Title: Abstract Love
Author: Sara Dobie Bauer
Genre: M/M Romance
Release Date: September 4, 2020
Cover Design: Natasha Snow
I hate Sam Shelby. So why do I want to kiss him?
Sam never expected to move back to Cleveland.
Donovan never expected to be attracted to a man.
Well, shit happens.
After high school, Sam Shelby moved to New York. Eight years later, he returns to Cleveland and lands a job at the best ad firm in town. It would be the perfect gig, if his boss weren’t such an ass.
After his wife leaves, Donovan Cooper questions everything. The arrival of a young, arrogant, gifted graphic designer at Donovan’s firm is the last straw.
Tempers flare over office gossip, and following a nasty argument and scathing kiss, Donovan flails away from heterosexuality while Sam struggles to keep his “no relationship” rule intact.
Despite ugly socks, fiery fights, and their best intentions to not fall in love, these bullheaded coworkers can’t deny their chemistry. Donovan seeks happiness while Sam seeks success, but is there room for more?
Donovan sifted through a few hand-drawn logos on the desk and froze when he found a crudely drawn sketch of himself. Sam must have done it during a meeting at some point, capturing Donovan’s faux hawk, wide jaw, and severe expression.
Jesus, was this what other people saw when they looked at him? Did he really look so miserable?
“Make yourself at home?”
Donovan dropped the picture and stood straight at the sound of Sam’s voice.
He leaned against the doorframe, with one ankle crossed over the other.
“It’s really bullshit when people say that, you know?” Sam said. “Make yourself at home. No one actually wants their friends to take off their pants, drink all their beer, and binge The Great British Bake Off.” He paused. “What are you doing in my office?”
“I didn’t mean to snoop.”
The office door closed as he stepped inside. “Sure you did, or you wouldn’t be in here, so what’s up?”
Sam circled the desk, so Donovan circled the other way, although he noticed it was true what coworkers said: Sam did smell good—like clean laundry and cedar. “I think we started off on the wrong foot.”
Sam snort laughed and flipped through some files on his desk. “More like wrong continent, man.” When he found what he was looking for, he tapped the file’s corner against his palm. “I can handle guys like you, you know.”
Donovan shifted back on his heels. “Guys like me?”
“Hmm. Corporate assholes. All you see are dollar signs. You take no pleasure in your work. Advertising is money to you, not art, but without the artists, there wouldn’t be advertising, so…” He sucked his cheeks into his mouth, a momentary fish face.
Donovan wanted to tell him it wasn’t true. Donovan loved art.
He used to love art.
Sam continued, “I know I look like a six-foot-two Disney princess, but you’re not gonna rattle me.” To prove his point, Sam got right up in Donovan’s personal space until Donovan took a step back. Again, he was not used to dealing with someone his own height. “And I’m right about the Great Lakes ad campaign. If you’d pull your head out of your ass, maybe you’d notice.” He turned away abruptly.
“Sam.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry.” Ouch, that hurt coming out.
Sam’s rebuttal: “Prove it.”
“Excuse me?”
He rested a hand on the desk and cocked his hip out—the very picture of young attitude. “Listen to me in meetings.”
“I was listening.”
“Nope.” He shook his head and ran a hand through his unkempt, unprofessional hair. “No, you were hearing. I need you to listen. There’s a difference. And I know I’m just some fucking kid to you, but I ruled the New York City advertising scene. I know what I’m doing, Donovan, so let me do it.”
“Fine.” He’d had enough. He’d apologized, okay, so he’d done his Monica-enforced duty. He didn’t owe Sam anything else.
He didn’t run for the door, but he definitely moved with speed.
Jesus, was this what other people saw when they looked at him? Did he really look so miserable?
“Make yourself at home?”
Donovan dropped the picture and stood straight at the sound of Sam’s voice.
He leaned against the doorframe, with one ankle crossed over the other.
“It’s really bullshit when people say that, you know?” Sam said. “Make yourself at home. No one actually wants their friends to take off their pants, drink all their beer, and binge The Great British Bake Off.” He paused. “What are you doing in my office?”
“I didn’t mean to snoop.”
The office door closed as he stepped inside. “Sure you did, or you wouldn’t be in here, so what’s up?”
Sam circled the desk, so Donovan circled the other way, although he noticed it was true what coworkers said: Sam did smell good—like clean laundry and cedar. “I think we started off on the wrong foot.”
Sam snort laughed and flipped through some files on his desk. “More like wrong continent, man.” When he found what he was looking for, he tapped the file’s corner against his palm. “I can handle guys like you, you know.”
“Hmm. Corporate assholes. All you see are dollar signs. You take no pleasure in your work. Advertising is money to you, not art, but without the artists, there wouldn’t be advertising, so…” He sucked his cheeks into his mouth, a momentary fish face.
Donovan wanted to tell him it wasn’t true. Donovan loved art.
He used to love art.
Sam continued, “I know I look like a six-foot-two Disney princess, but you’re not gonna rattle me.” To prove his point, Sam got right up in Donovan’s personal space until Donovan took a step back. Again, he was not used to dealing with someone his own height. “And I’m right about the Great Lakes ad campaign. If you’d pull your head out of your ass, maybe you’d notice.” He turned away abruptly.
