Rusty Knob Series by Erica Chilson

The townsfolk of Rusty Knob, West Virginia, see the Gillettes as ignorant wastes of space– worthless drunk sponges. As the youngest, Wynn may be a Gillette, but he doesn’t act, nor think like one. At only seventeen, he studies hard, plays basketball harder, and works the hardest. Wynn is numb to his core, no longer feeling the hits that keep knocking him down to the ground. He’s unable to see the bright future laid out before him... moreThe townsfolk of Rusty Knob, West Virginia, see the Gillettes as ignorant wastes of space– worthless drunk sponges. As the youngest, Wynn may be a Gillette, but he doesn’t act, nor think like one. At only seventeen, he studies hard, plays basketball harder, and works the hardest. Wynn is numb to his core, no longer feeling the hits that keep knocking him down to the ground. He’s unable to see the bright future laid out before him. Royce Kennedy, a distant relative, tries all he can do to save the youngest generation of Gillettes from the dark shroud of bitter ignorance infecting them via their neglectful upbringing. Wynn’s studying is to the backdrop of drunken chaos, his relationship with friends and family are tainted by a narrow world view, and his life is filled with more questions than answers. His every dollar earned is bled dry come payday, only to have his parents piss it down the toilet or blow caustic smoke to billow in the air. A warped sense of loyalty forces Wynn to be his family’s enabler, and he’s paying the ultimate price. With the support system of Royce, the mentor of the school district’s LGBTQ online community, and Wynn’s friends, they try to prove to Wynn he deserves anything he needs, whether he earns it or not. Growing up in an ignorant wasteland, he never learned love, friendship, and respect are unconditional, can never be purchased, and should never be abused. Wynn Gillette is at a crossroads. One thing’s for sure, he cannot continue on this destructive path. Wynn has to end the only life he’s ever known, breaking the bitter legacy passed down from one generation to the next. One way or the other. Permanently. Rusty Knob is a M/M Coming of Age/New Adult Romance. less

Royce Kennedy believes he has the town of Rusty Knob and its citizens in the palm of his hand. For altruistic reasons, of course. A real man takes care of his land and the people on it, whether they want to accept the help or not... moreRoyce Kennedy believes he has the town of Rusty Knob and its citizens in the palm of his hand. For altruistic reasons, of course. A real man takes care of his land and the people on it, whether they want to accept the help or not. After fostering an orphan, adopting underprivileged kids, creating businesses to bring jobs back to the area, donating his time, energy, and money by founding the Community Growth: Life Skills Center, people are beginning to wonder if the man is running a campaign to earn the status of a saint. Royce’s family is getting frustrated by idly watching their patriarch spread himself too thin, because he won’t allow them to shoulder his burdens or their own. Drastic measures are taken before the man can see reason. When the dust finally settles, Royce realizes he’s been taking care of everyone but himself. But there’s a problem with sorting out your issues, with the clarity of mind, you can’t hide from the good, bad, and downright filthy secrets buried in the depths of your past. With dark, violent, depraved skeletons, Rusty Knob’s patriarch isn’t as pure of soul as he appears to be. Will he finally surrender and accept the help to buff the tarnish away? Just because it’s the moral thing to do, doesn’t mean it’s the right thing for you. less

Foster brothers, Kaden Marx and Brennan Kennedy, are at a precipice for change. While Kaden has made a career out of higher education as a way to drag his feet from reentering the real world, Bren has been in the thick of it. Join Kaden as he learns a valuable lesson– how having four degrees isn’t a measure of your true worth, nor is it a gauge for your maturity... moreFoster brothers, Kaden Marx and Brennan Kennedy, are at a precipice for change. While Kaden has made a career out of higher education as a way to drag his feet from reentering the real world, Bren has been in the thick of it. Join Kaden as he learns a valuable lesson– how having four degrees isn’t a measure of your true worth, nor is it a gauge for your maturity. Hyper-focused on the six-year age difference he has with Wynn, Kaden is blinded to the fact that Wynn is now a mature man ready for a stable future by his side. Will Kaden and Wynn mature together, or will Kaden continue to stunt both himself and their relationship? Over the past four years, Bren has held down a steady job, tried his hardest to please a wife who never wanted him, and raise their child in a cohesive manner. Unable to stay on this destructive path, Bren is making choices to ensure the happiness of his wife and child, not realizing he’s been placing the one person he truly wants in the friend-zone– Jackson. The happy smile is a façade, for beneath it is a dark secret that has the ability to tear all of Rusty Knob’s major families to shreds. The terrifying past collides with the present, taking Brennan’s future down a dark spiral, where the truth is finally revealed and deep betrayals are felt. Kaden Marx and Brennan Kennedy move back to Rusty Knob, attracting change in their wake… but whether it’s for the greater good remains to be seen. less

When you’re a divorce lawyer, nothing is more terrifying than marital problems, especially when they involve your husband thinking the ability to mind-read translates into unconditional love. Daniel Bishop calls his old roommate for help– Kaden Marx loves nothing more than running to someone’s rescue after a decade of always being the one in distress. Neither guy realizes their husbands have been conspiring for months– Uriah Crane has already confided in Wynn Gillette, and then some... moreWhen you’re a divorce lawyer, nothing is more terrifying than marital problems, especially when they involve your husband thinking the ability to mind-read translates into unconditional love. Daniel Bishop calls his old roommate for help– Kaden Marx loves nothing more than running to someone’s rescue after a decade of always being the one in distress. Neither guy realizes their husbands have been conspiring for months– Uriah Crane has already confided in Wynn Gillette, and then some. After being lied to his entire life, Wynn will never allow his nearest and dearest to lie to one another or to themselves. Determined, this time, the truths that need to be revealed match up with fantasies Wynn hungers to live out in reality. Dan’s at his wits’ end. Uriah is lost. Kade is in denial. Wynn is in charge. Rusty Knob visits Pittsburgh in the present, but Polished revisits another Pennsylvania town, in another era– State College, back to where all the secrets and lies began for Dan, Kade, and Uriah at Penn State University. less

Jackson Duncan is struggling to figure out where he fits into Brennan Kennedy’s life.Adults now, events from their teenage years still plague Jack and Bren, as they try to carve out a life for themselves, hoping Jesse and Libby will do the same. Sharing a duplex for Honor’s benefit, Bren’s passive-aggressive need to always be the good guy, means Jesse is forever crossing every boundary Jack puts down. In Rusty Knob, West Virginia, boundary lines are either respected or blood is shed... moreJackson Duncan is struggling to figure out where he fits into Brennan Kennedy’s life.Adults now, events from their teenage years still plague Jack and Bren, as they try to carve out a life for themselves, hoping Jesse and Libby will do the same. Sharing a duplex for Honor’s benefit, Bren’s passive-aggressive need to always be the good guy, means Jesse is forever crossing every boundary Jack puts down. In Rusty Knob, West Virginia, boundary lines are either respected or blood is shed. Peace is going to take a Christmas miracle. *Tied Knots is a novella also featured in Erica Chilson’s Holiday Anthology #1, along with Wonder and Massacre, offered at a discounted price. less