ABOUT BOUGHS OF EVERGREEN
Boughs of Evergreen is a two-volume collection of short stories celebrating the holiday season in all its diversity. Penned by authors from the UK, the USA, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, these are tales of the young and the not-so-young from many different walks of life.
Themes of family, friendship and romance take readers on a journey through some of the major holidays, both past and present, including Thanksgiving, Advent, St. Lucia Day, Hanukkah, Eid, Saturnalia, Winter Solstice, Yule, Christmas and New Year. In each we find at the very least hope, and often love, peace and happiness.
Proceeds from sales of this anthology will be donated to The Trevor Project. The Trevor Project is the leading national organization [USA] providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24. For more information, visit: www.thetrevorproject.org.
Today our interview is with Matthias Williamson.
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About the Author:
Matthias Williamson has always had characters in his head. There were times when he was little when he couldn’t go to sleep because there was too much talking going on. He finally stopped one day and started writing what the characters were saying, and stories emerged. Finally, he’s finishing the stories.
Do you plan everything or just let the story flow? I’m a total pantser, well I think I can also be called a plantser, because sometimes I’ll be going and then all of a sudden, I’m plotting out where the next scene will go.
Do your characters ever want to take over the story?
Yup, my current WIP became a Threesome, because Aaron just had to keep showing up.
What drew you to the M/M genre in particular?
Josh Lanyon. And as a gay man, I remember growing up and not having anything positive to read. (I’m fairly old.)
Do you write in other genres besides M/M?
I do, I’ve got another pen name, where I touch on much more racy things.
What is your favourite food?
Something I created at work, I asked for a Chicken Quesadilla without the tortilla and had it placed on a bed of french fries. It’s my version of Irish Nachos.
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
I’m both, I find that I’m not a mid-afternoon person. I can go to bed at 1am, wake up at 6am and crash around 2pm right after lunch.
Where do you dream of travelling to and why?
I’d love to go to England, because I’ve got so many friends over there. And Genoa, Italy, I’ve got a passion for the Middle Ages. I’ve got a sick desire to travel the path of the black death. (Oooh, plot bunny)
Do distant places feature in your books?
I’m working on an Urban Fantasy, it’s fun to tweak places.
Do you listen to music while writing?
Yes, I’ve got several playlists on Spotify. In fact, I create playlists and then stories pop in my head when I hear them.
Holidays with Drum and Bell follows the relationship of two high school boys, it begins with Christmas and ends just after graduation. The story touches on several holidays: Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, Saint Patrick’s Day, and Earth Day.
What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?
I’ve learned that if you don’t submit it, you’ll never know if it’ll get accepted. It’s like the story about the frog on the log. He wanted to get off the log, but he never did, because he always wanted to do it. He never did it.
Is there anything you would do differently?
Actually no, I think I needed to wait as long as I did to feel comfortable enough to submit when I did.
Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?
Everyone. I’ve never been surrounded by a more helpful group of authors. Encouraging, cheering, helping. From idols who chat with me online, to brand new discovered authors who are going through the same fears and joys that I am. I think being in this Anthology has also helped with support, as we are all constantly cheering on one another.
Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?
Ask questions, don’t be afraid to submit. Believe in what you are writing, listen to your beta readers and beta editors. Have fun, eat chocolate, dance in the rain. Because when you get that email of acceptance you’ll be jumping out of your pants. The last story I sold, I’ve looked at the email a hundred times to make sure it was accepted.
What are three words that describe you?
Jovial, naughty, & humorous.
What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?
Josh Lanyon, a couple of years ago, I read 25 of his stories. I’d just gotten my nook and I couldn’t read them fast enough.
Excerpt:
Holidays with Drum and Bell!
I jumped over the cliff without looking and asked, “And your heart wasn’t with your girl either?”
He gulped his coffee. “No. We fought because I wanted something else. I wanted someone more like…” He took another huge gulp of coffee. Speaking into the huge mug amplified his words. “More like you.” The blush rose in his cheeks.
Breathing coffee, not air , proved not to be the best thing. Coughing ensued, and by coughing, I really mean I was spitting it up as I laughed. Then I made the biggest faux pas. I couldn’t believe there was still coffee left in me, but the next thing I knew it was all over his chest . My face was bright red from the coughing jag and the blush of embarrassment. Foam was everywhere, mostly dripping from my nose, and if his shirt was any indication of what I looked like, I’m pretty sure I looked like a mess.
“Oh my god, Jeff… you…” Jonah ran to the counter and got a cup of water. He also brought some napkins, which he threw at me, and grabbed at my coffee. It was hot and slipped out of his hand, slamming onto the sofa, exploding between us. We were now both covered in latte foam. It was horrendous.
List of previous books if any: This is my first published story.
Any websites/places readers can find you on the web -
www.matthiaswilliamson.com
@MatthiasW65
https://www.facebook.com/MatthiasWilliamson65
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Giveaway:
One lucky winner will win all six stories
Matthias Williamson — Holidays with Drum and Bell!
Amelia Mann — Always Have, Always Will
Debbie McGowan — A Midnight Clear
Jonathan Penn — Homme for the Holidays
K.C. Faelan — A Little Christmas Magic
Ofelia Gränd — From All of Us to All of You
a Rafflecopter giveaway
That hat is pretty tame..lol Hope to read more of your stories in the future
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