A warm welcome to Avery Duran, the creative author behind "Matzo Ball"
About the story:
Jacob Greenberg is resigned to his quiet, single life. When his popular best friend talks him into attending a singles party, he never expects to meet his very own Prince Charming.
Excerpt from "Matzo Ball"
All of a sudden, a smooth voice said, “Excuse me.”
“I’m sorry to bother you, but I could use some help. Would you mind?”
I walked toward the hot bartender, wondering exactly what he wanted from me. He gestured for me to follow him. His long legs moved quickly, but I didn’t mind walking behind him since it meant I could watch that tight ass move in his clinging pants. The rest of him was just as sexy as I had expected, broad shoulders tapering down into a small waist that emphasized his perfect rear. He was a little taller than I, which would make him just over six feet. We walked through a door marked “Employees only” and down a long, winding hallway. I suppressed the voice in my head reminding me this was a set-up for an episode of Unsolved Mysteries.
Finally, some sense of self-preservation emerged and I asked him, “Where are we going?”
I looked around the barren hallway, “But...what am I helping you with?”
“It’s actually more of what I helped you with.” I was stumped. I mean, the guy was hot as hell, but I was starting to feel as if I’d fallen down the rabbit hole. I really hoped he wasn’t going to try to sell me something, or rope me into a get-rich-quick scheme. The time for me to make my escape had definitely come. Pity such hotness was going to waste. “Look, buddy, I appreciate whatever you mean to do, but I’m meeting a friend and should get going.”
He started to laugh and I froze—seriously, I could not move. When he smiled, his eyes crinkled up at the corners and his whole face lit up; I had never seen anything more mesmerizing.
He put his hand out. “Wait a minute, was I reading you wrong? Because seriously, I did NOT think you were interested in giving that woman her dream of two point five kids and a white picket fence.” He put his hand on my shoulder, “C’mon, we can go back.”
“No!” I yelled, probably a little too enthusiastically.
“L-Let’s not go back.”
“Well, I have to go back if I want to get paid, but I can get you out the back door—for a price.”
“What’s the price?”
One side of his mouth kicked up. “Your number and a kiss."
What inspired you to write “Matzo Ball?"
The Matzo Ball is a Christmas Eve event for Jewish Singles. When I was single & living in NYC, I attended a few times and it was always a lot of fun. When it came time to write this story I couldn’t help but think – what if a gay man ended up at a straight matchmaking event? That's how Jacob & Ian’s story was born!
What types of stories do you enjoy reading most?
Excerpt from "Matzo Ball"
All of a sudden, a smooth voice said, “Excuse me.”
I turned my head toward the voice and realized it was the bartender. He was the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome, with short brown hair and chocolate-brown eyes. A tight black shirt showed off bulging biceps and a broad chest. The bottom of a tattoo was peeking out of his sleeve. The bar prevented my view of the rest of him, but considering how hot the top half was, I could only imagine how good he looked from the waist down. I licked my suddenly dry lips. “Yes?”
“I’m sorry to bother you, but I could use some help. Would you mind?”
“Of course not.” As I stood, I remembered my new friend. “Tara,” I said, “it was lovely to meet you. Have a happy new year!” She looked at me, shrugged, and turned to the guy on the other side to introduce herself. I had clearly broken her heart.
I walked toward the hot bartender, wondering exactly what he wanted from me. He gestured for me to follow him. His long legs moved quickly, but I didn’t mind walking behind him since it meant I could watch that tight ass move in his clinging pants. The rest of him was just as sexy as I had expected, broad shoulders tapering down into a small waist that emphasized his perfect rear. He was a little taller than I, which would make him just over six feet. We walked through a door marked “Employees only” and down a long, winding hallway. I suppressed the voice in my head reminding me this was a set-up for an episode of Unsolved Mysteries.
Finally, some sense of self-preservation emerged and I asked him, “Where are we going?”
He turned around, smiled at me, and leaned against the wall. “Here is good.”
I looked around the barren hallway, “But...what am I helping you with?”
“It’s actually more of what I helped you with.” I was stumped. I mean, the guy was hot as hell, but I was starting to feel as if I’d fallen down the rabbit hole. I really hoped he wasn’t going to try to sell me something, or rope me into a get-rich-quick scheme. The time for me to make my escape had definitely come. Pity such hotness was going to waste. “Look, buddy, I appreciate whatever you mean to do, but I’m meeting a friend and should get going.”
