Haven's Creed
Parker Williams
Pages or Words: 95,000 words
Categories: Contemporary, Gay Fiction, Thriller, some romantic elements, some dark and violent imagery
Publisher: Parker Williams
Excerpt:
When I was fifteen, I killed my first man. Every time Arnie, the guy my mother was shacking up with at the time, drank, he got it into his head she was cheating on him. He’d start slapping her, and that turned into full-fledged beating within a few months. When he was done, he’d start on my sister.
There were nights she’d crawl into bed with me, sobbing. For the longest of times, she wouldn’t tell me what happened, but when I found blood on her pajamas, I knew. I’d tried to stand up to him, but he beat me badly enough that I couldn’t go to school for two weeks until the bruises faded. But I got off lucky. The things he did to Chrissy gave me nightmares. I’d hear her cry out and knew there was nothing I could do but hide in my bed, my pillow covering my head. He was bigger, meaner, and stronger than me, and he reminded me of that fact constantly.
The old lady never said boo about it. She always forgave him and tried to justify what he did by telling me how much stress he was under. How he was a good man and didn’t mean it. It was just the drinking, she swore. It was more like he was a bastard and she was his meal ticket.
I came home one night and found him whaling on her, my sister’s body crumpled in a heap, her head smashed in. The son of a bitch had a gun in his hand, slick with blood, and he threatened to kill them both, screaming he wouldn’t let her leave. She slapped him. It wasn’t hard, but it shocked him enough that he dropped the gun. I picked it up. He sneered at me and called me a weak-willed fag.
I looked at the gun I held in my hand. The instrument of my revenge. The means to saving my sister.
“Give me the gun, you fuck. It’s not a dick, you wouldn’t know what to do with it.”
The bullet I put in his forehead showed him how wrong he was. He lay on the floor, blood bubbling from the wound, and his eyes locked on mine as he took his last breath. I wanted that fucker to know it was the weak-willed fag who had done this to him.
Meet the author:
Parker Williams believes that true love exists, but it always comes with a price. No happily ever after can ever be had without work, sweat, and tears that come with melding lives together.
Living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Parker held his job for nearly 28 years before he decided to retire and try new things. He enjoys his new life as a stay-at-home author and also working on Pride-Promotions, an LGBT author promotion service.
Where to find the author: Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
For almost 28 years I was a server at a hotel in Milwaukee. I got to meet people like Adam West, Robin Williams, Smokey Robinson, Michael Dorn, Marina Sirtis, Mick Jagger, and tons of others.
I’m the proud daddy/servant to four dogs and three cats. (Here are the dogs. The cats don’t stay in one place long enough for a picture.)
I wrote my first story when I was fourteen. It was about Grant and Rusty, two high school students who run afoul of a murderer when they come out as gay. Aunt Helen was my favorite character, because everyone should have that person who loves them and will do anything for them.
My husband and I got married at the Moosemeadow Lodge in Vermont. Absolutely stunning place.
2. If you could go anywhere, all expenses paid, where would you go?
I would love to go to Ireland. It has been a dream of my mother forever, but she wasn’t ever able to go. I’d like to do that.
When I was fifteen, I killed my first man. Every time Arnie, the guy my mother was shacking up with at the time, drank, he got it into his head she was cheating on him. He’d start slapping her, and that turned into full-fledged beating within a few months. When he was done, he’d start on my sister.
There were nights she’d crawl into bed with me, sobbing. For the longest of times, she wouldn’t tell me what happened, but when I found blood on her pajamas, I knew. I’d tried to stand up to him, but he beat me badly enough that I couldn’t go to school for two weeks until the bruises faded. But I got off lucky. The things he did to Chrissy gave me nightmares. I’d hear her cry out and knew there was nothing I could do but hide in my bed, my pillow covering my head. He was bigger, meaner, and stronger than me, and he reminded me of that fact constantly.
The old lady never said boo about it. She always forgave him and tried to justify what he did by telling me how much stress he was under. How he was a good man and didn’t mean it. It was just the drinking, she swore. It was more like he was a bastard and she was his meal ticket.
I came home one night and found him whaling on her, my sister’s body crumpled in a heap, her head smashed in. The son of a bitch had a gun in his hand, slick with blood, and he threatened to kill them both, screaming he wouldn’t let her leave. She slapped him. It wasn’t hard, but it shocked him enough that he dropped the gun. I picked it up. He sneered at me and called me a weak-willed fag.
