Night, Kinzer.”
Kinzer knelt, offering a light peck on Dedrus’s lips.
Don’t tease me with a taste!
“Up the stairs, first room on the right.”
Kinzer walked up the stairs, headed down the hall, and slipped into Dedrus’s bedroom.
Dedrus had hoped that Kinzer’s exit would provide some relief.
It didn’t.
He ached for him. His thoughts dwelled on Kinzer’s lips tickling his nipples, his gaze appreciating his body, his tongue delighting in his body’s grooves. He wanted to run upstairs and throw his arms around him, to hold him for the night, and tell him that no matter what happened he’d be there for him. He wanted more than that, but he wouldn’t press his friend. He wouldn’t dare cross that line…even if Kinzer insisted.
Spreading his limbs across the couch, he rested his head on a lace pillow at the end and rolled so that he was facing the cushions.
He closed his eyes.
A few moments passed before something pressed against his ass.
He flipped over and hopped to his feet, ready for a fight.
Kinzer stood before him, holding his hands out, as if showing a cop that he was unarmed. “Whoa, cowboy. Chill the fuck out.”
“Sorry.” Every hair on Dedrus’s immortal body stood on end. “You freaked the shit out of me. Did you need something? Another cover? Pillows?”
Kinzer wiggled his thumb behind the waistband in Dedrus’s khakis.
“Yeah. I need something.” He pulled their pelvises together.
His hot breath rushed across Dedrus’s lips, settling in the bristles across his cheeks. The warmth combined with a rush of blood that surged to his face and made him feel like his cheeks were about to catch on fire.
Kinzer pressed his lips against Dedrus’s.
Amidst the creases in Kinzer’s lips, Dedrus felt the smooth, subtle dip where Kinzer’s cut was healing.
He trailed his palm over the rough fabric of Kinzer’s polo. As he reached the smooth flesh of his neck, curly black hairs pricked his fingertips.
Kinzer opened his mouth wide. Dedrus eagerly reciprocated, tilting his head and allowing their lips to seal together. A swirling sensation gathered at the back of his spine and rushed to the crown of his skull.
Guilt nagged at his thoughts. He couldn’t do this. Kinzer didn’t really want him. He was just vulnerable and ached for a physical distraction from his grief. It would be wrong to take advantage while he was still recovering from Janka’s death.
Kinzer’s tongue flicked his.
He wanted Kinzer so bad, but not like that. Pressing his hand against the dip between the bulbous, jagged pecs before him, he broke their sealed kiss.
“What?” Kinzer rested his hands on either of Dedrus’s hips.
“This wouldn’t be right. I don’t want to disrespect you.”
“I know. But I want you to.”
Kinzer wrapped both arms around Dedrus. Spinning them around, he pushed Dedrus back against a painting that hung from the wall.
Kinzer’s eyes glistened with that gleam—the one that was so familiar to Dedrus.
Dedrus couldn’t control himself. His lips returned to their passionate embrace. His fingers found their way under Kinzer’s shirt, feeling about fervently, savoring the dips in his torso.
INTERVIEW WITH DEVON MCCORMACK:
Why did you choose to write M/M stories?
I hadn’t even considered writing M/M stories until I got the idea for Clipped. Before that, I’d primarily written scripts and middle grade novels, but I’d never written gay characters. I thought, “It isn’t popular. No one will publish that.” But no one was publishing my other stuff, either, so when the idea for Clipped came, I was like, “I’ll just do it and see what happens.” I was surprised and thrilled when I discovered there is an entire readership dedicated to M/M stories.
And writing M/M stories has been incredibly liberating. Growing up without positive mainstream depictions of gay men in TV shows and movies, I had this very pathetic idea that being gay meant that I was somehow less-than everyone else. I thought, “We aren’t the idea. We aren’t the hero. We aren’t beautiful.” The last one is obviously flawed, since we basically live at the gym, and God knows I haven’t seen a carb since 2006. But writing has helped me dismantle the mental walls that had me thinking that we couldn’t be the ideal or heroes. Now that I’m writing them as the ideal and as heroes, I don’t feel like I’m fated to live my life as a one-dimensional side character. And that’s been incredibly empowering.
