Brandon Shire

Author of Contemporary Gay Romance

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Exclusive Excerpt from Guardians of the Pattern: Psi Hunter

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Welcome Jaye McKenna to the blog with a cover reveal and an excerpt from book one of her new science fiction series: Guardians of the Pattern.

Overview:

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In my new sci fi series, Guardians of the Pattern, the line between science and magic blurs. In the Federation, psions are hunted down and murdered because the public fears their psychic talents. But when ancient weapons of mass destruction are unearthed on a planet populated by primitive nomads who still believe in magic, psions may be the Federation’s only hope for survival.

Can the people of these two very different cultures come together to prevent disaster? Or will the Federation’s hunger for power trigger a psionic chain-reaction that has the potential to threaten all of humanity?

Each novel in the five-book series features sci fi action and adventure, and a romance for a different couple. The first novel in the series, Psi Hunter, will be available in March of 2014.  [Read more…] about Exclusive Excerpt from Guardians of the Pattern: Psi Hunter

Hidden Gems and Other Bookish Treasures

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gemsI thought we’d do something a bit different on the blog this year. Last year, we had authors talking about the books they wrote and why one in particular was their favorite. Every author has a fav and I’ve always found their reasons fascinating.

This year, I’m flipping that upside down. We’re scouring the interwebs looking for hidden gems. Books that have made ‘must read’ lists but, for one reason or another, never got much attention. I’ll be contacting the authors and inviting them to the blog so you can learn about them too. I already have a full lineup on the way with some great books and fantastic authors. If you know of such a book, let me know. I may profile it here on the blog.

One of the other new themes on the blog this year will be LGBT science fiction and fantasy. I have been a huge fan of both genres since I was a kid and thought it was about time we brought the genre more exposure. Watch for the posts, and again, if you have a nominee you’d like us to take a look at, let me know.

Sexuality – Not so Black and White

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Today, I have asked J. James to the blog. We’re discussing his new book, Denial, Deceit, Discovery, which tells the story of the struggles in the life of Jack Ellis, a catholic man deep in denial about his sexuality.  ~B.

 

Denial Deceit DiscoveryIn a recent review So So Gay said your book was ‘a thought provoking and evocative piece of literature that we found very difficult to put down’. Do you think your book is that different from the many other similar books about coming out?

J James:   I think there are a few things that make DDD different. Probably the most obvious is the honesty and frankness of the book. It is all laid our bare for the reader so that they too feel that they are living the life of the protagonist.  The level of emotion in the book is incredible and this pulls the reader in continuously. Readers will love the main character Jack in some parts and then be screaming at him in disbelief at others. The second main difference is the angle from which the coming out is portrayed. Having previously lived a straight life, Jack’s coming out was delayed and prolonged and then ultimately very dramatic when it did finally occur. It means that many people can connect with the story on different levels – gay, straight or just confused. Many of my readers have been women or straight guys because I think the story deals with relationships and the difficulties of growing up and many other wider issues and not just coming out. I think the book is incredibly relatable so such a diverse community of readers. [Read more…] about Sexuality – Not so Black and White

Heteronormativity in MM Romance?

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Betty Postelwaite couple
Photo Credit: Betty Postelwaite

Watching a conversation unfold on Twitter about a reader searching for ‘who is a top and who is a bottom in MM romance.’ For this particular tweeter it seemed confusing and relevant, especially when writing gay fiction.

I was surprised and delighted with the response that came back to him/her:

I just think that searching for who bottoms is like searching for who is “woman” in the relationship.

I love that, because unfortunately, in MM, all too often I see ‘roles’ which are specifically defined without actually stating them. Granted, there are specific sub-tropes that play into this, but I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on how heteronormative ideas about gay relationships permeate MM romance.

Have you seen it, and does it matter to you?

Thoughts on The Opera House

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The Opera House - Gay FictiomI hope you all had a great Christmas in the presence of your families and loved ones.

I’m glad to be able to write this guest post on Brandon’s blog. In fact, it’s been a long time coming, and I’ve thought a lot about what to say here. The official reason is of course the recent launch of my new novel, “The Opera House”, and given Brandon’s involvement in the LGBT youth and particularly homeless kids, I’m very proud to say that these issues are at the very core of my new book.

As a gay man, my relationship to kids has been a contemplative one for my entire life. As a child, I wanted kids of myself, at a time when marriage and a wife where theoretical concepts at best. Later, when the realization of what I ‘was’ dawned on me, we lived in times when having a boyfriend was a realistic target, living with the same a dream, but kids weren’t on the horizon, not even as a vision. Heck, back then no one even talked about marriage equality, we were too busy even finding a boyfriend. The gay ‘lifestyle’ WAS different back in the eighties, at least for most of us. [Read more…] about Thoughts on The Opera House