Author Post: Jayden Brooks and That's Who I Am

Smoocher's Voice is happy to welcome Jayden Brooks to the Blog. Jayden recently published her first book: That's Who I Am, with Dreamspinner Press. 

Jayden:

My main character, Jared, has a habit of blurting out whatever pops into his head. Living life without a fully functional filter is something I think many of us can relate to. I know I can.

There’s been many a day where I opened my mouth, brain screaming at me to zip it, and said some pretty embarrassing crap. Sometimes I’m hyper aware it’s happening, but like a train wreck I’m absolutely helpless to stop the carnage. Other times, I won’t realize the err of my mouth until I have a chance to sit and reflect. I’m not sure what’s worse.

I’m going to share an example of one of my more recent, but epic flubs. This one has been eating at me for a while.

I have an itty-bitty fangirl obsession with a certain go-go dancer and his main squeeze. One day, after a few glasses of wine for fortification, I sent an email. I rambled a bit, but otherwise it was fairly straight forward, I was asking for permission to use a photo. Weeks go by and I don’t hear back, I was a little bummed, but I knew he was on an extended tour so I put it behind me, figuring it wasn’t going to happen. Then out of the blue, he sends me a Facebook friend request. And this, right there, is the point when my brain went on hiatus.

I can sweep in and competently handle a disaster with a calm head and a steady hand. I’m serious, even if it involves one of my children (two or four legged) and copious amounts of blood. But a happy surprise will trip me up. Every. Single. Time.

So as I’m scrambling in shock at his merely sending me a friend request, screeching like banshee… he sends me a pm. And I was done. My oxygen starved brain ceased all non-essential functions. That’s the only excuse I have. Even with the benefit of not having to immediately respond, of having the opportunity to stop and think before I hit send… my little piggy’s flew across the keyboard and let fly responses that would convince anyone that I was not competent enough to write a grocery list, much less a book. I goobered all over the nice man. Needless to say, the photo thing didn’t happen, I think it was mostly due to bad timing, but I’ll never be 100% certain.

Do you have an embarrassing story? I’d love to hear it.

Blurb:

Jared Winters’s life has been little more than a collection of moments where he didn’t think before opening his mouth. Always a bit different, he’s learned to accept an existence on the outside looking in. But one day, his mouth lands him in a position that nearly costs him his life. Only the timely intervention of Sophie, his twin Conner’s ex-girlfriend, saves him.

Siblings Sophie and Donovan Carrigan step in and offer support, comfort, and a place to call home. Under their care, Jared begins to heal and learns to trust just enough to act on his attraction to Donovan. He just hopes it’s worth the risk.

Dreamspinner link:

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5147

Author Bio:

Jayden Brooks is a pretty cool chick. Just ask her friends. She's a woman of great mystery and suspense, but she can't tell a lie without confessing. She's fond of gingers, tea, and tales of hot men falling in love with each other—not necessarily in that order. She lives in the suburbs of Chicago with her family, a golden retriever who goes by the name of Mickey, and a cat who wandered in one day and never left. More than anything, she believes that love is love, and everybody deserves a chance at a happily ever after.

Contact Jayden:

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