He started to laugh and I froze—seriously, I could not move. When he smiled, his eyes crinkled up at the corners and his whole face lit up; I had never seen anything more mesmerizing.
He put his hand out. “Wait a minute, was I reading you wrong? Because seriously, I did NOT think you were interested in giving that woman her dream of two point five kids and a white picket fence.” He put his hand on my shoulder, “C’mon, we can go back.”
“No!” I yelled, probably a little too enthusiastically.
“L-Let’s not go back.”
“Well, I have to go back if I want to get paid, but I can get you out the back door—for a price.”
“What’s the price?”
One side of his mouth kicked up. “Your number and a kiss."
Interview With Avery Duran
What inspired you to write “Matzo Ball?"
The Matzo Ball is a Christmas Eve event for Jewish Singles. When I was single & living in NYC, I attended a few times and it was always a lot of fun. When it came time to write this story I couldn’t help but think – what if a gay man ended up at a straight matchmaking event? That's how Jacob & Ian’s story was born!
What types of stories do you enjoy reading most?
I will read anything! I do get tend to get upset when my fiction does not have a happy ending. I once threw a copy of a Nicholas Sparks book over the side of a cruise ship (not far from where the Titanic went down actually), when the ending infuriated me. Real life is tough enough; I want to escape in my books. I also love non-fiction of all kinds though, and I certainly don’t expect all those books to have happy endings!
What are you currently writing about? What can readers expect from you in the future?
I am in the midst of finishing a spin off of this story, involving Jacob’s best friend, Jason. During the course of this story, I got very attached to Jason and I wanted to know if he found his true love. I also have a short story and a full length novel to finish up. I have a job and 3 young sons, so finding the time to write is my biggest challenge. Matzo Ball was the first story I ever submitted for publishing, I am just so excited to have a chance to explore this career path.
What are you afraid of?
Clowns! They terrify me with their creepy smiles and crazy eyes. I am a huge Stephen King fan, so I blame him for some of it. My house is a clown-free zone.
What are some other interesting facts about you?
My birthday is on Christmas Day and I am Jewish. It makes for interesting cards.
I am easily distracted by shiny things.
I can’t eat Chinese, Japanese or Thai food without chopsticks. It tastes weird if I use a fork.
Diet Coke is a major food group for me, I drink way too much of the stuff.
I grew up watching the Brady Bunch; Eight is Enough & Little House on the Prairie. That may account for my love of sappy endings.
I love meeting new people! Feel free to friend me on Facebook & say, “Hi!”
Thanks so much to Angora for letting me use some of her space to introduce myself!
What are you currently writing about? What can readers expect from you in the future?
I am in the midst of finishing a spin off of this story, involving Jacob’s best friend, Jason. During the course of this story, I got very attached to Jason and I wanted to know if he found his true love. I also have a short story and a full length novel to finish up. I have a job and 3 young sons, so finding the time to write is my biggest challenge. Matzo Ball was the first story I ever submitted for publishing, I am just so excited to have a chance to explore this career path.
What are you afraid of?
Clowns! They terrify me with their creepy smiles and crazy eyes. I am a huge Stephen King fan, so I blame him for some of it. My house is a clown-free zone.
What are some other interesting facts about you?
My birthday is on Christmas Day and I am Jewish. It makes for interesting cards.
I am easily distracted by shiny things.
I can’t eat Chinese, Japanese or Thai food without chopsticks. It tastes weird if I use a fork.
Diet Coke is a major food group for me, I drink way too much of the stuff.
I grew up watching the Brady Bunch; Eight is Enough & Little House on the Prairie. That may account for my love of sappy endings.
I love meeting new people! Feel free to friend me on Facebook & say, “Hi!”
Thanks so much to Angora for letting me use some of her space to introduce myself!
More About Avery Duran
Avery Duran’s first book was written with crayon at 5 years old, and ended with, “They lived happily ever after.” Although she no longer uses crayons—and her spelling has improved—every story still has a happy ending. A native New Yorker, she loves to incorporate her favorite city into what she writes. Avery lives a hectic existence with her husband, three sons, and a very fat cat. When everyone goes to sleep and the house is quiet, she writes dirty stories about hot guys finding their happily ever after.
Find Avery Duran Online
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/the.avery.duran
Email: AveryDuran18@gmail.com
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