I've never been a political activist. Actually, I'm far from being political at all. I write romance, which has nothing to do with politics. But after last week's voting results in Maine, I can't stop reading all the personal blog posts from the LGBT community. People were devastated. I know for a fact, after talking to friends in Maine, that LGBT residents of Maine were especially devastated.
So here's a link that I think sends a strong message. http://aguyinlove.blogspot.com/
The link is from my friend Ryan's blog. His partner, Kadin, wrote a smart post that I wish everyone would take very seriously.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
An Officer and His Gentleman
I recently saw this information on Consortium Book Sales and Distribution.
An Officer and His Gentleman
Ryan Field (Author)
Brody Johnston, bad boy naval officer on extended leave from his post in Europe, can't take his eyes off innocent Chance's round butt and smooth legs. He is determined to get to know him better, and Brody is used to getting what he wants. Though they are complete opposites, Chance is ready to submit to all of Brody's sexual kinks and desires. And it never occurs to either one of them that they might actually fall in love with each other.
Ryan Field is the author of ten books published by Ravenous Romance, including the best-selling e-books Pretty Man and Take Me Always. His short story "Down the Basement" is included in the Lambda Award–winning Best Gay Erotica 2009.
In August of 2010, An Officer and His Gentleman will be released by Alyson Books, in print.
Are There Any Gay Men Out There Who Think the Word "Coitus" is Sexy or Romantic?
I thought I was finished with the "writing m/m fiction" thing for a while. I don't like to harp on something. I truly don't. But then I saw something yesterday that was too interesting to ignore.
And here it is. Hold on. While reading a popular book review blog, I noticed a review about a collection of m/m short stories. I'm not going into details; I'm not a book reviewer and I didn't read the book. But the reviewer was a woman, and she basically trashed one short story because it sounded, to her, like a romance written by a man (I swear she said this, in writing, in the review). The review was brutal in every sense that a book review can be brutal. And the author of the story is a man. I'm not sure, but he's probably a gay man...unless there's a new trend out there and straight dudes are now writing m/m fiction, too.
But more than that, this same reviewer gave an absolutely spectacular review to another story in the book. This other story was also m/m fiction and it was written by a woman instead of a gay man. Everyone who reads this blog and knows me, knows that I support women who write good m/m fiction. My former blog posts prove it. To name a few, EM Lynley, Bryn Colvin, GA Hauser. These writers know what they are doing. I offer advice all the time to women who are interested in writing m/m fiction.
However, when I read the review yesterday and saw an except from this particular woman's story, I had to step back and take a few quick breaths. There was nothing in that one excerpt that would appeal to a gay man, and there was nothing in that excerpt that was authentic to gay men in general. As a gay man, I found both the review and the excerpt insulting, politically incorrect, and so annoying that I'm writing about it today.
I could have overlooked most of the things in review and the story excerpt, except for one. The author, who was repeatedly praised by this book reviewer, used the word "coitus" in a m/m love scene. I looked the word up and found more than one definition that said "coitus" was, basically, the act of procreation between a man and a woman. Aside from the fact that it's just a creepy word, WTF would "coitus" be doing in m/m fiction? Speaking as a gay man, you can't get any more off base. Even if you try to use this word loosely, I'm sure that most gay men would agree there's nothing even remotely sexy or romantic about the word "coitus."
I didn't leave a comment on the thread. Another gay man had already done that for me, and he did a great job of explaining how I was feeling.
However, to be sure I wasn't over-reacting to "coitus", I e-mailed a very good friend who is a long time literary agent, one of my best friends, in New York. He agreed with me, and offered a few snide comments of his own about "coitus." After that, to be sure I still wasn't over-reacting, I posted a question on facebook that went like this:
I'm wondering how other LGBT romance writers and readers feel about the word "coitus" in m/m love scenes. Just curious, is all.
This is how one gay man, a friend, replied:
Just make sure, when you describe any kind of coitus, you take care to cook it thoroughly to avoid ingesting nasty bacteria. And, for a nice effect, you may want to serve it covered in a nice Browned Butter Sauce.
I swear this is true.
