Playing for Keeps (Love Goals #1) by Kristian Parker

@kparkerwriter @debbiereadsbooks

@kparkerwriter @debbiereadsbook

#Contemporary, #MM, #Sports, #Romance,

Golden-haired Udo Holtmann is a big name in soccer. But since transferring to Premier League club Brockton FC three months ago, the star midfielder can’t score a goal. The fans, the players and the CEO are furious.

It’s not his playing style or trouble gelling with the team. Udo is hiding a secret. He wanted a fresh start at this new club yet old problems are still plaguing him.

Steven Cox, former player and Brockton’s handsome assistant manager, has to find out what’s blocking Udo. Keen to prove to the world that he could manage his own club, Steven throws himself into the mission. If he doesn’t fix Udo’s problems soon, the team could fall out of the league and Udo will be back on the market.

Spending time together, Udo and Steven ignite a passion but acting on it could end both their careers. The world of soccer can be an unforgiving place.

With the stakes so high, what will happen if Udo and Steven give in to their feelings?

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3 out of 5 (good)

Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!

OK, here's the thing. I am not, in any way, shape or form, a football fan. I have to know about football for work, but that's all. I do not watch or follow any teams. So I approached this book with caution. I've read other books by Parker and I loved them, so I gave it a go. 

I am pleased to say, the football talk was kept to a minimum! 

But. 

I liked this, I cannot love it. 

I found the speed of the relationship fast, but there was hardly any soul-searching. Given that these two together could cost them both their careers, I expected some deep internal monologues, and I don't get them. 

I found the emotional connection a little flat, between Udo and Steven. Some of that is a follow-up from the previous point, but I just felt a bit let down by that. 

The steam level is fairly low, but that's not a bad thing. I liked that. 

That said! 

I did finish it, and there are some interesting side characters, who I hope will get a story. I will try another in this series to see who comes next! 

3 good stars

** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Personal

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I live in the Yorkshire countryside which is lovely but very wet. I’ve always written and have a masters in TV and Radio Scriptwriting. I fell into MM romance during the pandemic and I’ve been hooked ever since.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I love to travel. I’m going on a fjord cruise very soon and I’m so excited. Maybe there will be a book about a handsome Norwegian captain in my future.

I also enjoy the usual things like seeing friends, cinema, theatre and knitting.

Do you have a day job as well?

Yes, I’m a procurement manager which means I award contracts to suppliers and make sure they are behaving themselves. There is never a dull day.

My series, Pleasure Seekers, is loosely based on a time when I worked for Durex. There are some true stories in there. I’m not saying which ones though.

What was your favourite book as a child?

I think the one that had a lifelong impression on me is The Hobbit. My mum read it to me and I was gripped from the word go. The way that the adventure unfolds is spectacular. And who doesn’t love Bilbo Baggins?

When was that point in your life that you realised that being an author was no longer going to be just a dream but a career you were going to turn into reality?

When my previous publishers, Pride Publishing, said yes to my enquiry story. It was an amazing moment.

A year later, I released my first full-length book and I had a paperback copy in my hand. I’ll never be able to describe how that felt.

It’s always a thrill when new books arrive.

What book do you wish you had written?

There are so many. In the MM world I think the Tidal series by K Evan Coles and Brigham Vaughn is an incredible piece of work. Outside of our genre anything by George Elliott, Jasper Fforde and David Mitchell.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Retired from the day job hopefully. And warm.

Writing

When did you start writing and when did you finish your first book?

I’ve been writing since before I could write. I dictated a silly superhero story to my auntie. I got the bug right there and it’s never left me.

Kristian Parker was born in 2020 when I responded to a tweet by Pride Publishing and they accepted me. I did a few novellas at first and then my first book, The Rule of Three, came out in July 2022.

How did you choose the genre you write in?

I’d written my first mm romance story by accident. I didn’t really know what to do with it so I shelved it and worked on other things. Then I saw a tweet asking for gay romance stories.

After a huge edit, To Light A Fire was released the following spring.

Where do you get your ideas?

Literally anywhere. Travelling is a great source of inspiration. Plus that detachment from the real world gives the imagination a chance. I’m pleading a strong case for more holidays aren’t I?

I’m an out and proud people watcher. Airports or stations are great for that. More than one character has come alive while I’ve been waiting for a train.

Do you ever experience writer’s block?

Not really. When I did my masters in TV and radio scriptwriting, we were taught to layer when developing a story. This means I usually know where a story is heading very early. It’s all the obstacles I put in their way that takes the work and is the most fun.

Are you a planner or a pantser?

I’m very much a planner. Although that isn’t to say that major ideas don’t crop up during the first draft or even editing stages. I tried pantsing and it terrified me. I’m not the most patient person in the world so writing myself into a corner and having to unpick to get out fills me with dread.

Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?

I was incredibly moved by A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. I found myself worrying about the characters when I was away from them.

I also love the work of the Brontes. They lived such sheltered lives on the Yorkshire moors but created worlds we still want to visit. I live near their home and its well worth a visit.

Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

I went on a very steep learning curve after being accepted. I had to learn the beats of romance novels and the rules of the genre. I definitely made mistakes early on. I probably still do to be fair.

If you had to go back and do it all over, is there any aspect of your novel or getting it published that you would change?

Not at all. It was so exhilarating getting published that first time. Since I was a child I’d dreamed of having a book published. I know it sounds cliched but it never gets stale. Whenever I attend a book event and someone tells me they liked a book, it makes my day.

