My latest free story is now available

Posted by Kerry Freeman

My latest free story “The Lifecycle of the North American Love Virus” is now available for download and online at the Goodreads M/M Romance group. Written for the group’s Love Is Always Write event, this story is based on a photo and prompt submitted by a group member Gina.

Original Prompt

I’m set in my ways, self-centered, perverse and often disagreeable…prone to fits of self-isolation and moodiness. I live a solitary life and I like it that way. However, as the staff meeting ends, The Dean informs us that each professor was to open their home and become Mentor to an aspiring apprentice. The Dean had given us all little choice. If you wanted improved lab facilities, take on an apprentice…or don’t and do without. The instant I laid eyes on him I knew I’d made a terrible mistake.

Blurb

You can download the story in PDF or read it online (if you’re a member of the M/M Romance group). Hope you enjoy it!

Wordy Wednesday - Excerpt from my Christmas in July short story

Posted by Kerry Freeman

*gasp* Another free short story?

Yep, there’s another one on the way, this one for the Goodreads M/M Romance Group’s Choose Your Own M/M Story event. The GR group came up with a great set of prompts, and I had fun writing this

Blurb

Buford is Santa’s right-hand elf, and he knows Christmas success hinges on one thing: his yearly pre-sleigh-launch good deed. This year, though, he’s not having any luck finding a deed that needs doing.

Santa’s son Michael works at the mall while he studies business management and the cute cashier he manages. The cute cashier doesn’t seem to even notice Michael, making Christmas less bright than it could be.

Buford decides matchmaking will be his good deed. Can he get Michael and the cute cashier together and save Christmas?

Excerpt

Walking the shop floor, Buford greeted the workers. He knew all three hundred by first name, and he made sure to talk to as many as he could. They were all working feverishly to finish the last minute items for all the new babies added to the list. It was the elves’ favorite part of the job.

“Hey Buford!” A rotund elf waved over a stack of rattles.

Buford smiled. “Hey yourself, Thomas. How’s the rattle business today?”

“Oh, you know how it is. Busy, busy, busy.” Thomas dramatically wiped his brow. “You still having everyone over for black-eyed peas and hog jowl on New Year’s?”

“You know it. Got to make sure everyone starts the year with good luck.”

Underneath the smiles and waves, though, Buford was worried. His first Christmas as CEO, he’d helped one of the elves with a huge problem (that year it was spending all night helping to repair a collapsed roof), and Santa’s trip went off without a hitch. Buford had immediately decided that his good deed had brought them luck, so the next year he’d helped another elf (this time by anonymously providing the elf’s mother with a hover chair). With two days to go until Christmas, Buford still hadn’t found someone to help.

As it was every day, Buford’s first task was to get a new to-do list from Santa. This morning, as most, he walked into Santa’s office as he was finishing up a video chat with his son Michael, who was studying for his MBA at the University of Alabama (a Claus tradition).

“Of course I can make sure to deliver that package. It’s not like I won’t be in Tuscaloosa already.” Santa’s hearty laugh vibrated the glass walls of his office.

“Thanks, Pop.” Michael’s voice was unusually somber. “I just want him to have a good Christmas.”

“I know, Son. Don’t worry. I’m sure it will all work out.”

Michael huffed. “Don’t be so sure. He doesn’t even know I’m alive.”

“Now Michael, don’t be so grim.” Mrs. Claus’s voice, bright and clear, echoed from the speakers. She often joined the chat from home. “How could he not?”

“It’s complicated, Ma.”

As Buford listened, it suddenly occurred to him that this was his opportunity to help. Michael might not have been an elf, but he was family. He quickly retrieved the day’s list from Santa and was happy to see it was very short.

He had plenty of time to take the sonic sleigh down to Tuscaloosa.

Can’t wait until everyone gets a chance to read it! It will be posted on Goodreads and my website (both free) in July.

Wordy Wednesday - Excerpt from my upcoming free short story

Posted by Kerry Freeman

Last summer, I participated in the Goodreads M/M Romance group’s Hot Summer Days event. It was a great opportunity to take a reader prompt and run with it. “Keep Me” was the story that resulted.