I looked at the gun I held in my hand. The instrument of my revenge. The means to saving my sister.
“Give me the gun, you fuck. It’s not a dick, you wouldn’t know what to do with it.”
The bullet I put in his forehead showed him how wrong he was. He lay on the floor, blood bubbling from the wound, and his eyes locked on mine as he took his last breath. I wanted that fucker to know it was the weak-willed fag who had done this to him.
Meet the author:
Parker Williams believes that true love exists, but it always comes with a price. No happily ever after can ever be had without work, sweat, and tears that come with melding lives together.
Living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Parker held his job for nearly 28 years before he decided to retire and try new things. He enjoys his new life as a stay-at-home author and also working on Pride-Promotions, an LGBT author promotion service.
Where to find the author: Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Q and A with Parker Williams
1. Let’s start out by getting to know you. Tell us 4 things about yourself that are not in your bio. For almost 28 years I was a server at a hotel in Milwaukee. I got to meet people like Adam West, Robin Williams, Smokey Robinson, Michael Dorn, Marina Sirtis, Mick Jagger, and tons of others.
I’m the proud daddy/servant to four dogs and three cats. (Here are the dogs. The cats don’t stay in one place long enough for a picture.)
I wrote my first story when I was fourteen. It was about Grant and Rusty, two high school students who run afoul of a murderer when they come out as gay. Aunt Helen was my favorite character, because everyone should have that person who loves them and will do anything for them.
My husband and I got married at the Moosemeadow Lodge in Vermont. Absolutely stunning place.
2. If you could go anywhere, all expenses paid, where would you go?
I would love to go to Ireland. It has been a dream of my mother forever, but she wasn’t ever able to go. I’d like to do that.
3. List three books you have recently read and would recommend.
Silvia Violet’s ‘Professional Distance’. Dash and Thorne are amazing.
Dom of Ages by K.C. Wells and Parker Williams (Yes, me!). I know it’s self-congratulatory, but this book is the second to last Collars & Cuffs book, and I think it’s an outstanding story.
A Forced Silence by Cate Ashwood. The cover is totally yummy.
4. What do you always order in a favorite restaurant?
Joey’s Fabulous Tofu Steak sandwich. It’s sooooo good.
JOEY’S FABULOUS TOFU STEAK
Marinated Local Tofu | Cornmeal Breading | Caramelized Organic Onions | Vegenaise | Red Chili Sauce | vegan
5. What do you hope to accomplish in the next 12 months?
K.C. and I are working now on ‘Endings and Beginnings’, the final book in the Collars & Cuffs series. This one features Darren, the salon owner who helped Thomas with Peter’s rebirth and JJ, a young man with a secret that will affect many people at Collars & Cuffs.
6. What do you like to read?
I’m a huge fan of shifter books. One of my favorites is Silvia Violet’s Wild R Farms. If you haven’t met Wes & Tristan yet, you really need to.
7. What do you look for when choosing a book to read?
I’ve got a set of authors whom I adore. If they put something out, I rush to the front of the line to grab it. Beyond that, I read the blurbs and look at the covers. If the blurb catches my attention, I am definitely reading the book.
8. What do you need someone to invent right away?
Time travel. I really want to go back and talk to my younger self to tell him not to listen to our father. It would have saved so much heartache growing up.
9. What does the word "romantic" mean to you?
Romance, to me, means sharing your blended lives together. Taking the best parts of both of you and creating something unique and wonderful.
10. Can you share something about your works in progress?
I can! This is a completely unedited scene from Endings and Beginnings by KC and me.
Leo poured himself his first mug of coffee and stared out of the window. Canal Street was quiet, no great surprise given that it was only ten in the morning. The club wasn’t open to members yet, but it was the first place Leo had thought of for a meeting place. He leaned against the brickwork surrounding the window and closed his eyes.
Christ, I feel old.
The feeling had nothing to do with his forty years, and everything to do with his present emotional state. Whichever way he looked at it, what was coming right at them was not going to be good.
“I’ll have one of those while you’re over there.” Thomas entered the office and sat in the chair facing his desk. “I hope you made it strong, because I need it this morning.”
Leo opened his eyes and glanced over his shoulder at his business partner. “Anyone else arrived yet? Where’s Peter?” Then he realized it was a stupid question—Peter would be with Alex. Leo waved his hand. “Forget I asked, I already know.” He narrowed his gaze. “You haven’t told him, right?” He grabbed Thomas’s mug and filled it to the brim.
