Cia's Stories: Author Interview: Alex A. Akira with DOJO BOYS!

Today I'm featuring an interview with Alex A. Akira and sharing more about her newest release, DOJO Boys: Dragon and Crow!

Have you ever gone out in public, realized your shirt is on backwards, and just don’t care?

No. Horribly, I’m an introvert so pay close attention to my appearance when venturing into society.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Drawing and painting, running, martial arts, hiking, rock climbing, yoga and sex…not necessarily in that order.

Do you have any writing rituals?

Write daily, research three days or more a week, and meditate if I can’t find the words to express what I want to say.

How many books/stories have you written? Do you have a favorite?

I’ve written about 45 stories, but only 8 were written for publication. Right now 3 books are published with 2 more to be out in September 2015.

I love Dragon and Crow because it was my first full manuscript, but whatever I am working on in the moment tends to get the most love. At this moment that work is Doll Drone, a yaoi android story scheduled to be a webepisode series on my website in September of 2015

What do you think makes up a good book?

I like intense stories that engage a reader and take them places they may not have gone before. I believe a story should get increasing better as it develops; the climax should be good, but the end should be even better. I also like characters that display courage and emotional growth in concurrence with the events of the story.

If you could give advice to yourself when you first started writing, what would it be?

For the love of God, get an editor… and a beta reader.

Did something inspire you to write a story that involves martial arts themes?

I’m a martial artist, so I figured I’d start with a subject I know something about.

Did the characters or the plot of Dojo Boys: Dragon and Crow come to you first?

I’d have to say the characters. I knew I wanted to write about a young American martial artist falling in love with a visiting martial artist from Japan. But once I envisioned Michael and Kiyoshi… well the storyline just kind of took off to where the characters wanted to go. Of course they wanted to go everywhere, so I had a lot of research to do to make the eventual plot work.

If your Dojo Boys was made into a movie, who could you picture playing the parts for Michael and Kiyoshi?

Wow, the writer's dream question huh? I'm going to answer by revealing the real-life inspirations for these two characters.

The character of Kiyoshi was inspired by: Hyde, Mizushima Hiro, Sato Takeru, Oguri Shun and David Chiang.

The character Michael was inspired by: Pablo Morais, Simonas Pham, Cameron Gentry and Michael Ealy.

So any actors that can capture the charming personalities and exquisite beauty of those mentioned, step on up… let’s talk.

Can you share anything about your current or future projects?

I’m currently reworking the two-volume sequel to Dragon & Crow, Dojo Boys: The Italian Connection, scheduled to be released in September 2015. I’m also writing an anthology of Dojo Boys shorts, which I’ve temporarily named Dojo Boys: The Lost Chapters, scheduled for a 2016 release.

Besides the yaoi android web series, Doll Drone, I’ve got a drug dealer-college student action-romance called Sweet in the works.

I’m also writing and illustrating another yaoi action series for my website, called Smithy which chronicles the adventures of a yahoo from the Midwest who gets scouted by a modeling agency. He discovers his mother, who raised him, is in a witness protection program when his modeling job unintentionally exposes her. Soon Smithy is using his unique “survival skills” and his international modeling gigs to track down her killers. This series of anecdotes will be appearing monthly on my website in Autumn 2015.

Title: Dragon and Crow - Deluxe 2 Volume Set

Series: Dojo Boys

Author: Alex A. Akira

Publisher: Triple A Press

Cover Artist: Alex A. Akira

Length: Volume 1 – 275 Pages; Volume 2 – 390 Pages

Release Date: 25^th May, 2015

Blurb: Twenty-three-year-old, Native American, Michael Black’s well-ordered life is disrupted one evening when he is ambushed at the dojo he frequents by a mysterious Japanese youth who goes by the name of Kiyoshi.

Soon circumstances have the gorgeous teen staying with Michael at his apartment. The gifted nineteen-year-old is an intriguing mix of angst, innocence and crafty intelligence, but Michael is honor bound by a promise to his sensei to keep his distance. Michael tries to keep his desire in check, but what can he do if the exquisite teen keeps kissing him?

Volume two finds Michael in deep water when, in trying to help Kiyoshi, he is persuaded by his sensei to participate in a joint government undercover operation to bring down a Yakuza lord.

Before long Michael is immersed in beautiful men, martial arts and espionage all to gain the trust and love of Kiyoshi. Secrets, lies, sex and action combine in this racy, romantic, adventure of two men, Michael Black and his sensei, Ichiro Kimura, navigating a dangerous path for true love.

Michael groped for the light switch, a smile of triumph playing at his lips. Damn, I did it! I beat him! Flicking the switch, he turned, eager to view his skilled opponent and to bask in the accolades that he was sure to receive from Sensei Kimura.

His triumph descended to dismay in a flash. Who the hell is this?

A slight figure lay crumpled at the center of the practice room. Cautiously approaching the limp form, Michael’s heart sank even further. Lying unconscious on the gleaming bamboo floor was a Japanese boy. He looked to be about five-foot-seven, was very pale, and quite young.

“A kid? I beat up a kid?” Quickening his pace, Michael knelt beside the slim figure. Jesus, he’s like fourteen, fifteen? Beautiful. He looks like Ichiro. Better, actually, Michael admitted, surprised at his internal betrayal of his long-held crush on his sensei. He continued to stare down at the slight, fragile boy, eyeing the long blue-black hair that trailed sensuously around the figure’s unfamiliar gray karategi.

Who the hell is he? Why would they have me beat up a kid for my test? Puzzled, he glanced around the room, noting that he and the boy were alone. Ignoring his impending alarm, he gazed back to the unconscious figure.

The youth’s face was truly beautiful. Michael’s inner artist drank in the smooth, pearly skin, the long, sooty lashes, and the pale apricot color blushed across the boy’s delicate cheekbones. God… An aching hunger preceded the lurch of Michael’s cock, which nudged his lower abdomen telegraphing its interest. Get it together. He’s like … twelve! Suddenly realizing that the boy showed no sign of regaining consciousness, Michael snapped from his trance and shook his opponent’s shoulder.

“Hey!” He leaned over the placid body, hand stretching toward the longish neck for a pulse. The telltale thump throbbed beneath his fingers, but his proximity to the boy’s face had him pausing to stare at the youth’s sculpted lips. Christ, get away from him before you do something you’ll regret. Frowning, he started to shift upright when a relentless grip clutched his hair.

Caught off guard, Michael fumbled helplessly as his head was tugged abruptly toward the face beneath him. The beautiful mouth claimed his lips, stealing his breath and muffling his gasp as a hot tongue invaded his mouth. The agile member eagerly caressed its counterpart, igniting Michael’s senses. The tantalizing scent of ripe apricots surrounded him, dizzying him with sensual promises, and urging him to surrender.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/DOJO-BOYS-DRAGON-ADVENTURE-ROMANCE-ebook/dp/B00XT5U8AA/

Alex A. Akira is the author of the yaoi romance series Dojo Boys, racy tales of young, male martial artists navigating some unorthodox and adventurous paths to find love. The Deluxe two-volume box set of Dojo Boys: Dragon and Crow are available at Amazon:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dojo-Boys-Dragon-Crow/1586470108305850

WEBSITE: http://www.alexaakira.org/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/AlexAAkira

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/103196749872035740632/posts/p/pub