SERIES TOUR
THE CHRISTOPHER BOOKS
by
Stephen G Hardy
Follow Christopher as he explores various types of relationships and the impact he has on the lives of others.
The books need to be read in order.
Overall Heat Rating for the series: 1 flame
BOOK DETAILS
BOOK 1
Book Title: Search for Complete
Cover Artist: Ryan Mulford
Length: 80 127 words /335 pages
Release Date: June 4, 2023
Genres: Contemporary LGBTQ+ Fiction with speculative elements.
Tropes: Friends to Platonic lovers
Themes: Interpersonal relationships, Conversations as Catalyst for Change
It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.
Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited
Blurb
“Why do I get the feeling that Christopher is the type of man that would make the perfect husband for any woman and, at the same time, the perfect wife for any man?” Laura says shortly after Christopher begins his new job at the TV station. Laura’s statement would turn out to hold more truth than she could imagine. No one who meets Christopher, especially not Laura, as well as David, a gay man he meets at a party, understands what it is about him that draws them to him. They also don’t realize that Christopher is searching for something, a search complicated by their desires for him.
BOOK 2
Book Title: The Price of Happiness
Length: 84 447words/330 pages
Release Date: November 24, 2023
Genres: LGBTQ+ Contemporary Literary Fiction
Tropes: Love and loss
Themes: Parenthood, interpersonal relationships, finding oneself.
It is not a standalone story and end on a cliffhanger.
Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited
Blurb
As Search for Complete left off, the birth of his twins had just completed Christopher. However, though he has what he had searched so long for, he now must deal with the associated costs, namely the unraveling of his relationship with Laura, the mother of his twins. The birth of the twins should have brought Laura joy, yet, instead, she finds herself on an intense emotional rollercoaster. Laura resents Christopher's happiness—resents that he is a better mother than she is. But most of all, Laura resents that the twins are Christopher's spitting image—nowhere does she see herself in them. Christopher fears his happiness in becoming a father has become Laura’s undoing. As he tries to help her adjust to the reality of their situation, Laura struggles to find herself in the tangled mess of their relationship.
In The Price of Happiness, Stephen Hardy has created a profound and moving novel on the themes of parenthood, identity, love and loss—and the cost of getting what we want.
BOOK 3
Book Title: When the Sun and Moon Touch
Length: 87 639 words/353 Pages
Release Date: March 29, 2024
Genres: LGBTQ+ Contemporary Literary Fiction
Tropes: M2M relationships
Themes: Finding oneself, forgiveness, love
The stories need to be read in order. This book does not end on a cliffhanger.
Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited
Blurb
Christopher has settled into life as a single father to his twins, Loren and Christine. Content with his life, he is contemplating the imminent return of their mother Laura, who has been traveling through Europe for nearly a year, when he meets Benjamin, a direct descendant of the sun. Suddenly, his contentment is upended as he tries to understand the reason for their meeting. Despite what Benjamin says, that they are meant to be together, Christopher initially tries to hold
Benjamin at arm's length, believing that he is only to be for Benjamin what Joseph was to him—a friend and mentor.
Excerpt from Book 1
I began to question accepting Laura’s invitation when I heard the noise coming from the backyard as we approached the house. I disliked crowds, and it sounded like an immense crowd was on the other side of the gate.
People were everywhere—seated on lounge chairs scattered around the patio or at the rectangular dining table or milling about in various groups—talking loudly over the blaring music. Laura’s voice broke through the noise.
“I don’t see Peter anywhere. He might be inside. Shall we find him?”
“By all means. I would feel uncomfortable attending his party without meeting him.”
I followed Laura into the house. As we passed through the living room, my eyes fell on a few framed photos of a handsome couple on the wall.
In the kitchen, a solitary male figure was removing a tray of croissants from the oven.
“Hello, Peter.”
As he turned around, I recognized Peter as one of the men in the photos. Tall and slender, with dark hair and a mustache waxed into handlebars, there was a dapperness to him that I found pleasing.
“Hey, Laura. Lovely to see you!”
After setting the hot tray down, Peter hugged her.
“Peter, I want you to meet Christopher. He just moved here from Seattle and works with me at the station.”
“How do you do, Peter?“
Having grown used to the reaction my presence caused, I smiled patiently as Peter, unable to speak right away, shook my offered hand.
“I hope you do not mind my crashing your party. Laura assured me that you would not object to her bringing me.”
“No, of course, I don’t mind.”
