reviews_and_ramblings | D.J. Manly: From Canada with Love

D.J. was one of the first M/M author I "met" online. I always liked D.J. Manly's style, but lately I think to have read the best of D.J.'s works. And so I was a bit surprise to see the sudden change in publisher, and I though to ask why...

Elisa: You live in Canada, even if I believe you are not of Canadian origins (please feel free to correct me...). Since in Canada gay marriage is legal, I was expecting to have more gay romance from Canadian authors, and instead probably I know only you and another one. Am I wrong? There are authors who don't cross the Canadian borders? Or do you believe that all the excitement around the Gay Romance is only due to the fact that it's still "illegal", if not for law in some minds?

D.J.: Yes I live in Canada, and I am very much a Canadian, and a proud one. I live in Quebec where the majority of people speak French. I am also proud of being from this province with it's unique language and culture. Quebec has always been very socialist in its views, very left politically, and I fit right in there. My native tongue is English, but I speak the French language, a beautiful language. My business is to teach English as a second language to Francophones.

I am sure there are other Canadian authors who write gay romance, but you're right, we appear to be a rare breed :) I don't think the 'excitement' about gay romance is related to the legality or illegality of marriage, personally. I believe that gay romance may be considered new and fresh, and people feel as if they are "permitted" to enjoy it, on the same scale as het romance.

Elisa: Recently you left one of your publishers, I will not say the name if you don't want. Do you want to tell us why?

D.J.: It is fine to mention Loose Id, a wonderful publisher. I was sorry to leave them. We had a very honorable disagreement. We agreed to disagree about an issue, which shall remain private. I hold them in the highest of esteem and recommend them to any writer looking for a good publisher on the web.

Elisa: For what I know you are a very busy person. You write, you teach, you have a long term relationship, two cats to tend, you also cook! Are you a very organized person? Or is your life in chaos, like mine would in the same situation?

D.J.: Yes, I write, teach, edit for a translator, and run my own business. I have only one cat now unfortunately, having lost my 19 year old baby, Prosper this summer. I only cook when absolutely necessary...but I cook in the bedroom...:) he he he. I'm a multi-tasker...my life isn't chaos because I have a lot of support.

Elisa: Sometime ago I wrote a post where I said that I would be more disappointed in discovering that Bobby Michaels is a woman, since for what I know I'm sure that he is a man, than in discovering the same thing about you, since I'm not sure if you are a man or not. And so... are you a man?

D.J.: I will answer you in the same way I answer anyone who asks me this question, and I get asked alot. I think that gender should be a non issue when it comes to writing, and when it comes to life in general. We all make too much of gender, are all too hung up on masculinity and femininity, and on who sleeps with whom. I prefer that people form their own opinions on that. I have some people calling me he, some she...I love it, because inside, I am both, and all of us are both, aren't we?

And now a little excerpt from D.J.'s Halloween release, Golden God, third in the Brennus Witch series:

GOLDEN GOD: While Brennus and Darien are off traveling the world; Darien’s sister attempts to restore her brother’s mortality. Playing with powerful magic she doesn’t understand, Anna opens the Portal of Decadence, which allows demons to slip into the world and ultimately will release the god Pan.

Meanwhile, Vortimere is gaining in power and is as obsessed with Brennus as ever. He has joined forces with the darkness that is threatening to destroy the world.
Unknown to Brennus, he is the Golden God, the one prophesized to save the world from the darkness Anna has unwittingly unleashed. But Brennus has his own problems, struggling with the idea that Marcel, rather than himself, sired Darien, which has created an inevitable attraction between them.

Excerpt:

Brennus felt the onslaught of Darien's desire for Marcel. It hit him square in the gut from several feet away. The power of it was as naked as Marcel's desire for him. He knew one day Darien would once again cross paths with his maker. He knew first hand from Marcel, the undeniable, carnal emotions a fledging felt for his maker. But that didn't mean he was prepared for what he would feel when he saw it first hand with Darien.

When Darien's hands slide down over his shoulders and he pressed his cheek next to his, Brennus didn't react. "Are you angry at me, baby? You know I love only you."

"Yes," he said. "I know. I could never truly believe you'd stopped loving me."

"You warned me about this. Will it pass?"

"No," Brennus said, "unfortunately not. You'll always feel it."

"Like Marcel feels it for you."

Brennus turned his head now. Darien backed away from him. "Does it feel like vindication?"

"Vindication?"

"You've always lamented the fact that I made Marcel, but not you."

"And now you lament the fact that it was Marcel who made me," Darien scoffed. "Are we even?"

"Even?" Brennus glanced out the window. The moon was still glowing in the sky, the blinds in the condo where they were staying in Paris, still open. "I wasn't aware there was a competition."

"Then forget it."

"I can't." He shook his head. "You don't understand. The connection is stronger between you and Marcel, than it is between you and me. You share blood, and for vampires, blood is…"

"And the connection is stronger between you and Marcel, than between you and me as well. Right?"

"Yes," he said, meeting Darien's eyes. "Yes, God damn it, yes."

"But loving you is a choice, Brennus. My connection to Marcel was not my choice. I wanted it to be you, remember?"

"I remember."

"You chose to embrace Marcel. You refused to…"

"Because I love you. I never loved Marcel. And he stole you from me, gave you immortality when I…" He shook his head.

"Well, we can't change that, can we? You love Marcel now, don't you?"

"No," he said. "I don't."

"Don't you have to?"

"I don't have to do anything."

"So, a sire can just abandon his fledging?"

"Is that what he told you I did?"

"Didn't you?"

He sucked in some breath. "This conversation is over."

"Why, because the great Druid priest says so?"

"Yes. You're quite right," he said, lifting his chin.

Darien smiled. "I can't be angry at you for long. You're too beautiful. I will handle these feelings I have for Marcel. I will simply push them…"

"It’s not that easy."

"How do you know? Apparently you don't feel them."

"The sire doesn't necessarily feel anything for his fledging. The child however is born from his sire. Longing, desire, love, dependence…" He lifted his hands in the air.

"So, you could turn hundreds of mortals into vampires, and feel nothing?"

He nodded.

"Are you saying Marcel feels nothing for me?"

"I have no idea what Marcel feels for you," he snapped. "Why don't you ask him?"

"Now you're losing your temper again," Darien laughed faintly. "I'm just trying to understand, that's all."

"I told you all I know," he said. "I'm no expert on vampires and their surrogates."

Darien watched as Brennus drew the blinds. The sun would be rising shortly. How beautiful he was. In fact, he had yet to see or imagine another man who could arouse such longing in him. It really didn't matter what momentary pang of need he felt when he saw Marcel. It was now completely obliterated by the presence of Brennus in his room. Darien’s eyes went to the bed then back to the tall, blond haired god standing a few feet away. "You're sulking," he accused. "What is it about these brooding ex Druid priests that make my cock leak?"

Brennus raised an eyebrow.

"You're pretty cute when you do that."

"Cute," he muttered.

Darien grinned. "Take off your clothes. Please."

"And that's supposed to make everything all right?"

"No," he said softly, "but it might just soothe this ache I have for you." He caught his breath as Brennus undid his shirt and took it off. "That's better. Okay," Darien licked his lips, moving closer, "the pants." Brennus began to unzip them but it was becoming painful. "You're too slow," Darien scolded. He grabbed the pants and yanked them down off Brennus' hips. "You're teasing, punishing me." He went to his knees and pressed his lips to his naked thigh. He moved his lips to his cock and kissed it almost reverently. "Don't ever punish me that way, Brennus," he moaned. "I don't think I'd survive it. I'd rather you beat me than deny me your body."

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