Chapter Three
From: Bastian Roche [bastian@]
Subject: LCC Photos
Hi Anders,
I hope you’re having a good week and have recovered from your weekend at LCC! I hope you didn’t get the nasty con crud that seems to be going around. Everyone I know has got colds—except me so far, but I’m not holding out much hope. I’m already feeling a little sniffly.
I’ve attached the photos I took for you.
I’ve edited them slightly, but it’s more just gentle corrections than photoshopping.
Besides, you don’t need that anyway! Also, I made one of them black and white in case you wanted something more editorial for your books.
If your publishers do use them, can you ask them to credit me, please?
I always forget to mention it, so I’m doing it now.
Also, I showed Lizzie—that’s my sister-in-law—the selfie of us, but she wasn’t convinced.
Then she showed me your current author photo, and I can see why.
Don’t worry, your new one makes you look much more handsome!
She did give me one of your books to read though—In the Shadow of the Gods.
I haven’t started it yet, but it sounds fun.
It’s terrible, but I don’t get much time to read actual books.
I usually prefer audio, but I know some people don’t count that.
Anyway, I’m rambling now, so I hope you like the photos, and let me know if you have any questions!
Cheers,
Bastian
To: Bastian Roche [bastian@]
From: Anders Flynn [af81@]
Subject: RE: LCC Photos
Dear Bastian,
Thanks for the photos. They look good. I sent them across to my publisher, and she wants to know what magic you used to make me look like a person.
They’ll be using one on their website and in the next book, and she promised they’d credit you.
I’m going to put one on my website too. Do you have a website I can link to?
Yes, I managed to avoid con crud, but I hope you feel better soon.
Sorry your sister didn’t believe you. Maybe next time. I hope you enjoy the book. I liked writing that one. I think it’s on audio if that’s what you’d prefer. And yes, listening to audiobooks counts as reading. I hate when people say otherwise.
Best wishes,
A
To: Anders Flynn [af81@]
From: Bastian Roche [bastian@]
Subject: RE: LCC Photos
Hi Anders,
I’m so happy they liked the photos! And no magic involved, just your natural handsome charm. You can totally use my photos on your website. That would be awesome. Mine is just if you wanted to link to it. Thank you!
I’m glad you avoided con crud too. I’ve been hit full force, and I feel awful =( I’ve just been spending my days in bed, watching everything Netflix has to offer, but I have a wedding to shoot next Saturday, so I’ll have to dose up on cold and flu tablets and drag my sorry butt out of bed.
It should be nice, though, because they’re getting married in Whitby, and we’re going up to the abbey to take pictures.
Keep your fingers crossed it doesn’t rain!
The book is so good! I did actually get the audio because I can listen while I edit.
Did you get to pick the narrator? His voice is very sexy!
Oooh, I do have one question: Does anything happen between Elias and Thorn?
I really hope so because they’re so cute.
I know they act like enemies, but it also kinda sounds like they should kiss…
or hate bang. I’d love more fantasy novels with gay romance arcs since I’ve not seen many.
Although maybe there are some, but I don’t read enough to know about them, so that might be my lack of exposure over lack of people writing it.
I’m glad you think audio counts. That makes me happy. I wouldn’t want to disappoint you.
Cheers,
Bastian
To: Bastian Roche [bastian@]
From: Anders Flynn [af81@]
Subject: RE: LCC Photos
Dear Bastian,
I figured out your website before you sent it, but thanks for confirming. It was obvious when I thought about it, but I’m going to say I was tired. I’m on a deadline, so most of my focus is on writing. I don’t think I have any handsome charm, so I’ll have to take your word for it.
I’m sorry you’ve been ill, and I hope you get better for this wedding. Spending time on the sofa watching Netflix sounds like a good way to recover though. Have you been watching anything good? I don’t watch a lot of television, so I don’t know what’s come out recently.
Whitby Abbey sounds like a nice place to take pictures. I’ve been there a few times and always thought it was quite atmospheric. Do you live locally?
I’m glad you like the book. No, I didn’t get to pick the narrator.
The publishers did, but I thought he did a good job, and I know he did that whole series and maybe one of the others too.
I’d have to check. I’m sorry but nothing happens between Elias and Thorn.
I wrote that series about ten years ago, and I don’t know if I’d ever have considered it.
Now you mention it, it would have worked quite nicely.
The book I’m working on now has a gay couple in it.
That’s a secret, so please don’t tell anyone.
I haven’t even finished the first draft yet.
I hope people like it, but I know some readers won’t. It doesn’t bother me.
