Author of Contemporary Gay Romance
In case you haven’t heard, the Rainbow Book Awards were announced and I am very proud to say that Listening to Dust tied for third place in the Best Gay Contemporary Fiction category.
The Value of Rain came in with an Honorable Mention in the same category at #7 and received and Honorable Mention at #5 for Best Gay Debut Novel.
Wayne Hoffman – Sweet Like Sugar
Ken O’Neill – The Marrying Kind
Lewis DeSimone – The Heart’s History
Who would have thought we’d be sitting here one year later? Not me that’s for sure. As most of my regular readers know I was prodded into publishing by some of my few, but very close, friends. J.S., who you met on my social sites while I was away, simply chuckles at this because he was one of those people. He’s the one that dug through manuscripts saying What about this one? Or Do you remember that one you wrote about…?
I specifically recall the conversation we had about dipping my toe into this publishing pond. How adamant I was about my own privacy, the lack of time I had to devote to it, and a million other excuses; anything I could think of that would take this ridiculous idea from his head. I know I told him that I had never allowed him to read my writing for this. And of course his question was Why did you then? I was stumped, my tongue a rogue little knot that could not find an excuse. Damned thing. [Read more…] about The Value of Rain – Year One
Very pleased to announce that my new book Listening to Dust is now available for immediate download via Amazon kindle.
In the coming weeks we’ll have it available in other ebook formats as well as in paperback.
Thank you all for your encouragement.
Murder touched Stephen Dobbins when he was a young boy and left him living in a void of aching loneliness. A chance meeting with a young American chased away the fear that he would always be alone and brought him the prospect of a new existence.
Dustin Earl joined the military and escaped his small town Southern upbringing with the hope that he could give his mentally challenged brother a better life. But Dustin had never known real love, an honest hug, or a simple kiss. He considered his sexuality a weakness; a threat that had been used against those he cared about.
For eight months their relationship blossomed until Dustin suddenly returned home. He cherished Stephen, but felt his responsibilities to his brother outweighed his own chance at happiness.
Shattered, unable to function and unwilling to accept Dustin’s departure, Stephen flew three thousand miles to get Dustin back and rekindle what they had. But what he would learn when he got there… he could never have imagined.
I am extremely pleased to announce that The Value of Rain was chosen by The Reading Life as a Top Read of 2011. The company and the writing on that list is breathtaking and includes some of the best authors I have ever read. So, the mere idea that Rain was included among them has left me quite speechless. (You can read her original review here. )
I must admit that I am greatly humbled by the reaction I have received from both readers and reviewers. Both groups have sent me emails detailing personal and intimate past experiences and have advised me how Rain has helped them to grow and overcome. Quite honestly, I don’t think that any writer could ask for a better testimonial than that.
It took me ten years to write Rain and I am the very first to tell you that it is not an easy read, but nor was it ever meant to be. Rain is a journey through tragedy and loss and life; and from my perspective, I believe that this is why it speaks to people so intimately. You will either love it, or hate it, but you won’t walk away untouched, and that may be the ultimate lesson in all of Charles’ words.
Thank you all for your encouragement, kind words and appreciation.
Synopsis -Listening to DustStephen lives in London, is the orphan of parents murdered by terrorists and has a cavity of loneliness growing in his chest.
Dustin has escaped his Southern upbringing but holds dark fears about his sexuality. He has never known a simple kiss or a hug that wasn’t attached to brutality.
Finally finding the love that they have both searched a lifetime for, Dustin has one last request before he returns to his previous existence: Please forget me.
A storm had blown through London that night and driven them back to the flat, sopping with laughter and a wet chill. When Dustin pulled his shirt off suddenly Stephen froze and gaped at him because it was the first time Dustin had ever exposed his torso in the three months they’d been seeing each other.
“What happened there?” Stephen asked. He cringed and squeezed his eyes shut as soon as the words left his mouth; realizing, too late, that Dustin’s scar was the very reason he and Dustin had never shared a shower together; why he’d never been allowed to caress the smoothness of Dustin’s chest; why Dustin had always acted so adamantly withdrawn about his upper body. He turned into the pantry before Dustin could respond and busied himself with a fresh pot of tea; hoping that the casualness of his actions would make his question seem much less intrusive than it sounded. [Read more…] about Listening to Dust – Excerpt