Thursday, July 25, 2019

Colorado Home of Rocking Thin Ice

Blaze Parker lives in Safe Haven Colorado... a place that doesn't exist but the place it was based off of is Breckenridge Colorado. During a road trip we toured Colorado and was stunned by the beauty. (If the state had oxygen I'd move there in a heartbeat! LOL)

Here's some of my pictures that built the story.

These are pictures of the stream Drake and Blaze dip their feet in and decide to start a Never-Done-It list so they can start doing it. (Because our sweet badass Blaze has never taken the time away from practicing to even wade through the stream like everyone else.) 



The town of Breckenridge aka Safe Haven is beautifully laid out with lots of shops filled with art, restaurants, and flowers.










Can a sexy rock star show a relationship-phobic ice skater that there’s more to life than gold medals? 

When ice-skating’s bad boy Blaze first glimpses Drake, every fantasy he’s ever had flares to life. Not only is rock star Drake sexy as sin, his songs awaken a longing in Blaze that he’s denied for years. But Blaze Parker doesn’t believe in relationships—at least not those that last more than twenty minutes.

Drake Keys has dreamed about the sensual ice skater for years. When Drake is kicked out of his band because of his bisexuality, he drives across the country to finally see the man he’s had a crush on skate live. 

Though the attraction is instant and intense, both Blaze and Drake have baggage that puts any relationship on thin ice. Blaze is driven by a long-ago betrayal to prove himself a champion, and Drake, uncertain about the future, hopes to resurrect his music career. As they take a road trip together, Drake romances Blaze, hoping to melt his heart and show him that love is possible… but not without some tough decisions.


BUY LINKS
Dreamspinner:
eBook: https://bit.ly/2W40Wt1
Print: https://bit.ly/2ZUGvwf
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2xhOWWa
iTunes: https://apple.co/2YvIzdX




Thursday, July 18, 2019

RE-WRITING, RE-EDITING, RE-COVERING

As an author one of my goals is to become a better writer.

I spend years living with my characters and sharing their happily ever afters is a true joy.

I wrote the original Club Zombie series over 10 years ago. It was the second series I wrote. I still hadn't a clue as to beta readers, critique partners or romantic arcs.

I saw a lot of issues with my writing. I wasn't pleased...

Finally, I found two editors and a proof reader along with my critique partners and beta readers who I trusted to help me get this series polished and back onto the page.

My goal is to release the book one after the other with only a few weeks apart ending the year with Book #4: Zombies Blow.

The first in my unconventional fated mates series is up for preorder & for the first time will be available on Kindle Unlimited.





Zombies suck, but they’re not after brains! These zombies are young, hot, and looking for action. One day Kai Bauer is tending vineyards in Germany, the next he’s on a plane heading for… well, he doesn’t really know.

Wait a minute! He’s a what? And they have to drink male essence to live forever? The transition begins on his nineteenth birthday. He must find a mate in four years or he won’t ever be emotionally or physically satisfied.

That’s Jasper’s problem. After decades, the ex-priest has given up on finding his mate. He’s living a chaste life but he’s willing to be Kai’s mentor and friend. Gorgeous, distant, and off-limits meet young, virile, and gay.

This is a sexy happily ever after with much silliness. Zombies suck but these swallow.

Thursday, July 11, 2019


Bathhouses Aren’t for getting clean
Are bathhouses part of BDSM? Not directly but some of the same needs might be met and one just might find a sub or Dom who rocks your world. 

I’m going to quote Wikipedia’s definition of bathhouse:
“A gay bathhouse, also known as a gay sauna or a gay steam bath, is a commercial space for men to have sex with other men. In gay slang, a bathhouse may be called just "the baths," "the sauna" or "the tubs". In general, a gay bath is used for having sexual activity rather than only bathing. 

Not all men who visit a gay bathhouse are considered gay. Bathhouses offering similar services for women are rare, but some men's bathhouses occasionally have a “lesbian” or "women only" night.
Bathhouses vary considerably in size and amenities – from small establishments with 10 or 20 rooms and a handful of lockers to multi-story saunas with a variety of room styles or sizes and several steam baths, Jacuzzi tubs, and sometimes swimming pools. Most have a steam room (or wet sauna), dry sauna, showers, lockers, and small private rooms.

Many bathhouses are, for legal reasons, "membership only", though membership is generally open to any adult who seeks it, usually after paying a small fee. Unlike brothels, customers pay only for the use of the facilities. Sexual activity, if it occurs, is not provided by staff of the establishment but is between customers, and no money is exchanged. Many gay bathhouses, for legal reasons, explicitly prohibit or discourage prostitution and ban known prostitutes.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_bathhouse

I do not have direct experience with bathhouse so I turned to my Pretty Ones on Facebook. The lovely Kyle volunteered to answer some basic questions about his experiences at a bathhouse





1) You've gone to bathhouses. How often? Same one?

I have been going to a few bathhouses since 2009. In San Diego I went to Club SD.  Up here, I go to Steamworks (if I ever get the urge to go).  Over the past years, I have pretty much stopped going.  I didn't have a car, and there was no way I was letting somebody drive me 45 minutes from home just to end up stranded should they decide to leave without me.

