I’m currently revising my first mm romance, Art History, and I’m hoping to release it before Christmas. Here’s the pitch:
Professor Sebastian Tate has a big problem in the shape of Woodlawn College’s new president Derek Morton. Not only is the new guy threatening to cut most of his art department classes, but Sebastian finds himself surprisingly drawn to Derek’s sunny personality. Sebastian’s brooding about his career clears when he realizes that Derek is actually his childhood friend–and his first love. As soon as they celebrate their reunion, they’re pushed away from each other by professional intrigue and an old family scandal that may force Sebastian to give up this easy happiness and hide from the world. Will Derek and Sebastian fail to reconcile or is their love story a date with destiny?
This book started as a writing exercise. I no longer remember the prompt, but the image of Sebastian Tate appeared in my head just before a stack of paper fell on him. The hapless professor and main character of Art History had a less-than-heroic introduction, but there he was in all his grumpy glory.
When Derek showed up a few weeks (in writing time) later, I knew he was going to be the sun that chased the cobwebs away, but not without a great deal of confusion and grumbling from Sebastian.
Once these two entered my head, they started telling me their story. I hadn’t yet heard about “grumpy-sunshine”, though I’d read and enjoyed it in plenty of stories. When I realized I was unintentionally hitting on a popular trope, I chalked it up my characters knowing better than I. To be fair, I just type out what they do.
Check back to hear more about Woodlawn College and hints at the next two books in the series.