Eventually, that story turned into Promises. (He was quite relieved to find out the affair was with two imaginary men.) I wrote and wrote and wrote. I was so secretive, he eventually asked if I was having an affair. I wrote like a fiend, hiding it from my husband the entire time. What the hell did I know about writing a book? I hadn’t even started the story at the beginning! I’d jumped right into the middle, which seemed absurd, even to me. I sat down at my computer and I started writing. I only planned to be home a few years-just until my daughter started school full-time-before reentering the workforce.Ībout four months into my new life, I woke up with an idea in my head.

What I lacked (at least, in my estimation) was the imagination to really pull it off.įast-forward to December 2008, when I quit my job of eleven years at an OB-GYN clinic in order to be a stay-at-home mom.

The basic mechanics of it were easy for me. I was always an avid reader, but I had no intention of ever becoming an author. I FREQUENTLY hear authors say, “I always wanted to be a writer.” Through the awkwardness, Jared learns love doesn’t always mean sex and the most meaningful connections might have nothing to do with romance. He doesn’t anticipate getting caught between his friend Bryan and Bryan’s flamboyant ex. Jared has simple goals for his freshman year of college: make friends, lose his virginity, come out, and maybe fall in love. But for the first time, he has the courage to try… if he can only convince Matt. A summer camping and mountain biking together cements their friendship, but when Matt realizes he’s attracted to Jared, he panics and withdraws, leaving Jared all too aware of what he’s missing.įacing Matt’s affair with a local woman, his disapproving family, and harassment from Matt’s coworkers, Jared fears they’ll never find a way to be together. Matt may not be into guys, but he doesn’t care that Jared is. But Jared’s opportunities are limited-the only other gay man in town is twice his age, and although Jared originally planned to be a teacher, the backlash that might accompany the gig keeps him working at his family’s store instead.

Jared Thomas has lived in the mountain town of Coda, Colorado his whole life. Readers love the Coda Series by Marie SextonĬan a man who loves his small hometown trust it to love him back?

Promises by Marie Sexton