Have you written a book you love that you have not been able to get published?

I have. It’s not mm romance. It’s a story about six older LGBTQ people who share a house. I’m going to dust it off one day. Maybe not in the name of Kristian Parker though.

How do you market your work? What avenues have you found to work best for your genre?

Marketing is the hardest part of being a writer. It’s so tricky because what works one year might not the next. I try to be present on social media but often get side tracked with writing. It’s a gift and a curse really. The gift is being able to promote ourselves. The curse is how much time it takes.

Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

There are loads of real-life experiences of either myself or my friends. Some given a twist by my imagination. Of course lots of things are totally made up too.

What was your favourite chapter (or part) to write and why?

I do like a reconciliation scene. They are fun to write as well. Often they start off with an argument then realisation then passion. What more do you need?

Are there certain characters you would like to go back to, or is there a theme or idea you’d love to work with?

I am planning a sequel trilogy to my gangster series, Two Tribes. I loved writing those books. I’m already having ideas for what they have been up to. I think I can cause them a bit more trouble yet.

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

Read as much as possible in the genre. It’s the only way to learn what works and what doesn’t. I’ve discovered so many wonderful writers since I fell down the MM romance rabbit hole.

What does your protagonist think about you?

He probably resents me for causing so much trouble in his life. But really he should be thanking me because I’ve found him the love of his life. So button it!

Would he or she want to hang out with you, the author, his creator?

Yeah I reckon so. As he is a millionaire footballer, we can hang out at his place. I could do with a bit of luxury.

What has been the toughest criticism you’ve been given as an author?

I’ve been given some tough reviews. The trick is not to take it to heart. You can’t. Thankfully I have lots of positive reviews. That isn’t to say I don’t learn from both. A brutal review can often be a valuable learning experience.

What has been the best compliment?

I love doing book fairs. When anyone comes to the stall and tells me they read one of my books and they enjoyed it is such a kick. It’s easy to forget that actual people read my work. So to see a smiling face is a “pinch me” moment.

Which character speaks the loudest, to you? Do any of them clamour to be heard over the others?

I have a secondary character in my Queens Crescent series. She’s called Mrs Wimpole and she never shuts up! There will be a Queens Crescent spin off next year so no doubt she will pop up.

What sort of Starbuck’s coffee would your characters order? Simple coffee or some complicated soy-non-fat-extra-espresso-half-caff-nightmare? 

He plays top flight football so he’d probably have a water. Maybe a black coffee if he’s feeling wild.

What sort of writing environment do you create? I.e. music or not? Pen and paper or laptop/PC?

If I’m writing first draft, I lie on my bed and listen to dance music. It can’t have many lyrics as I find that distracting. I have endless playlists.

If I’m editing or doing other admin things, I prefer to be at my desk. I will still have music on though.

Always music.

Is there a certain type of scene that is harder to write than other? Racy? Love? Action?

After twenty books it is hard (no pun intended) to keep the sex fresh. I suppose I’m in a long-term relationship with my readers haha. Don’t worry, I vow to keep working at it.

Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?

It’s hard not to sound corny but thank you. The thought that people read my stories and enjoy them gives me such a buzz. I love writing and having an outlet for my creativity is an absolute gift. The MM world is largely kind so I feel very lucky indeed.

Is there one subject you would never write about? What is it?

Consent is incredibly important to me. I would never write a scene where that was even questioned let alone withheld. I don’t judge anyone else who wants to write or read that but it’s not something I would be comfortable exploring.

Do you have any strange writing habits? Like writing in the shower?

Haha sadly not. I wish I was that exciting.

How important are the names in your book?

That can be so difficult. I can’t use names of people I know well because that could make writing the racy scenes awkward.

I also have a main character spreadsheet (there must always be a spreadsheet) so that I don’t repeat names too often. I think I’ve done it a couple of times.

Did you choose them based on how they sounded or looked, or was it completely random?

For the Love Goals series, some characters are based on real-life footballers past and present. Only in looks though. Its way more fun to create people from scratch than try to duplicate an existing person. I love the process of writing character backstory and world building.

Do you have any name choosing resources you would recommend?

My editor and you can’t have her, she’s mine haha. Seriously, Rebecca Fairfax is amazing for bouncing ideas off.

The names I’m the proudest of are for my Two Tribes series. The action is in my favourite city in the world, Manchester. So I used famous Manchester songs as titles.

Do you read your reviews?

I do. I can’t help myself. Most of the time people are very kind and it’s a real boost. Occasionally not but I can take the rough with the smooth.

Do you respond to them, good or bad?

Never. Someone told me very early on that reviews are for readers not writers.

Do you have any advice on how to deal with the bad?

We can’t please everybody. It’s never personal.

What is your best marketing tip?

I’m hopeless at marketing. Any tips gratefully received.

What is your least favourite part of the writing or publishing process?

Once all the edits are done I have a process that I call the List of Doom. They are my overly used words. I have to then go through the manuscript changing a lot of them. It’s a pain but worth it.

I have an addiction to the word “was”. It’s my nemesis.

I have written for as long as I could write. In fact, before, when I would dictate to my auntie. I love to read, and I love to create worlds and characters.

I live in the English countryside. When I’m not writing, I like to get out there and think through the next scenario I’m going to throw my characters into.

Inspiration can be found anywhere, on a train, in a restaurant or in an office. I am always in search of the next character to find love in one of my stories. In a world of apps and online dating, it is important to remember love can be found when you least expect it.

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