Where do you find your inspiration?
It comes from different places, but most of the times, it’s another writer’s idea that I twist or find an interesting angle to.
For Clipped, I was trying to make some spare cash, so I was working as an extra on the set of Hunger Games: Catching Fire. There’s a lot of down time as an extra, so I’d stolen my friend’s copy of Mark Twain’s Letters From the Earth. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the book, it depicts God as an angry, controlling megalomaniac and Satan as a pretty reasonable guy. I just loved that. It got me reconsidering The Bible from that perspective. Then I got to thinking, “What if God and Satan had been lovers and the fall of man was just post-break-up drama?” And I was off and running.
I have a YA novel called Hideous being released through Harmony Ink Press in June/July. When the main character was very young, he had a hand cut off and an eye gauged out by his demon-possessed father. The inspiration for this story came from the Brothers Grimm. I’d always loved “The Handless Maiden.” In it, a demon makes a father cut his daughter’s hands off, and it haunts her for the rest of her life. Something about the fairy tale always appealed to me, and I really wanted to do a modern, gay retelling of it. So I created a dystopia where demons are a known and common threat.
When you start a book, do you already have the whole story in your head or is it built progressively?
I create a thorough outline of every story before I start writing. I know every plot twist, every major character. As a control freak, I like to believe this will save me some pain during the writing process. It never does. Characters change their minds. Situations don’t arise as easily as I think they will. I’m publishing a vampire novel with Wilde City Press and a female vampire who I thought would play a very one-dimensional side character came to the forefront. In the sequel to Clipped, I initially wrote an ex-girlfriend as a fount of exposition, but I fell in love with her and she ends up journeying to Hell with one of my main characters.
The outline usually helps for the first three quarters of the book. After that, I just let the book tell me what I need to do to finish it.
Do you have a specific writing style?
Absolutely. It’s very obvious to me as I’m writing. I write action scenes and exposition very similarly. I have very specific ways that I convey information to the reader. Sometimes, I resist it, especially when I’m telling the story in first person and realize that it isn’t appropriate for the character. Ultimately, though, it’ll always be there. I don’t think anyone who reads my books will ever be confused about who they’re reading, because I’m always going to tell a story like it’s me telling a story.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Every part of the writing process is challenging. That’s why I do it. It never bores me. For me, writing is like solving a math problem. I’m constantly trying to solve the next piece of the story…and the next piece…and the next piece.
One of the biggest challenges is writing a scene that I just have no desire to write. In every project, there are always a few of those. There are those scenes that are either really complicated or just not interesting to me at all. When I hit one of those, I usually let myself write a few crappy versions. That gets my creative juices flowing. Once I start writing a scene, the inspiration usually follows. It’s making myself sit down and write it that’s the challenge.
Thanks so much for having me on your blog, Jade Crystal! I really appreciate it.
PRIZE GIVEAWAY:
Devon is offering a signed copy of Clipped if winner is in the US. If not in the US, the winner will receive an e-copy.
Click here to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.
For more information and to follow the rest of the tour (April 21, 2014 – May 21, 2014) click the banner below.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
If I was writing an old-school craigslist personal, I’d say (appropriately in code): fit masc wm ddf lookin 4 same. 28yo. Of course, who’s honest with their craigslist personal ads? And who the hell uses craigslist these days? Please. That’s what grindr is for.
On a more serious note, I’m from Atlanta, GA. I work odd jobs. My gay erotic novel Clipped is available through Wilde City Press. I also have a vampire novel coming out through Wilde City in October and a young adult novel being released through Harmony Ink Press in June or July.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devon.mccormack.79
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7327303.Devon_McCormack
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@devon_mccormack
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mmromance/
Website: http://www.devonmccormack.com