There are lots of books with gay romance arcs or gay characters. Would you like a list?
I don’t know why you’d think I’d be disappointed over you listening to the audio, but I’m not.
Cheers,
A
To: Anders Flynn [af81@]
From: Bastian Roche [bastian@]
Subject: RE: LCC Photos
Hi Anders,
I’d love a list of book recs! That would be awesome.
Thank you =D Just send me everything you can think of because I travel a lot, and they can keep me company on my journeys.
Let me know if you have any personal favourites, and I’ll start with those.
I always love it when people recommend books they love because it tells me so much about them as a person.
Netflix-wise, I’ve mostly just been binging the latest series of Drag Stars because it’s super fun and I don’t really have to concentrate, which is nice when your head feels like it’s full of cotton wool.
I’ve been watching endless episodes of that cake show, Sweet Dreams, too.
Have you seen it? It’s not just cake but all kinds of sweet treats, and it makes me SO HUNGRY every time I watch it.
I really wanted profiteroles after the last episode, but I couldn’t be bothered to go to the Co-op to get some =( Plus, I don’t think I could taste them right now since all I can taste is that weird cold and flu lemon drink.
I don’t normally like it, but Lizzie swears by it for a quick recovery, and I’m desperate.
Nope, I don’t live near Whitby, but I wish I did.
It’s so pretty there. I’m currently renting with a couple of friends in London, but I travel a lot for weddings, so I kind of float between London and Derbyshire (where my brother lives) and everywhere in between.
One day, I’d like to get a place of my own, but I don’t really know where I’d want to live, and London is too expensive right now for me to get my own place.
I don’t mind too much, but sometimes it feels like I’m just paying for an expensive room I only see once a week.
Kind of like a hotel. Sorry, that probably sounds depressing, and I shouldn’t randomly spill my guts out to you, but I do like talking to you!
What about you? Where do you call home? Do you have any pets?
The worst thing about renting is that I can’t get a dog.
Or a cat. I’m not picky because I like both.
I really wish landlords weren’t so mean about pets, but here they charge an arm and a leg to keep one, and that’s if they consider it in the first place!
Also, that’s sad about Elias and Thorn but very understandable. I’m really looking forward to reading the next book! You’ll have to let me know when you have a release date for it so I can pre-order it. Good luck getting your draft finished. I know you can do it!
Have a great day.
Bastian x
To: Bastian Roche [bastian@]
From: Anders Flynn [af81@]
Subject: RE: LCC Photos
Dear Bastian,
I’ve attached a list of books for you to look at, and I’ve put asterisks by the ones that are my favourites.
I’ve not read all the books on this list, but I know most of the authors, and I’ve heard good things about all of them.
Let me know what you’re starting with. I’ll let you know about the next book too, but it probably won’t be for a year or two. Publishing is slow sometimes.
I’ve never watched Drag Stars because I find some of the people on it irritating.
That’s probably just me, though, because I’m not good with people in general.
My brother says I should just become a hermit.
He’s an extrovert, and so is his husband.
I’ll find Sweet Dreams, though, because I like cooking shows.
They make me hungry too, but luckily, I don’t have the biggest sweet tooth.
I’ve always liked savoury food over sweet.
Right now, I’m very fond of these chili salted peanuts I found in Aldi.
I could probably eat a bag in one sitting.
I’m not a fan of those hot sachets either.
If I get a cold, I usually just make a hot toddy or warm ginger wine.
It’s old-fashioned, but it tastes better.
Sometimes I dissolve paracetamol in it, but I wouldn’t listen to me for medical advice.
The closest I’ve ever come to being a doctor was doing some research on the human body in combat for a book when I discovered I wasn’t good with blood or how squishy the body is.
Whitby is nice, and I’m not too far from there.
Just down the coast in fact, in Heather Bay.
It’s not a huge place, but it’s very pretty, and I have a house that overlooks the sea.
I can get down to the beach for walks too, and I tend to go most days.
It helps clear my head and gives me time to think.
The only time I don’t go is when it’s stormy and not safe.
I’ve lived here long enough to know not to take chances with the sea.
I’m sorry your landlord doesn’t allow you to have any pets.
I have two cats called Barney and Fish. I didn’t name them.
They’re both rescues, and those are the names they came with.
I know some people change their rescue pet’s names, but I didn’t want to.
They’re pretty lazy, and Fish is kind of a dick sometimes, but they stop me from getting lonely, and they don’t object when I use them as a sounding board for ideas.
Also, I don’t mind you talking to me. I like talking to you too.
A x