Adventures in Fan Conventions by Jamie Craig

Eight years ago, Pepper and I "met" online. We'd known of each other for several years, but it took an online roleplaying community for us to start interacting and become friends. What kind of roleplaying was it? 

The kind generated by a cult TV show. Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

So when Pepper came to me with the idea about writing a story that takes place at a fan convention, I jumped at it. Being fans is what we know best. We've both attended fan cons, just like Ryan in Between the Shadow and the Soul, though unfortunately not together. We've both had the chance to sit in on Q&As about our favorite TV shows, stand in long lines in wait for that thirty seconds of seeing our celebrity crush in person, and congregate with other fans to dish about all our favorite parts of the show. Getting into Ryan's head was easy.

Because fan conventions? So much fun. Being surrounded by people who love something as much as you do is always intense, and when you toss in the adrenaline created from the anticipation of getting up close and personal with the stars, your weekend gets even more memorable. The first time I met James Marsters, who played Spike on Buffy, I was tongue-tied. If it hadn't been for my husband standing behind me, I would've walked away without ever uttering a word. 

Pepper's first experience was far better than mine. She met Danny Strong, Jonathan from Buffy. He was just sitting in the general signing area with some girl, charging for autographs but not for pictures. Pepper said, "I'm really nervous," at which point he laughed and said, "Don't be, she's just like you and me." At which point he agreed to take a picture, because yes, he really is that sweet.

Ryan's first introduction to Johnny is just as memorable. He arrives in Tahoe for the first annual Shadows and Souls convention to discover the con hotel has lost his room registration. Unwilling to try a different hotel and miss out on a lot of the socializing he's looking forward to, he waits in the lobby in case something opens up. When Johnny, his favorite star from the show, arrives and says he only needs one of the two rooms he had reserved, Ryan leaps forward to make sure he doesn't miss out on the chance to snag the empty suite. That starts them on what turns out to be a weekend filled with hot kisses, angry ghosts, and reeling passions, but if you want to know the specifics, you'll have to read the story and find out.

So tell us. Have you ever been to a fan convention? Is there an actor or celebrity you're dying to meet? Share your best fan stories in the comments!

*_*_*

Between the Shadow and the Soul by Jamie Craig is now available at Amber Allure.

If you'd like the chance to win the entire pax collection, just leave a comment on today's post. On Saturday, a winner will be picked at random from all the comments made this week on the blog. Comment on all, and that's multiple chances to win!

LATEST PAX RELEASE - Risky Business

Genres: Gay (M/M) Erotic Romance

The titles listed below comprise the Risky Business AmberPax™ Collection. Buy all five together and receive a 35% discount! To purchase any of the titles individually, click on the covers below to go to the books' separate pages. 

Andre by D.J. Manly Novella (Gay)

Between the Shadow and the Soul by Jamie Craig Extended Novella (Gay)

Never the Perfect Moment by K-lee Klein Novella (Gay)

Rainy Days and Mondays by A.J. Llewellyn Novella (Gay)

Silver Edges by Sean Michael Extended Amber Kiss (Gay)

 

In conjunction with our newest release, we will be having a giveaway! Any comment made from today throughout the week (7/20-7/25) will be eligible to win the entire pax collection. A winner will be picked at random on Saturday from all comments received.

Between the Shadow and the Soul by Jamie Craig

Ryan Jackson doesn’t expect too much from his weekend at the Shadows and Souls fan convention in Tahoe—he wants to meet his online friends, engage in a few heated debates about the plot for the upcoming season, and maybe shake the hand of the TV show’s star, Johnny Marlowe. But his weekend goes off course almost immediately after his arrival. First, the hotel loses his booking. Then Johnny Marlowe talks to him like they’re actual friends. And while his head is still spinning, a ghost attacks him in the elevator.