“Sam.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry.” Ouch, that hurt coming out.
Sam’s rebuttal: “Prove it.”
“Excuse me?”
He rested a hand on the desk and cocked his hip out—the very picture of young attitude. “Listen to me in meetings.”
“I was listening.”
“Nope.” He shook his head and ran a hand through his unkempt, unprofessional hair. “No, you were hearing. I need you to listen. There’s a difference. And I know I’m just some fucking kid to you, but I ruled the New York City advertising scene. I know what I’m doing, Donovan, so let me do it.”
“Fine.” He’d had enough. He’d apologized, okay, so he’d done his Monica-enforced duty. He didn’t owe Sam anything else.
He didn’t run for the door, but he definitely moved with speed.
Who are some of your favorite authors and/or books to read when you need to relax?
Reading any and all MM romance relaxes me. Oddly, horror relaxes me, too. (I’m a scary movie junkie.)
If I really need word therapy, though, I head over to Archive of Our Own and read fan fiction. I adore fan fiction. Not only are fan fiction authors incredibly talented, but also many fan fic stories are focused on character, relationship, and sex. There’s no conflict! No stress! Gimme some of that.
If you were approached to have your book made into a film, who would you cast?
In Abstract Love: The Movie, Timothee Chalamet has to play Sam Shelby. In the book, Sam even wears outfits Timothee has worn in real life. They’re both beautiful, and I’d love to see Timothee in a comedic role.
Donovan is more difficult. I picture Daniel Craig—but younger Daniel Craig. Basically, for him to play the role, we’d need a time machine. Does anyone have a time machine?
It's often asked what is your favorite part of being a writer but what is the easiest or most natural part of the creative process for you?
Going with the flow. I’m a pantser, not a plotter. Once I have my characters outlined in detail and a vague idea of plot, I start writing and let the muse take over. Go with the flow. I don’t stress over what comes next; I just write. I’ve had many an epiphany while driving to yoga. The scenes just come to me, and I record them—one after the other until “The End.”
Is there any one character you've created that is most like you? If yes, who and why?
John Conlon in We Still Live. He’s a creative writing professor who survived a school shooting. That’s not what we have in common, though. John suffers from depression and severe anxiety but easily hides behind charisma and a sense of humor. He’s got demons, all right? That’s me. Although I now speak openly about my mental illness, I went years hiding my demons in the shadows. I still do it sometimes. It’s sometimes a necessity, but I try to be forthright about my feelings as much as possible.
If you could go anywhere (finances, time, & obligations not an issue) where would you go and why?
Hawaii. I love the ocean. I’m pretty sure I was either a shark or dolphin (maybe mermaid) in a past life. I want to see the grandeur and culture of the Hawaiian Islands. My one concern: if I go, I might never leave.
That said, I will be in New Orleans for Halloween, staying in a mansion in the French Quarter. Pretty sure that’s going to be a darn good time.
Reading any and all MM romance relaxes me. Oddly, horror relaxes me, too. (I’m a scary movie junkie.)
If I really need word therapy, though, I head over to Archive of Our Own and read fan fiction. I adore fan fiction. Not only are fan fiction authors incredibly talented, but also many fan fic stories are focused on character, relationship, and sex. There’s no conflict! No stress! Gimme some of that.
If you were approached to have your book made into a film, who would you cast?
In Abstract Love: The Movie, Timothee Chalamet has to play Sam Shelby. In the book, Sam even wears outfits Timothee has worn in real life. They’re both beautiful, and I’d love to see Timothee in a comedic role.
Donovan is more difficult. I picture Daniel Craig—but younger Daniel Craig. Basically, for him to play the role, we’d need a time machine. Does anyone have a time machine?
It's often asked what is your favorite part of being a writer but what is the easiest or most natural part of the creative process for you?
Going with the flow. I’m a pantser, not a plotter. Once I have my characters outlined in detail and a vague idea of plot, I start writing and let the muse take over. Go with the flow. I don’t stress over what comes next; I just write. I’ve had many an epiphany while driving to yoga. The scenes just come to me, and I record them—one after the other until “The End.”
Is there any one character you've created that is most like you? If yes, who and why?
John Conlon in We Still Live. He’s a creative writing professor who survived a school shooting. That’s not what we have in common, though. John suffers from depression and severe anxiety but easily hides behind charisma and a sense of humor. He’s got demons, all right? That’s me. Although I now speak openly about my mental illness, I went years hiding my demons in the shadows. I still do it sometimes. It’s sometimes a necessity, but I try to be forthright about my feelings as much as possible.
If you could go anywhere (finances, time, & obligations not an issue) where would you go and why?
Hawaii. I love the ocean. I’m pretty sure I was either a shark or dolphin (maybe mermaid) in a past life. I want to see the grandeur and culture of the Hawaiian Islands. My one concern: if I go, I might never leave.
That said, I will be in New Orleans for Halloween, staying in a mansion in the French Quarter. Pretty sure that’s going to be a darn good time.
Author Bio:Sara Dobie Bauer is a bestselling author, model, and mental health / LGBTQ advocate with a creative writing degree from Ohio University. She lives with her hottie husband and two precious pups in Northeast Ohio, although she’d really like to live in a Tim Burton film.
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