A.M. Leibowitz

queer slice-of-life stories

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WIPpet Wednesday: I’m Baaaaack!

Fiction, Other Relationships, Writing

Work in Progress - 3DIt’s been about 6 weeks since my last WIPpet. I promised I would get back to it, and then I didn’t. A big reason is wanting to do the other WIPpeteers justice. If I can’t take the time to read them all, then I won’t post one because I don’t feel it’s a fair trade. Doing that once in a while is okay, but I knew with several editing projects and a book launch (yesterday!) it would be nearly impossible. I hope today marks the start of getting back to joining the fun!

Speaking of the book launch, Trevor and Andre are finally live. Anthem is now on Amazon! So far, it’s gotten some good attention. I did a cover reveal a couple of weeks ago and then a virtual book blast. I still like to admire the cover; the artist did such a nice job with what I asked for.Anthem1_1024x1024

On to this week’s WIP. Believe it or not, I’m still editing Cat’s story. I’m working on three other WIPs, but I’m not quite ready to post bits of them. The first is a short story I’m submitting to an anthology. I’m actually writing women this time! The second is the next book in the Notes from Boston series, and the third is a sequel to Passing on Faith (Walking by Faith is a prequel). Only the short story is actually in the writing stage—the others are still in research/planning mode.

When we last saw Cat, he was upset over an argument with Micah and remembering something from his past. WbF is primarily a prequel with a few flash-forwards to PoF. This is from the opening scene of the earlier time period. Cat is a 19yo college student.

WIPmath: 3/2 = 3 + 2 = 5 sentences

When Cat stepped onto the porch, Bryce tangled his fingers with Cat’s. He dragged Cat into his personal space, giving him a light kiss on the mouth. Sure, they’d kissed before, but never anything out where someone walking by could see. It was always just messing around in their rooms—nothing serious. Cat jerked back, startled.

Like what you read? Be sure to check out the other entries and add your own. Just post a bit of your WIP, connect it to the date, and link up with us. Many thanks to Emily Witt for giving us this space. Happy reading and writing!

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Bookseller Categories and the Challenge of Bisexual Fiction

Writing

I have complained for a long time about the way Amazon and other booksellers categorize content, but this particular thing has been bothering me even more lately. It’s not just booksellers—it’s also an issue with some review web sites and social media.

Before anyone starts thinking I’m just a bitter author who got lousy reviews, let me clear that up: The majority of my reviews are positive. In fact, judging by some of the more recent ones, people are looking for good bisexual content. I have nothing but love for the people who give their time to read my work, even if they hate it and even if they have plenty of criticism. So let me reinforce: Reviewers are often part of the solution, not the problem.

Okay, now that’s out of the way, I have a few things I want to spew onto the page.

The first—and biggest—issue is the limited options for publishers and authors to categorize books. Right now, there are three: A book can feature a male/female (m/f) relationship and be sent to Romance. It can feature a male/male relationship and be sent to Gay and Lesbian>>>Gay. Or it can feature a f/f relationship and be sent to Gay and Lesbian>>>Lesbian.

You see the issue there?

There is no bisexual category. At all. None.

Now, it could be argued that a bisexual love story should be sent to one of the other groupings based on the primary pairing. I would agree, roll my eyes at calling a relationship between two bisexual people “gay,” “lesbian,” or “straight,” snark about it to my bisexual friends, and move on. And it can still be tagged as bisexual regardless. Except that we get one teensy, tiny problem still lingering, and that has to do with reader expectations.

Once again, I need to make a clarifying statement. I see nothing wrong with reader preference. If someone really does not want to read any m/f action in their m/m or f/f, not even so much as a kiss, that’s personal taste. I’m not asking anyone to change their minds. But it sure would help us out if there were a way for authors to get across that we’re writing and selling specifically bisexual fiction in order for readers to make a more informed choice of books based on their preference. It would also be grand if it didn’t feel like those categories locked us into exclusivity of m/m and f/f. (Or m/m/m+ and f/f/f+, as the case may be.)

There have been a lot of discussions recently surrounding the inclusion of bisexual characters in m/m and whether or not avid m/m readers want it. I’ve found that for the most part, people do not care if your character identifies as bisexual. The range of feelings on it are anywhere from “Woo hoo, a bi guy!” to “Meh, but at least it’s an m/m romance.” It seems bisexual characters are accepted as long as any of the following are also true:

  • The primary relationship is between two or more cisgender men
  • The primary relationship is between a cisgender man and a genderqueer person with a penis
  • The primary relationship is between a cisgender man and a trans man who is presented to readers as very masculine
  • The primary relationship is between two men who also “share” a woman
  • There is no on-page sex involving a woman unless it’s a threesome
  • Any polyamorous relationship where a woman is included must be a threesome, whether or not there is on-page sex
  • The character identifies as Anything But Bi (because some people see this as magically transgressive and proof that the character is more “open-minded” than the “average” bisexual)

I’m not against any of those things, and I’ve written some of them.* But I find those expectations limiting, and I’ve also found that a number of people are still uninterested in bisexual characters even when there is no woman in sight or all relationships with women happen off-page or in the past. I recently saw one reader say she won’t read any book tagged with bisexual despite the fact that the vast majority of books with a bi character contain absolutely zero m/f interaction. I’ve seen others turn down bisexual books because they think they all contain threesomes.

