Please join me in welcoming author Chloe Archer to Stories That Make You Smile. Chloe has kindly taken the time to answer a few questions for us. She’s also brought along a nice excerpt and a generous giveaway!
✨ Interview ✨
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I’m still figuring some of this out, to be honest. What I’ve learned is that I’m a big picture planner when it comes to mapping out a larger series. I can envision the major arcs for the series as a whole, how many books the series will have, and what the main focus of each book will be. However, when it comes to the individual books themselves, I tend to be about 20% plotter and 80% pantser (or, I prefer the term “discovery writer”). In other words, I plot out how the book starts and how it ends but that’s about it. Once I have that, I will usually start writing and try to figure out how I get from A to Z! When I plot out an entire novel in advance, I lose all passion and excitement to write the book. For me, I need to be taken along for the ride during my writing process. I need to be surprised along the way, just like the reader!
What inspired you to write When A Man Loves An Alien? What were the challenges in bringing it to life?
When I started writing Book 1 in the series, It’s Not Unusual To Be Loved by an Alien, I knew right away that River and Kai’s main love story was going to take four books to tell. River wouldn’t have it any other way. His story had to be epic! After all, the fictional story he writes about Captain Starblade and Lord Vardox is a long and exciting one too! This book builds on the two before it, continuing to delve into mysteries about River’s background, Kai’s unusual alien biology, and threats facing planet Earth from less friendly extraterrestrials.
It was challenging to write When a Man Loves an Alien for a few reasons. First off, since this was the third book in a continuing series, it was hard to keep track of everything that had happened so far and make sure I was keeping certain key story threads going. I also knew there were going to be several big secrets that were going to come out in this book, which I’ve been planning and building toward for a while, so I wanted to make sure that I could reveal them at appropriate times to have maximum impact. That was tricky. This book also introduces several new side characters, and I already have quite a few to begin with! Keeping track of all of them is no easy feat. River draws new alien friends to him like honey draws flies! I also felt a lot more pressure with this book to live up to reader expectations. There were quite a few times I experienced uncertainty about that. Like many authors, I have my moments when I struggle with “Imposter Syndrome,” and this book was no exception.
What’s your writing process?
I tend to start by brainstorming in my head first. I often do this while listening to music and walking my dogs. Sometimes ideas will come to me when I’m doing something else that sort of puts my mind in stasis mode, like doing dishes or while I’m in the shower. Once I’ve got ideas and the mental cogs are churning, I will move on to brainstorming on paper. Initial story ideas and notes stick with me better when I hand-write them first. I have notebooks and various sticky notes I use for this. I typically map out the preliminary plans for a series this way, and then narrow in on the main arc for the first book. Once I have the vision for how a book starts and how it will end, I move on to drafting.
The way that I write a first draft is almost 100% via dictation! I use an app on my phone. When I first discovered dictation, I jumped on it and never looked back. For me, it was a natural fit and I was an immediate convert. Stories come to me very visually and play in my head like a movie as I see things happening. Since I also hear my characters’ voices, I’ll do impressions of them when I dictate. When I do spicy scenes, I tend to use what I call my “phone-sex operator” voice. I get quite performative in the process!
I lightly edit my work on my computer once I finish a dictation session, but then won’t go back to edit more deeply until I have a complete manuscript. I typically do one major editing pass after I have a full draft before I send it to my beta readers. After I get their feedback, I do another round of edits before passing it on to my editor. I’ll do 1-2 more rounds of edits with that editor before it goes to the proofreader. After that, it gets formatted and published!
What are you working on now, and what’s coming out next? Tell us about it!
OMG, I am working on ALL the things! I am insanely busy.
I’m starting a new series this year, which will consist of interconnected standalone books that I’m describing as “Cozy M/M Monster Romances”—all set in a town known as “Monsters Hollow.” These are going to be spicy and cute monster romances that bring the heat and the humor to monster-lovin’! The free prequel novella for the series, “The Bogeyman and the Schoolteacher,” will be coming out as part of the “Class of 22/23” Prolific Works giveaway June 5-18th. Then Book 1, The Orc and the Manny: A Cozy M/M Monster Romance (Monsters Hollow #1), will be out September 22nd.
Additionally, I’m working on a story called “Dewey Decimals and Demon” that will be part of the Fated Mates: M/M Paranormal Romance charity anthology coming out September 1st. I also have a secret Christmas project in the works! All in all, I have lots of fun stuff ahead for readers. I can’t wait!
