Please say hello to Marguerite Labbe with
A Little Side Of Geek
The Geek Life #1
When opposite worlds collide, it’s anyone’s game.
Proud geek and comic book artist Morris Proctor wants nothing more than to live in semiseclusion with his devil cat and gamer friends. Despite what his well-meaning family thinks, he’s perfectly content with his status quo. The last thing he needs is to date another nongeek hell-bent on changing him.
Then he meets his adorkable new neighbor, Theo Boarman, who doesn’t know Star Trek from Star Wars, but who tempts him like no other.
Theo has spent the last year recovering from the loss of his parents and trying to play both roles for his teenage brother, while working to keep the family restaurant afloat. Dating is the last thing on the menu, especially with a man who thinks the height of dining is shoving a packaged meal into the microwave.
But if Morris gives him one more shy smile or flaunts that kilt he wears so well, Theo will be forced to convince him that a hot summer fling is just the recipe to let off a little steam.
When that fling gets serious fast, Morris has to decide if he’s willing to give his heart to Theo on the chance that they’re a perfect mix.
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Interview with Morris Proctor
I asked some friends on my Discord writing channel Writer’s Block for character questions for Morris and I definitely received some interesting ones. Morris is my comic book artist/writer who was probably born with a pencil in his hand. At 6’3” in high school he was hounded to play on the basketball team but he had no interest in getting sweaty when he could draw instead. He has a definite aversion to dating non-geeks after a few bad encounters, but Theo is a persistent soul and wears him down with his charm.
So, I decided to have Dakota Nye, podcaster for Geek Wars run the questions by his buddy Morris. I hope you enjoy them. These two have been friends a long time and they entertain the heck out of me.
Dakota: “On this special edition of Geek Wars I have with me Morris Proctor artist and writer for Beneath the Surface. Now, I don’t normally get into kid’s comics, but I have to admit, yours is fun. And if your niece gets into half as much trouble as your heroine does I really feel for you.”
Morris: “More probably. But I blame the cat. Cats are cute evil demons that turn on you in a second.”
Dakota: “Cassie got out again didn’t she?” He shakes his head and glances at his notes. “That’s why you’re the sucker, not me. I’m not tying myself down with a pet. Okay, here are the questions my listeners emailed. You ready for the hot seat?”
Morris: “Sure, why not. Keep it PG.”
Dakota gives him an innocent look. “The questions don’t come from me, but it looks like I’m going to have to edit them as I go. The first one, ‘what does he like’ is way too open ended. We’ll be here all day long. So, what’s your favorite roleplaying game?”
Morris taps his long fingers together with a frown. “That’s hard. How can you choose just one? Can I narrow it down to five?”
Dakota: “Nope. Close your eyes and picture your gaming closet. The house is on fire, you have Cassie, your tub of dice, and portfolio. You can only carry one other thing, what is it?”
Morris: “Call of Cthulhu. You can adapt it to any kind of setting. Ugh, but you’re evil for making me choose. Now my other games feel neglected.”
Dakota: “You need to come back on the podcast. We should have the whole crew and discuss our favorite games and why. But onto our next question. ‘What fears keep you awake at night?’”
Morris: “Deadlines and having to face Brenden if I’m late for a show again.”
Dakota: “I can respect that. Brenden has been known to intimidate many. The trick is to hit him up with another problem just as he’s starting to lay into you. If it’s distracting enough, he’ll leave you alone.”
Morris gives Dakota an amused look. “I don’t see that working out for you all that often.”
Dakota: “It does when I really need it to. Oooh, this next question is interesting. ‘If you were an ice cream flavor what would you be?’”
Morris let’s out a sigh of longing: “Wavy Gravy, man. Ben and Jerry’s needs to bring that back.”
Dakota: “Huh, I always considered you Mint Chocolate Chip. Cool, but classic and laid back. But I see your point, still laid back with the Wavy Gravy, but with an artistic flair. ‘Now, if you had one song you could put in your life soundtrack for you and the chef, what would it be?’ Don’t get sappy on me, Morris.”
Morris: “One Call Away, the acoustic version by Charlie Puth.” A soft smile crosses his face.
Dakota shoots him a disgusted glance. “You couldn’t help yourself could you? You and Felipe are such suckers. I hope Theo’s not as bad with the starry eyes when I interview him.”
Morris shrugs. “One day, Dakota, you’re going to get it and I’m going to laugh.”
Dakota: “Whatever. Two more questions.” A wicked glint appears in his eyes. “’Who is your favorite sibling?’”
Morris straightens with a look of horror. “You can’t ask me a question like that. Are you trying to get me killed? You’d better hope none of my sisters listen to this podcast, because if they come for me I’m siccing them on you.”
Dakota laughs. “Oh the terror. Sisters coming after me. Try having brothers.”
Morris: “I wouldn’t know. And you have no idea what I have to deal with. Seriously, though, if you’re listening Monica, Sierra, and Makayla. I love you all equally. Dakota likes to stir up trouble.”
Dakota glances at the timer on his phone. “We have to start wrapping this up so how about some quick one word associations for some of your friends. Just say the first thing that pops into your mind.”
Morris: “Easy peasy.”
Dakota: “Theo.”
Morris grins: “Adorkable.”
Dakota rolls his eyes. “Felipe.”
Morris opens his mouth, then closes it with a frown. “It’s impossible to define Felipe in one word. He’s Felipe.”
Dakota: “Bullshit, how about clingy?”
Morris shakes his head with a sorrowful look. “Don’t bring your issues with him into this. Next person.”
“Fine.” Dakota huffs out a breath. “Trask.”
Morris: “Chill.”
Dakota: “Brenden.”
Morris: “Perfectionist.”
Dakota nods. “You nailed that one. How about me?”
Morris: “Clueless.”
Dakota’s head comes up with a jerk. “Hey!”
Morris grins and hold up his hands in a helpless gesture. “You said the first word.”
Dakota: “You’re lucky that’s all the time we have today. But believe me, we’ll be taking this up again later. I hope you’ve enjoyed another episode of Geek Wars. This is Dakota Nye, and until next time, get your geek on.”
Meet the author:
Marguerite has been accused of being eccentric and a shade neurotic, both of which she freely admits to, but her muse has OCD tendencies, so who can blame her? Her husband and son do an excellent job keeping her toeing the line, though. Together with her co-author Fae Sutherland, Marguerite has found a shared passion for beautiful men with smart mouths.
When she's not working hard on writing new material and editing completed work, she spends her time reading novels of all genres, enjoying role-playing games with her equally nutty friends, and trying to plot practical jokes against her son and husband. Her son is learning the tricks too quickly and likes to retaliate. You'd think she'd learn.
Find out more on her website.
Promotional post. Materials provided by the author.
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