The words tumbled out one on top of the other.
“Is there anything we can do to assist you?”
“No, I have it all under control, thanks. Please help yourself to the food and drinks out on the patio.”
“We will. Thanks,” Laura said, taking my arm and steering me back through the living room.
“Peter is very nice,” I commented as we stepped through the doors and headed towards the drinks table. “Can I make you something?”
“A mimosa, thanks. Yes, Peter’s a sweetie.”
We stood sipping our drinks as I scanned the crowd of mostly men, a mix of young and old, before Laura took me around, introducing me to the people she knew.
I instinctively searched their eyes for the essence of another while ignoring Laura’s scrutinizing gaze.
Laura needed to use the bathroom, so she left me standing under the large Ficus tree where we had sought shade from the sun. Within minutes of her departure, I was surrounded by a large group of people vying for my attention. Carrying on multiple conversations was challenging, but I did my best to make each person feel they had my full attention.
He caught my attention on the periphery of my vision: tall and well-built, resembling the small statue of the god Mars that sat on the table in Joseph’s shop. Our eyes met, and I felt my heart skip a beat, seeing something flash in his eyes. Smiling hopefully, I extended my hand to him.
“Hello, my name is Christopher Dunn.”
As he shook my hand, I took the opportunity to search his golden-brown eyes. My initial hope turned to disappointment, for while something was there, it was not another’s essence. Though disappointed, I was intrigued.
“Davidmartelli.”
He slurred the two names into one in his haste to get the words out.
As I gazed into his eyes, the feeling of a purpose to our meeting appeared—first Laura and now David.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, David Martelli,” I said, saying his name distinctly.
David blushed attractively, causing a twinge in my heart.
“Can I get you a drink?”
He looked so crestfallen when I held up my cup that I was tempted to down my drink and ask him for another.
“Oh, you have one.”
“I do, but I appreciate you asking.”
I gave him a smile to back up my words. It was apparent that David was struggling to find something to say, the frustration evident in his handsome features. I wanted to get him away from the people surrounding us and talk to him alone, but I did not see how I could do so without offending everyone else.
Conscious of the eyes watching us, David blushed again and backed away.
For some reason, I knew that this behavior was out of character for him. Watching him walk away, I hoped we would meet again as I wanted to discover what I saw in his eyes.
About the Author
Stephen Hardy was born in the San Francisco Bay Area but grew up in the Pacific Northwest. His career as a fashion designer took him back to San Francisco before he headed to New York City, where he met his husband of twenty years. Tiring of the hectic pace of the fashion industry, Stephen gave up his career to become a stay-at-home dad for his and his husband’s two adopted sons and a quiet life in Connecticut. Now residing in Phoenix, Arizona, and with the kids grown, Stephen returned to university, where he rediscovered his love for writing. His focus is on contemporary fiction, examining social issues regarding gender, sexuality, and relationships. Search for Complete is his first novel.
Author Links
Blog/Website | Facebook | Instagram
AUTHOR NAME: Stephen G Hardy
Tell us a little about yourself.
I was born in the San Francisco Bay Area but grew up in the Pacific Northwest in the Seattle suburb of Bellevue, Washington. While working as a clothing designer, I lived in Seattle, San Francisco, and New York. I now live with my husband and two cats in a high-rise condo in downtown Phoenix. I love the big open sky and desert scenery, and the proximity to San Diego, where my trilogy is set.
What would people be most surprised to know about you?
You wouldn’t know it now, but as a child and teenager, I was extremely introverted and shy.
Do you have a favorite quote (either from your own books or ones you’ve read)?
It is more important to be a person who does a good thing than to be a good person.
How long have you been writing, and what made you fall in love with writing?
I began my writing career four and a half years ago. Search for Complete was my first novel, and initially, I planned on it being a stand-alone novel. However, upon completion, I realized that there was more to tell. So, I wrote two more books to make the Christopher Trilogy. I enjoyed every moment of the process, other than querying agents and getting rejected. This is why I opted to self-publish. Working with my designer on the cover designs has been the most thrilling part of the process, other than holding a physical copy of the books—that feeling is priceless.
Did you always want to be a writer?