When a Man Loves an Alien
by Chloe Archer
Series: Tentacular Tales (Book 3) ~ It’s recommended to read the series book in order
Release Date: Friday, May 26 2023
Publisher: Rainbow Dreams Press LLC (self-pubbed)
Cover Artist: Natasha Snow
Primary Plot Arc: Romance
Pairings: M/M pairing (grumpy-sexy alien/sunshiny sci-fi nerd)
LGBTQ+ Identities: MCs are gay and pansexual; Side characters: gay, pan, genderfluid, demisexual
Genres: Romance, Science Fiction
Tropes: grumpy/sunshine, nerd, opposites attract, tentacles are fun, rom com
Length: Novel / 100,000 Words / 362 Pages
Keywords/Categories: gay, pan, genderfluid, demisexual, alieb, aliens, aliens on Earth, nerd MC, grumpy MC, tentacles, Las Vegas, intergalactic assassin, mates for life, Mating Fever, funny-sexy, M/M sci-fi rom com, funny gay romance, funny M/M romance, MM romance, gay romance, mm, gay, romance, humor, comedy, sci-fi, science fiction, giveaway
Series Blurb
Tentacular Tales is an M/M sci-fi rom com series that follows the adventures of humans falling in love with aliens who are living incognito on Earth–in the wild and fabulous, Las Vegas. Of course that’s where aliens would be hiding right under our noses! Enter a world full of plenty of geeky humor, zany shenanigans, sexy aliens, and tentacles galore! Think Men in Black meets The Princess Bride–but hella gay! Note: This series should be read in chronological order.
Book Blurb
A grumpy-sexy alien and his (mostly) human mate are just trying to get married for goodness sake! But the road to matrimony is riddled with obstacles that could prove deadly…
RIVER
Being engaged to my adorable alien boo is a dream come true. Too bad there’s a target painted on my back. Come on universe, quit messing with true love! For reals. Kai and I need to plan our wedding—which is going to be hella quirky and fun, because I say so.
Cue Shilgar the Deadly, who’s screwing up everything—what with trying to kill me and all. My life is becoming even more unbelievable than my fictional characters, Lord Vardox and Captain Starblade.
There’s no way I’m not walking down the aisle with Kai, so help me! I fully intend to ‘get me to the church’—I mean Vegas wedding chapel—on time. This fool of an assassin thinks he can mess with my dreams of wedded bliss? I don’t think so. He’s about to learn he’s met his match in River Sullivan!
KAI
My relationship with River is solid and wedding bells are in the air. Unfortunately, other parts of my life are…less stable. Between juggling a highly inconvenient Mating Fever that can strike at any time, and dealing with an investigator from Intergalactic Alliance Headquarters, I’m finding it hard to hold onto my usual equilibrium.
When Shilgar the Deadly finally shows up on Earth, gunning for River, the control I cling to is stretched razor thin. I’m desperate to do whatever I can to keep my mate safe—but I’m not sure if I can.
Yet things aren’t all that they seem. New secrets come to light and we’re all left reeling. Apparently, that famous Earthling playwright was correct when he wrote, “the course of true love never did run smooth….”
When a Man Loves an Alien (Tentacular Tales #3) is a (96k words) M/M sci-fi rom com and the third book in the series. It should be read in chronological order. This installment features an assassin who just won’t quit, little old ladies at slot machines who should NOT be messed with, a zipline action-hero moment, shocking secrets and revelations, a death-defying climax, and just maybe…a zany Vegas wedding? This book has an HFN ending and no cheating. Never fear—there is a guaranteed HEA by the end of the series!
Warnings: sex involving tentacles, some violence
Excerpt
“Step right up and get your Tentacular Tales merch! We’ve got T-shirts in all sizes, made to accommodate folks of various shapes and appendages.” My old neighbor—and incognito alien—Tom Jones holds up one of the aforementioned shirts. “For those die-hard fans of our favorite villain out there, we have our brand spanking—no pun intended—new Team Vardox FTW tees!”
There’s an enthusiastic murmur among the crowd. Tom drapes the shirt over his shoulder like a bar towel and plucks up another. “For the more daring among you, we have I got tentacled by Lord Vardox…and I liked it or Villain in the streets, Tentacled-Lover in the sheets.”
There’s some enthusiastic whistling at that one. He tosses it aside and grabs a different one. “And let’s not forget about our Starblade stans in the crowd.” There are answering whistles and cheers. “Of course we have Team Starblade FTW. We can’t let Team Vardox have all the fun! We also have I’m too sexy for this shirt, and so is Captain Starblade or Tentacle Lover on the DL. Get your favorites before we run out!”