It’s been said that the only thing needed to make a character bisexual is for the character to identify as such. This is absolutely true, but I’m finding more and more that I want books where the character’s bisexuality is an integral part of their personhood. I read a blog post recently while doing some research on a particular disability. The writer said that what distinguishes the book as not being tokenism is that you can’t replace the character with someone able-bodied and have the exact same story. This is what I want from my bisexual books—that the bi character cannot be replaced with a gay or lesbian character and have the story remain intact, in the same way I don’t want to read m/m where one of them could be replaced with a woman and have the same story.

That’s not to say I won’t read anything else. I like lgbtqia+ books of all sorts, so as long as it’s a story I find interesting and doesn’t contain horrible stereotypes of any sort, I’m a-ok with it. I fully recognize that I’m in a minority. Most readers want exclusively m/m or f/f. So what I’d like to see is a whole category just for us, for those of us who don’t wish to be confined to the limitations of “Gay and Lesbian” bookseller categories or m/m and f/f tag designations. I’d like to see more review sites open to taking books which feature a wider range of relationships. That would help me both as a reader, in choosing what I read, and as a writer, in marketing what I write.

What do you think? Should we have a specific designation for bisexual books? Or a way to communicate to readers that the story may not contain exclusive or “traditional” m/m or f/f relationships? I’d love to hear your ideas.

*I’m very fortunate to work with a publisher who gives me a HUGE amount of freedom and flexibility with my writing. I’m not limited to one kind of relationship, and thus far, I’ve also been allowed to include things certain publishers are reluctant to touch, such as religious themes, gender fluidity, non-menage polyamory, and bisexuality beyond merely mentioning the characters’ stated identity.

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Rainbow Snippets: Leap Day Weekend

Writing

Anthem1_1024x1024

I’m trying out something new! Joining up with other authors to post a weekend snippet of our work. You can check out the rest on the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. Be sure to leave them some love.

In honor of Anthem releasing in just a few days, here’s a little teaser:

He walked Trevor to the door, but before he opened it, Trevor turned around to face him. His lips moved like he wanted to say something, but all he did was stand there. He reached out his hand and put it on Andre’s arm, and Andre felt the slight tension and tremor. Making the decision for both of them, he leaned in. Trevor’s eyes drifted closed, and in the next minute, they were kissing. A bone-deep thrill raced through Andre’s whole body.

Happy almost-Leap Day. Enjoy your weekend!

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Book Tour: Finding His Home by Thianna Durston

Books

Author: Thianna Durston

Title: Finding His Home

Series: Men of Falcon Pointe

Book: Two (Can be read as a standalone)

Release Date: February 26, 2016

Pages or Words: 205 pages

Categories: BDSM, Contemporary, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/165152-men-of-falcon-pointe

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: Catt Ford

Sebastien Cather moves to Falcon Pointe with a dream to live life his way. Offered a room at 959 Brenton Street, he discovers how liberating it can feel to live among accepting people, especially when he quickly gains a boyfriend in Avery, a fellow student. Unfortunately Avery isn’t his first choice. His roommate David is fascinating and good-looking, and Bastien would do anything to have him–but he doesn’t think the attraction is returned.

Tensions rise as his roommates’ wedding is threatened and his present and past life clash. Outed by the national media, Bastien is sure he will never be able to return home again. Just as he’s sure he can’t handle any more stress, David let’s him know of his interest. Bastien slowly makes his way forward, trying to find firm footing in the minefield that is his life. But when his landlord makes an announcement about the future of the house, it may change all of his dreams.*

Dreamspinner eBook: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7444

Dreamspinner Paperback: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7445

 

Thianna Durston is a writer by day and supernova by night. Or at least that’s what the faeries tell her. And who is she to deny those pesky *cough* lovely little creatures?

She lives in the Pacific Northwest, though her heart belongs elsewhere. In the meantime, until she can return to the place she calls home, she happily lives in a city that still thinks it’s a small town. Thankfully, it has given her muse lots of amusing places to start a story.

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/ThiannaDurstonAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThiannaDurston

Website: http://mm.thiannad.com/

Parker Williams, The Hat Party, BFD Book Blog, Bonkers About Books, Boys on the Brink Reviews, Divine Magazine, Bayou Book Junkie, Jessie G. Books, My Fiction Nook, Open Skye Book Reviews, Happily Ever Chapter, A.M. Leibowitz, Full Moon Dreaming, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Unquietly Me, Book Lovers 4Ever, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, MM Good Book Reviews, Andrew Q. Gordon, Alpha Book Club, Nephy Hart, Havan Fellows, Mikky’s World of Books, Inked Rainbow Reads, Molly Lolly, Let’s Get Ready To Romance, Emotion In Motion, Velvet Panic

Rafflecopter Prize: $5.00 Amazon gift card

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*Note: This book contains theories regarding gender and sexual orientation which are not endorsed by this blog.

