BLOG TOUR – All the Right Places: Short Stories by Wayne Goodman – #Excerpt #Giveaway

Purchase

Available in paperback and in ebook formats at distributors everywhere!

Amazon: Kindle | Paperback
B&N | Kobo | iBooks | Smashwords

All the Right Places by Wayne Goodman

Wayne Goodman has a new gay spec fic/romance/historical fiction short story collection out: ā€œAll the Right Places.ā€

Publisher: waynegoodmanbooks
Cover Artist: Wayne Goodman
Release Date: March, 2020
Length: 46k words / 228 pages
Pairing / Genre: M/M, short stories, speculative fiction, romance, historical fiction, gay, collection, LGBTQ, queer

Add to Goodreads

Blurb

“All the Right Places” is a collection of short stories, most written for submission to anthologies or collections. Starting in the near future and proceeding to the near past, men interact with other men in the pursuit of love and companionship.

Excerpt

Rumpspringa

Gary had never seen the likes of the boy who just walked into Mixer, one of the more recent bars to open in Chelsea. He had a farm-hewn look, like he just stepped down from a tractor clenchĀ­ing a dried stalk of wheat grass between his teeth.

Something about this stranger seemed intriguing, invitĀ­ing, alĀ­luring. So out-of-place in this ultra-modern wash of dark walls, neon strip lights and fake smoke. The designer had set up the enĀ­trance so that each person walkĀ­ing in would emerge into the main room from a cloud of fog, like walking out of a dream.

And this seemed much like a dream to Gary. A hayseed hick in a flashy lower Manhattan gay bar. The kind of thing he used to watch at home on video late at night when he couldn’t make a good connection at the bar. Just like in the dream, or video, the bucolic lad walked up to him.

ā€œHello, I’m Elmo,ā€ the farm boy thrust out his rough-looking right hand, presumably to shake with Gary. UnforĀ­tunately, the surprisingly-different name sent him into a giggle fit. ā€œDid I say something wrong? I’m awfully sorry if I did. Perhaps I should just leave now.ā€ Elmo turned to go.

ā€œNo, wait, Elmo,ā€ Gary managed to blurt out before he started laughing again, almost spilling the pricey drink he had fought the jaded crowd to purchase. The liquid in the glass glowed blue in the light of the plexiglass bartop. ā€œCan I buy you a drink? Are you even old enough to be in here?ā€

The farm boy had a very fresh and youthful appearance, except for the roughness of his palms. Elmo gazed down into those work-worn hands before responding, ā€œI am not in the habit of accepting charity from strangers, but,ā€ and he glanced up at Gary’s shirt and then his face, ā€œI believe I am prepared to try something new toĀ­night. Oh, and yes, I just turned 21 last week. What are you drinking, sir?ā€

ā€œA Blue Moon,ā€ Gary responded as he pointed his free hand at the glass. ā€œTwo thingsā€ā€“he held up two fingersā€“ā€œFirst off, this is not a drink for rank beginners, and two, if you call me ā€˜sir’ again, the deal’s off.ā€ Elmo looked down. ā€œHey, up here, man. My name is Gary.ā€

Elmo looked up and smiled. ā€œThank you… Gary.ā€

And Gary returned the smile. Possible fantasy scenarios began to form in his overcharged imagination. ā€œDo you like beer?ā€

ā€œOf course!ā€ Elmo’s smile widened. ā€œWe have all kinds of beer at home: Apple Beer, Ginger Beer, Root Beer ā€“ā€

ā€œDo any of them have alcohol?ā€ Gary interrupted.

ā€œOh, no,ā€ his moppy head shook side to side, ā€œwe’re not supĀ­posed to drink alcohol.ā€

ā€œBut you do, Elmo, don’t you?ā€

A wicked smile spread across his face, ā€œOh, yeah, sure, but please don’t tell my pa.ā€

Gary gently grasped Elmo’s arm. ā€œDon’t you worry yourĀ­self none, Elmo, your secret is safe with me.ā€ He then turned to the bartender and ordered a lite beer. Once he had finĀ­ished settling, he took the bottle in his free hand and turned back to Elmo. ā€œI wish we could find a place to sit and chat, but this bar is so crowded.ā€

ā€œWhat about there?ā€ Elmo pointed to a cafĆ© table where two nattily-dressed men had just stood up.

