Tap Dancing With Joy

About a year ago I finished my first attempt at a futuristic novel. It was a first for me in many ways: my first story set in the future; although it certainly deals (like all my stories) with gay themes, it is my first story with a straight protagonist; and it is my first story where I start the protagonist off as being unlikable, and try to make the reader warm to him over the course of the story.

I knew stretching my boundaries like this would be a gamble as far as publishers and readers are concerned. Having a straight protagonist meant many of the gay publishers would reject it (and several did.) Also, because this is not a romance, many of the women who read MM will not take to it. This is a story aimed at gay men. But knowing it may never see the light of day, I had to write it anyway. I had to break out of the constraints of writing stories with an MM romance edge.  At the time, I felt it was the only way I could grow as a writer.

So throwing caution out the window (sorry for the cliché), I spent two years developing this story of twin brothers, both battling a corrupt US government in 2055. One is a straight warrior, the other is a gay writer, both fight for liberation in their own way. In my opinion, it is my best story, and by far my best writing. I’m very gratified with the results.

As expected, my current publisher, Dreamspinner Press, rejected the story because their audience demands MM romance. No surprise there. So I started shopping it around, one by one, to other gay publishers, all the time convinced I would need to self-publish this book to get it in print. I received two more rejections before getting lucky—very lucky.

Yes, I received an acceptance letter from Bold Strokes Books on Friday, telling me they would be happy to publish my story. I’m now waiting for the contract, but I’m thrilled they are willing to take a chance on me. My elation goes way beyond the opportunity to have this one story published by a reputable firm; it is about joining a publishing firm who doesn’t handcuff themselves or their stable of writers into one genre.

I feel exceedingly fortunate to have an in with a publisher who publishes a wide breath of genres, because that is definitely where my writing is taking me, far far away from MM romance. I feel I am growing as a writer, and it looks like I’ve found a publisher who is willing to stick by me as I grow.

Me likes it.

Book Review: The Letter Q, Queer Writers' Notes To Their Younger Selves

Reviewer: Alan Chin

Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books

Pages: 281

This is a collection of letters, notes, and comic strips from sixty-four award-winning writers and illustrators such as Michael Cunningham, Terrence McNally, Amy Bloom, Armistead Maupin, David Leavitt, Christopher Rice, and Susan Stinson. Each of these “letters” are messages the authors have written to their younger selves to ease the bumpy road of growing up an lgbt youth, all in the tone of “It Gets Better.” They give bracingly honest reasons for young people to tough it out, and hold out for a better future.

These letters are written with unyielding perception, humor, and tenderness. Many of the letters are both eloquent and touching, reminding me of many of my own experiences growing up.  They give a united voice of uplifting support of queer youth. I do wish I could have read this while growing through my teens.

I confess that I did not read all of these letters, simply because the themes are so repetitive it gets tiresome. Still I did read all my favorite authors, which many were represented here, and several writers I had not heard of before now, but will certainly read more of.

This book is a must read for any queer youth struggling to accept their sexuality or who are experiencing discrimination from the community. There is a clear and important message repeatedly banged like a bass drum, that queer kids are cool, and important, and just as worthy as anybody else. And the messages to tough it out, because it certainly does get better, is at their core all messages of hope, and of love. I highly recommend this book to all readers, young and old, queer and straight, sons, daughters, and parents.

Event: Rob Rosen, Alvin Orloff & Jim Provenzano

You are  invited to the event: Rob Rosen, Alvin Orloff & Jim Provenzano.

Date: June 26, 2012 07:30PM
Venue: Books Inc.
Location: 2275 Market St., San Francisco, CA, The United States

Description:
Rob Rosen ('Hot Lava') tells us all about his newest novel 'Queerwolf' and is joined by Jim Provenzano, author of the Lambda Literary Award-winning 'Every Time I Think of You,' (and 'PINS,' 'Cyclizen' and 'Monkey Suits,') and Alvin Orloff, author of 'Gutterboys' and 'Why Aren't You Smiling?'










See you there.

Finding Snow Plants – Is That Too Gay???

Yesterday, Herman and I decided to escape the 107 temps in Palm Springs, so we packed a picnic lunch and took the tram up the mountain. We found lovely 70 temps, a pristine pine forest, clear skies, and gentle breezes. Lovely.

We spent four hours hiking the trails—five or six miles—mostly up and up and up. Because I carried a twenty-pound pack of food, water, and books, my legs are definitely feeling that climb today. But there were only a few other people on the trails, and the forest was basking in its last radiance of Spring. We saw the usual forest animals, including a few deer.

There is something so satisfying about parking my butt in the shade of a giant pine and reading a good book—which I did for about an hour—with only the forest sounds to accompany the prose. I loved it, and Herman and I have made plans to repeat this at least once per week for the rest of the summer. It is too grand having a forest just a ten minute drive and 15 minute tram ride away from my front door.

The best parts, however, was the snow plants are blooming now. They are these luscious blooms that poke out of the forest floor four or five inches, with a heavenly red hue. Too divine. I first saw snow plants in Yosemite Valley while stoned on acid. I thought I had created it in my drugged state, because I couldn’t imagine anything so beautiful being utterly natural.

Anyway, it was a lovely day, a lovely picnic under the pines, and I shared it with a lovely man. Is that too gay or what???

Writing Tip #10: The B Subplot Must Influence Your Storyline.

In most novels and movies, there are at least two stories going on – the A story (main storyline) and the B story (a subplot). There is sometimes a C, D and E subplot as well, but lets keep this discussion simple by focusing on just two.

