gay scifi

Gay Film – #Credence – A Must See

November 4, 2015 By Brandon Leave a Comment

There are some movies whose mere conception capture an audience and hold them until the film is brought to fruition. From the onset of the Indiegogo campaign that brought Credence to life, this film has done that.

The men and women involved had high hopes. The wanted to redefine the portrayal of LGBT people in film. In that, this piece of cinematic art is a smashing success.

I sat down last night with some popcorn and a great amount of anticipation. By the teary end of this movie all I could utter was More, please more. Don’t let the sci-fi tag turn you off, this is drama at its finest with science fiction elements as a backdrop.

It is going to leave you wanting more.

Credence, is available at Vimeo On Demand

New LGBT SciFi – Willem of the Tafel

May 28, 2015 By Brandon Leave a Comment

First of all, before I even get started, I need to say thanks to Brandon. As I was typing the name of this document to make sure it got saved properly, my Mac reminded me gently that I already had a “Blog post for Brandon Shire” in my folder. Curiosity kills the cat, so I looked and yes, back in July 2013, just days after I had published my first two novels, Brandon had me on his blog, giving me a chance to talk about them.

This is my third appearance, I kind of missed out on “The Fallen Angels of Karnataka”, but it’s like coming home, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity. Brandon is one of the first authors I got to know on Twitter after reading one of his books, and we’ve been “at it” ever since, and even though his face still eludes me, I consider him one of my author friends, a tight-knit community for sure. So here is a virtual hug and a HOORAY for having me on his blog yet again! 🙂

Today is the release day of my fifth novel. So much has changed since I first wrote “Family Ties” back in January 2013. The sensation of putting down the pen on your first book is obviously a feeling you’ll only ever have once, and it’s an emotion that stays with us for the rest of our lives. Mixed into the accomplishment are fears of “what next?”, “Is this worthy of being published?”, “Is it any good?” and “can I do this again?” I seriously doubt that I have all the answers to those questions. Apparently, my work was good enough, judging by the reviews, I managed to get the book published, and – since today marks my fifth novel – I was able to do it again. [Read more…] about New LGBT SciFi – Willem of the Tafel

Queering the Beyond with Adam Sass

May 12, 2015 By Brandon 1 Comment

With the creation of new worlds, aliens, and inter-galactic politics one would think that science fiction is a literary genre welcoming of diversity. However, both queer and female voices in sci-fi are often either hard-to-find or snubbed by the genre’s readers. Startling Sci-Fi: New Tales of the Beyond edited by Casey Ellis (New Lit Salon Press) is inclusive of both queer and female voices. The collection also attempts to disprove the misnomer that “literary fiction” and “genre fiction” can’t be one in the same. I sat down with one of the anthologies authors, Adam Sass, to find out how he’s helping to queer the beyond.

Brandon: Why do you think Science Fiction attracts so many gay readers and writers?

Adam: It has a flair, doesn’t it? Sci-fi writing lends itself to splashy, showy, larger-than-life characters. It colors the mundane, presents big ideas, creates fabulous powers, and features operatic drama; all things gays (on average) find to be mother’s milk. It’s also a genre that’s big on metaphor. Gays can really rock a metaphor.

Brandon: Pop culture plays a big role in your story, “98% Graves.” Can you discuss pop culture’s influence on your work in general and in this story specifically? [Read more…] about Queering the Beyond with Adam Sass

Incidental Sexuality in Literature

February 21, 2014 By Brandon 2 Comments

Welcome Spring Horton to the blog. She stopped by with a subject that is getting more and more traction from both within the LGBTQ writing community and from outside of it as well. – B.

I wanted to write this guest post to discuss the future of LGBT characters in literature. I have to admit that we’ve come a long way; much further in books than in film and television. The explosion of new queer characters is amazing, especially in the male/male romance genre. And not only are droves of books being written, they also seem to be selling well, if Amazon sales rank is any indication. Now, there’s definitely nothing wrong with a good male/male romance (I’m currently working on one myself) and there’s nothing wrong with books that center around a character’s sexuality. I just wonder if we aren’t lacking in LGBT characters in mainstream books though. In almost every genre the characters are assumed, by default, to be heterosexual unless deemed otherwise at some point in the story. [Read more…] about Incidental Sexuality in Literature

Wasn’t gay marriage legal in ancient Greece?

February 17, 2014 By Brandon Leave a Comment

Welcome Andrew J. Peters to the blog. He writes gay-themed fantasy fiction and is the author of The Seventh Pleiade and the Werecat series. In his other life, he was a social worker for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth in the New York City area. Nowadays, he balances his time between writing and working at a university.

Brandon: First, let me start with a confession. I loved the richness of the mythological lore in which The Seventh Pleiade is set. Greek mythology was a huge favorite of mine growing up and I was hooked from the start. Tell us a little about your inspiration for writing it.

Andrew: Thanks Brandon. I’ve loved mythology since I was a kid as well.

My inspiration was myth and fantasy foremost, but I also saw the main character Aerander as a young man finding his place in the world. Part of that journey is figuring out how to live as a man who is attracted to other men. Having gone through that myself, that storyline was appealing but also a challenge to write. [Read more…] about Wasn’t gay marriage legal in ancient Greece?

Exclusive Excerpt from Guardians of the Pattern: Psi Hunter

January 10, 2014 By Brandon Leave a Comment

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:

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