And sad, because the story and the woman writer received a rave review while the gay author suffered the torture of one of the worst book reviews I've ever read. And I have a strong feeling that his review was not deserved. I think I just might buy the book and read his story for myself.
This is one of those times when I'm more than willing to stand up for what I believe in. So, c'mon women writing, reading and reviewing m/m fiction. We love you all, but get it right. Gay men have had to suffer the pains and hassles of discrimination all their lives. What happened in Maine the other day is proof of that. Do they now have to suffer the audacity (and stupidity) of being totally misrepresented in fiction, too? To me, this is the equivalent of emotional gay bashing. And my apologies to all the women out there right now who are writing m/m fiction and are doing a damn good job of it. But I couldn't help getting this one off my chest.
I can only hope that talent, hard work, and a keener understanding of gay men will win out in the end. And, that words like "coitus" will disappear from everyone's vocabulary forever.
And here it is. Hold on. While reading a popular book review blog, I noticed a review about a collection of m/m short stories. I'm not going into details; I'm not a book reviewer and I didn't read the book. But the reviewer was a woman, and she basically trashed one short story because it sounded, to her, like a romance written by a man (I swear she said this, in writing, in the review). The review was brutal in every sense that a book review can be brutal. And the author of the story is a man. I'm not sure, but he's probably a gay man...unless there's a new trend out there and straight dudes are now writing m/m fiction, too.
But more than that, this same reviewer gave an absolutely spectacular review to another story in the book. This other story was also m/m fiction and it was written by a woman instead of a gay man. Everyone who reads this blog and knows me, knows that I support women who write good m/m fiction. My former blog posts prove it. To name a few, EM Lynley, Bryn Colvin, GA Hauser. These writers know what they are doing. I offer advice all the time to women who are interested in writing m/m fiction.
However, when I read the review yesterday and saw an except from this particular woman's story, I had to step back and take a few quick breaths. There was nothing in that one excerpt that would appeal to a gay man, and there was nothing in that excerpt that was authentic to gay men in general. As a gay man, I found both the review and the excerpt insulting, politically incorrect, and so annoying that I'm writing about it today.
I could have overlooked most of the things in review and the story excerpt, except for one. The author, who was repeatedly praised by this book reviewer, used the word "coitus" in a m/m love scene. I looked the word up and found more than one definition that said "coitus" was, basically, the act of procreation between a man and a woman. Aside from the fact that it's just a creepy word, WTF would "coitus" be doing in m/m fiction? Speaking as a gay man, you can't get any more off base. Even if you try to use this word loosely, I'm sure that most gay men would agree there's nothing even remotely sexy or romantic about the word "coitus."
I didn't leave a comment on the thread. Another gay man had already done that for me, and he did a great job of explaining how I was feeling.
However, to be sure I wasn't over-reacting to "coitus", I e-mailed a very good friend who is a long time literary agent, one of my best friends, in New York. He agreed with me, and offered a few snide comments of his own about "coitus." After that, to be sure I still wasn't over-reacting, I posted a question on facebook that went like this:
I'm wondering how other LGBT romance writers and readers feel about the word "coitus" in m/m love scenes. Just curious, is all.
This is how one gay man, a friend, replied:
Just make sure, when you describe any kind of coitus, you take care to cook it thoroughly to avoid ingesting nasty bacteria. And, for a nice effect, you may want to serve it covered in a nice Browned Butter Sauce.
I swear this is true.
And sad, because the story and the woman writer received a rave review while the gay author suffered the torture of one of the worst book reviews I've ever read. And I have a strong feeling that his review was not deserved. I think I just might buy the book and read his story for myself.
This is one of those times when I'm more than willing to stand up for what I believe in. So, c'mon women writing, reading and reviewing m/m fiction. We love you all, but get it right. Gay men have had to suffer the pains and hassles of discrimination all their lives. What happened in Maine the other day is proof of that. Do they now have to suffer the audacity (and stupidity) of being totally misrepresented in fiction, too? To me, this is the equivalent of emotional gay bashing. And my apologies to all the women out there right now who are writing m/m fiction and are doing a damn good job of it. But I couldn't help getting this one off my chest.
