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The hardest lessons

August 30, 2013 By Brandon Leave a Comment

“You can’t save everyone.”

These were the hardest four words I ever heard in my life and they were given to me by a spiritual mentor who picked me up from the floor and held me after I heard the news of the suicide of a very close personal friend. I have never gotten over the death of my friend, but her death prompted change in my own life and in the lives of others that were touched by her presence.

This month, Lost-n-Found was informed of the death of a young man who approached them for help, and then left the program because he didn’t think he could stop doing drugs. I don’t work directly with the LnF board, or any of the volunteers. I’m just one of those spreading the news about the work they do. But I know personally how something like this hits you. Hard and below the belt. [Read more…] about The hardest lessons

This is what homeless LGBT kids wake up to every day

August 27, 2013 By Brandon Leave a Comment

Last year Lost-n-Found shared a video of a ‘squat’ for homeless lgbt youth. People seemed shocked at how these kids lived and even more shocked at what they had to do to survive. One year later Lost-n-Found returned to the squat to see what had changed for these kids. As you can see from the video, not too much has changed despite the heroic efforts of LnF. Is it because they haven’t tried? No. If anything, the volunteers are more dedicated, more active, and pushing harder to make changes.

And still the number of homeless lgbt kids has increased. The revised estimate for 2013 is that there are approximately 750 homeless LGBT children on the streets of Atlanta. 62% of these kids will attempt suicide. When you wake up to this every day, is there any doubt as to why that number is so high?

You can Donate here or at the Lost-n-Found website

Body Shapes and Stereotypes

August 23, 2013 By Brandon 1 Comment

Welcome author Richard Pearson with an excellent post about our detrimental habit of stereotyping the bodies of gay men. ~ B.

So when you hear these words: “You should meet my friend Richard, he’s in his early 30s, an attorney, an actor, and an author, oh, and he’s gay,” what mental image do you have?

Something like this?

What if I told you he actually looked like this?

Not what you were expecting? Why is that?

For the record, the first one is Djordje Bogdanovic, a runway model, the second one, is me. Yet when I am described to people, they usually expect the model and not the adorable guy in the vest, and a big reason why is that I don’t look like a typical gay man. [Read more…] about Body Shapes and Stereotypes

This is what Success Looks Like in Battling LGBT Homelessness

August 20, 2013 By Brandon Leave a Comment

Often people ask what happens to my donation? How does it affect the lgbt kids you support? Who are these kids? Lost-n-Found, like most youth-serving organizations, is very protective of the kids that seek them out for help. Often, you never see the faces of those that you help. These brave young souls have been through hell, but they also got off the street because of people like you who have donated and given them hope for a better future.

Lost-n-Found has helped over 200 lgbt kids to get off the streets all around the South. You can help us help them by donating at the link below.

Character Model come to life. Meet ‘Anderson’

August 20, 2013 By Brandon 1 Comment

As many of you know, I went looking for character models for both Lem and Anderson before I started to write what turned out to be my best-selling gay romance novel, Cold. I thought I needed these to help me build the characters correctly and strengthen their draw for potential readers in a prison setting. Of course, in doing this, I never told the models I used what I was doing or asked for any of their input.

Recently I reached out to the character model for Anderson and surprised him with the news, not knowing that he had previously read one of my books. He loved the idea and was gracious enough to allow me an interview. I know I have teased fans relentlessly about his identity. (The only hint I gave was that he was one of the Cocky Boys.) But only one person got his name right. So let me introduce you to the beautiful Antonio Manero. [Read more…] about Character Model come to life. Meet ‘Anderson’

Sometimes You Have to Make Your Own Light

August 16, 2013 By Brandon Leave a Comment

Welcome friend and MM Romance author DP Denman to the blog with an important post about finding hope.

I read a story recently on a new website called YouthResource.org. Ok, so they’re not exactly “new” but they’re new to me. The online resource run by LGBT youth for LGBT youth isn’t flashy or impressive but it addresses the basics from how to come out to your parents and topics like HIV. It also has sections where youth involved in the peer program can share their stories. One of them ended a tale that I know glossed over the worst parts by saying, “Sometimes you have to make your own light at the end of the tunnel but you don’t have to do it alone.”

Those simple yet inspiring words cut right to the heart of what groups like The Trevor Project and Lost-n-Found Youth are trying to tell LGBT kids. It’s difficult to be a teen and sometimes things happen that you never expected and would rather not deal with but that doesn’t make it hopeless. [Read more…] about Sometimes You Have to Make Your Own Light

Heart of Timber Cover Reveal (MM Romance)

August 9, 2013 By Brandon Leave a Comment

I’ve heard from enough of you to know that you’ve been waiting for the cover of the next book in the gay romance series, Cold. I must admit, I’m flattered by the response. I am also very happy to share the cover for the next segment in the saga between Lem and Anderson, Heart of Timber.

Special thanks go to Kat McCarthy of Aeternum Designs. She waded through all my nitpicking with a smile and gave us this great book cover.

Heart of Timber (available Fall 2013)

Heart of Timber -full- Brandon Shire

When fear grows fat on homophobia

August 6, 2013 By Brandon Leave a Comment

We often talk about the changing landscape in LGBT issues. A lot has changed, but there’s also quite a bit that hasn’t. One of the hardest things for me when I see injustice based on homophobia is controlling my anger. I have, unfortunately, been a witness to the extremes of homophobia and it is no small feat for me to control myself when it materializes in front of me.

The talk below about fighting with nonviolence, is something I believe in wholeheartedly and I thought I would share it with you..

Author Vicktor Alexander Giving Back with Impossible

August 2, 2013 By Brandon Leave a Comment

Impossible, book 6 of the Tate Pack series is out and I am so uberly excited to hear what you all think. It was nice to return to the ranch, to hang with the guys again and I think you’ll all be very shocked by what happens in the story. Though I am to warn you that it’s angsty and will make you cry, at least according to my betas.

In light of where the royalties of the book are being donated I decided to do more than just give you the blurb, excerpt, cover and buy links, I thought I would tell you all why I really want this book to do well. [Read more…] about Author Vicktor Alexander Giving Back with Impossible

Good News and Bad News

August 1, 2013 By Brandon Leave a Comment

The Good News

I am VERY happy to announce that we have reached and exceeded our first small fundraising goal for Lost-n-Found. Our goal was $466 by the end of July. That’s two weeks worth of food, shelter and transportation for a homeless LGBT kid. We exceeded that amount by $100 thanks to YOU. [Read more…] about Good News and Bad News