Today, I have author Kyle Baxter in the interview chair. We’re discussing his latest release Morrel & Morcerf and the Spear of Destiny, a m/m action/adventure romance.
****
1. Hi, Kyle. First off, readers have an idea of the writer you, but what about the everyday you? Can you share about your personal life?
Kyle: Aloha, everyday life for me is just everyday life, no different than most people’s I’d wager. I have a regular day job—as a waiter in a hotel restaurant. And I go on walks with my dog Brady, he’s a Labrador Retriever/German Shorthaired Pointer mix. He’s really the priority, I’m a true dog dad. I write as often as I can between those two things, the job and Brady, usually in the morning and evening.
2. I’ve been perusing your Goodreads page, and noticed you are drawn to contemporary romance. But for your latest release, you have taken a departure from your current novels. Can you share why?
Kyle: My latest, Morrel & Morcerf and the Spear of Destiny, is still a contemporary mm romance but now I’m delving into other genres as well as keeping the romance angle. It started really with Mistletoe in the Marigny where I introduced a magical element, which fit with the setting in New Orleans. Then with Manhattan Mistletoe Mystery, I explored the crime genre. Now Morrel and Morcerf is my action/adventure yarn. I’m really just branching out, going wherever my interest lies at the moment.
3. Can you share your writing process through The Spear of Destiny. Did the plot come first or the characters?
Kyle: The plot came first. In fact, the genesis of the book started before any of my other published works. The inspiration came from the Rundown, the action movie starring Seann William Scott and Dwayne Johnson. I wanted a version, with a romance between the two male leads, a gay Romancing the Stone. I thought about it for years, worked on the plot, and even name-checked the Rundown in a previous book, Bring Me Edelweiss. Finally, things clicked and I found my hook.
4. Let’s talk about the four main characters. What do you love most about Alois d’Pierrepont and what makes you want to shake him?
Kyle: Ah, Alois is the himbo with a heart of gold. I adore him. He’s not dumb, more naive, and that naïveté is what makes me want to shake him sometimes.
5. The same for Marton Prawer. What do you love most about him and what makes you want to shake him?
Kyle: I love that Marton is passionate about his desire to return Nazi plunder to its rightful owners, but that same passion makes me want to shake him. That single-mindedness sometimes makes him blind to the feelings of others and gets him in trouble.
6. And I can’t forget Frederick and his lover Joel McIntyre. What do you love most about them and what makes you want to shake them?
Kyle: I love Joel and Freddie, Joel’s the Cinderella, and Freddie the handsome prince. But they get too concerned with making sure the other is okay. They internalize their perfectly natural relationship anxiety. As I go through life I realize that communication is the number one problem people have whether in relationships or at work. Freddie and Joel are no different.
7. Without giving away any spoilers, what was your favourite scene to write, and why?
Kyle: The action scenes, without a doubt. In part, because they’re a challenge, I’m still learning and stretching my wings. I always try to inject humor in the action set pieces but have to balance that out as well. It’s fun.
8. If a reader asked you why they should read The Spear of Destiny, what would you tell them?
Kyle: It’s a fun, exciting action tale with a little romance. If you like movies like National Treasure you’ll like this.
9. I enjoy doing random questions, so humour me: Go for it!
- What’s your favourite movie?
At the moment, Speed Racer. It’s very underrated, and a pure joy to watch. The kind of film I can put on anytime and escape. - What book is currently in your e-reader?
The 99 Boyfriends of Micah Summers by Adam Sass. It’s a delight. - Who’s your favourite musical group?
Erasure. I’ve seen them in concert several times. As a young gay man in the late 80s/early 90s, they were so important to me. - What song puts a smile on your face?
Lizzo’s Good as Hell always. Love her.
10. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Kyle: Thank you for the opportunity; Mahalo Nui Loa.
****
Title: Morrel & Morcerf and the Spear of Destiny
Author and Publisher: Kyle Baxter
Genres: LGBTQ+ Action & Adventure Fiction, MM Romance
Tropes: Race Against the Clock, ex-military, king incognito
Themes: Community, Family
Release Date: October 28, 2022
Heat Rating: 2 flames
Length: 98 449 words/ 373 pages
Blurb: Alois d’Pierrepont and Marton Prawer have been attending black market antiquities events trying to recover treasure stolen by Nazis during World War II. Marton is particularly interested in a certain missing Picasso.
