Welcome to my weekly Author Spotlight. I’ve asked a bunch of my author friends to answer a set of interview questions, and to share their latest work.
Today, Tommy Ousslander – Tommy Ousslander makes his writing debut with Feral Creatures, a gay paranormal erotic thriller. The first of a possible series. He also plans on expanding his genres but always keeping the MCs part of the LGBT community.
Thanks so much, Tommy, for joining me!
J. Scott Coatsworth: What are you working on now, and when can we expect it?
Tommy Ousslander: Well, I am currently working on the sequel to Feral Creatures and I’m hoping for a late summer release.
JSC: When did you know you wanted to write, and when did you discover that you were good at it?
TO: Ever since I can I can remember and as for the second part of that question, the jury is still out.
JSC: What was your first published work? Tell me a little about it.
TO: That would be my novel, Feral Creatures. I am the worst at describing my own work but it’s about Billy a hustler and gogo boy who works at a dive bar called The Molly House and is drawn into the world of the supernatural. It’s a dark and dirty adventure but also about finding love and family, a place to belong.
There’s also a new take on what happens when you get bit by a werewolf that I think a lot of people will like and find interesting.
JSC: What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever done in the name of research?
TO: Going to a gogo/hustler bar for some lap dances. Of course, I had to go a couple of times to get the atmosphere right. lol
JSC: Have you ever taken a trip to research a story? Tell me about it.
TO: No but we just went to New Orleans which I have always been fascinated by and I got a lot of inspiration. So I am sure, it will influence some future work.
JSC: Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
TO: Yes, I do. It’s good to know what people think. Of course I prefer the good ones but either way the person bought my book and was moved enough to write about it. For better or worse.
JSC: Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre? If you write more than one, how do you balance them?
TO: I started with an urban fantasy because that is one of the genres I love to read. I do plan on trying other genres and I don’t forsee a problem keeping a balance. Knock on wood
JSC: How long have you been writing?
TO: I have been writing since I was a preteen. So a long, long time. lol
JSC: Are there underrepresented groups or ideas featured if your book? If so, discuss them.
TO: First off, it’s a gay romance so we have that. There are also people of color and others who are trans. The characters are also poor and the world they live in is on the fringes of society both human and supernatural.
JSC: Are you a full-time or part-time writer? How does that affect your writing?
TO: I write part-time but would love to be able to have the freedom to write full-time. Writing part-time just takes the projects that much longer to finish but I love doing it.
JSC: Are you a plotter or a pantster?
TO: I would say 50/50. I might start with a basic plot but how I get to get from point a to point b is wild seat of the pants ride.
JSC: What tools do you feel are must-haves for writers?
TO: Paper and pen and a little bit of imagination.
JSC: Where do you like to write?
TO: I would love an office or nice little nook somewhere would be nice but right now it’s dining room table. Which works out because I like to spread out with my notes and research.
JSC: What are your favorite parts of publishing?
TO: The feeling of accomplishment. That Oh my God, I actually did this and not just talked it to death.
JSC: If you had a grant to write any book you wanted as a freebie without worrying about sales, what kind of story would you like to tell?
TO: To be honest, the same ones I write now. Of course I want people to buy and climb to the top of the bestseller lists but for me it’s not all that. I love to write, to tell a story and entertain.
JSC: Tell us something we don’t know about your heroes. What makes them tick?
TO: Sex. both for personal pleasure and money. They also have a need to belong and to be recognized as worthwhile of love.
JSC: Who did your cover, and what was the design process like?
TO: I did the cover myself. This book was a one man band operation. I learned as I went, using a bunch of different free software and websites.
JSC: Who has been your favorite character to write and why?
TO: Brogan. He’s all bravado and id. The Irish alpha doesn’t give a shit. He’ll fight you and fuck you.
JSC: What was the weirdest thing you had to Google for your story?
TO: Bird shit and the anatomy/mechanics of it.
JSC: Let’s talk to your characters for a minute – what’s it like to work for such a demanding writer?
TO: Billy: He’s son of a bitch. What with the shit he puts me through.
Sheila: Girl, gots some issues, Aww right
Brogan: I don’t know he seems like a proper lad. Don’t know if he’s in love with but he def wants to fuck me. And could ya blame him?
JSC: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
TO: Rich, cause growing up poor was rough. Also an archaeologist (because of Indy), zoologist and cowboy. It changed from day to day but the one that stuck was writer.
JSC: Were you a voracious reader as a child?