Despite fighting ghosts every week on television, Johnny Marlowe does not believe in the spirit world. He does, however, believe he should get to know Ryan better. Fan or not, the man is not only gorgeous, he’s down-to-earth, fun, and makes Johnny forget about the fake life he’s forced to lead and the ex-boyfriend who refused to participate in the charade. Unfortunately, every time Johnny tries to get close to the handsome ginger, something explodes or the earth shakes or lights blink out—and none of that is as sexy as it sounds.

Johnny doesn’t believe in ghosts, but he knows he has to get to the bottom of this haunting if he ever wants to get close to his biggest fan.

Genres: Gay/Paranormal/Ghosts/Hauntings/The Arts/Suspense/Thriller

Heat Level: 3
Length: Extended Novella (37k words) 

Read a short excerpt...

...The elevator had been installed at least forty, if not fifty, years earlier, and it was quite narrow. It shrunk even more as soon as Ryan stepped inside the tiny car, his head suddenly full of the smell of Johnny’s cologne and leather jacket. He tried to keep a respectable amount of space between them—an impossible task given Ryan’s large frame and the confines of the car. The walls were mirrors, but it didn’t give the illusion of space. It made Ryan dizzy as he stared at the repeating image of his idol.

“It’s a good thing I’m not claustrophobic.”

Ryan’s face instantly flushed red, but when he risked a glance at Johnny, he saw the other man was trying for lighthearted banter, not some sort of accusation.

“Thank you again. What you did for me is…really cool. I mean, I always knew you were really cool, but this is just…you know….”

“Cool?” Johnny supplied with a grin.

“Exactly the word I was looking for.” Ryan could have stared at Johnny’s smile forever, but his pleasure was very abruptly cut short when the slow moving car came to a screeching halt. It sounded like the end of the world and Ryan braced himself for the sudden plummet to the ground—are we high enough to die?—but the car remained frozen. Ryan had time to see the needle hover between three and four on the old-fashioned dial before the lights flickered out.

“Shit.”

“You’re not scared of the dark, are you?” Ryan meant the question to be light, but his voice sounded thin, the words shaky. Maybe you’re not afraid of the dark, but apparently I am.

“Um, is there a phone or something in here?”

“I don’t know, let me…” He reached out, intending to feel along the panel, but instead of cold buttons, he touched something very, very warm. And instead of pulling his hand away immediately, he let his fingers linger.

“That’s not—”

“Oh, sorry.” He jerked his hand away. “I’ll check my cell.”

“Good luck. I haven’t had any reception for the past hour.”

Ryan had no idea what his reception was like. He fumbled through the side of his bag, finally closing fingers around the ancient Nokia. He held down the power button until the screen flashed, surprisingly bright in the confined space. He heard Johnny on his right, breathing in a slow, even rhythm, felt his body heat against his arm. All of his senses were attuned to the man to his right.

And yet, there was clearly a man standing directly to his left.

Ryan stared without blinking, waiting for the apparition to fade, or for his eyes to adjust to the dim light. It was just a reflection. It had to be. Except the only light in the elevator came from his phone, and that was barely enough to light a few inches away, let alone outline the dark shape beside him. He shouldn’t be able to see anything at all.

“So?”

Ryan jumped at Johnny’s question. “What?”

“Do you have reception?”

“I…do you…”

“Do I what?”

Ryan shook his head, remembered Johnny couldn’t see him, and muttered, “Nothing. No, I don’t have any bars.”

“How long do you think it’ll be until we’re missed?”

Ryan barely heard the question. The figure had moved, was now standing directly in front of him, so near he should’ve been feeling breath fan across his lips. He’d never been claustrophobic, but the walls were moving in tighter, and Johnny felt closer than ever, and Ryan needed a drink. Water. Whiskey. Something. Sweat poured down his brow and the back of his neck, clustering in giant, itchy beads.

“Hey, buddy? You okay? Don’t freak out on me, okay, big man?”

“I’m not.” He rasped the words, too busy freaking out to realize how freaked out he actually sounded...