Cover Reveal ~ First Encounters by Charming Man!

Photo banner, 851 x 315 featuring a sensual couple in B&W with the cover of First Encounters, an upcoming release by Charming Man, author.

Book Title: First Encounters

Author: Charming Man (aka A. S. Wilkins)

Genre: A Romantic-Erotic Story Collection

Synopsis

First Encounters offers a male insight into the realms of sensual romance, exploring the thought provoking world of liaisons between strangers.

On a hot summer’s night, a man awakes from a peaceful slumber, roused by a mysterious beauty appearing at his bedside. Is she real or merely a Night Vision?

Escaping the stresses of daily life to indulge in a little rest and recuperation, a weary businessman man unexpectedly engages a gorgeous exhibitionist in a voyeuristic Beach Encounter.

A chance meeting at a busy airport sees a young entrepreneur in the company of a seductive stranger for the duration of his flight to New York. She has a sexy secret to tell, but only if he shares one first; a Mid Air Collusion he’s unlikely to forget in a hurry.

Headmaster Peter Thompson is faced with a predicament when he summons a troubled sixth form student to discuss her latest misdemeanour. Refusing to accept her fate, Ariana takes control of the situation the only way she knows how.

While island hopping around the Cyclades, a backpacker is lured off the beaten track by a sexy local girl he meets on his travels. Was the need to satisfy his curiosity a good idea or A Greek Tragedy waiting to happen?

A college student embarks on a road trip, but didn’t envisage making the journey with a sexy hitch-hiker in tow. Two strangers find themselves thrown together in a slow-burning, tortuous tale of boy meets girl, set to the sounds of the new wave era. Will it be the end of the line when he reaches his destination or will The Hitcher lead him down another path?

Charming Man’s journey starts here; dare you join him?

About Charming Man

Photo of author A. S. Wilkins, also known as Charming ManCharming Man, aka author A. S. Wilkins explores the thought-provoking world of sensual romance through themes such as encounters between strangers, sexual fantasies, illicit relationships, voyeurism and more.

A S Wilkins has been writing sensual romance for over fifteen years. It all started quite by accident, following the tragic death of his wife in 1998, when he was left with two small children to bring up alone, as well as manage his own software consultancy.

While still in a state of shock and running on auto-pilot, he settled into a daily routine of dropping the kids off at day care, fulfilling his nine to five obligations, collecting the kids in the evening, feeding them, bathing them and putting them to bed with a night-time story, before collapsing in front of the television and crying into a large glass of red.

He had neither the opportunity nor desire to meet anyone new, yet he craved companionship. Posing as Charming Man, after the name of his favourite song by his favourite band The Smiths, he began to trawl online chat rooms, striking up conversations with anonymous individuals who may or may not have been who they said they were; it made little difference to him.

A S Wilkins wears his heart on his sleeve, and it soon became apparent he was able to engage openly with people from all walks of life, be they male or female; but mostly female it has to be said. Many of his early conversations on the net were innocent in content; he would pour his heart out to anyone who would listen, and in return he would provide a shoulder to those who were equally going through difficult times. He found the process very therapeutic and saved him a fortune in counselling!

Before too long, these intimate exchanges left him wanting more, such is the nature of making a new acquaintance. However, charming by name and charming by nature, he chose never to cross the line until encouraged to do so by others. This led to many a cat and mouse war of words with many a like-minded soul, which both intrigued and excited him. It was during this time he wrote his first short story, Night Vision, detailing his longing for the next love to enter his life.

The more he chatted, the more he became obsessed with the notion of sexual encounters between strangers. Still not in a position to embark on a new relationship in the real world, he continued to engage women in cyberspace, and together they would contrive a variety of scenarios from the respective comfort of their laptops. Many of these scenarios were later to become short stories; Beach Encounter, Mid Air Collusion, Ariana, A Greek Tragedy and The Hitcher, to name a few.

Fast forward several years and A S Wilkins has found happiness once more, having settled down north of London with a new partner and their combined family of four children. The release of Fifty Shades of Grey in March 2012 prompted him to dust off his short stories for his partner to read. She was impressed and managed to persuade him to publish them. Shortly after, charmingman.com was born.

Writing as Charming Man, A S Wilkins is always on the lookout for the next encounter to write about. When two individuals make eye contact across a room or on a crowded train, and a connection is made, this is often the green light that sets his imagination on fire. A knowing look is all it can take; a word might never be spoken. However, the minute an affinity is perceived, a scenario is hatched in his head, which is then honed over the coming days and weeks into a believable idea for a story.

And this final point is key; whereas it’s true to say that many of his works are clearly fantasies, it’s important to him that these fantasies are believable. The idea of a twenty-seven year old billionaire meeting a twenty-one year old virgin just doesn’t cut it for Charming Man.

Find out more about Charming Man by visiting his website at charmingman.com.

