'Campus Cravings' m/m boxed explores college romance
The authors of the Campus Cravings boxed set featuring nine m/m New Adult novellas join HEA to answer the question: What's so appealing about romance in college?
Here's the blurb about the boxed set:
Welcome to Cathia University, where school is in session! Nine of today's hottest gay romance authors have crafted brand-new interrelated novellas celebrating everything wonderful about college, with over 200,000 words featuring sophisticated professors, sexy teaching assistants, ambitious grad students, and spirited undergraduates, all looking for the same thing: an A+ in true love.
KyAnn Waters, author of Private Lessons
What do you find so appealing about romance in college?
KyAnn: College is a time to explore who you are and who you want to become. A time of discovery and adventure, and a time to fall in love. It's exciting and different. And the world expands to become more than you ever imagined before. I think college romance can be the first real taste of love and sex.
Please tell us about your novella in the set.
KyAnn: Can private lessons with a sexy TA lead to public displays of affection with a hot soccer player?
Sara York, author of Swimmingly Sexy
Appeal of romance in college? With college comes freedom and for some students, it's their first taste of freedom. For gay college students, it offers the opportunity to come out in a safe place, and when they find the one person who is worth revealing their secret for it creates a special bond between the pair. The sweetness of romance mixed with the newness of freedom along with the sense of community makes college romances something worth writing about.
Your novella in the set? When a swimmer and bass player come together, can they make beautiful music or will their relationship fall flat?
Cassandra Carr, author of The Eloquent Jock
Appeal of romance in college? People grow and change so much in college and in their 20s in general. It's a wonderful time for many, though others struggle to find their place in the world. Discovering a lasting romance during this time is especially exciting and adrenaline-filled, which makes for a potentially great story!
Your novella in the set? Mix one intellectual jock with a hot professor he's TA'ing for and watch the fireworks explode. But who will get burned?
Mia Downing, author of Switching Leads
Appeal of romance in college? My own involvement with college lately has been more from the adult-looking-in side, and I love watching the interaction and the growth of that age group. On the flip side, I like knowing I've already been there, done that and can be reminded of those lessons — just like my older characters in Switching Leads.
Your novella in the set? He's used to taking the reins … for love will he switch leads?
Bianca Sommerland, author of Solid Education
Appeal of romance in college? My experience in college was limited, but when I got the idea for Solid Education the setting couldn't have been more perfect. The whole point of being a student is to explore and learn, about the world and about yourself. To have a student who has to re-envision his future when he's lost so much was inspiring. And a professor learning something new proves that you never stop growing or changing. There's a sense of hope in knowing you're working hard to make tomorrow better. Possibly with someone you love.
Your novella in the set? A wounded dog connects a professor and student, teaching both how much they have to offer.
LA Witt, author of Did Somebody Order a Pizza?
Appeal of romance in college? In an episode of South Park eons ago, Chef was telling the children not to do drugs or have sex or something, and he said, "There's a time and a place for that, children. It's called college." And I guess that kind of sums up my attraction to a college romance — college is where a lot of people come of age right before they have to be responsible adults. They sometimes do incredibly stupid things, they learn huge amounts about themselves and life, and by the end of the four years, they're largely different people. Setting a love story in the middle of that is endlessly fascinating.
Your novella in the set? Will delivering a pizza to his ex-boyfriend's fraternity reopen a slowly healing wound? Or give two young lovers a chance to reconnect?
Annabeth Albert, author of Winning Bracket
Appeal of romance in college? I love the potential in college romances. It's a big transition for a lot of people as they get to define who they are on their own terms for the first time. It's also a time of self-discovery, and romance is a big part of that as people learn about their true selves. Plus, there's something super sweet about people's first big adult romance — all the uncertainty and feelings it brings.
Your novella in the set? A sexy bet on a basketball tournament challenges nerdalicious Edwin and party-boy Ollie to change their relationship status from frenemies to lovers.
Whitley Gray, author of Artistic Endeavor
Appeal of romance in college? An institution of higher education allows for a wonderful mix of characters — professors, grad students, frat boys, work-study students and athletes, to name a few. Add in parties, pizza, and cramming for finals, and you've got a smorgasbord to create romance with spice. For many people, college is the backdrop for their first serious romance.
Your novella in the set? A one-night-stand connoisseur takes on a shy virgin, intending to initiate him and move on, but keeping it casual isn't as easy as he thinks.
Dalton Diaz, author of Lesson Learned
Appeal of romance in college? What's not to love? You have every type of personality, every background, every ethnicity, and every level of maturity thrown together in one community. The discoveries and growth potential are endless, especially dealing with one of my all-time-favorite scenarios, first love. Combine all of this potential into hot bodies with infinite energy (in and out of bed!) and throw in a taste of freedom with major consequences for making the wrong choices ... and watch them grow. It's fascinating.
Your novella in the set? Former lovers are thrown together ... this time as student and teacher in the classroom.
Find out more at the Campus Cravings Facebook group page.