ā€œWell, aren’t you my little lucky charm, Elmo.ā€ He guided them to the recently-abandoned seats. ā€œSo… what brings a nice young boy like you into a filthy old place like this?ā€ Once he had set the two drinks on the table, he waved his arms around to indiĀ­cate the space.

ā€œOh, no. This is far from filthy. If you want filthy, I can show you the cow stalls.ā€ Elmo’s head rotated around as he took in the new surroundings. ā€œAnd why did you start laughĀ­ing when I told you my name?ā€ He confronted Gary directly.

ā€œOhā€ā€“he smiledā€“ā€œit’s not a name you hear very often. The only Elmo I ever knew was the one on Sesame Street.ā€

ā€œIs that far from here? Is it in Manhattan?ā€

Gary burst out laughing. ā€œAre you for reals? Or are you just pranking me?ā€

ā€œI’m not sure I understand what you are asking me, sir–Gary.ā€ His wide eyes suggested his innocence to be sincere. ā€œWhere I live, there are quite a few of us–Elmos, that is. In fact, folks usually call me Elmo Number 2, or just Number 2 for short.ā€

ā€œYou are just full of surprises, Elmo Number 2.ā€ Gary grinned. ā€œAt first I had to suppress the urge to tickle you all over.ā€ He wigĀ­gled his fingers and moved his hands up and down.

ā€œWhy would you want to do that?ā€ Elmo sipped at the beer.

ā€œWell, a few years back there was this toy that… oh, never mind.ā€ Elmo seemed focused on Gary’s shirt. ā€œIs there someĀ­thing wrong with my shirt? You keep looking at it.ā€

ā€œOh, no.ā€ He blushed. ā€œIt’s the color. It’s what drew me to you.ā€

ā€œBlue. Blue is what made you bee line from the door up to me and tell me your name?ā€ Elmo nodded his head. ā€œThink you could you help me out with a bit of an explanation?ā€

ā€œOh, sure,ā€ he took another sip of the beer, ā€œAnd thank you for this. It’s not bad. You see, at home, that shade of blue has a special significance for us.ā€

ā€œHome?ā€ Gary gave him the once over once again. ā€œAnd where might that be, Elmo?ā€

ā€œLancaster, of course!ā€

ā€œOf course. I should have known. And you pronounce it way different from what I am used to. We say Lan-caster, but you call it ā€˜Lank-a-ster.ā€™ā€

ā€œReally? I’ve never heard it pronounced any other way.ā€

ā€œUhn huhn,ā€ Gary started searching out other faces, just in case this cute little fantasy disappeared into a dust cloud. ā€œSo… what brings you to New York, Elmo Number 2?ā€

The farm boy giggled, ā€œNumber 2. It sounds so different when you say it.ā€ He giggled again. Perhaps it was the beer kicking in. ā€œI’m on Rumspringa. Are you familiar with that?ā€

ā€œIs it some new drug?ā€ Gary stared down into his drink.

ā€œOh, no, silly. It’s my time to discover what the outside world has to offer before I commit to my adult life.ā€

ā€œI think I saw a movie about that. Are you Amish or something?ā€

ā€œSort of. We like to call ourselves Pennsylvania Dutch, but it’s very similar. My folks are more modern than some of the other groups.ā€

ā€œObviously.ā€

ā€œObviously?ā€

ā€œDon’t you people ride around in horse buggies? No elecĀ­tricĀ­ity, no cell phones.ā€

ā€œOh, that’s the older ones. We’re not so strict like that anymore.ā€

ā€œI see,ā€ Gary’s eyes wandered over Elmo’s body anew as fanĀ­tasies began to redevelop. ā€œSo… you’re in New York to see the sights?ā€

Meet the Author

Wayne Goodman has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area most of his life (with too many cats). He hosts Queer Words Podcast, conversations with queer-identified authors about their works and lives. When not writing, Goodman enjoys playing Gilded Age parlor music on the piano, with an emphasis on women, gay, and Black composers.

Facebook Profile | Facebook Page | Twitter (@wgoodmanbooks) | Goodreads | Amazon

Giveaway

Wayne is giving away a $25 iTunes gift card with this tour!
Enter via Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2 thoughts on “BLOG TOUR – All the Right Places: Short Stories by Wayne Goodman – #Excerpt #Giveaway

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.