Other Stalker Links

Website
Twitter @charmingxman
Facebook Author Page
Amazon Author Page
Goodreads Profile

Email – mail@charmingman.com

A photo of a couple on a balcony, featuring a statement by Charming Man about why he is passionate about

I found my niche, in siren darkness ~

As the final edits and finishing touches are being done on Raven’s Undoing, I thought I would take the time to loop everyone in and say a few things. First I want to apologize to my readers for missing my mark and not launching this second book in July like I originally planned. However, this summer has been packed full of ups and downs and unforeseen circumstances that ultimately slowed down the book release. What can I say? Plot Twist! But seriously, my apologies if I disappointed you; but on the other hand, this added time has also given me the chance to really make sure this story is delivered exactly the way that I want it to be. And I’m dying to let you all read it. It will leave you gasping; I promise!

A few things I have learned during this second book is that my writing has greatly improved, however, my use of phrases such as “started to” or using the word “up” or starting off every paragraph or sentence with “I”…has not so much… And just when I thought I had writing in present tense perfected, my editor sends me a paragraph full of yellow highlights showing where I went back and forth between past and present tense and every other word has been crossed out and corrected. *Facepalm*

One of the most important things that I have learned through all of this, and maybe it is the most important of all; I have really figured out my writing style and where I feel most comfortable. I know what drives my emotion and where I am most creative. What fuels my passion and makes me ‘write hot’. When the desire to sit down and bleed my soul onto paper is burning the most… I finally know where I fit into the world of writing, and here I shall stay. When I created the alluring town of Snowhaven, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Little did I know that under its beautiful white blankets of snow, is where siren darkness lies and secrets become twisted reality. Just wait until vol. 3 is written ~

just Jack by K.L. Shandwick!

Being Lily Parnell’s best friend was effortless for Jack. Growing up together, Jack loved Lily and was fiercely protective of her and for most of his life all he wanted was to make her happy. When she was happy he was happy, except Lily lived a world away from him now and Jack missed her dreadfully. As far as Jack was concerned there had never been a time in their lives where they hadn’t shared everything. In recent years Lily’s ambitions took her overseas and even with an ocean between them, Jack still managed to support his best friend. One day things changed everything between them and their relationship began to shift. Lily was carving her own life and after observing a scene involving her, it made Jack take a close look at his own. Feeling confused, Jack decided to take a difficult decision never realising the potential fallout from doing something he felt was the right thing at the time. With his life laid bare Jack and as a simple, uncomplicated guy he thought he had things finally figured out. Women loved Jack and they came and went in his life apart from Lily. She was always there, until one day she wasn’t. Jack felt betrayed and abandoned by the one person who he thought he could rely on no matter what. During his journey from that moment on Jack faced more separation and loss than he could ever have imagined how would it shape him both as a man and can he forgive her?
Excerpt:-
Rick cracked the door open and padded through it hacking a cough and reaching for the mini-bar. “Mornin’ Lothario.” He croaked in my direction without making eye contact, reading the labels.
Chuckling loudly, there was just no way I was going to live down that after party Mark was talking about, but when I took in the sight of him I couldn’t help but throw a come-back at him.
Did your mother send you that get up, or are the pyjamas supposed to turn the women in your room off enough to leave?”
Rick looked down and smirked at the wine coloured paisley patterned silk pyjama bottoms he was wearing.
Waving his hand at the chair for me to sit down he pulled a glass and poured himself a miniature of gin and a small bottle of tonic water into it. “Long story.”
“Can’t wait.” My hurried comment was followed up with a wide grin as I settled back in the chair with one leg crossed over the other, my ankle resting on my knee.
“Allergy. I’ve got a rash from the starch on the hotel sheets the other night.”
As soon as he said that I knew he was going to regret it and I could see from the startled look on his face he’d been caught off guard and didn’t mean to be so open about it. He knew he’d walked right into something that I’d use against him, even if I was managing to keep my face straight.
“A rash?” I couldn’t keep the humour out of my voice, and there was even the hint of a breakthrough giggle in those two words.
Rick stared pointedly at me as if to say, “Laugh and tear you a new one,” but my sense of humour just overrode any potential fall-out consequences he may have been planning.
“That’s a bit like saying I got pregnant from the sheets, Rick. Don’t you think you’re more likely to have caught something from one of the women in your bed than the sheets? Or don’t you want to believe that just in case you get pussy-fright?
Rick threw the lid of the gin bottle at me and it bounced off my forehead but by that time I was chuckling loudly. “Laugh all you want, I’m allergic to starch. So they got me these from the hotel store because I needed something to make sure I was protected in bed. It was fucking murder trying to play with the itch in my pants the night before last.”
“Most guys wear condoms for protection, Rick not theatrical pyjamas.”
Rick was being deadly serious but the more he spoke the more uncontrollable my laughing became until he stood up and pulled them down to show me the red welts on his legs, his dick at eye level with me. Just as he did this, the door opened and the two girls he had in his bed came through the door.
Turning my head to look at them, I was still stifling a grin. Rick was true to form and had two classic groupies for his sleepover, skinny girls with big tits, no bras, dyed blonde hair with black roots dressed in the usual rock-chick attire of leather mini-skirts, fishnet stockings and tight dark brown and cream t-shirts with the ‘Cobham Street’ motif on them.
“Sorry ladies, I was just about to part-take would either of you like to join me?”
My quip was out before I’d even thought about it. Hell, I was probably going to be sacked after this, but I grinned widely and Rick smacked me around the head, making me cry out— partly in surprise, partly out of pain.
“You’re such a smart ass Jack Cunningham.” Pivoting the top half if his body in their direction he gestured at me with his hand, his pyjamas still at his ankles. “I was just showing him my rash.”
Laughing raucously I stared helplessly at Rick taking in his pathetic form with the patterned material draped around his feet and his dick dangling in front of him. As soon as I knew he felt the need to explain what was happening all of my professionalism suddenly deserted me and I was struggling to catch my breath, let alone stop laughing. The skinnier one of the girls gave a loud snort, then her resolve was gone and she joined in laughing, but I think she was laughing because mine was so infectious more than anything else.
Rick continued protesting his innocence when suddenly the second girl who had been standing staring deadpan erupted in the oddest hee-haw laugh I’ve ever heard in my life. The look on Rick’s face was a picture as he gawped in disbelief with his jaw open taking in all of us laughing hysterically at his expense. I was sure he was going react badly, but even at that I just couldn’t get it together at all.
Rick bent down and pulled his pyjamas up, which I found even funnier for no particular reason and this set off a fresh bout of laughter. Striding over to open the door, Rick waved a finger in the direction of the two women and Jed made short work of evacuating them from the scene. All I could do was watch helplessly because I couldn’t get my laughing fit under control, and I was sure I was going to be next to be thrown out, but probably via the roof terrace.
Closing the door again, Rick bent forward, his hands on his knees and he suddenly cracked up with laughter. “Jack fucking Cunningham, I should bury my size eleven up your ass for what just happened there, and I don’t understand why I can’t…I fucking love you, dude. You have no idea what a breath of fresh air you are in a world full of ‘yes men’. How the fuck have you been?”
KLShandwick just Jack 2015©
K. L. Shandwick lives on the outskirts of London. She started writing after a challenge by a friend when she commented on a book she read. The result of this was “The Everything Trilogy.” Her background has been mainly in the health and social care sector in the U.K. She is still currently a freelance or self- employed professional in this field. Her books tend to focus on the relationships of the main characters. Writing is a form of escapism for her and she is just as excited to find out where her characters take her as she is when she reads another author’s work.
Get in touch with me!!

Reflection ~

She dances on her toes
Eyes closed
Oblivious to the possibilities within her reach
Shards of glass broken beneath her
Each step leaving behind
Traces of her bleeding soul
She falters and starts to slip
A faint cry escapes her blood-red lips
She wants nothing more
Than for someone to catch her
A trusted soul
Not withered or broken
Alone in this world
She is trapped in the darkness surrounding her
Screaming for an escape
To a place that does not exist
Crashing down
Her body falls
Shattered dreams paint the walls
Tears escape
From her empty eyes
As she tries to pull herself up again
Broken and bleeding
She is forced to see
Gasping at her shattered reflection…
Who is this girl, staring back at me?

Copyright ©2015 –ND White

Raven’s Undoing ~ Unedited Excerpt ~ Why all the secrets?

“What are you thinking Raven?”

I slightly startle at Grant’s prodding question. I’m thinking lots of things. How much time do we have? “Where do we go from here?” That thought actually just popped into my mind; wasn’t thinking that until right now.

“I don’t know,” is all he says.

I give him a little bit to see if he is going to say anything else after that but he doesn’t. I slowly pull myself out of his embrace and turn onto my side facing him. Maybe looking at him will prompt him to elaborate. He gives me a blank look. I can tell that he really doesn’t know. I don’t even know my own self.

“I can’t stay here,” he finally says.

My heart fills with disappointment, although I should have seen that one coming. “Why?” Why am I even asking him why?

“I just can’t.”

I am overcome with hurt. Why is he shutting me out like this? Why can’t he just tell me? I feel my eyes start to sting with tears.

Grant reaches over and delicately wipes away a tear with the pad of his thumb. “Oh Sweetheart, please don’t cry.”

Sweetheart. Hearing him say that makes me swoon and cry even harder, both at the same time. “I don’t understand why you can’t tell me. Now that I think of it, I don’t even know where you’re going off to when you do leave. You come back because you can’t stay away from me and you love me, but you want to leave again?” My crying turns into a full blown sob.

Grant scoots close to me and pulls me down onto his chest, wrapping his arms around me. “No, it’s not like that. I don’t want to leave again.”

“Then don’t. I don’t understand any of this. Why can’t you just tell me? Why all the secrets?” I am trying so hard to stop crying. I can’t believe how emotional I am right now. “And what about what just happened? Does that mean anything to you? Did you mean what you said? Do you really love me?”

Copyright ©2015 –ND White