Thomas shook his head. “And so far it’s just us four. Who else is coming? I assume Scott and Jeff.”
“Ben was coming in this morning anyway,” Leo told him, handing him the mug and sitting in Thomas’s chair. “He’d arranged to meet JJ.”
“The new barman?”
Leo nodded. “He’ll be doing more hours when Ben goes on honeymoon, so Ben wanted to make sure he knew everything. He’s bringing Scott, who of course texted Alex, wanting to know what’s going on.”
“Of course,” Thomas said, eyebrows arched. “Peter got the same text on the way over here.” He shook his head once more, this time with a wry smile. “Those three—Collars & Cuffs’ version of the Three Musketeers.”
“How is he?”
“Quiet. Wanting to know what’s going on, of course, but he only asked the once. Telling me he trusts me.” Thomas’s eyes were troubled. “I wanted to tell him there and then, when it was just the two of us.” Leo opened his mouth to retort but Thomas cut him off with a wave of his hand. “It’s okay, I know why you’re doing it like this. He’ll need his support network, and that means his friends.” Thomas sighed. “I’ll be the one supporting him when they’ve gone.”
Leo’s stomach rolled over. “Damian is bringing Jeff. It’ll be good to see Damian, actually. I get that they don’t use the club, but I do miss him.”
There was a knock at the door and Alex stuck his head around it. “Ben and Scott are here, Damian and Jeff too.” He held up Leo’s phone. “You left this in the car. There’s a text from Laura Herne.”
Leo beckoned him into the room. “Close the door after you.” He put down his mug, got up from the chair and walked around the desk.
Alex did as instructed and came over to Leo, straight into his open arms. Leo hugged him. “You ready?”
Alex huffed. “Not really, no.” He kissed Leo on the cheek and handed him his phone.
“What’s the mood like out there?”
Alex shrugged. “Confused, curious. And even more curious when Dr. Herne arrives.” He pulled back and looked Leo in the eye. “That is why she messaged you, isn’t it? You’ve invited her, too?”
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tour Dates & Stops:
14-Dec
Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Multitasking Mommas, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, The Fuzzy, Fluffy World of Chris T. Kat, Cate Ashwood, Wake Up Your Wild Side
15-Dec
Love Bytes, MM Good Book Reviews, Book Lovers 4Ever, A.M. Leibowitz, 3 Chicks After Dark
16-Dec
Divine Magazine, Cathy Brockman Romances, Unquietly Me, Louise Lyons, KathyMac Reviews, Havan Fellows
17-Dec
Bayou Book Junkie, Inked Rainbow Reads, Happily Ever Chapter, Nephy Hart, Iyana Jenna, Lee Brazil
18-Dec
The Blogger Girls, Carly’s Book Reviews, Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews, Mikky's World of Books, Tara Lain, Emotion in Motion
19-Dec
Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, BFD Book Blog, Jessie G. Books
21-Dec
Joyfully Jay, Molly Lolly, Bonkers About Books, Open Skye Book Reviews
Silvia Violet’s ‘Professional Distance’. Dash and Thorne are amazing.
Dom of Ages by K.C. Wells and Parker Williams (Yes, me!). I know it’s self-congratulatory, but this book is the second to last Collars & Cuffs book, and I think it’s an outstanding story.
A Forced Silence by Cate Ashwood. The cover is totally yummy.
4. What do you always order in a favorite restaurant?
Joey’s Fabulous Tofu Steak sandwich. It’s sooooo good.
JOEY’S FABULOUS TOFU STEAK
Marinated Local Tofu | Cornmeal Breading | Caramelized Organic Onions | Vegenaise | Red Chili Sauce | vegan
5. What do you hope to accomplish in the next 12 months?
K.C. and I are working now on ‘Endings and Beginnings’, the final book in the Collars & Cuffs series. This one features Darren, the salon owner who helped Thomas with Peter’s rebirth and JJ, a young man with a secret that will affect many people at Collars & Cuffs.
6. What do you like to read?
I’m a huge fan of shifter books. One of my favorites is Silvia Violet’s Wild R Farms. If you haven’t met Wes & Tristan yet, you really need to.
7. What do you look for when choosing a book to read?
I’ve got a set of authors whom I adore. If they put something out, I rush to the front of the line to grab it. Beyond that, I read the blurbs and look at the covers. If the blurb catches my attention, I am definitely reading the book.
