As you know, this site doesn’t do things the traditional way of most review sites and I’m somewhat unorthodox (is that laughter I hear?) 🙂 so when Ethan told me that he was doing a piece (sorry, this doesn’t mean what Ethan thinks) 🙂 about his journey for his latest masterpiece I asked for a copy. Of all the authors whose books I have read, I think Ethan is the most unusual because not only does he live in his own world which I’m sure is a very scary place, he’s also incredibly open about himself, a characteristic that’s most unusual for an author. If you read his ‘coming out’ story here you’ll understand why he hits all my bases.
I wanted to share his latest journey with you, which is another ‘coming out’ in a way, to give you a sense of why Ethan Day writes those complicated human stories that he does, and why his characters act the way they do (I think he recreates himself in his characters). Here then, is French Kisses. I hope you enjoy this post, and by the way, Ethan Day’s latest story At Piper’s Point will be reviewed by Aunt Lynn on Monday who swears that she’s going to be really tough …….. this time.
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With the release of each book I write comes the moment when I sit back and think about the story itself, the journey I went on as author, and the themes which
spring forth from the pages – whether intentional or accidental. I try putting it all into perspective; soaking up as much as possible so I may grow from the experience and mature as a writer…hopefully perfecting my craft a teensy bit more. Fortunately, for all of you, this blog post has nothing to do with that mess. 🙂
That’s not to say this post wasn’t inspired by my new book, At Piper’s Point. On the contrary — as the muse of today’s ramblings — much like Cassidy was forced to do upon returning to the ancestral home of his grandmother, I decided to take a turn at staring down my own past. More specifically…to revisit some of my firsts.
Personally, I find memories more satisfying than any photographic evidence which has managed to survive. Yes, I used the word survive — as in anything I haven’t gotten my hands on and destroyed. Really must try having another go at convincing my parents I need a key to their house. Right now you’re all thinking I must be attempting to hide something horrible from my past. Well, you’re not wrong. In my head, I’m able to change my wardrobe and hair styles in a flash. For anyone who grew up in the eighties, you know exactly how priceless a gift that can be.
Whether real or slightly altered by my imagination, the costumes may change but the plot lines of my own history are never altered. It’s not that I’m all brave or anything, merely delusional in the sense I can take my foibles and twist them all around in my head until I’ve convinced myself that those experiences didn’t suck so bad after all! Here’s an example to illustrate the way my mind works: That hot guy who used a little too much tooth-action when giving head wasn’t bad at the BJ’s, merely hungry. Had I been a better host, I’d have fed him a snack first — handed out a granola bar or a snack cake on the way up to my bedroom.
See how that works? (Just nod your head and pretend if you don’t)
Sweet! Onward and upward we may go, then.
So my first adult kiss (the kind with tongue) took place many moons ago and as it happens, was with someone of the female persuasion, so yes people — I too kissed a girl…and okay, I liked it. Though, for the record, I’m pretty sure I was the one wearing the Cherry Chap Stick. And while I’ve never regretted having had that gay-on-girl encounter (nor the Cherry Chap Stick for that matter), unlike my love and adoration for Ms. Jackson if you’re Nasty, the experience never stuck with me.
What sets the B.G. (before gay) kiss apart from my first man-on-man lip action? The only thing I truly remembered about that first French kiss was the fact that it was with a girl. In retrospect, everything about that kiss went the way it was supposed to, but it felt more like I was checking something off my to do list — no heat or angsty goodness. Despite the fact it wasn’t exactly the stuff of fire and music, I can still hear my teen doppelganger bragging about the fact that I wasn’t gay after all. But even then I knew I was full of shit. I’d have traded my parachute pants, Reebok high tops, and every last Swatch Watch to have had Charles in Charge of me. Obviously, as we all NOW know…there was no one to blame for this lack of chemistry. I just wasn’t ready to ask the same question made popular by the little old lady from the Wendy’s ad campaign back in the day, “Where’s the Beef?”
I do however, remember every detail of my first man-kiss with crystal clear clarity: the way he leaned through the passenger side window of my friend’s car with that crooked smile on his face…the softness of his lips as they pressed into mine…the heat from his mouth and the taste of alcohol on his breath…the stubble on his chin that scratched at mine…not to mention the instant arousal that followed once he’d slowly slipped his tongue into my mouth. I wanted to scream like a little girl and run down the street hi-fiving total strangers after that kiss, which is forever burned into my brain.