Following the trail to France, the two stumble into far more than they bargained for when a shady auction they’re attending in Paris’s Latin Quarter is raided by Interpol. Alois’s uncle Frederick, from Bring Me Edelweiss, is soon hot on the case along with his lover Joel McIntyre.
After recovering the journal of a Nazi general the four men race across western Europe, chased by fascists desperate to find the treasure for themselves. Gunfights and car chases ensue as the group uses a map in the journal to track down the treasure and its contents, rumored to include the fabled Spear of Destiny.
Note: It is a standalone book. It is part of a connected series—shared universe—but you do not need to have read the previous books to follow it.
Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited
Alois d’Pierrepont knelt at the door to the study and pulled a small black pouch from his breast pocket. With a grunt, he undid the button on his Versace “Black Baroque” evening jacket. It fit a little too snugly for squatting. Opening the bag, he selected two picks, inserted them in the door lock, and went to work.
“How’s it going?” Marton Prawer asked, appearing beside him and flashing his winning smile.
Alois looked up at his boyfriend. I’d go a lot quicker if you wouldn’t hang on my shoulder, he thought. “Just bloody fine, dear,” he grumbled between gritted teeth.
They’d come to the party to find evidence that the host collected Nazi memorabilia. Marton was obsessed with returning stolen loot to the Jewish people. A noble pursuit. And being a history buff and amateur archaeologist himself, Alois found him fascinating and intense.
The owner of this house had a reputation for acquiring antiques with a sketchy provenance. But reputation was not proof, so the two young men were looking for something they could leverage for information. Something that might get them an in to the black market antiquities scene. To be fair, Alois was at a loss as to how to accomplish that, but Marton was determined. Seems a bit of a stretch.
It was a good thing he was able to use his own contacts to get an invite to this party, but . . . May wind up paying for that.That particular person, a socialite named Denis, was a pill and likely to bring it up to gain his own leverage. He let out a long, deep breath. So far, it’s worth it. After all, they’d made it here. But still, the games people play. It’s all so exhausting.
He wiped beads of perspiration off his forehead and frowned. Locks never gave him this much trouble. Then again, he wasn’t used to performing under pressure. Before, it was always a lark, a trick he picked up as a kid running around his grandfather’s drafty old home, picking the locks on all the doors for fun. Though he’d long ago gone pro and bought a professional lockpick set, this was different. They were on a mission.
“Take a breath.” Marton’s voice was easy and soothing.
Alois shook out his hand and let out a long exhalation, then went back to it. After a moment, the tumblers clicked easily like they’d been waiting for him. The lock let out a satisfying chunk.
“Sorry, just a bit nervous.” Alois chuckled as he stood. “Never done this ‘in the field,’ as they say. Before, it was always a party trick or me larking about. Never actually tried housebreaking before.”
Marton looked up at Alois and gave him a kiss on the lips. “You did great.” He ran a hand along the front of Alois’s slacks, teasing him until he hardened. “I’ll give you something special when we get back to your place.”
A deep moan escaped Alois’s chest. “I’m looking forward to it already.” Grabbing the door handle, he stepped inside the office and flicked on the light.
They stepped into a nondescript modern office.
“Oh,” Marton said in surprise.
“What, were you expecting a Nazi flag on the wall?” Alois asked, nudging the shorter man in the side. “Or an autographed photo of Hitler?”
****
Kyle is an artist, playwright, and writer. As a playwright, Kyle has had his plays performed in New York at the NY International Fringe Festival, and the Midtown International Theater Festival. As an artist and illustrator, he has had his art exhibited in both New Orleans and New York.
Born in Hawaii, Kyle is an Army brat and grew up in Erlangen, Germany, as well as Augusta, Georgia, and several cities in Texas. After stints in Louisiana and New York, he resides again in Honolulu with his black Labrador Retriever Brady.
Follow Kyle: Blog/Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Maggie Blackbird 