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Brandon Shire

Author of Contemporary Gay Romance

  • Author Bio
  • Books
    • The Love of Wicked Men
    • Afflicted – Gay Romance Series
    • Cold – Gay Romance Series
    • Erotic Short Stories
    • Summer Symphony
    • Listening To Dust
    • The Value Of Rain
    • Afflicted – Book 1
    • Afflicted – Book 2
    • Cold – MM Romance
    • Heart of Timber – Gay Romance
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You are here: Home / Archives for writing

writing

When gay fiction becomes a personal journey

December 2, 2014 By Brandon Leave a Comment

Friend and fellow author, Allen Renfro discusses his new book, Ambiguity. As many writers (and readers) can attest, a novel in the making is often a testament to a life’s journey.

AmbiguityBridgeI think I speak for many writers who become inspired that sometimes a story simply won’t leave you alone. The words come to you as you try to sleep. Walking along the street you see the characters in the faces that pass by. You hear the voices of the characters as you’re sitting in a restaurant and quietly listening. Finally you surrender and began the process of putting words to paper. The story for my novel Ambiguity came to me in such a manner and I think the story resonates even more right now at this point in time than when I first became inspired.

If you’ve read any of my work you are very much aware that my characters often wrestle with the centuries old conflict between religion and sexuality. In my novel Ambiguity, this conflict erupts into all out war. I wanted to explore the horrors of religious hatred toward homosexuality and also show the repercussions on both sides of this hatred. I wrote Ambiguity more for myself than anyone else. I needed to delve into my own experiences with religion, to understand my own mistrust of people who claim religion as their sole purpose for condemning homosexuality. In my own cynicism I wanted to show that many times people use religion to hide behind, to cover up their own secrets. There are many closets to hide in and come out of. [Read more…] about When gay fiction becomes a personal journey

Filed Under: Author Interviews, Gay Fiction Tagged With: award winning gay fiction, gay authors, Homophobia, LGBT, writing

Crafting the Heart-wrenching Reads

November 21, 2014 By Brandon 2 Comments

broken heartRecently I was asked about the polarity in my writing. It stretches from erotic to emotionally devastating, and all places in between. Because of this, I have two very different reading audiences. On one side, I have my m/m readers who seek happy endings and hot sex, while the other readers look for less eroticism and more of a literary read, which often (with my novels) leaves them in tears.  Today we’re talking about the more literary of my novels – The Value of Rain, Listening to Dust, and Summer Symphony. If you would like to review the topics I explored in those novels, you can see this post.

Why do I write about such emotionally charged issues?

It certainly isn’t for the money. My gay romance novels outsell the more serious fiction books 50:1. I write these books because the stories need to be told. There is more to our existence as LGBTQ people than flippancy, fashion trends, and fucking. [Read more…] about Crafting the Heart-wrenching Reads

Filed Under: Brandon's Musings, Gay Fiction, Gay Romance Novels Tagged With: award winning gay fiction, gay authors, gay literature, mm romance, writing

The Writer’s Life – in GIF form

September 28, 2014 By Brandon Leave a Comment

According to people smarter than me, there are five stages of writing. Actually, I think there are eight, but that’s just me.

1. Prewriting

The muse whispers in your ear… “I have an idea!”

2. Drafting

And the muse is suddenly on vacation…

[Read more…] about The Writer’s Life – in GIF form

Filed Under: Brandon's Musings Tagged With: humor, writing, writing tips

Honest Reader Reactions to Bad Books

August 18, 2014 By Brandon 2 Comments

Here’s the flip side of  Authors Honest Reactions to Bad Book Reviews post. This one is for the readers, because, let’s face it, authors are human and they make mistakes too. And yes, sometimes a book needs a fecking DNF review. It’s all in fun, so enjoy.

Authors, listen up. (Culled from thousands of reviews around the web.)

 

1. Labelled Erotic Romance/Fiction

But the sex be like. WTF?!
[Read more…] about Honest Reader Reactions to Bad Books

Filed Under: Brandon's Musings Tagged With: amreading, humor, reading, writing

The Awkward Conversations of a Gay Romance Writer

July 13, 2014 By Brandon 8 Comments

A lot of my posts are on the serious side, so I thought we’d have some fun and asked fellow authors what kind of reactions they got when someone they knew found out they wrote gay romance. These answers come from both male and female authors alike. Feel free to add the nuances of your own ‘outing’ in the comments. We can always use more lols.

 1. You write M/M? Isn’t that like…gay smut?

Not necessarily no, some of it is highly erotic; some of it is based more on love and passion.

[An awkward pause.] Have you had the kind of sex you write about?

[To mom/other relatives/kids]: No, I’m a paragon of Southern gentlemanly virtue.

[To a really hot man-hunk]: You want a test run? That can be arranged. Let me call my agent.

don't hate

2. OMG, what if your boss finds out?!

[Read more…] about The Awkward Conversations of a Gay Romance Writer

Filed Under: Brandon's Musings, Gay Romance Novels Tagged With: gay love story, LGBT, mm romance, writing

Losing My Con Virginity

April 20, 2014 By Brandon 10 Comments

rainbowcon2014So, I finally did it. I took the plunge and came out to visit a few of my fans. It was a pleasant experience. Humorous mostly. The ladies were so gentle, as if I was going to run away if the crowd got too thick. “You okay?” was a constant. And, other than a developing cold that had me running back and forth to the loo (to blow my nose) like a coke head, I was okay. The panels were informative. I got a chance to meet so many of the authors I know only online, and I got a chance to grab a few books too. I wanted more, but no one was manning the tables at times.

Sue Brown made my whole day right from the start when she came racing around her table speechlessly grabbing me into an embrace. Loved that bubbly little smile the moment I saw it. We had a chance to have dinner later with several others and she made quite an impression on me, enough that I asked her to bring me some real British tea when we get a chance to meet again. (Which I hope happens.)

 

I have just met @TheBrandonShire. I am such a #fangirl. I lost the power of speech.

— Sue Brown (@suebrownstories) April 19, 2014

But somehow I came to the Con too late and missed the strip show and the hunk flashing his hot self to one of the ladies upstairs. (Think I might try getting “lost” in the hotel if I attend another con. Don’t think I’ll be so lucky though.)

Lisa, Joann, Susan, and Jodi were a hoot, and I want to especially thank them for their courtesy and graciousness.  They made the trip worthwhile, as did many of the other authors I had a chance to meet.

If you get the chance, I would recommend Rainbow Con 2015, especially if you’re a reader looking for some great lgbt books. Or, if you’re an old cranky author who shies from the spotlight (like me), it’s still small enough that you’re not overwhelmed. Though honestly, I’m expecting this con to be one of the hottest tickets in just a few short years.

B.

 

Filed Under: Brandon's Musings Tagged With: coming out, gay authors, gay literature, Lesbian Fiction, LGBT, transgender, writing

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