Novelist Aiden Ainslie chats with me today about his new contemporary MM romance, King of the Mountain.
During his virtual book tour, Aiden will be giving away a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit his other tour stops and enter there, too!
Bio:
Aiden Ainslie lives in the Diablo foothills, east of San Francisco. He grew up in various small towns and loves to draw on that small-town feel for his romances: the sense of community but also the petty grievances, intrigue and rivalries.
According to Aiden, setting and mood are critical parts of a romantic story; hence he is always taking pictures of romantic settings to be used in future novels. Check them out on his website www.aidenainslie.com
When Aiden is not writing or listening to audiobooks, he likes to cycle and hike. During those solitary pursuits, he dreams up the characters and plots for his MM Romance novels. He also enjoys zipping around town on his motor scooter, drinking coffee at the local coffee shops, and watching people to get inspiration for his writing.
Welcome, Aiden. Please tell us about your current release.
Clifford Du Frey is the “King of the Mountain”, a superstar athlete at the top of his game, gunning for the ultimate prize of his sport: winning the Tour de France. He appears to have it all – money, success, and a throng of adoring female fans wherever he goes. But he is a closeted bisexual who struggles to understand his attraction to a young art student, Gabe O’Reilly.
Clifford tries to stay focused on his mission of winning the tour and keeping his relationship with Gabe at the “good buddies” level. But, behind Clifford’s cool façade lurks a man in utter turmoil who is increasingly distracted. How can he reconcile his career with his love? And does Gabe even return his feelings?
The action takes place against the stunning backdrops of Paris, Southern France and California.
What inspired you to write this book?
I am a keen cyclist myself, and the TV coverage of the Tour de France is an annual sporting highlight for me. It is a thrill to see the riders battling it out through the spectacular scenery dotted with quaint villages, French Chateau and ancient monasteries. The setting simply begs for romance.
I did some research and was surprised to learn that there has never been an openly gay rider in the Tour de France. That got me thinking. What if? What if the leader of the Tour de France, who has to be single-mindedly focused on the race, finds himself distracted by a burgeoning attraction to a guy? That would make a good story, wouldn’t it? Especially if the romance starts in Paris!
Excerpt from King of the Mountain:
GABE
Cliff stood in the shallows. His pale skin gave him the quality of a Michelangelo marble statue. His body had magnificent, classical proportions. Every muscle was clearly defined as though chiseled in stone and smoothed to perfection under the loving hand of a master sculptor. I wondered if he realized just how beautiful he was. And I still found it hard to believe that he was giving me the gift of his time.
He watched me as I strode toward him and, when I shook the water out of my hair, he warned, “Don’t you dare splash me. I like to get in slowly.”
“I won’t splash you,” I said as I stopped in front of him. His eyes were unbelievable. The aquamarine of the water reflected off his blue eyes. I had the sensation of looking into a kaleidoscope of colors yet to be invented. I placed my hands on his shoulders and kissed him on both cheeks.
He was startled but did not back away. “What was that for?” he asked.
“We’ve not had a chance to greet each other yet – the French way. The way you taught me. And,” I continued, “to say I’m sorry.”
I gave him my sweetest smile.
“Sorry for wha….”
He didn’t get to finish the sentence because I folded one leg behind him and, in the most basic of wrestling moves, tipped him backward into the water.
The look on his face was priceless, and I burst out laughing when his head emerged, spluttering and cursing.
He reached out a hand and said, “You can at least help me up.”
I took hold of his hand and found myself yanked off my feet with Cliff dunking my head underwater. I shook myself free and rose from the waves to see Cliff making a run for the beach. I lurched after him, tackled him, and dragged him back into the water. He laughed and spluttered till he gained his footing and rounded on me, grabbing my waist, the most ticklish part of my body. He held me tight with one arm curved around my chest while his free hand tickled my hip bone without mercy. I giggled and squirmed helplessly in his arms.
We horsed around in the water like a couple of drunken teenagers. Drunk on sunshine, drunk on life, drunk on L… I didn’t dare to complete the thought. Who was I to think a man like Clifford du Frey would fall in love with me?
What exciting project are you working on next?
To date there are three books in the Love at Lake Clyde series. They are King of the Mountain, Master of the Wild, and Ruler of the Waves. I am currently working on the fourth and final book in the series: Lord of the Sky.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I loved literature at school and avidly read Jane Austen, Emily Bronte and other classics. But then life intervened and I embarked on a career in engineering and IT. Five years ago I revived my love for writing, took some classes, and started working on my first novel. Then, during the pandemic, my employer offered severance packages. I grabbed the opportunity to quit my day job and now I write full-time.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your workday like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I treat writing like a half-day job and go down to the local library for about four hours on most weekdays. I need that discipline so that I am not tempted to have one hand in the refrigerator and the other in the cookie jar every fifteen minutes.
The rest of the time I do get sucked into dog walking, yard work and other chores. But I also make time for the gym and to go cycling and hiking because that is my “creative time”. I get all my good ideas while out in nature and on the move.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
We have two dogs at home and I am often amused to watch them as they turn about in circles to get their dog beds and blankets arranged “just so” before lying down. I’m a bit like that when I set up my writing space. It takes me a good ten minutes to find a spot with the right amount of light, arrange my laptop with its complete road-warrior kit, lay out my notepad, favorite water bottle, etc. And when there is nothing left to procrastinate over, I begin to write.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be an architect, but I did not have enough artistic talent. The cool thing is that in my writing I can express my love for architecture. It is no accident that the second MC in “King of the Mountain”, Gabe, is an art student who enthuses over the cathedrals and other old buildings in France.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
King of the Mountain is a stand-alone romance but it is also book 1 in the Love at Lake Clyde series. Throughout the series, I try to portray relatable characters who have strengths and weaknesses like all of us. And, just to be different, I have them participate in sports like cycling, sailing and cross-country, which don’t often get the limelight in romance novels.
Links:
Website | Facebook | Amazon for King of the Mountain | Twitter | Bookbub | Goodreads | Amazon for Love at Lake Clyde series | King of the Mountain (Love at Lake Clyde #1) by Aiden Ainslie | Goodreads
Thank you for featuring this interesting interview.
Who influenced you to be a writer!
Do you have a favorite snack or beverage that you feel you must have while writing?
Thank you for hosting me! I had great fun doing the interview.
As to the questions, I always carry a supply of nut-and-yogurt bars and frequently reward myself with one. Nuts and yogurt are health foods, not so ;).
My mother was a great amateur theatre enthusiast so I grew up around theatre and literature. And I was lucky to have a very inspiring English teacher at high school. Even though my formal career took me down an Engineering/IT track, I never forgot his words of encouragement. He told me I should aim to be an author one day.
I am sad to hear that your current WIP will be the last in this series but I am excited to read the story and to see what stories you will have for us readers next.
The blurb sounds really interesting.
How many hours a day do you write?
Tracie, the short answer is “not enough”!
I try to write about three hours a day but a third of that time is spent editing the previous day’s writing. Even though I keep hearing that one should “just let it flow” to get a draft out, I edit as I go along. I have accepted this as my way of working; it helps me keep the plot tight and the characters consistent.
Thanks so much for the thoughtful and insightful answer. I love to learn about process behind the book and wish you much happiness and success.
Fun author interview!! I enjoyed reading it and learning more about this book and the author!!