8. What do you need someone to invent right away?
Time travel. I really want to go back and talk to my younger self to tell him not to listen to our father. It would have saved so much heartache growing up.
9. What does the word "romantic" mean to you?
Romance, to me, means sharing your blended lives together. Taking the best parts of both of you and creating something unique and wonderful.
10. Can you share something about your works in progress?
I can! This is a completely unedited scene from Endings and Beginnings by KC and me.
Leo poured himself his first mug of coffee and stared out of the window. Canal Street was quiet, no great surprise given that it was only ten in the morning. The club wasn’t open to members yet, but it was the first place Leo had thought of for a meeting place. He leaned against the brickwork surrounding the window and closed his eyes.
Christ, I feel old.
The feeling had nothing to do with his forty years, and everything to do with his present emotional state. Whichever way he looked at it, what was coming right at them was not going to be good.
“I’ll have one of those while you’re over there.” Thomas entered the office and sat in the chair facing his desk. “I hope you made it strong, because I need it this morning.”
Leo opened his eyes and glanced over his shoulder at his business partner. “Anyone else arrived yet? Where’s Peter?” Then he realized it was a stupid question—Peter would be with Alex. Leo waved his hand. “Forget I asked, I already know.” He narrowed his gaze. “You haven’t told him, right?” He grabbed Thomas’s mug and filled it to the brim.
Thomas shook his head. “And so far it’s just us four. Who else is coming? I assume Scott and Jeff.”
“Ben was coming in this morning anyway,” Leo told him, handing him the mug and sitting in Thomas’s chair. “He’d arranged to meet JJ.”
“The new barman?”
Leo nodded. “He’ll be doing more hours when Ben goes on honeymoon, so Ben wanted to make sure he knew everything. He’s bringing Scott, who of course texted Alex, wanting to know what’s going on.”
“Of course,” Thomas said, eyebrows arched. “Peter got the same text on the way over here.” He shook his head once more, this time with a wry smile. “Those three—Collars & Cuffs’ version of the Three Musketeers.”
“How is he?”
“Quiet. Wanting to know what’s going on, of course, but he only asked the once. Telling me he trusts me.” Thomas’s eyes were troubled. “I wanted to tell him there and then, when it was just the two of us.” Leo opened his mouth to retort but Thomas cut him off with a wave of his hand. “It’s okay, I know why you’re doing it like this. He’ll need his support network, and that means his friends.” Thomas sighed. “I’ll be the one supporting him when they’ve gone.”
Leo’s stomach rolled over. “Damian is bringing Jeff. It’ll be good to see Damian, actually. I get that they don’t use the club, but I do miss him.”
There was a knock at the door and Alex stuck his head around it. “Ben and Scott are here, Damian and Jeff too.” He held up Leo’s phone. “You left this in the car. There’s a text from Laura Herne.”
Leo beckoned him into the room. “Close the door after you.” He put down his mug, got up from the chair and walked around the desk.
Alex did as instructed and came over to Leo, straight into his open arms. Leo hugged him. “You ready?”
Alex huffed. “Not really, no.” He kissed Leo on the cheek and handed him his phone.
“What’s the mood like out there?”
Alex shrugged. “Confused, curious. And even more curious when Dr. Herne arrives.” He pulled back and looked Leo in the eye. “That is why she messaged you, isn’t it? You’ve invited her, too?”
Tour Dates & Stops:
14-Dec
Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Multitasking Mommas, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, The Fuzzy, Fluffy World of Chris T. Kat, Cate Ashwood, Wake Up Your Wild Side
15-Dec
Love Bytes, MM Good Book Reviews, Book Lovers 4Ever, A.M. Leibowitz, 3 Chicks After Dark
16-Dec
Divine Magazine, Cathy Brockman Romances, Unquietly Me, Louise Lyons, KathyMac Reviews, Havan Fellows
17-Dec
Bayou Book Junkie, Inked Rainbow Reads, Happily Ever Chapter, Nephy Hart, Iyana Jenna, Lee Brazil
18-Dec
The Blogger Girls, Carly’s Book Reviews, Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews, Mikky's World of Books, Tara Lain, Emotion in Motion
19-Dec
Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, BFD Book Blog, Jessie G. Books
21-Dec
Joyfully Jay, Molly Lolly, Bonkers About Books, Open Skye Book Reviews
You are a new author to me. Haven's Creed looks interesting. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays Parker Williams!
ReplyDelete