TO: Yes, and I have to thank my mom for that. Piers Anthony, Jackie Collins, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, anything I could get my hands on.
JSC: Which of your own characters would you Kill? Fuck? Marry? And why?
TO: I would kill Billy because he would be my competition. Definitely fuck Brogan and I would marry Jin. In truth I would fuck them all. Is that an option? If not can we make it one?
JSC: Star Trek or Star Wars? Why?
TO: Definitely Star Trek. I grew up watching Star Trek and had a crush on Spock. Star Trek just seemd more possible and adult.
JSC: What’s your drink of choice?
TO: A cold beer and a shot of tequila. I have very basic tastes.
JSC: What’s in your fridge right now?
TO: Left over chinese, a chocolate protein shake and a bottle of prosecco.
And now for Tommy’s new book: Feral Creatures:
After a brutal attack that almost killed him, Billy discovered that the monsters from horror movies and myth really do exist, not realizing he was one of them. Now dancing and turning tricks at a dive bar called The Molly House, that caters to lowlife supernaturals, Billy searches for a home and the truth of what he really is.
Meeting Brogan, the sexy and dangerous Alpha of a pack of feral werewolves, Billy is drawn into a battle between Brogan and the High Court, the ruling body of the supernatural world.
When they discover the truth of what Billy really is, will he survive the fight to control him?
Get It On Amazon
Excerpt
Sheila found him on the back porch. He was shaking, pulling hard on cigarette. “You OK, babe?” She reached out for his shoulder. There was guilt for bringing him here and exposing him to this.
He jumped when she touched him. “Sorry. That shit put me on edge.” Billy’s eyes were watery but he still held back the deluge. The hard pounding of his heart hurt his chest.
“That was some fucking bullshit. I’m sorry that shit went down like that. I shouldn’t have let em hold me back.” Her voiced sounded sincere and she was. He didn’t jump this time when she reached out for him.
“I just need to get my shit under control.” Billy accepted her arms wrapped around him. He was not used to hugs from people who cared about him. It felt nice and warm. Unfamiliar. “You ain’t gotta apologize for nothing. I’m a big boy.” The left corner of his mouth turned up in a smirk.
She leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. They stood there in silence. It was a nice respite from the chaos and noise inside. From their lives. They looked up at the stars, their breathing falling in sync.
“I need to be drunk.” Billy laughed. “How about you?”
“Fuck yeah, I could go for a drink.” It was Brogan who answered. He swagged his way over. A big grin and straight back.
Sheila turned on him. “What the fuck, dude?” She slapped his shoulder. “That was so not cool.”
He laughed her off but there was a warning mixed in there. The first one was free, the second one might get you knocked out. “What? We were just getting to know each other.” His eye flashed gold, telling her to drop it. “Now, why don’t you go get us those drinks, eh Sheila?”
She didn’t want to leave Billy alone with him. “Billy, you cool?”
“Yeah, it’s all good.” Just when his heart started to beat normal, Brogan set it off again. Why am I so drawn to him? I can’t help myself. It was physical from balls to brain. He turned away to once again look at the night sky.
“See girl, we’re all friends here.” He pulled open the screen door for her. She hesitated, pointing a finger in warning at Brogan to behave, then headed inside for some beers. He threw up his hands to say who me.
The screen door banged shut behind her. Billy tensed, not sure where this was going to go. Brogan pressed up against him, leaving no air in between them. The air around them charged. Their connection magnetic. The push and pull of attraction to strong to avoid.
He placed a big hand with the rose tattoo on Billy’s shoulder, leaned down into his neck. “I thought we had connection.” His lips just brushing against the boy’s ear.
Chills race over his skin, unconsciously he shifted back against Brogan. The hardness of his body felt good. Hot and sweaty, the wolf smelled musky. The scent played with Billy’s senses. He swallowed hard.
“Me too.” He rolled his head to the left, exposing his neck to the wolf’s mouth. “Until…
Author Bio
Tommy Ousslander makes his writing debut with Feral Creatures, a gay paranormal erotic thriller. The first of a possible series. He also plans on expanding his genres but always keeping the MCs part of the LGBT community. His characters are the misfits of the world whether they be feral werewolves or dive bar gogo boys that populate the fringes of modern society.
He has had many careers such as mailman, party promoter and including honorably serving his country in the army until they asked and he told. Born in the Bronx, Tommy now lives in Westchester county, home of the Xavier Institute, with his husband and a rotating cast of family and friends and forster animals. He would love to eventually see one of his books turned into a tv series or direct to video B movie.