Please give a hearty welcome to Freddy MacKay

Hello everyone! I am Freddy MacKay.

Edward has been kind enough to let me stop by today and share with you.

I’ve answered some questions, included some links, blurbs and an excerpt of my upcoming release, Incubation: Finding Peace 2, for you.

At the end of it all is some info about a contest Edward and I are having, so stick around and let us know what you think! J

Questions

Q1: Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I am the middle of three children and have basically lived most of my life in the Midwest except for a short stay in France and a couple stays in Thailand. I love all things science and geocaching. *Nods*

Q2: Could you tell us about the Finding Peace series?

It centers on a group of friends on the fictional campus of Capstone Ridge University and covers all their ups and downs as they grow, and ultimately, find peace with themselves, who they and their choices in life. I wanted a series that explored reality and how real-life can affect a group of people. Let’s just say not much is off limits in this series.

The first few books center around David McCourt, who is a transfer student and has had a lot of tough knocks. He is basically the piece of a puzzle that sets everything in motion, including resolving an incident 28 years before.

The book being released this weekend is the second book of the series, called Incubation.

Q3: If we were to look on your bookshelf, who would we find?

Mostly Simon R Green and Richard Dawkins, then a bunch of historical books. *Shrugs* I am a card carrying nerd. I won’t deny it.

Q4: What is your favorite thing to do to relax?

Walk, hike, or swim, depending on where I am.

Q5: Can you share any projects that you are currently working on with us?

I am writing the third book to the Finding Peace series as well as working on several other stories. I try to alternate what I’m writing – sweet vs serious – so I don’t develop cavities or weight myself down. 

How to Find Freddy

http://freddysstereograph.weebly.com

http://freddymackay.blogspot.com

freddy.m.mackay@gmail.com

For my FREE flash fiction pieces, if you would like a taste, you can go to: http://freddymackaysshorts.blogspot.com

Short Blurb

David McCourt settles into his new family, one surrounding and protecting him. He should open up and let go of his past. But even with everyone cheering for his recovery, David feels too close to the edge of losing everything.

Long Blurb

David McCourt's makeshift family moves in together and forms a protective cocoon around him. But they don't know David's whole story and he finds the constant noise a distraction instead of a help.

Bobby, Chris, and Austin want to help David however possible—but he needs to open up.

Jackson crossed a line he never thought he would. He wants to take a chance with David, even if his dreams of a normal life are firmly rooted with Alyssa.

The group has the makings of a rag tag family, but secrets—old and new—threaten their fragile bond. The community takes sides and David ends up where he doesn't want to be: the center of everything.

Content Advisories: This has references to rape or near rape, and has MF and MM scenes.

‘Running’ Excerpt

Lying in his hospital bed after everyone's visit, David stared at the ceiling, wondering what to do and where to go. He had been in the hospital for two weeks already and was well on the path to recovery. The afternoon had been an enlightening experience. To have Austin yelling at him, telling him that his attack hurt everyone and not just him… the open emotions on Austin's face had David in awe. His friend, everyone who had been there, wanted David to be well, to be happy, and had mourned what had happened. It didn't look like they were going to leave him. Bobby, Austin, Chris… everybody planned on sticking around even after he had kept secrets about his sexuality and had been attacked.

David's fingers twitched and his breathing quickened. Memories of his… incident resurfaced, playing vividly in his mind's eye. Fighting the images, David's arms flew out in front of him, meeting nothing but air. Confusion swamped David when nothing hit back. His heart pumped hard; his temples pounded with his ragged breathing.

Fuck. David forced air into his lungs. What the hell is happening to me?

Damn, he really needed to get a grip. David had no reason to be feeling so out-of-sorts. The hospital would keep him safe and taken care of, and it seemed his friends would be sticking around. At least for now. David wasn't sure how long everything would last. It scared him to think about what would happen if they got fed up with everything and rejected him. They were refusing to back down and insisting to be a part of his life. David didn't know how he felt about them staying.

"David?"

He jerked, frightened, before he realized who was in the doorway. Nancy, his favorite nurse, stood just inside the room, one hand on her hip.

Nancy's concerned green eyes bore into him.

David cleared his throat. "Yes?"

Her warm hand touched his sweaty face.

When did I start sweating?

"You okay, David?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I just—"

Nancy smiled. "You had a lot of commotion today, didn't you? Way more than you're used to right now."

"Yeah." David gulped, trying to get his dry throat working. "It was… I dunno."