2) Can describe the interior(s)?
Inside they are usually dimly lit, humid, industrial-esk, loud, and smell of disinfectant and chlorine.  Both bathhouses are fashioned like hotels in similar fashion except Steamworks (SW) is single storied and has no ceiling (the roof is about 60' up) and Club SD (CSD) is two storied with a few two-storied open areas.  Inside are group showers (sometimes lights on, sometimes off), wet and dry saunas, hot tubs with seating for about 20-30 comfortably, a gym, rooms with various types of seating and various types of porn playing on many different screens, oh and there are vending machines with condoms, lube, cock rings, vibrating bullets, anal douches, toothpaste, mouth wash, dental floss, nail clippers, OMG just ask me if a particular item can be found in these vending machines.  They also have vending machines with drinks, snacks, and other food types.  Both have common areas away from all the action, and everybody respects that area.  Go there to have a cigarette and catch a breather.

3) If you have gone to different locations, did you notice a different vibe/rhythm or language?

Honestly, I have not noticed a language, nor have I been able to figure out if there even IS a language used. Usually, I can tell if someone wants to play with me by the way they are looking at me, or the fact that they just reach for my junk (there really isn't a safe place unless you get a room and lock the door.  Leaving the door open tends to mean one wants someone to join, or just be watched.  I am absolutely more passive at these places when it comes to language.  Sometimes I've had my junk grabbed by a stranger as we walk down a dimly lit, narrow hallway, doors lining both walls completely.  If I took one look at him and thought Oh my, fuck yes! then I went along with the guy, or led him to my room.  Other times, I've had to tell some guys "No means no, even here."

5) Why do you go? I'm assuming it's for more than getting your back washed.

(TRIGGER WARNING for chemical usage)
My first time at a bathhouse was when a man at a bar was to take me to base because I missed the last bus back from my favorite gay bar in San Diego.  He took me to CSD where I bought a room (receipt was credit in my name), by the time we got to the room, I was in and out of being blacked out (I had a drinking problem when I was younger and in the Navy. It was called, not respecting my limits) but I remember being into it when I was "there." 
Sex and drugs?  Yes!  Give me a place where I don't have to worry about the cops, bags are checked, I can be almost as loud as I want and I can have as many drug induced sexual encounters as I can?!  Shut up and take my filthy gay drug money!  Literally why I went back, every damn time.

6) Can you share with us why you &/or other men find bath houses appealing?

I refer to the end of answer 5. I don't know why other men go, I've never really asked.  Always seemed to have other things on my mind at the time. I also don't go very often now. If I do, a small group of us will go and have the time of our lives.

7) Are sex safe practices used or ignored?

I can count the number of men I had safe sex with. I can also tell you I have surpassed triple digits in the number of men I have had sex with. I have had sex with men all along the spectrum of HIV and AIDS statuses and have not contracted the disease. The only two things I have ever contracted were from when I was raped, and when I cheated on my boyfriend.  Both instances have been completely cured and I have had a clean bill of health for many years.  I am actually going to the VA to get my tests done next week, and I am scheduling an appointment with them to be prescribed HIV preventative treatment. I abhor the feeling of nails and condoms inside of me. There is a lot more on this subject that we can get into later if you'd like.

In summary, Bathhouses are a place to get clean, get dirty, and should be repeated as needed. 



Always seek your own truth.

I’d love to hear from you so comment here or use the contact information to touch base with me privately.

Many hugs,
Z. Allora

To contact Z. Allora:
E-mail: Z.AlloraHappyEndings@gmail.com
FACEBOOK:   Z Allora Allora
Twitter: @ZAllora
Dreamspinner: https://bit.ly/2Jv14r1

BIO: Z. Allora believes in happily ever after for everyone. She met her own true love through the personals and has traveled to over thirty countries with him. She’s lived in Singapore, Israel and China. Now back home to the USA she’s an active member of PFLAG and a strong supporter of those on the rainbow in her community. She wants to promote understanding and acceptance through her actions and words. Writing rainbow romance allows her the opportunity to open hearts and change minds.

Thursday, July 4, 2019

Rocking Thin Ice's Inspiration


My friends Danny & Val kept feed me skating plot bunnies... way before Yuri On Ice.

Johnny Weir feeds my nonbinary soul. I adore the way he thumbed his nose at tradition and the binary to come out roaring with self confidence and deliciousness!

This is just an exhibition so there's no extreme jumps but ahhhhh the presentation scores a million in my head.

Rocking Thin Ice is up for preorder.


Rocking Thin Ice Blurb:
Can a sexy rock star show a relationship-phobic ice skater that there’s more to life than gold medals? 
When ice-skating’s bad boy Blaze first glimpses Drake, every fantasy he’s ever had flares to life. Not only is rock star Drake sexy as sin, his songs awaken a longing in Blaze that he’s denied for years. But Blaze Parker doesn’t believe in relationships—at least not those that last more than twenty minutes.
Drake Keys has dreamed about the sensual ice skater for years. When Drake is kicked out of his band because of his bisexuality, he drives across the country to finally see the man he’s had a crush on skate live. 
Though the attraction is instant and intense, both Blaze and Drake have baggage that puts any relationship on thin ice. Blaze is driven by a long-ago betrayal to prove himself a champion, and Drake, uncertain about the future, hopes to resurrect his music career. As they take a road trip together, Drake romances Blaze, hoping to melt his heart and show him that love is possible… but not without some tough decisions.

Link

Many hugs, Z.