I think I always knew I wanted to write a novel, but it wasn’t until I was inspired by a conversation with friends over brunch that I sat down to write a novel. I worked as a clothing designer for over 20 years and then became a stay-at-home dad when my husband and I adopted our two sons in 2008. I only had an associate's degree in fashion design, which had been enough for my career choice, but I always wanted to get my bachelor's degree. In 2017 I enrolled at Arizona State University and got my B.A. degree in Fashion Design with a minor in History. I think it was writing so many essays and research papers that brought back my love for writing and made my jump into writing my first novel that much easier.
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
To say I didn’t want to be a best-selling novelist someday would be a lie, but my greatest ambition as a writer is to provide my readers with a new way of looking at their world and themselves. Anything I write must have a purpose or reason for being, and I want my readers to understand that purpose.
Tell us about your writing style.
My stories are dialogue-heavy. I love conversations, and the three books in the series are all about conversations and how they can be a catalyst for change. It is my way of getting into my character’s heads and for my readers to understand them better.
What does your writing process look like?
In general, I prefer to write when I know I will have little to no interruptions or chores. I need to have at least 5 or more hours available to me, though I may not always write during the whole time. I play music reflective of the mood I am creating and work at my mid-century desk on my laptop. At other times, I do like to take my laptop to a coffee house where other writers are working, pop in my airbuds, and write for hours.
When I am editing a first draft, I prefer to go away for a long weekend somewhere up north, like Flagstaff or Sedona, and hunker down to focus only on the editing.
Why did you choose to write LGBT romance/fiction?
Though I think my books have universal appeal, my being a gay man is the reason why I wrote LGBTQ+ fiction. That is my perspective on life. But I have gay, straight, bi, asexual, and transgender characters in my books, and I hope that they have their own distinct voices.
Do you write any other genre?
I am currently writing a novel that is Literary Fiction. It is a prequel to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, featuring Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley, looking at their unlikely friendship, something that I had always questioned. I am attempting to write in Austen’s vernacular, which is challenging but fun.
Describe a scene in your writing that has made you laugh or cry?
There is a scene in When the Sun and Moon Touch that I found very moving. Benjamin has had a turbulent relationship with his dad and hates him. When his dad, Elijah, is in hospital, dying from liver disease brought on by his drinking, Christopher tells Benjamin that it is imperative that he sees his father; otherwise, he will regret the lost opportunity to forgive him. When Benjamin and Christopher find out from Benjamin’s mother that her husband has lived his whole life as a closeted gay man, hating his son for being gay while also jealous of his son living his life as he is and regretting the waste of his own life, Christopher is even more sure of his insistence that Benjamin has closure with his dad.
Christopher and Benjamin enter the room where Elijah is lying. Elijah initially lashes out, calling Christopher a faggot like his son. Christopher, unperturbed, approaches Elijah.
Leaning over him, he speaks to him gently, “…Just like you, I deserve to be treated with respect and kindness, as I intend to do with you. At this point in your life, it is important to let out what you have been hiding away. After all, where has doing so got you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Elijah said, not meeting my eyes.
“Elijah, you do, and it is important that you make peace with yourself. But I will not press you further other than to say that I see you.”
At that, Elijah met my gaze, and his eyes widened.
To be seen is what everyone wants in life.
Give us a little insight into your main characters. Who are they?
In books 1 & 2, the main characters are:
Christopher Dunn is a young man in his late 20s who possesses the essence of both a male and female. He identifies as male but sees the world with the eyes of both sexes. He is also asexual. Christopher has auburn hair, hazel eyes, pale-complexioned and breathtakingly beautiful.
Laura Chasen is a woman in her early 30s, straight and desperately wanting a husband. She is a brunette with blue eyes and a plump, attractive figure, though she thinks she’s fat.
In book 3 we meet:
-
Benjamin Johnson is a few years older than Christopher. He is African American and possesses two male essences. He identifies as a gay male and is also asexual.
Will we be seeing these characters again? Is this book part of a series?
When the Sun and Moon Touch is the third and final book in the series. However, I am considering developing a spin-off novel where we would see Christopher and Benjamin in minor roles.
What genre/s do you enjoy reading in your free time?
I enjoy reading biographies of historical figures and events, Victorian Literary Fiction, especially Anthony Trollop, and Golden Age Mystery writers such as Christie and Sayers.
How do you relax?
My husband and I support the Arts in Phoenix and attend many events, including live theatre, ballet, and opera. While to some, this may seem like an activity, I find it very relaxing. In addition, I enjoy watching historical documentaries.
What hobbies do you have outside of writing?
I am not sure it counts as a hobby, but I am a board member for Ballet Arizona and am involved in promoting and fundraising.
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