Author Chat with Amy Tasukada

Afternoon all! My guest today is author Amy Tasukada, who is talking about her part in a new Christmas anthology. I’m a fan of Sato and Aoi, (and stories set in Japan)… so I’m very happy to get another story to add to the collection.  And with Make the Yuletide Gay being anthology, we all get another four stories to enjoy and another four couples to discover alongside Aoi and Sato.

So, first of all, let’s find out how it all started.

What made you want join the Make the Yuletide Gay Anthology?
The other authors in the anthology and I have been critique partners for a year now. I wanted to do something with them so when Nell asked me I had to say yes.

Can you tell us a little more about the new main characters of this short story?
The story deals with Aoi an erotic voice actor and Sato a super nerdy accountant who loves robots. They’re a very opposite couple and have been dating for three years.

Why made you decide to write a New Year rather than a Christmas story?
All of my stories take place in Japan. Christmas is more of an ‘eat KFC with your lover’ thing there and I already wrote a story about Aoi and Sato during Christmas. I craved friend chicken every time I would work on that story. I like to show different Japanese traditions in each of my stories, so I decided to spend some time on New Year traditions with this story.

Aoi makes mochi to impress his boyfriend’s family. Can you tell me more about the food?
Mochi is made from beating rice. Think of it like a gummy marshmallow. It can be sweet or more savory depending what you put over or inside it. My favorite is mochi with sweet red bean paste… oh no! Now I’m craving mochi.

Can people read more about Aoi and Sato?
Of course. Aoi and Sato are part of my Would it Be Okay to Love You? Series, which currently has three books out. I also give away a short story every month dealing with them. It’s like peek into what it looks like to make that happy-ever-after happen. To sign up go to my website www.amytasukada.com

What other projects have you been working on?
Besides putting out a short story every month, I’ve been finishing up the third book in my Yakuza Path series. It’s an m/m thriller series about the Kyoto mob. One Thousand Cranes, the third in the series comes out in less than three weeks!

 

Make the Yuletide Gay

Sleigh bells ring—are you listening?
It’s that time of year again, and we have the perfect way to get you in the mood: A free anthology! Five holiday stories that are guaranteed to warm your heart, heat up your cold nights, and most importantly: Make your yuletide gay.

A Christmas Party to Remember by Nicky Spencer
Last Christmas, Cory and Wes made a connection that left them both thanking Santa. But when Cory doesn’t show up for their first date, Wes swears he won’t make that mistake again. This year, can Santa’s magic find a way to bring them back together?

Let’s Not Go Crazy by Stephen Hoppa
The holidays are stressful enough without Ethan’s boyfriend Nate trying to kill him with Christmas cheer. But Nate’s found a whole new way to torture Ethan when he reveals that he wants kids. Will their conflicting desires tear their relationship apart, or will they find a way to ring in the new year stronger than ever?

Captain Jack and the Snack Attack by Addison Albright
Two men determined to win the same treasure at a charity silent auction, a wayward kitten, grumbling tummies, and a dilemma: what’s the correct gift-giving etiquette for a first date that’s mere days before Christmas, and what could possibly go awry with this merry combination?

The Christmas Day Date by Nell Iris
One rainbow Christmas tree in harm’s way and an afternoon spent eating far too many cookies, equals two men with changed holiday plans. But how does that translate into a date?

The Year of the Monkey by Amy Tasukada
The last thing Aoi wants to do for New Year’s is spend it with his boyfriend’s parents, who were far from thrilled when their son came out. Can Aoi warm their hearts making traditional mochi or will they end up in an even stickier situation?

Available for free at:

Apple Books | B&N | Kobo | Smashwords | Scribd

NOTE: It’s also available at Amazon, but despite us working our behinds off for a week to get them to make it available for free, they still haven’t lowered the price (as I write this). So please, please, please, get it at any of the other stores. If you’re a die-hard Kindle fan, you can get a .mobi at Smashwords. You don’t even have to register for an account at Smashwords if you don’t already have one, just click the mobi-button and it will download automatically! For free, as we intended!