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🌟 Please join me in welcoming author Ana Newfolk to Stories That Make You Smile! Ana his here today celebrating the release of the latest in her popular Made in… series, Made in Lisbon. She’s generously brought along both a giveaway and an excerpt, and is joining us to chat about her writing. Pull up a chair and read on to discover who Ana would pick to play her new characters! 🌟
Made in Lisbon by Ana Newfolk
When past and present clash, will the two men put everything aside and give themselves a chance at happiness? Or are the things keeping them apart stronger than their feelings?
Series: Made in… (book #5)
Publisher: Self Published
Cover Artist: Rhys Athanasiadis-Lawrence, Ethereal Ealain
Release Date: July 6, 2019
Length: Novel / 60k words / 227 pages
Heat Rating: 5 flames
Pairing / Genre(s): M/M Contemporary Romance, May/December, Hurt/Comfort
Made In Lisbon can be read as a standalone but will be better enjoyed as part of the Made In Series as characters and stories from previous books appear in this story.
Blurb
Three years after his husband’s death, Vitor is still grieving. Too young to be alone and too old to start again, he feels stuck. Accepting a new job in Lisbon is just what he needs, but it also means going back to the city that sealed his fate nearly thirty years ago.
Between looking for his missing brother and running an LGBTQ Youth Center, Tiago doesn’t have time for dating or commitment. When his best friend asks him to find a family member that ran away years ago, Tiago welcomes the distraction.
A past full of secrets.
An anonymous kiss that turns their world upside down.
When past and present clash, will the two men put everything aside and give themselves a chance at happiness? Or are the things keeping them apart stronger than their feelings?
Made in Lisbon is a 60k word May-December MM romance with hurt/comfort themes, lots of steam and a HEA.
Excerpt
Excerpt from Vítor’s POV
The doorbell rang right on time.
“Hey, sweets, how are you doing?” Luís asked before enveloping me in one of his big bear hugs. I allowed myself to melt into it before I answered.
“I’m okay.”
I’d met Luís on the same night I’d met Rodrigo at a student party. I’d been talking to Luís and had thought he was cute, but Rodrigo stole my heart from the first moment our eyes met. When Dri had stolen me away at the party I’d thought I’d never see Luís again, but when we’d bumped into each other at the university campus a few days later, we went out for coffee and ended up becoming good friends.
“Are you really okay?” He put a hand on my chin to tilt my head up so I could look him in the eye.
“I was going through Dri’s shirts earlier and it brought back some memories. Hey, I don’t suppose you want his shirts? You’re the same size.” Despite asking the question I was relieved when Luís said he didn’t feel right taking the shirts, and besides, he didn’t have any use for them since he was an artist and spent more time covered in paint than in nice clothes.
“So, where’s this dinner then? I’ve not eaten since breakfast in anticipation. And since the others aren’t here, I expect a mega portion.”
I smiled and guided him to the kitchen.
This house was Rodrigo’s indulgence. When he’d asked me to marry him, even before it was legal for two men to marry in Portugal, he’d promised he’d design the best house in the country. I never needed something so big, but the kitchen was the one part of the house I was grateful I’d allowed him to indulge in the design.
The food was perfect as always, then again, cooking this meal most Sundays for nearly thirty years, I could almost do it wearing a blindfold.
We ate mostly in silence, which was welcome because I was feeling out of sorts. I also wondered what was in Luís’ mind. In the nearly thirty years I’d known him I’d never seen him go longer than a few minutes without talking. Even when we were younger, he’d always been the one who would bring someone into the conversation by asking the right questions and making them feel like they were the only person in the room.
That was how he’d got me talking that night in the bar, until a single look from Rodrigo had made me feel like he and I were the only people on the planet.
The thought made me shiver. Luís looked at me but didn’t say anything.
Since it was just the two of us, I hadn’t bothered making dessert, but I had made an effort to get Luís’ favorite pastries.
“Have I ever told you how much I love you?” Luís said before stealing one of the mini palmiers part dipped in chocolate with a sprinkle of coconut.
“Several times.”
We took our coffees and a plate with the tiny pastries and sat in the living room facing the garden.
“What’s going on?” Luís asked before I had a chance to take a sip from my coffee.
“What do you mean?”
“Something’s not right.”