I can only hope that talent, hard work, and a keener understanding of gay men will win out in the end. And, that words like "coitus" will disappear from everyone's vocabulary forever.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
How Do I Feel About Maine Today?
I've been writing (and reading) gay romance for a lot longer than m/m fiction has been considered a trendy thing to write. And I'm sure, without a doubt, that I'll be writing it long after the trend has died down. When someone reads my books or my short stories, they are reading fiction that I have based on my own personal experiences as a gay man. I know discrimination on a personal level and I don't have to go out and research it for a book. All I have to do it draw from my own personal experience and it's there.
I also don't have to go around the Internet today posting about how disappointed I am in Maine and leaving heartfelt comments on blog threads about how I wish the characters in my books weren't so far away from realizing their dream of obtaining the same equal rights every American citizen has. I live the for the dream every single day of my life, and it is a given that I have always fought for, and always will fight for, the civil rights of gay Americans.
And while I'm extremely disappointed in Maine today. I'm not giving up hope yet, because I truly believe that there are just as many people who disagree with Maine as there are who agree with them. We just have to fight a little harder next time.
I also don't have to go around the Internet today posting about how disappointed I am in Maine and leaving heartfelt comments on blog threads about how I wish the characters in my books weren't so far away from realizing their dream of obtaining the same equal rights every American citizen has. I live the for the dream every single day of my life, and it is a given that I have always fought for, and always will fight for, the civil rights of gay Americans.
And while I'm extremely disappointed in Maine today. I'm not giving up hope yet, because I truly believe that there are just as many people who disagree with Maine as there are who agree with them. We just have to fight a little harder next time.
NaNoWriMo...National Novel Writing Month and Ravenous Romance
I'm going to keep this post short and sweet. There's a great opportunity being offered over at ravenousromance.com right now.
Ravenous Romance is supporting the writers who enter NaNoWriMo this year and I'm helping to spread the word. You can read all about it here: http://ravenousromance.blogspot.com/
This is a huge thing for new writers. So often they are discouraged and laughed at for entering NaNoWriMo, and for once someone is supporting them. Especially m/m writers. I love to see this happening.
Ravenous Romance is supporting the writers who enter NaNoWriMo this year and I'm helping to spread the word. You can read all about it here: http://ravenousromance.blogspot.com/
This is a huge thing for new writers. So often they are discouraged and laughed at for entering NaNoWriMo, and for once someone is supporting them. Especially m/m writers. I love to see this happening.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
THE RAINBOW AWARDS...
For anyone who doesn't know or hasn't been following this, I'm posting today about THE RAINBOW AWARDS. This is a new award, just started this year, by Book Reviewer, Elisa Rolle.
My books are not up for the award because I'm on the jury. I think a couple of my books were nominated, but I pulled them out of the competition this time because I'm having a lot more fun as a juror.
And it's been exciting. Many great LGBT books are in the competition and I get to read five of them as a juror. Below is a link about the final phase of the competition, so check it out and leave a comment of support for Elisa, who is working very hard on this, and everyone else involved.
LGBT books have sure come a long way in the past five years!!
Friday, October 30, 2009
So you Want to Write M/M Fiction...
I've stated before that I have received a lot of e-mails asking for advice about starting a writing career and how to get published. I answer each one personally, and I hope it helps. This post is mainly for the women writers who've asked about getting started in the m/m genre. I get a lot of letters from women of all ages and I'm always more than willing to offer advice and support.
What inspired this post was a book review I recently read. It wasn't one of my books, I swear. I never respond to my own reviews unless they attack an LGBT social issue without being responsible (it's happened). But this review, about another m/m writer, shocked me. It was written by a woman who writes m/m romance herself. Basically, she slammed an erotic romance novel, and began the review with a statement that said she doesn't like erotica. Which, to me, made absolutely no sense at all. If you don't like erotica, then why the hell read it and review it? I'm not a huge fan of historicals, so I rarely read them, and would never be self-indulgent enough to review one. I'd rather leave that to the people who love reading historicals.
I can't emphasize this enough. There are many straight women out there, right now, who are writing some fantastic m/m novels. These authors have done their homework and they've nailed the genre. I love reading their work, because I know, as a gay man, that they aren't trying to fake it. The tons of great m/m books that are now involved in The Rainbow Awards are classic examples of how many women are writing great m/m books.