Aliens of all shapes and sizes begin surging forward, cash in hands and other appendages, as they surround the folding table where Tom is selling his wares.
I shake my head in awe, turning to my super-sexy alien boo, and now fiancé, Kai. “Did you know about this?”
He shakes his head. “Nope. Looks like Tom took a cue out of your book and went the route of T-shirt design.”
I glance down at the black cotton tee I’m wearing. On the front, in multicolored sequins, it reads Team ANAL, and on the back it says in shiny metallic gold font, Kicking butt from here to Uranus. My design is a work of art and classy as fuck—it also promotes team spirit, thank you very much. I’ve had quite a few orders from folks at work already. “Just so you know, I’m going to keep wearing this until it grows on you.” I beam. “I’ve got a different colored one for each day of the week!”
Kai rolls his eyes but favors me with a teasing smile. “Save me now.”
I give his arm a light and playful smack. “You know you love it.”
His mouth twitches and he arches an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t go that far, darling. But I’ll put up with it for you.”
I clutch my hands to my heart. “OMG, honeybuns. You’re getting to be sooo romantic! You just called me darling. It’s like we’re an old married couple already.”
Kai flushes adorably pink and sputters. I love getting a rise out of him at moments like this. He can be a bit too tightly wound, so I have to help him let go of his iron grip on duty, responsibility, and propriety.
I’m like Yoda, teaching him the ways of the Fun-Loving Force.
A microphone crackles to life and my new friend Nirblob addresses the crowd from atop the small impromptu stage against the wall at the far end of the bar. “Good evening, friends, and welcome to Vardox’s Cantina. Tonight, it is my supreme pleasure to usher in our very first Open Mic night!”
There’s an enthusiastic round of applause and some loud whistles.
Nirblob grins, which admittedly is a little freaky since he has no lips. I still haven’t quite gotten used to that. “This evening, we are most fortunate to have a very special guest. Here to kick things off with a sneak peek from the next chapter in the Tentacular Tales of Captain Starblade, please join me in welcoming the one, the only, River Sullivan, a.k.a. KirklovesSpock4eva!”
The crowd goes wild, which in a super-secret alien bar can be a bit surreal. After all, this bar is mainly for extraterrestrials who don’t pass easily in human society, or ones who do but want the opportunity to be their true selves in a safe space. Some folks here make even Nirblob look somewhat ordinary. It’s a bit like being a real-life version of the Mos Eisley Cantina in Star Wars—only less violent!
“Looks like you’re up,” Kai murmurs, giving my arm a squeeze.
I grin. “Give me a kiss for luck, boo.”
He sighs at the endearment, but his eyes darken as he leans down and takes my lips in a way that makes me want to ditch this event and go get our freak on.
When Kai pulls back, I’m tingly all over and more than a little hot and bothered. But I’m pleased to notice, as he adjusts himself discreetly, he isn’t exactly unaffected either.
“Knock ‘em dead.”
I give him a jaunty little salute. “Aye, aye, captain!”
He can’t keep the fondness from his eyes when he tries to glare at me, which turns my grin into that of a lovesick fool. And I basically am. I have no qualms about owning it.
I make my way over to the stage, offering variants of high fives along the way—to a tail here, a hand with eight fingers there, a furry paw every now and then. Two months ago, I never could have imagined this would be my life. A longtime Roswell alien conspiracy believer and total X-phile, I—by some remarkable twist of fate—actually found aliens here on Earth, living incognito among humanity.
What are the odds?
🛒 Purchase Links
Available in Kindle Unlimited
Author Bio
Chloe Archer writes M/M sci-fi and paranormal rom coms with laugh out loud humor because she’s all about bringing the funny-sexy back. Oh, yeah!
She currently calls Minnesota home, but has lived abroad in places like Montreal, Edinburgh, and Tokyo. She’s hoping to relocate to Scotland permanently one day if the stars align.
Chloe is a fur mama to two adorable Yorkies, Jasper and Teddy, and she loves them in a crazy dog mama kind of way. When she isn’t busy writing, she enjoys visiting friends and family, traveling, reading, binge watching movies and TV shows, and practicing her karaoke skills. She does a mean cover of Pat Benatar and Cher, or so she’s been told.
Author Links
Giveaway
With this tour, Chloe is giving away
a $10 Amazon gift card:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
