Guest Author: Susan Helene Gottfried + Giveaway!

Susan Helene Gottfried, author of ShapeShifter: The Demo Tapes, has been kind enough to stop by Reading with Tequila talk about the bad boy verses the sensitive guy.

As people get to know my fictional band, ShapeShifter, and the four members who make up the band, I've noticed one recurring theme: the women either fall for Mitchell, or for Trevor.

It's not quite like the whole Twilight phenomenon, where you're either Team Jacob or Team Edward. After all, I don't write for teenagers. Us adults, we're more restrained with our literary crushes. Much as Trevor might wish it to be otherwise, we tend to admire from afar, keeping our hearts off our sleeves. And out of our Facebook status updates.

What interests me about this Trevor/Mitchell romantic interest component to my fictional world is that I never expected it to happen. To me, they're just the boys. Trevor's the in-your-face, at-all-times bad boy -- with a hidden heart of gold. Mitchell's his foil: quiet, sensitive, and retiring when he's not on stage. Trevor's a jerk all the time. Mitchell's only a jerk to the media, and only because by being a jerk, they tend to be a bit less invasive into his private life. Trevor may be willing to lay it out there for everyone to see, but Mitchell certainly isn't. Heck, he even makes rules about who can and can't come into his house.

Trevor doesn't believe in monogamy. For anyone. Ever.

In Trevor's Song, Mitchell finds it. If you've read either Demo Tapes collection or hung around the Meet and Greet at all, you've met Kerri, the redheaded artist who captures Mitchell's soft heart and holds it so very gently -- when she's not playing jokes on her man. Jokes that Trevor wishes he would suffer so few consequences for.

And that's part of why I was never expecting women to become a Trevor Girl or a Mitchell woman. Mitchell's got a woman, one he is entirely, one-hundred percent devoted to. It never dawned on me that, while I was setting up a very romantic relationship between him and Kerri, others would fall for the guy.

I get it, though. And, truth be told, I love it. You guys see Mitchell the way I do, and that's the sort of thing every author seeks to give her audience: that clear picture, that compelling reason to want to read more.

That doesn't mean I haven't done it with Trevor. I think I certainly have. After all, it's Trevor who gets invited to drop into other people's blogs (even though he'll put his dirty boots on the furniture, light up a cigarette, and leave the mess behind for someone else to clean up). Proof that we love our bad boys -- although I do wonder if part of our deep adoration for Trevor is his quasi-hidden heart of gold.

For all you who prefer one boy to the other, there's good news here. Trevor features most heavily in The Demo Tapes: Year 1. And in Year 2? It's a lot more Mitchell, baby. I didn't plan it this way, but you know what? I sort of like how it happened. I'll take it.

I hope you will, too.

About the Author

I'm a writer, blogger, and all-around book lover. Although I have a bad habit of writing about dudes in rock bands (and the people who orbit them), there's so much more going in my world and at my website, West of Mars. Come on by and see. You never know what I'll be up to -- after all, I *am* the creator of the indomitable Trevor Wolff!

About the Books

ShapeShifter : The Demo Tapes — Year 1

A band’s demo tape is intended to introduce listeners to their music. Likewise, this collection of short pieces allows readers into the fictional world of Trevor Wolff and his band, ShapeShifter.

Originally published online between April 2006 and March 2007, The Demo Tapes — Year 1 brings together the moments that parallel — but never encounter — Susan Helene Gottfried’s debut novel, Trevor’s Song. Arranged chronologically and with introductions to each, this is a must-have volume for anyone who’s ever wanted to hang with a rock band.

The Demo Tapes: Year 1 introduced the reading public to ShapeShifter and the two men behind this fictional band: Trevor Wolff and Mitchell Voss. The Demo Tapes: Year 2 brings you more of the short fiction that brings these people to vivid life.

Year 2 delves more deeply into love, friendships, and the inside workings of ShapeShifter. New faces have arrived as the band tours and climbs the ladder of success, but most of all, Year 2 puts you square in the lives of Mitchell and Trevor, just where you like to be. Vive la Trevolution!

Main hub: http://westofmars
The Meet and Greet: http://westofmars.com/blog
Win a Book: http://winabook.westofmars.com (for all your reading needs!)
The books, with buy links: http://westofmars.com/west-of-mars/the-books/

Reading with Tequila's review of ShapeShifter: The Demo Tapes: Year 1

About the Giveaway

Susan has been generous enough to make it possible for us to have 2 winners! The first prize winner will receive my SIGNED review copy of ShapeShifter: The Demo Tapes: Year 1 and a coupon code for Smashwords where you will be able to download a free copy of Year 2! The second winner will receive a coupon code for Smashwords to download either book.

Deadline for entry is Wednesday, March 10 at 11:59pm EST. First prize is US only. Second prize is international.

To enter, answer this question:
Which is more your type: Bad boy Trevor or sensitive Mitchell?

Be sure to leave an email address so I can contact the winners. Also, specify whether you are entering for both prizes or just second prize.

Susan's going to be popping in today to see your responses, so feel free to be chatty!