In between going to the Rainbow Con, traveling and business, I had a chance to sit down with Julie Bozza and talk about the writing process, reader reactions, and tropes. You might be a little surprised with my answers. Join in our conversation and let us know what you think.
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Losing My Con Virginity
So, 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.
Sighs Too Deep for Words
Welcome William Jack Sibley to the blog with a quick spotlight on his book, Sighs Too Deep for Words, nominated by readers as a 2014 LGBT Boom Gem.
I won’t bore you, dear reader, with the details of how I went from New York publisher Kensington producing my first novel “ANY KIND OF LUCK” to then doing the second one entirely by myself except to say that Kensington wanted a repeat “serial” of the first book and I, after ultra brief consideration, graciously declined. I’d already said what I’d wanted to say on the subject. I waited nine months for Dutton to then determine if I was worthy enough for their illustrious imprint (I wasn’t!). And then it was off to the salt mine hell of small, Indie publishing houses. I had to pull the book from one persistently mendacious publisher, got dropped by another for daring to question their imperial supremacy (and such unmitigated joy all for virtually zero money.) I finally ended up sticking the galleys in my desk drawer and sternly ignored the muffled whimpering emanating forthwith for several years before having a head-slapping, V8 moment. Self-publish and be damned! [Read more…] about Sighs Too Deep for WordsLGBT Stigma Project
The video pretty much says it all.
LGBT Stigma Project from Michael Witt on Vimeo.
Why Gay YA?
Welcome Chris O’Guinn to the blog. Readers chose his novel, Fearless as a 2014 LGBT Book Gem.
It’s quite an honor to have my book, Fearless, be counted among the Hidden Gems on this list. I am very grateful to Brandon for giving me the chance to introduce people to this story. Of everything I have written, this one is closest to me personally. And given the reaction of my wonderful readers, it seems to be striking a chord with people all over the world.
One of the most common and most interesting questions I get is, “Why do you write gay YA?” I like this question because the answer is so layered. It gets at the core of what I really want to accomplish with my books. [Read more…] about Why Gay YA?
Oops, I Didn’t Know I Couldn’t Write About Sex
Welcome friend and author Brian Centrone with a few words concerning his new short story collection, Erotica which features seven stories, one for every sin.
D.H. Lawrence got in trouble over it. Anne Rice used a pen name to write it. E.L. James made a fortune off it. No one can deny that sex sells, yet it remains controversial. The mere mention of erotica sends literary noses pointed toward the heavens in a triumphant stance of superiority. For the majority of the literary world, erotica is not literature at all.
The truth is that some believe erotica is cheap. They dismiss it with other genre writing like Sci Fi or Romance. Many see these types of stories as inferior to scholarly or academic works. I disagree. I won’t argue that some erotica is pure smut, merely words to get off by, but not all, and certainly not mine. I believe that there is such a thing as “literary erotica,” and I consider my work to fall into that category. Why? Because I write erotic stories the way I write any fiction. I use the building blocks of literature to craft and develop tales which seek for more than just to lube a reader up. My stories aren’t about sex. They feature sex, yes, and prominently—that’s the nature of erotica—but they are always about something more: love, relationships, self-discovery. [Read more…] about Oops, I Didn’t Know I Couldn’t Write About Sex
A Place of My Own – Short Film
A young boy caught between his conservative mother’s scrutiny and his own desire to dress in girls’ clothes. This divide erects irreversible barriers between his mother and himself.
As I watched this I couldn’t help but note the similarities occurring in my own family over a young niece’s coming out.
.
The Cool Part of His Pillow
Welcome Rodney T Ross to the blog. His novel, The Cool Part of His Pillow was nominated by readers as a 2014 LGBT Book Gem. I asked him to stop by and tell us a little about himself and the book. ~ B.
REAR-VIEW MIRROR
The adage is absence makes the heart grow fonder.
I might add to that: A little distance, too.
It’s been well over a year since publication of The Cool Part of His Pillow (TCPohP).
Only now, impregnation and labor behind me, can I address its birth without excessive tears and gastrointestinal distress.
I circulated the manuscript to what mainstream publishers still accept unsolicited work –- approximately zero -– and literary agents. Many indicated they had enough LGBTQ-inclined authors. Like an aspiring career politician, I would apparently have to wait for someone to die to be installed. My favorite rejection was to what I thought was a succinct plot summary and my best three chapters. [Read more…] about The Cool Part of His Pillow
Naked in the Rain
Welcome Eowyn Wood to the blog. Her award-winning novel, Naked in the Rain was nominated by readers as a 2014 LGBT Book Gem.
My novel Naked in the Rain and its sequel Afterglow tackle the controversial topic of underage prostitution, along with drug addiction, homelessness and… music. It is not all dark and dreary. I hope readers find beauty and humor generously sprinkled throughout both novels.
People ask me, why write about two boys who run away and become prostitutes? The answer is, I don’t really know! Some people attribute it to my “day job” working at Cascade AIDS Project, a non-profit AIDS service organization. While it’s true CAP has exposed me to people with a lot of different life experiences, the story was in my head long before I began working there. [Read more…] about Naked in the Rain
invisible – Short LGBT Film
Because love knows no gender.