For those of you who are already romantically pondering the serious questions: Like how long did we go out? Did he ever tell me he loved me? Did he at least spit on it before sticking it in? I’m afraid I’m going to have to burst your bubble since I never saw him again. Its true folks, I started my career at a very young age. I was racking up missed opportunities and storing up enough “what-if’s” to last me a lifetime — saying cheesy-ass stuff like: “If it’s meant to be, I’ll see him again.”
I know…like, gag me with a spoon!
Believe me when I say, NO ONE can bullshit me, better than me. It’s not that I’ve lived my life with my head in the clouds so much as I likely have a head full of clouds. It’s seriously murky inside there. But sometimes being left with not enough is better than getting too much. Think about that the next time you run into that evil ex who tortured your emotions and left your insides feeling like Robert Downey Jr. in the nineties.
For Cassidy and friends in At Piper’s Point, looking back at the past also comes with its ups and downs. There’s that famous quote about how it’s not the destination, but the journey that counts. Hopefully, for those of you who decide to read the book, …like me…you’ll be happy with both.
Much Love
Ethan
Ethan’s website: http://www.ethandayonline.com/
Thank you for giving us a little insight into your brain, Ethan. I think a lot of us, myself included of course, use the costume/hairdo presto-chango thing in our heads. I purposely didn’t have many pictures taken of myself in the 80’s. I mean really, no one wants to remember that. 🙂
Great post!
Thanks Tracy!
Yes some looks are for ‘now’ while others are timeless. I’m not sure there were many of the latter coming out of the 80’s.
Dang, boy! I know it wasn’t you but you reminded me why I never think about my first “big” kiss. It was with a boy but he turned out to be gay. I was kinda naive and young but even then I would’ve sworn he was gay until he gave me lots of evidence he was interested. Now I think I’ll go back to forgetting about that kiss again. Or using it for a storyline.
LOL. Sorry Treva 🙂 I think I was a Freshman in high school for my first smoochie. As such I can assure you it was likely more accidental than any type of a calculation on my part.
I was never real great when it came to scheming…if you can believe that. 🙂
Hey Ethan,
Well said. I always enjoy getting a little piece of you. (do NOT go there!) You think the 80’s was bad, I’m a decade or so older and grew up in the 60’s and 70’s – think lots of paisley, bell bottoms and platform shoes. Sadly the pictures still survive.
It’s great to be able to look back at our pasts, relive the good times, and hopefully not cringe anymore at the foolish things we did, but take the lessons learned.
I’m looking forward to reading At Piper’s Point. I was going through Ethan Day withdrawal. I finally had to reread Dreaming of You and As You Are to get by.
Hi TJ! I was totally gonna go there – but since you told me not to… 🙂
And I was around for those 70’s as well. I remember the late 70’s at any rate. The multi colored, vertical striped bell-bottom jeans…tres chic. : ) And of course they eventually made fab cut-offs as well.
I certainly hope you enjoy the new book! I’m not sure if I wrote it, or it wrote me…but either way it’s almost here! : )
OMG Ethan. Once again you open the doors to fun and laughter–one of your best qualities doncha know? Especially for me and others like me… Fans, Ethan, fans! *sheesh*
Man, all the firsts… and may I say that I, personally, am very glad that I’d done my growing up prior to the 80’s. Much easier having a family then than to try to figure out who I was… not that I’ve been able to really achieve that milestone as I’m still a work in progress. *sigh*
Another excellent Ethan story… and seriously I want a book someday y’know.
Hugs
Thanks Kathy! I am a gentleman, I do like to open doors. Hopefully we’re all still ‘works in progress’. Otherwise, what’s the point. : )
That was a great Saturday morning read. Thanks for sharing your cloud-filled brain with us, Ethan. Now I gotta read At Piper’s Point. 🙂
Thanks L.C. Guess that makes me the Saturday morning cartoon (for adults) this week. : )
Ethan,
I can hardly wait for At Piper’s Point. It’s like you have given us a major tease, I want more Ethan!
I accidentally destroyed nearly all evidence that I was alive from 1976 to 1989. My Mom’s still not happy about that. Grade school through High School pictures really aren’t that important are they?
Hey Susie!
LOL…tease? Me? I wouldn’t do anything like that! : )
And you have my full support on your vengence against school pictures. They’re the worst!!
Thanks for letting me post and play here today Wave!