Strangely enough, with most love stories, the actual love plot is normally the B story. For example: one of the great love stories was Casablanca. The main story was what was happening to the letters of transit. They were the only way out of a horrid situation, and people were dying to get them. The love story between Rick and Ilsa was the B story.

In writing a plot, the A and B stories wander along in parallel, like two trains going down different tracks, yet racing in the same direction. But at some point usually near the end, the B story must collide with the A story, and affect it in such a way that neither story will ever be the same. 

In the example above, Casablanca, the letters of transit fall into Rick’s hands, yet Ilsa desperately needs them so that her husband, Victor Lazlo, can fly to freedom. Ilsa sacrifices everything, promising to abandon Victor and stay with Rick, if he will only give up the letters. Rick, of course, sacrifices Ilsa and gives her the letters out of love, and loyalty. Ilsa and Victor fly to freedom, Rick joins the freedom fighters. 

Another example: To Kill a Mockingbird, the A story leads to Tom Robinson’s trial and the hatred of Atticus Finch by Bob Ewell. The B story is Jem and Scout’s developing relationship with Boo Radley. At the end, the A and B stories collide when Ewell tries to kill the children and Boo stabs Ewell to save the kids. 

If you have a B story that doesn’t significantly affect the A story in the end, then rewrite it so that it does, or cut the B story. It’s only function is to boost the A story. If it doesn’t, then it’s dead weight.

The Lonely War Cast of Characters:

A new edition of my second novel, The Lonely War, has recently been released. I thought it would be fun to give readers a list of characters found in that story.

This story took first place in the 2010 Rainbow Literary Awards in four categories:  Best Overall Fiction, Best Historical, Best Characters, Best Setting.

Dreamspinner buy link: http://tinyurl.com/7q9hnvl 

Amazon buy link: http://tinyurl.com/cgn4jhr

Description: Like most war novels, The Lonely War envelops all that is unique to war, the horror of battle, overcoming fear, the cruelty of soldiers, the loyalty and camaraderie of men caught in a desperate situation. Yet, it stands alone in two important ways. First, it is a passionate story about a tender love developing between an officer and an enlisted man, revealing a rare and dignified portrait of a couple struggling to satisfy desire within the confines of the military code of conduct. Secondly, it describes the heart-wrenching measures of how much one man will sacrifice to save the life and reputation of the man he loves.

Andrew Waters: Born the son of an American in Vietnam, he is half Caucasian, half Chinese, and because he was schooled in a Buddhist boarding school, he is 100% pacifist.  Yet, when he is brought back to America after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, he reluctantly enlists in the Navy to serve his country. Because he is half Asian and Buddhist, he suffers discrimination from everybody aboard his ship, except his executive officer, Nathan Mitchell. This slim thread of acceptance from the officer grows into a full-blown and passionately felt love.

Nathan Mitchell: Raised on a ranch in New Mexico, Nathan is the executive officer of the USS Pilgrim, a destroyer during WWII. He takes a liking to this new kid, Andrew Waters, who quotes poets and philosophers, and is so radically different from the other crewmen. What starts as a desire to protect Andrew from racial discrimination grows into a personal relationship that will eventually save Nathan’s life, and stay in his heart until death takes him.

Hikaru Tottori:  Born to a Japanese family of military men, Tottori is the commandant of the brutal Changi POW camp on Singapore Island. He has been hardened by war, and craves the opportunity to lead men into battle, but has been assigned the job of babysitting prisoners of war. This is a man who values honor and pride above everything else. All is bleak for him until Andrew Waters is led into the camp. Tottoti, a gay man, is completely taken with the young prisoner, and makes a deal with Andrew to lure the boy into his bed.

Clifford Baldrich: Clifford is the son an English diplomat in SE Asia, and who was Andrew Water’s close friend in the Saigon boarding school. Clifford is gay, effeminate, and the sweetheart of almost every man in the POW camp. He is the closest thing the men have to a woman, and he loves the attention.

Joe Hudson: a sailor aboard the USS Pilgrim. He is a homophobic brute, and makes Andrew Water’s life a living hell until they both find themselves in the Changi POW camp. To survive the camp, Hudson and Andrew must help each other, becoming partners in crime.

Lieutenant Fowler: An officer in the British army, Fowler quickly becomes Andrew Water’s enemy. Once Fowler sees Andrew Waters getting special treatment from the commandant, he will stop at nothing to destroy Andrew. 

A Message to Myself

The book on the top of my review stack is called The Letter Q. It is a collection of letters from many lgbt authors, giving messages to their earlier selves (in the spirit of “It Gets Better”.) I’ve been looking forward to reading this book because there are quite a few tremendously talented writers who have contributed their thoughts. It should be fascinating.

Before I begin reading, however, I wanted to think about what kind of message I would like to have given my teenaged self. What would I want to change, what bit of wisdom would have helped me avoid the many hardships of my twenties, thirties, forties, and even fifties?

I am reminded of a quote from James Buckham: “Trials, temptations, disappointments -- all these are helps instead of hindrances, if one uses them rightly. They not only test the fibre of a character, but strengthen it. Every conquered temptation represents a new fund of moral energy. Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.”

So I think my message to my younger self would go along those lines: Set your moral compass toward something you believe in, and don’t let difficulty or public opinion or fear or any other damned thing sway you off that path. Don’t run from adversities, face them head on. Don’t shrink away from challenges where you might fail, jump in and fail if need be, for nothing is gained by not trying. Feel every disappointment right down to your bones, and learn from them, grow strong in the knowledge that you will overcome them. And above all, when you see ways to help others along their path, do so without needing or wanting anything in return. Be generous with others as well as with yourself.

Would that make a difference in how I lived my life? Probably not. In my teens, I didn’t listen to anyone over thirty….