gay authors

Hidden Gems and Other Bookish Treasures

January 6, 2014 By Brandon

I thought we’d do something a bit different on the blog this year. Last year, we had authors talking about the books they wrote and why one in particular was their favorite. Every author has a fav and I’ve always found their reasons fascinating.

This year, I’m flipping that upside down. We’re scouring the interwebs looking for hidden gems. Books that have made ‘must read’ lists but, for one reason or another, never got much attention. I’ll be contacting the authors and inviting them to the blog so you can learn about them too. I already have a full lineup on the way with some great books and fantastic authors. If you know of such a book, let me know. I may profile it here on the blog.

One of the other new themes on the blog this year will be LGBT science fiction and fantasy. I have been a huge fan of both genres since I was a kid and thought it was about time we brought the genre more exposure. Watch for the posts, and again, if you have a nominee you’d like us to take a look at, let me know.

Sexuality – Not so Black and White

January 3, 2014 By Brandon Leave a Comment

Today, I have asked J. James to the blog. We’re discussing his new book, Denial, Deceit, Discovery, which tells the story of the struggles in the life of Jack Ellis, a catholic man deep in denial about his sexuality. ~B.

In a recent review So So Gay said your book was ‘a thought provoking and evocative piece of literature that we found very difficult to put down’. Do you think your book is that different from the many other similar books about coming out?

J James: I think there are a few things that make DDD different. Probably the most obvious is the honesty and frankness of the book. It is all laid our bare for the reader so that they too feel that they are living the life of the protagonist. The level of emotion in the book is incredible and this pulls the reader in continuously. Readers will love the main character Jack in some parts and then be screaming at him in disbelief at others. The second main difference is the angle from which the coming out is portrayed. Having previously lived a straight life, Jack’s coming out was delayed and prolonged and then ultimately very dramatic when it did finally occur. It means that many people can connect with the story on different levels – gay, straight or just confused. Many of my readers have been women or straight guys because I think the story deals with relationships and the difficulties of growing up and many other wider issues and not just coming out. I think the book is incredibly relatable so such a diverse community of readers. [Read more…] about Sexuality – Not so Black and White

Thoughts on The Opera House

December 27, 2013 By Brandon Leave a Comment

I hope you all had a great Christmas in the presence of your families and loved ones.

I’m glad to be able to write this guest post on Brandon’s blog. In fact, it’s been a long time coming, and I’ve thought a lot about what to say here. The official reason is of course the recent launch of my new novel, “The Opera House”, and given Brandon’s involvement in the LGBT youth and particularly homeless kids, I’m very proud to say that these issues are at the very core of my new book.

As a gay man, my relationship to kids has been a contemplative one for my entire life. As a child, I wanted kids of myself, at a time when marriage and a wife where theoretical concepts at best. Later, when the realization of what I ‘was’ dawned on me, we lived in times when having a boyfriend was a realistic target, living with the same a dream, but kids weren’t on the horizon, not even as a vision. Heck, back then no one even talked about marriage equality, we were too busy even finding a boyfriend. The gay ‘lifestyle’ WAS different back in the eighties, at least for most of us. [Read more…] about Thoughts on The Opera House

Love Me As I Am – Gay Nonfiction

December 10, 2013 By Brandon Leave a Comment

Love Me As I Am is an anthology of 24 biographies and letters written by gay men as they reflect on the childhood experiences that shaped their lives. These experiences are something which many gay men can relate to. The stories share the common threads of invalidation, being overwhelmed by shame and the painful (but worthwhile) journey to self-acceptance.

All profits gained through sales of the book are donated to Diversity Role Models — a UK charity tackling homophobia through education.

From Amazon. Learn more here.

Love Me As I Am – gay men reflect on their lives from Little Red Shoes on Vimeo.

HoT Blog Tour – Excerpt and Giveaway

November 22, 2013 By Brandon Leave a Comment

Welcome to the blog tour for Heart of Timber, Book 2 of the Cold gay romance series!

It’s the last day of the Heart of Timber blog tour. Today I’m over at Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews with an exclusive excerpt. And don’t forget that you have until the end of today to put your name in for a FREE copy of Heart of Timber from 3 Chicks After Dark.

Did you miss the other HoT blog-hop stops?

Boys in our Books (Excerpt)

Jessewave (Exclusive Interview)

Attention is Arbitrary (Spotlight)

Live Your Life, Buy the Book (Spotlight)

Joyfully Jay (Guest Post)

Heart of Timber is available from all online retailers.

Amazon, B&N, Smashwords, Kobo, or ARe

HoT Giveaway – MM Romance

November 20, 2013 By Brandon Leave a Comment