However, there are also a few out there who don't get it. They don't understand anything about gay men and it shows in the books. But more than that, many are out there writing book reviews about m/m fiction, and they clearly don't get the cultural background of gay men or what motivates gay men. And you can't fake that. I know, I'm gay, I know who I am. And nothing frustrates me more than when a woman writer or book reviewer tries to tell me about my life experiences as a gay man, without knowing the first thing about it. Gay men are men. Period. They don't react like women, to any situation, and there's no getting around this. I don't care if a book is light romance or a heavy historical, if it's not authentic it's not going to work. And the writers and the reviewers come off looking inadequate.
This morning I was reading on the treadmill. It's a book I'm in called CRUISING FOR BAD BOYS, that was pubbed by STARbookspress.com this past year. If there are any serious, aspiring women writers out there who want to know and understand more about gay men, then read this book. By reading this one book (there are plenty of others), you'll be able to get a grasp on how gay men think and feel with regards to erotic situations, and the thought process that provokes action. The book is erotica, but each short story has a good storyline that shows, very well, how gay men think and feel, and in a variety of ways. You don't have to love erotica to read this, and you don't have to write erotica to read this. But a book like this will help explain how gay men react and think, and then you can apply it to any romance, mystery, or historical you like. One story in particular, I believe, is "Car Service," written by Owen Keehnen. By just reading this one story, a woman with aspirations of writing m/m fiction can learn a great deal.
And if you don't want to buy this book, then find another one that was written by a gay man. Try Johnny Diaz. He's current and he's great. The list of fiction written by gay men in the gay male genre is endless.
What inspired this post was a book review I recently read. It wasn't one of my books, I swear. I never respond to my own reviews unless they attack an LGBT social issue without being responsible (it's happened). But this review, about another m/m writer, shocked me. It was written by a woman who writes m/m romance herself. Basically, she slammed an erotic romance novel, and began the review with a statement that said she doesn't like erotica. Which, to me, made absolutely no sense at all. If you don't like erotica, then why the hell read it and review it? I'm not a huge fan of historicals, so I rarely read them, and would never be self-indulgent enough to review one. I'd rather leave that to the people who love reading historicals.
I can't emphasize this enough. There are many straight women out there, right now, who are writing some fantastic m/m novels. These authors have done their homework and they've nailed the genre. I love reading their work, because I know, as a gay man, that they aren't trying to fake it. The tons of great m/m books that are now involved in The Rainbow Awards are classic examples of how many women are writing great m/m books.
However, there are also a few out there who don't get it. They don't understand anything about gay men and it shows in the books. But more than that, many are out there writing book reviews about m/m fiction, and they clearly don't get the cultural background of gay men or what motivates gay men. And you can't fake that. I know, I'm gay, I know who I am. And nothing frustrates me more than when a woman writer or book reviewer tries to tell me about my life experiences as a gay man, without knowing the first thing about it. Gay men are men. Period. They don't react like women, to any situation, and there's no getting around this. I don't care if a book is light romance or a heavy historical, if it's not authentic it's not going to work. And the writers and the reviewers come off looking inadequate.
This morning I was reading on the treadmill. It's a book I'm in called CRUISING FOR BAD BOYS, that was pubbed by STARbookspress.com this past year. If there are any serious, aspiring women writers out there who want to know and understand more about gay men, then read this book. By reading this one book (there are plenty of others), you'll be able to get a grasp on how gay men think and feel with regards to erotic situations, and the thought process that provokes action. The book is erotica, but each short story has a good storyline that shows, very well, how gay men think and feel, and in a variety of ways. You don't have to love erotica to read this, and you don't have to write erotica to read this. But a book like this will help explain how gay men react and think, and then you can apply it to any romance, mystery, or historical you like. One story in particular, I believe, is "Car Service," written by Owen Keehnen. By just reading this one story, a woman with aspirations of writing m/m fiction can learn a great deal.
And if you don't want to buy this book, then find another one that was written by a gay man. Try Johnny Diaz. He's current and he's great. The list of fiction written by gay men in the gay male genre is endless.
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