Luke
It has been a year since I escaped my three years of hell. Twelve months, and yet I felt just as broken as I had all those months ago. I had a job now, a home and people who cared about me, and yet I was all alone in this darkness that surrounded me. My past haunted me day and night, and there was no one who could protect me from it.
Until I met Scott.
Scott
Losing every person I loved one after the other made me realise just how much loving someone could hurt. Without even realising, I made a decision to never love another person again, lest I lost them too. For years, my life revolved around studying and then working, and the only person I was close to was my best friend, who wouldn’t leave me alone, no matter what I tried. I was content to stay alone.
Until I met Luke.
A man shy of loving someone again and a man haunted by his past. Will they be able to help each other heal? Or will they just end up breaking each other?
Who is Stella Rainbow?
Stella Rainbow is the pen name of a twenty-something woman from India. Her heart is too full of rainbow-colored stories to be limited by the lack of awareness in her home country.
Stella spends her days cuddling up with her cat, typing out new stories, daydreaming, and reading all the books she can get her hands on.
What inspired you to write Finding You?
I’m a gay girl living in a country where same-sex relationships were a crime until two years ago. We still don’t have visibility for queer community in our society. And when I discovered the gay romance genre at the beginning of this year, I knew this was what I was supposed to write. And the rest, as they say, is history. Before this, I wrote a MF Young Adult novel that I never published because I felt like something was missing. Now I know that I had the genre wrong.
What can you tell me about Finding You?
Finding You is a hurt/comfort gay romance and my debut novel. This is the story of Luke and Scott, two men who’ve been dealt a shitty hand by fate. Their story is full of comforting cuddles, helping each other overcome their struggles and a sweet romance.
Did you base any of the characters after a real person in your life?
Not really. Luke and Scott were both creations of my mind, though I can admit that Luke shares some qualities with me, like his love for books and animals.
What does literary success look like to you?
For me, literary success is when I see a reader recommending my book to another reader because they loved it that much. If I made a lasting impression on even one reader through my book, I’d consider it a success.
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
I write simple romances—for the time being—so my research usually includes simple things too. Being an Indian and writing books set in the US, the toughest part for me is writing the usual routines, the foods, and other such things that are way different in the two countries.
What was the most difficult scene to write in Finding Me?
Oh, probably the scene where Luke self-harms. That part broke my heart and I had to stop more than a few times so I could gather myself before continuing.
How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?
I wrote my first book without thinking about how it would do post release and without a set deadline. But now, with the draft of the second book, I have strict deadlines and readers who are looking forward to reading Brady’s story. Honestly, it’s quite a different experience.
What is the last book you read, and how has it influenced your writing?
The last book I read was Nikolai by Michelle Notaro. It hasn’t influenced my writing yet, but it did tell me that I might enjoy writing MMM romances in the future.
Who are your favorite authors, and how have they influenced you?
Alice Winters, Lily Morton, N.R.Walker, K.M.Neuhold, and Michelle Notaro. Their books, ranging from Alice’s humor to Michelle’s magic have all taught me a lot about how beautiful and diverse the MM Gay Romance genre is. I’ve read their books multiple times and they’ll always remain my favorites
Stella, what projects do you have going on?
Finding Me, book 2 in the Voice Out Series would be releasing next month! It’s the story of a bossy, fiery twink named Brady and a gender-fluid person named Charlie who is just starting to discover their true self.
You can join my reader’s group on Facebook, Stella’s Stargazers for updates, teasers, and much more.
Here are the many ways you can connect with Stella Rainbow
Finding You on Goodreads
Finding You on Amazon
Stella’s Website
https://www.instagram.com/authorstellarainbow/
Newsletter (Gives access to a bonus Novella):
For more about Alan Wild, Please see his Bio
Please reach out to Alan Wild at Alan@AlanWild.us or Click here to find him on Social Media
Check out his Blog Here Check out Writing Advice For Beginners From A beginner