"Overwhelming?" offered Nancy, no censure or pity in her voice.

David did a shake-nod.

"You didn't expect them to be so worried about you, did you?"

"I… I guess not."

Nancy arched an eyebrow at him but said nothing, just patting David's cheek instead. She looked at his dinner tray and sighed. She pointed down at his not-even-half-eaten plate. He shrugged.

"Is the food hurting your throat?" Nancy poked at some of the items on the tray.

"Sort of," lied David. He didn't want to say his appetite was nonexistent. The omission would open up all sorts of questions, and David hadn't gotten his own thoughts straightened out enough.

Sighing, Nancy picked up the food with one hand. "I'll try and find something soft for you to eat."

David gave Nancy a smile.

She squeezed his arm then turned, leaving him alone in the room and back to his own thoughts. She was right. Having everyone in the room had been overwhelming. Nancy pegged that one on the nose.

Bobby, Chris, Austin, Jackson, Eddie, Jon, Becca, and Ito had made it more than clear they wouldn't let him go. How was he supposed to keep everyone safe? All of them had their own lives. What if one of the attackers or friends of the gang who… hurt me… decided to go after the boys or Jon and Becca? David knew he never wanted to step another foot in his dorm room again. He would bet the bathroom had bloodstains, and even if it didn't, David would feel like the blood was still there.

How could he go back to the dorms? David shook his head, his hands clenching the bed sheets, the fabric rubbing between his fingers. No, he knew there was no way. He wouldn't feel or be safe, and worse, the boys would be in danger.

David needed a safe place to go, but on a campus like CRU, would there be one? His heart sank the more he thought about what life on campus would be like. David had wanted anonymity and peace, to just move on. After being attacked, he wasn't sure he would have either.

Maybe I should consider transferring.

Cringing, David remembered the hassle he went through to get into CRU. David sighed and rubbed his eyes. He didn't want to have to deal with all that shit again. Not to mention he was in the middle of the semester. He couldn't just leave… could he? He had to finish the fall semester out at least… but… David groaned. Finishing the semester meant the dorms, and he couldn't go back to there. The whole thing turned into one nasty circle and he didn't see a way of getting out of the circus his life had become.

His head pounded. Frustration made his chest tight and his breathing sharp and quick. He wouldn't be safe in the dorms. Who knew about campus? But to David, that didn't really matter. What really worried David? How Bobby, Chris, and Austin would face everyone. They didn't need crap getting thrown on them for having been associated with him.

Austin said they'd get through everything together. Even Dr Ito, Jon, Becca… everyone wanted to work through David's attack and the fallout together. David just didn't see how.

The attack had been on him. He had to deal with it. Not them. They would be caught in one giant mess of political posturing, and David didn't want that kind of life for his friends. Things could get ugly. From what Eddie said, Mike grew up locally, on one of the ranches.

No, they definitely hadn't heard the end of this. The ranchers would regroup and come back at him, retaliate somehow. Somebody would get hurt.

Wincing, David's hand went to his chest. A sharp pain seared into his heart. Panic infused every cell.

Fuck it all.

Rubbing at the tightness, different images flashed through David's mind. Some were of his friends. Others, ones he didn't want to deal with, were of him. The agony of his attack, the expressions of pure hatred on those boys' faces—everything came to a screaming halt in front of him.

His friends may want to stick around, but David wouldn't let them get hurt because of him. He had to look for his own place. He'd get an apartment somewhere off campus. It would give him… his friends… some room and keep them out of harm's way.

David's free hand went to the call button on his headboard. Pressing it, he tried to figure out what he would say when one of the nurses responded. He also tried to settle his frazzled nerves and stomach. He didn't know what was going on, but he needed to get himself under control.

"Yes?"

Damn, it wasn't Nancy. "Um, would it be possible to get a newspaper or a local listing? I need to start apartment hunting."

"Sure thing, David."

The crackle from the speakers went silent, and David inhaled a shaky breath. His mind screamed to get the hell out of the room, but he had nowhere to go and didn't understand why he felt such an innate need to run from everything, especially after everyone had been so understanding and supportive.

Excerpt End

Buy Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/coming-soon-c-2/products_id/857/

Contests!

Edward and I are both giving away a copy of our releases this weekend.

Leave a comment and email address below and you’ll be entered to win a copy of

Incubation: Finding Peace 2.

If you would like a chance at winning a copy of Edward’s Weekends, then hop on over to my blog, read and do the same!