But you don’t have to go around encouraging Aunt Lynn to be tough on me! I don’t think toughness should be allowed outside the bedroom. And I doubt Lynn or her partner had that type of reviewing in mind. : )
Aunt Lynn has very strict instructions to be the toughest she can be and I know she listens to me (sure she does!!) This is a review site and every author is treated the same — crappily. Is there such a word? 🙂 We have the readers to think about and a reputation to maintain. Wait a second, did I say a reputation to maintain? I just remembered some of the posts I wrote – – I take that back.
You’re in Aunt Lynn’s hands. I know that bribery is neither beneath nor above you, so give it your best shot. Get on your horse and ride it! (I think I had a moment there) 🙂 Sex won’t work because neither of you swing in the same direction. She made me promise not to give you her email address, just in case. 🙂
LMAO!! I’d rather ride a cowboy instead of a horse, if it’s all the same to you. I’m sure I’m not alone in that. : )
And I’ll not resort to bribery. I’ll just cross my fingers and hope for good news. (I try it every week with those damn lottery tickets but so far nuthin’)
LMAO, Ethan! I love it when you do interviews, you’re always good fun!
After reading this I’m quite certain I remember my first girl kiss with much more clarity than you remember yours. Her lips were so soft and she had just eaten strawberries and tasted sweet and I was the one with the Cherry Chap Stick on. 😉 I still swoon when I think of it.
Oh, and I’m glad to know there’s at least one other person out there that rewrites their past to better suit them! My brain has a tendency to exaggerate the good things and down play the bad (or just pretend they didn’t happen at all).
Thanks for the laugh, Ethan and for sharing part of your past! Have a great weekend! (3 days till At Piper’s Point!!!! *doing a happy dance*)
Hahaha! I didn’t realize you wrote “I still swoon when I think of it” when I posted my comment, until I just reread it. Ok, well hell, I swoon when I think of mine too, damn it! LOL! My bad.
Hi Michelle! I don’t hold the exclusive rights to swoon so it’s all good ; ) Happy to hear you have some swoon-worthy memories of your own, though. We should all have some of those.
Hopefully the book will be worth the long-ass wait.
Ethan – wonderful post as always! Love your description of your first man-kiss. I could practically hear you screaming like a little girl and see you running down the street. 😉
Congrats on the upcoming release of At Piper’s Point!
Sloan
Thanks Sloan! You’re not the first to imagine seeing me screaming down the street like a little girl, LOL. Though I’ve never actually done it. Hmm…maybe I’ll give my neighbors something to talk about come midnight tonight. : )
Ah, the eighties! Bad, bad hair, yes, but some great music too. ^^
“I wanted to scream like a little girl and run down the street hi-fiving total strangers after that kiss, which is forever burned into my brain.”
Heh, this could totally be me, only… I was on the train at the time and screaming and running up and down the corridor was just not an option. But, the compartment had the locks, so… yes. ^^
It’s always fun to read your posts, Ethan. I’ve read the blurb for At Piper’s Point and I can’t wait to read it. It seem there will be a lot of screaming (of all kinds) involved.
Hi LadyM! Oh my – naughtiness behind locked compartment doors? Sounds like Body Heat meets Strangers on a Train. : ) I’m jealous! Wish we had more trains here in the US. Somebody needs to get on that. We need more train sex!!
Hope you enjoy the book!
An entertaining post, as always, Ethan. You’re just full little surprises and fun twists, aren’t you? What I love is hearing these little bits of insight into authors’ lives and histories. It’s already apparent you put a lot of yourself into your writing, but it becomes even more so when you share like this. It makes the reading that much more special. I can’t wait for Piper’ Point to be in my hot little hands 🙂
Thanks Jaime! Wave needs to start a new series, instead of Taxicab Confessions it could be, Jessewave Confessions. Did that sound like a dare? LOL! What’s that trampling sound? Oh…all the authors running away…right. ; )
Ethan
A horrible thought occurred to me. What if the book sucks big time and Aunt Lynn gives it a 1 star review? You’ve heard of those haven’t you? (Just a minute, this champagne cork is so hard – OK got it. Now where are those strawberries?) As I was saying, we’re having a ‘before’ party for At Piper’s Point but you might be sucking on a lemon on Monday. LOL
Lose my email please if that happens. (Of course it probably never will, but just in case, I’ll send you Aunt Lynn’s email).
What…you think I can’t hack a one star? And hey…I’ve sucked, big time before. LMAO! So I’d have something in common with my book. No…I could choke it down if I had to. ; )
Ethan
>>And hey…I’ve sucked, big time before ..
I could choke it down if I had to. ; ) << We ARE still talking about At Piper's Point aren't we? 🙂 Aunt Lynn said she might be persuaded to round UP the rating. She mentioned something about loving chocolates. That woman is too easy. I would hold out for something BIG.
LOL…we are not talking about Piper’s Point anymore.
“I would hold out for something BIG”
Hmmm…you mean like a bigger piece of chocolate? : )
Ethan
You’re such fun. I love how you pick up on my double entendres. 🙂 Of course I was talking about a bigger piece of chocolate. What else could I possibly mean?
If it’s any consolation I liked the book but Aunt Lynn never lets me review any of your books. Haven’t you noticed? I’ll leave you alone now, while I have another sip of champagne.
Take care of that halo. 🙂
LOL! I can’t tell you…oh my…I get this image in my head of Aunt Lynn sort of virtually peeing on the corner of my books to mark her territory! Gives me the giggles!!
And regardless of the ratings, I do sincerely appreciate you for giving your time and allowing me to play in your sandbox!
I’ll be on the hunt for a Grrreat big piece of chocolate for you. *wink wink*
>>And regardless of the ratings, I do sincerely appreciate you for giving your time and allowing me to play in your sandbox! << You're quite welcome Ethan, any time. Looking forward to the chocolate. Kidding aside, we all fight over your books, except maybe John. 🙂 Virtual peeing - I should try that sometime. 🙂 If you ever want to switch careers you could probably make it as a stand up. Don't ever change. And the first guy you kissed that you never saw again? Give him the virtual finger.
Hmmm…I still haven’t won over John, huh. I do hate that…since I have a ‘leave no man behind’ policy and all. Looks like John and I will have to work on our relationship a little. I’ll practically bend over backward if I have to. : )
Hi all and sorry to be late to the party.
I, for one — and maybe the only one? — LOVED the 80s. In fact, just today I was thinking about the music that defined my high school and early college years as I listened to a very eclectic mix at a party. I graduated high school in ’85, so smack dab in the middle of the decade. I loved the colorful clothes and the Boy George makeup. Yum. Okay, so I’m a freak. 🙂
I also had two first kisses, one for each gender and both later than most (really, though I was relatively popular, no one wants to date the semi-fat girl in high school, right?). My first boy-kiss came when I was seventeen with me standing on a step and my tip-toes because there was literally a foot and a half difference in out height. It was special and I never saw him again. I had my first girl-kiss when I was twenty-seven with my partner. I shook, I was so nervous.
So, yes, Monday is the big review day! I am putting on my tough hat like Wave instructed (because we never disobey her) and cracking my knuckles…and making a nice cuppa tea ’cause tea always makes the review process go smoother. 🙂 As I sit down to re-read At Piper’s Point this evening so I can throw together something tomorrow that makes sense, captures my thoughts and doesn’t make it look like I’m the fangirl I am, I can see that your post is a perfect tie. Thank you for sharing.
Oh, and virtual peeing? How funny!
And yes, chocolate is always appreciated. 🙂
Hi Aunt Lynn!
Now, I will have to agree with you on the whole music thing. The 80’s kicked ass for me musically. But the clothes were just awful! LOL. It was all too much…if one accessory was totally awesome, than forty accessories would be even more totally awesome!!
“I shook, I was so nervous.”
– that’s very romantical : )
You’re awesome, Ethan! What a great (and funny) story. lol
Thanks j.r. I’m happy you enjoyed it! And I’ll try not to be jealous ’cause you’re in Barbados and I’m…not. ; )
Oh Ethan! I just have to say that you are truly one of the most amazing and entertaining people I have ever known. (uh,if you can know someone without having ever met them?)……Thank you so much for sharing part of yourself, and making ME relive the 80’s……I’m with Aunt Lynn, I adored the 80’s…the music, the fashion (ok not that so much cause you can NOT feather curly hair no matter how hard you try!), the TV! got me through High School and a bit beyond :)…Congrats on the new release, I can’t wait to read At Piper’s Point….seems like I have been waiting forever….or since you said you had started it lol! *hugs*
Thanks Elaine!
It was fun looking back for me too. There was a lot of good stuff to come out of the eighties with regard to pop-culture. I hope you enjoy the new book as well and thanks for stopping by and reading the blog post. : )