Guest Post and Giveaway: Wish You Were Here by Asta Idonea

Asta Idonea is visiting today to tell us about her new novella. There's a great giveaway too. Welcome, Asta!
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The death of Oakley’s sister has left his family broken and buried beneath their grief. In an attempt to get out from underneath their pain, they rent an isolated cottage in the Cotswolds. For Oakley, it’s an exercise in futility. He doesn’t see much hope for things to get back to the way they used to be, and he’s bored and restless as he waits out the time until he can return to the city and university. All of that changes when he meets local boy Bobby, and the connection between them is instant. Within a few days, Oakley is ready to walk away from everything to stay with Bobby. However, Bobby has problems of his own, and they might be more than the budding romance can survive. But they might also give Oakley a new perspective on his own situation.

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Buy Wish You Were Here:
Dreamspinner Press
Amazon US
Amazon UK

Guest Post

I always like to include a little symbolism in my stories, to a varying degree, depending on the style and needs of each piece. Sometimes it only extends to the choice of character names. Other times it runs deeper. Wish You Were Here is one of those other times.

​In Wish You Were Here I chose the character names for their meaning, but another important symbol is the oak tree around which much of the action takes place. Oaks symbolise strength, endurance, and nobility. They are also often linked to courage, power, and family ties. These qualities are important in light of Oakley and Bobby’s story. It resonates with their individual stories and is also connected to the formation of their close bond. So, through its symbolism, the tree almost becomes a character in its own right.
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Excerpt

Summer passed England by that year, as if it shared his family’s grief and refused to intrude upon such solemn days with unwanted sunshine. A cool, wet July turned into a blustery August, and now a dismal September loomed. From the window of their rented cottage, there was nothing but gray skies as far as the eye could see. The fields spread out in a patchwork of shortbread and moss. Plentiful rain meant the grass stood tall, but the lack of light filtering through thick, heavy clouds dulled its various shades of green. And this bleak scene was supposed to make everything better?

​Oakley sighed and turned to the sink. He poured himself a glass of water from a spluttering, corroded tap and took a sip. Despite the dubious appearance of the fittings, the water was clean, tasteless, and refreshing. He supposed he should at least be thankful for that. It was likely to be the only pleasant thing this vacation would provide.
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Giveaway

Prize: 1 x e-copy of my MM Sci-Fi novella Fire Up My Heart
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About the Author:

Asta Idonea (aka Nicki J Markus) was born in England but now lives in Adelaide, South Australia. She has loved both reading and writing from a young age and is also a keen linguist, having studied several foreign languages.

Asta launched her writing career in 2011 and divides her efforts not only between MM and mainstream works but also between traditional and indie publishing. Her works span the genres, from paranormal to historical and from contemporary to fantasy. It just depends what story and which characters spring into her mind!

​As a day job, Asta works as a freelance editor and proofreader, and in her spare time she enjoys music, theatre, cinema, photography, and sketching. She also loves history, folklore and mythology, pen-palling, and travel, all of which have provided plenty of inspiration for her writing.

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