Xavier Axelson – The Bond | Maggie Blackbird

Today, I have author Xavier Axelson in the interview chair. We’re discussing his latest release The Bond, book one in the Elemental series, a m/m paranormal, dark fantasy. Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.

****

1. Hello, Xavier. Everyone knows about the writer you. But what about the everyday you. Can you share about your personal life?

Xavier: I’m a devoted reader, writer, baker, artist, and lover of nature, Libra, sensualist and lover of all things curious.

2. Before I ask about the novel, I see you are drawn to romance and horror. Why write stories with these two elements in them?

Xavier: I’ve always been inspired by the yin and yang of the world so blending these genres gives me the opportunity to explore the duality of love, sex and the horrific, which I think is endlessly fascinating.

3. I read the blurb for your book. Where did the idea come from that inspired you to create The Bond?

Xavier: Again, my love of dark and light, the balance of things…maybe being a Libra has something to do with it, but this book is really about a puzzle that is missing pieces and those pieces are what will determine whether the balance can be maintained.

4. Let’s talk about the main characters. What do you love most about Declan Makavoy, and what makes you want to shake him?

Xavier: Declan is the heart of the story, I think is paternal instinct is what I love most, not just for his daughter, but for his land, his friends, and family. His devotion to his work, his land, and family is also his greatest weakness as it often blinds him to accept what is truly happening around him, he’s a little slow on accepting hard truths.

5. The same for Ivan Soresceau. What do you love most about him, and what makes you want to shake him?

Xavier: Oh, Ivan. He’s so complex. I love his flagrant disregard for rules; some of his antics are inspired by my own behaviours, especially those when he was in high school. He’s also incredibly selfish and self absorbed and I wish he could let that go.

6. And we can’t forget Chester Silberglocke, who sounds very interesting. Can you share a little bit more about him?

Xavier: ear Chester. He’s the soul of the book. I get chills thinking about him. He’s so lovely. I think his elegance, his lightness is what I love most. I think he carries guilt and shame for his past and there’s a lot of family trauma connected to him, I wish he wasn’t as hard on himself as he is.

7. Last but not least is Vinny Pirelli. What do you like most about him, and what makes you want to shake him?

Xavier: I don’t Vinny yet. I, like the rest of the men in The Bond, am searching for him. He’s in my periphery and I’m looking forward to learning about him in the next book.

8. What do you think readers will love most about The Bond?

Xavier: Readers surprise me. Things I think they won’t pay attention to become their favourite parts, so we’ll see…I can’t wait to find out. I love the family dynamics in this story, so I’m hoping readers pick up on that.

9. What do you think the readers will find most surprising about The Bond?

Xavier: There are a lot of surprises. I think the intensity may be a surprise. When I reread it recently, I was stunned by how brutal the story is…like there’s no let up. Poor guys.

10. If readers asked you why they should purchase The Bond, what you would tell them?

Xavier: It’s a hell of a ride and perfect for October.

11. I enjoy doing random questions, so please humour me:

What’s your favourite movie?
No answer.
What book is currently in your e-reader?
I don’t have an e-reader! I’m a dedicated bibliophile…I’m currently reading ‘Blonde’ and it’s very dark but I love Joyce Carol Oates but I can’t wait to put it down.
Who’s your favourite musical group?
Heart
What song puts a smile on your face?
Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover

12. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Xavier: Thank you!

****

Title: The Bond
Series: Elemental, Book 1
Author: Xavier Axelson
Genres: Contemporary M/M Horror/Dark Fantasy/Bisexual/Paranormal
Tropes: Vampire/stranger comes to town/strange things start to happen/good versus evil/transformations/magic/suspense/creepy beings/witches/goblins
Themes: Loyalty, forgiveness, obligation, acceptance commitment
Publisher: JMS Books
Release Date: October 1, 2022
Heat Rating: 3 flames
Length: 155 459 words/392 pages

In a small New England town, three men, each facing unthinkable horrors, must rely on their friendship to destroy an evil beyond imagination.

Blurb: Four men are about to discover things are definitely not what they seem…including themselves. Declan Makavoy, small town farmer and single father, finds out it’s not just his thumb that’s green. Ivan Soresceau, a local reporter, who always plays with fire in life and love, is about to discover what it means to be burned. Chester Silberglocke, the ailing but sage chiropractor, finds his death only the beginning of an atmospheric afterlife. Vinny Pirelli, the local swimming champ may make waves inside and outside the pool but has no idea he is the last piece in a dangerous and life-changing puzzle. Seduction and unearthly occurrences are only the beginning in what proves to be a race against time as Declan, Ivan, Chester, and Vinny are pitted against a dark force beyond imagination, in the ultimate battle of good versus evil.

Note: It is Book 1 in the series and ends with a HFN. There are unresolved plot points but it’s not necessarily a cliffhanger.

Add to Goodreads

Buy Links

JMS Books | Amazon US | Amazon UK

The wind carried the unpleasant smell of decay. In the heat of summer, the odor is nectar sweet, but in autumn, decay is unexpected. In the summer, it could be tomatoes left too long on the vine, fresh roadkill or sewage wafting up from the dank sidewalk grates. Autumn chilled the stench, offered it bite and acid. The hair on my neck stood on end. I dug my hands deeper into my pockets.

Coming out of the tree-lined path leading to the fields reminded me of emerging from a dream. Overwrought and graphic, like an illustration in a bad comic, the scene unfolded block-by-block, piece-by-piece. The fields were barren, except where remains of gourds and pumpkins jutted from the earth like fevered skulls, things emerging to the cold dreary light. The distant pine trees lined the border of my property like sentries sent from a general to contain the scene. Beyond the trees, the forest appeared a black mass; empty and full at the same time. Perhaps Adam’s body—or Adam himself—waited, hidden in the woods.

They hadn’t found a body.

Hadn’t found…

A new but not unfamiliar wave of pain welled within my chest so I thought I’d burst. Adam was dead. Dead…How could he be…?

Chester turned toward me, his eyes wide. He pointed.

Antonia sat, facing him. She’d been playing house or school with her gourd-squash students. Her singsong contrasted with the fouled air, unnerving me.

Behind her, centered in the field, something either unaware or unconcerned with our presence was consuming the remaining pumpkins.

Some thing.

“Declan,” Chester breathed, “stay still.”

The stench coming from the field hit like a ton of putrid bricks.

“Get her.” I heaved, trying to breathe through the stink. “I have to get her.”

Chester restrained me with more strength than I thought he possessed. “She must stay still.”

“What is it?” I asked.

“I don’t know.”

Just then a huge crow dove and we watched as the creature reached with a massive clawed paw, grabbed the bird and crushed it. It then stuffed the bird into its mouth and made horrific bone-sucking sounds of pleasure.

Antonia smiled and called, “Daddy, have you seen the goblin?”

****

Xavier Axelson is a writer and columnist living in Los Angeles. Axelson’s work has been featured in various erotic and horror anthologies including Best Gay Erotica 2016 Volume 2, Best Gay Erotica 2015.

Longer written works include “The Incident”, “Dutch’s Boy”, “The Birches”, “Earthly Concerns”, “Velvet,” and “Lily”.

Follow Xavier: Blog/Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram