Tyler Bannichek has spent his whole life training for this moment, his shot at the US Olympic team, and gymnastics gold. He's worked past the injuries and the blocks, focused every moment of every day on improving his skills. Now, at the peak of his talent, just in time for the world's biggest stage, he should be thrilled. Instead, long-suppressed fear is rising like ice water in his veins.
Eli Nelson has roomed with Tyler for two years, cheered him on through every obstacle. But now, watching Tyler in the trials, Eli is also afraid. When does friendship mean letting someone take their own risks? When does it mean speaking out to save them? And how can he pretend to be just a friend when he's falling in love with Tyler?
Tumbling Dreams is a 21,000-word stand-alone novella about two young men weighing goals, risks, fear, and love, in the crucible of Olympic sports. (This story originally appeared in the anthology "Going For Gold.")
Autorentext
I get asked about my name a lot. It's not something exotic, though. "Kaje" is pronounced just like "cage" ? it's an old nickname, and my pronouns are she/her/hers.
I was born in Montreal but I've lived for 30 years in Minnesota, where the two seasons are Snow-removal and Road-repair, where the mosquito is the state bird, and where winter can be breathtakingly beautiful. Minnesota's a kind, quiet (if sometimes chilly) place and it's home.
I've been writing far longer than I care to admit (*whispers ? forty years*), mostly for my own entertainment, usually M/M romance (with added mystery, fantasy, historical, SciFi...) I also have a few Young Adult stories (some released under the pen name Kira Harp.)
My husband finally convinced me that after all the years of writing for fun, I really should submit something, somewhere. My first professionally published book, Life Lessons, came out from MLR Press in May 2011. I have a weakness for closeted cops with honest hearts, and teachers who speak their minds, and I had fun writing four novels and three freebie short stories in that series. I was delighted and encouraged by the reception Mac and Tony received.
I now have a good-sized backlist in ebooks and print, both free and professionally published, including Amazon bestseller "The Rebuilding Year" and Rainbow Award Best Mystery-Thriller "Tracefinder: Contact." A complete list with links can be found on my website "Books" page at https://kajeharper.wordpress.com/books/.
I'm always pleased to have readers find me online at:
Website: https://kajeharper.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KajeHarper
Goodreads Author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4769304.Kaje_Harper