I took a deep sigh. What could I tell him? That I felt like part of me had died with my husband and the other part was slowly dying because my son wouldn’t talk to me? That I hated going to work because the desk next to mine was empty? Was three years too long to still be missing him? Or not long enough?
“Talk to me, sweets,” Luís said, putting his hand on my cheek and rubbing his thumb gently over my skin. I always loved how tactile Luís was, almost like touching people was part of his language.
“I don’t know what to say. I feel lost without Dri and Mateus won’t talk to me. I don’t know how to handle it all on my own.”
☆ Author Interview ☆
Congratulations on your new release. Please tell us a little bit about it. What’s your favorite aspect or part of the story? Do you have a favorite character? Who/Why?
Thank you! Readers that have been following the series will have heard of Vítor, Uncle Mário’s long lost brother. In Made In Lisbon we finally find out what happened to him all those years ago and how he’s getting his HEA. I think my favourite character is Filipe. He appeared briefly in Made In Manhattan alongside his big brother Bruno. He’s the cutest five-year-old ever and I loved writing him.
What was the inspiration for your latest story?
This story developed very organically from little details that appeared in Made In Portugal and Made In Manhattan. I’m not sure there was an inspiration as such. I think from the books I wrote so far this one was the one I had the least control over. Things just happened as the characters told me. Sounds really strange so I hope I’m amongst friends here and no one will call the white straightjacket guys.
Are you a planner or a pantser? How much do you know about your story before you start writing? How often does your plan change? Why does this work best for you?
I like to plot and I have a general structure I follow but I also make up as I go along. I like a degree of flexibility that allows me to follow what the characters are telling me. I normally know where the story is going generally and I’ll know what the HEA looks like but how they get there is the big unknown. I find it quite stressful no knowing what happens in the story but it does all work out in the end so maybe that’s just how it has to be for me.
Did any of the characters in this story lead the story astray of your original plan?
Yes! Fred. He was Isaac’s friend in Made In Manhattan and I brought him back in Made In Lisbon to help Tiago find his brother. As the story progressed Fred kept showing more and more of himself to me. We haven’t seen the last of him yet!
Tell us a little bit about your work(s) in progress!
I just finished a book that is part of a special project. I can’t say much about it but I can tell you it has a prince from a European country and a regular kind of guy from the UK. Think secret boyfriend, close proximity and two guys who fancy the pants off each other! It’ll be out in October. I’m now moving on to the last book in the Made In Series. It’ll be called Made In Love and will be out in November. I can’t reveal who the MCs are but if you read Made In Lisbon you can take a guess.
What are your favorite genres when it comes to your own pleasure reading? Do you prefer to read ebooks or print?
I write romance because I love to read it too. I enjoy reading all kinds of tropes and settings and love getting my teeth stuck into a good series. I find the kindle app on my iPad is the best to read at home because it synchronizes easily with everything else but if I’m on holiday I prefer paperbacks.
Who would play the main characters in a movie about your book?
When I wrote Made In Lisbon I found some photos of two Portuguese actors, Afonso Vilela and Diogo Morgado. They were the visual inspiration but if they played Vítor and Tiago for real I think I’d drop dead on the spot!
Winter, Spring, Summer, or Autumn (or Wet vs. Dry Season)?
I grew up in Portugal so regardless of the weather I just need it to be sunny and bright, even if it’s chilly. Living in the UK I get a lot more grey days which always make me feel sad and less productive. I come alive when the sun is out. Maybe I’m a reversed vampire!
eBook, paperback, or audiobook?
All three? I travel a lot in my job so I got used to listening to audiobooks while I’m driving. There are some narrators that are so good I will go immediately to the audio version of the book. Most of the time I read ebooks, unless I’m on holiday when I try to go back to my paperback roots.
Meet the Author
Ana Newfolk was born in Portugal but has lived in the United Kingdom for so long, even her friends sometimes doubt if she really is Portuguese.
After getting hooked on reading gay romance, Ana decided to follow her lifelong dream of becoming an author.
These days you can find her in front of her laptop bringing her stories to life, or in the kitchen perfecting her recipe for the famous Portuguese custard tarts.
Blog/Website | Facebook | Twitter (@ananewfolk) | Instagram | Pinterest | BookBub | Amazon
Also by Ana Newfolk
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