This year’s event, aptly named Love Is Always Write, had a lot of great reader-submitted prompt, but one really spoke to the geek in me. It also resulted in the longest title ever

“The Lifecycle of the North American Love Virus” will be posted in the Goodreads M/M Romance group in June/July (specific date TBD), but here’s the blurb and excerpt to get you ready.

Blurb

Dr. Oswald Culpepper is an island unto himself. A respected infectious disease researcher, he is used to doing things his way and everyone else going along with it. When the new dean demands Oswald take on an apprentice like all the other researchers, Oswald is forced to agree. And when he sees Aiden Pearse walk into his lab, Oswald knows he’s in trouble.

Aiden is everything Oswald isn’t. Entertaining, gregarious, tall, dark, and gorgeous. Oswald should hate him on general principle. So why does he watch his new assistant when he thinks the young man isn’t looking? And how is he going to make it to the end of Aiden’s apprenticeship with his dignity intact?

Excerpt

Oswald ticked off the house rules as he led Aiden to the guest room. “No food or drink in the room. No loud music. No clothes left on the floor. No guests. Understood?” 

Aiden threw his duffle on the bed. “Just one question.” 

Oswald waved his hand. “Yes.” 

“Am I allowed to sleep on the bed? Or should I just curl up on the floor so as not to muss up the sheets?” 

“The bed will be perfectly fine. Just make it each morning.” 

Aiden chuckled. “Sure thing, Doc.” 

Oswald sighed, irritated at Aiden’s nicknaming habit. He’d already corrected Aiden twice that day. “Just be downstairs in thirty for dinner.” He spun on his heel and dashed for the door. 

“Yes, dear,” said Aiden before shutting the bedroom door. 

In the kitchen, Oswald slammed one cabinet door after another. He’d originally wanted spaghetti for dinner, but he could only imagine what kind of mess Aiden’s burly hands would make trying to eat it. Grilled chicken and vegetables it was, then. 

He was already furious, but the “Yes, dear” had just taken the cake. Aiden was like all the rest. He saw Oswald’s slight body, average stature, and delicate features and immediately assumed he was submissive, needed taking care of. Oswald didn’t even question that Aiden was gay. Oswald was never wrong about that. 

He heard heavy steps approaching as he plated dinner. Turning with food-laden china in hand, Oswald was again mesmerized by the bottomless eyes staring at him. Aiden’s tongue swept across his lips, and Oswald momentarily wondered what it would taste like. 

“Wow, that smells delicious!” Aiden smiled and patted his stomach. “I’m starving. Haven’t eaten since I got to the airport this morning.” 

Oswald tried not to be happy that his efforts were appreciated. He placed the food on the small breakfast nook table and took a seat across from Aiden. Aiden saw the full tea glass next to his plate and took a huge swig. Oswald watched Aiden’s prominent Adam’s apple bob up and down as he swallowed. 

“Oh, that is good.” Aiden smiled. “There’s no substitute for good sweet tea. One of the best things about being back in the South.” 

“You didn’t like San Francisco?” 

“I loved it. Nothing like being able to walk down the street and be yourself, you know?” 

Oswald didn’t know. He’d never been to San Francisco. Come to think of it, he wasn’t sure he’d been anywhere he’d felt comfortable being himself. “So why did you leave?” 

Aiden stabbed his chicken with his fork and cut off a hefty chunk. “I missed my family. My sister is getting ready to have twins, our family’s first grandchildren. I didn’t want to miss them growing up.” 

Picking at his food, Oswald thought back to his own family. An only child raised by older parents who were both scientists, he’d had no living grandparents as a child, and both his parents had long since passed away. At forty-five, Oswald was completely alone in the world.

If you’re a member of the Goodreads M/M Romance group, you can read the story there this summer. I’ll also post a free PDF on my website.

So, spill: have you ever had a crush on a co-worker? What did you do about it?

Tell me what to write for the holidays

Posted by Kerry Freeman

The Goodreads M/M Romance group posts monthly polls to allow members to choose a set of prompts for a writer to turn into a short story. This month the polls are for me! Vote on which crazy prompts I will use to write a new, free short story by Christmas.