Keeping the Faith

Happy Saturday! My big kid is off at yet another performance, Music in the Parks. He’ll be singing with his high school choir and playing with the symphonic and jazz bands. If you follow me on Twitter, my pinned tweet is a short clip of one of his solos.

I’m still sharing from Keeping the Faith, a finalist in the 2018 Bisexual Book Awards. Last time, I posted a scene of happy domestic chaos. This one is a little sadder. Edited for length, but still over the 6 sentences by a bit.

“… Everything all right?” [Reid] leaned in and said more quietly, “You need to come over later and let us take care of you?”

Micah flushed a little, remembering the first time. He still felt guilty. The day after Cat’s funeral, Micah had spent his time in bed, sobbing uncontrollably but refusing to call anyone. Reid had come to check up on him and brought him back to his house. He and his partners had looked after Micah for a few days, which included a lot of intimate touch and sex. The guilt was less over allowing them to care for him and more about how much he’d wanted it.

Rainbow Snippets is a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ authors, readers, and bloggers to share 6 sentences each week from a work of fiction—published or in-progress—or a book recommendation. Feel free to join in!

Happy Saturday! It’s been quite a week. Today wasn’t so bad, but earlier in the week was a bit rough. I had to make a decision to stop accepting books for reviews. It’s not one I made lightly; it’s been a while in coming. It was using too many spoons, which I need for family stuff and to put more effort into actually writing.

Speaking of which, this week’s snippet follows directly from last week’s. Chris, the minister at one of the local churches, has come to see Micah—who is confused in part because he’s not at all religious himself, though his late spouse was. Here, Chris explains why.

“We can go to my classroom,” Micah suggested.

They wound their way back to the sixth grade wing of the elementary school to Micah’s room. Inside, he offered Chris a seat at a long table then sat across from him.

“Now. What can I do for you?” Micah asked.

“I’m one of the lead volunteers on the community center’s continuing education program. I got a call from another leader that you might be interested in helping us out.”

Rainbow Snippets is a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ authors, readers, and bloggers to share 6 sentences each week from a work of fiction—published or in-progress—or a book recommendation. Feel free to join in!

Happy Saturday! I’m enjoying my vacation and some much-needed rest after last week’s three shows. The musical went off without a hitch, though my poor younger child missed the first show due to a severe sore throat. They’ve already started rehearsals for Big Fish, the February main stage show.

This week’s snippet follows directly from last week’s. Chris has come to see Micah at the school where Micah teaches. He’s introduced himself as a minister at the local multi-denominational church. (For those familiar with the series, the church made a brief appearance in both previous novels. Micah jokingly called it “gay church.”)

“Oh. Uh…oh,” was all Micah managed. That had been Cat’s church. He took several breaths to steady himself. Chris looked vaguely familiar, but Micah couldn’t be sure; he’d only been to church with Cat a handful of times, and he hadn’t gone at all after Cat’s funeral.

“I’m sorry. I assumed this would be the best way to find you. I’m still getting reacquainted with life in a small town after living in the city for so long.” Chris smiled.

“No problem. You’re right, this is probably easier than showing up on my doorstep.” Micah let out a shaky laugh.

Chris chuckled too. “Right. Well, I was hoping to talk to you for a moment.”

Rainbow Snippets is a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ authors, readers, and bloggers to share 6 sentences each week from a work of fiction—published or in-progress—or a book recommendation. Feel free to join in!

Well, today is the Big Day. My kids are relaxing and getting ready for three performances of High School Musical Jr. This is my older one’s last junior show. *sniff* My poor younger kid has had a cold and her voice is pretty rough today. Hoping to soothe her throat by keeping her well hydrated.

I’m skipping ahead from last week to Micah’s meeting with another new friend. I may go back to Jude later, but as this was Trans Awareness Week, we’ve been asked to post about a trans character. Micah is not, but the person he’s about to meet is. Bit longer than 6 sentences for clarity.

Out in the main foyer, a short, bald man in business casual attire was talking with the secretary. As Micah approached, he noticed the man wasn’t entirely bald after all—only on top, and he’d shaved everything else. He turned around and looked at Micah, his earrings winking in the foyer’s fluorescent lights.

“Mr. Forbes, right?” he asked.

“Uh…yes. You can call me Micah. And you are?” Micah approached and extended a hand.

“Chris Sharpe. I’m the associate pastor at the non-denominational church on the north end of town—Unity.”

Rainbow Snippets is a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ authors, readers, and bloggers to share 6 sentences each week from a work of fiction—published or in-progress—or a book recommendation. Feel free to join in!