 

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Book Tour: Speakeasy by Suzey Ingold

Books

Author: Suzey Ingold

Book Name: Speakeasy

Release Date: February 18, 2016

Pages or Words: 244 pages

Categories: Gay fiction, Historical, M/M Romance, Romance

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/suzeysays

Publisher: Interlude Press

Cover Artist: Cover Art by Colin Moore; Cover design by C.B. Messer

In the height of the Prohibition era, recent Yale graduate Heath Johnson falls for Art, the proprietor of a unique speakeasy tucked away beneath the streets of Manhattan where men are free to explore their sexuality. When Art’s sanctuary is raided, Heath is forced to choose between love and the structured life his parents planned for him.

Paperback: http://amzn.to/1mGtvXF

Heath swallows, playing over an idea that had formed shakily in his head after he saw Frankie, since Art walked through that door and possibly longer without him being fully conscious of it. “Maybe it’s time I was honest. Tell them that I don’t want to marry Ginny or work with my father. Let the pieces fall where they may.”

“You would do that?”

“If it meant being with you, I would do anything.” Heath sits up and the sheets fall to pool around his waist. “I know what I want, now. And it’s you and whatever a future with you brings.”

Suzey Ingold is a writer, linguist and coffee addict, currently based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Brought up in a household where children’s books are quoted over the dinner table, literature has always had a strong influence on her life. She enjoys traveling, scented candles and brunch. Her short story, “The Willow Weeps for Us,” was included in “Summer Love: An LGBTQ Collection,” published by Duet, an imprint of Interlude Press (2015).

Homepage: www.suzeysays.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/suzeysays

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzeysays/

Today I’m welcoming Suzey Ingold to chat about writing, life, and their current project. Welcome! Let’s talk a little about Speakeasy.

What inspired you to write this story?

I’ve always loved the 1920s and the Jazz Age in New York City, and it’s something I’ve wanted to write about for a long time. But Speakeasy really came to life from Heath, who started forming in my head before I had any idea where the story was going to go.

Is there a character you feel especially connected to? Why?

I do feel a strong connection with Heath. He’s living a life that is not quite his own: going along with the wishes of his parents’ and what they want for him, even if it’s not necessarily what he wants. There have been times in my life when I’ve let my parents guide me because I haven’t known what I wanted or needed from life, and it’s a really tough cycle to get out of.

What was the hardest part of writing this?

Usually I find starting any project the hardest but with this one it was actually an entirely unpredictable incident. Back in April 2015, I fractured my toe completely by accident and it led to me being housebound and almost immobile for a couple of weeks. That’s not that long, really, but I’d never had an injury like that and being stuck in one place unable to even really go outside affected my mood quite badly. That was right when I was in the midst of writing and, even though it would have been the perfect opportunity to write, I just couldn’t because I was so miserable. It was really tough getting back into it after that period of time.

Choose a favorite line or short passage. What do you like about it?

Art turns Heath until his hands rest at the small of his back as he pulls him into his chest. “Cash,” he whispers, the tip of his nose nudging against Heath’s. “Or check?”

“Cash,” Heath replies without a moment’s hesitation. He stands on his toes as he joins their lips with his heart beating so loudly he’s sure that Art must be able to hear it in the quiet of the subway station.

In researching this book, I found out about a whole lot of Jazz Age slang—most of which has fallen out of use today, although some still remain in other contexts. One of my absolute favorite ones was “cash or check?” which means “will we kiss now or later?” I used it several times in my book in the build up of Art and Heath’s relationship and I really love the romantic,’20s feel of it.

Tell us a little about any upcoming projects.

I’m currently about to start work on a contemporary short story set in London—so I’m coming back home after spending so much time (mentally) in New York writing Speakeasy! I can’t really say much more right now but I’m really excited about it and it’s giving me the opportunity to write about something I’ve wanted to for a while now…

How do you choose names for your characters?

Choosing names is one of the things I find really hard, because a lot of really good names I wouldn’t use because they might remind me of someone I know or once knew! For Speakeasy in particular, one of the things I did was find lists of popular baby names from certain years and try and find ones that I thought suited the kind of characters I had in mind. Some names got changed during the writing process: Amelia was originally Juliet, and Alfie was originally Oliver.

Where do you look for inspiration for new stories?

I wouldn’t say I look for inspiration in one particular place—I try to be open to the possibility of taking anything as an idea or inspiration. I’ll often write down random little things I see in my day-to-day life: anything that draws my attention, or makes me laugh, or makes me think. These might become entire stories in my head, or they might become little anecdotes in a larger story. For example, one time, I was on the tube in London, and a pigeon walked into my carriage and rode very calmly to the next stop and then walked off. I don’t know what I’ll do with that (if anything) but it was too entertaining not to make note of.

What else do you use to immerse yourself in the story (music, visuals, etc.)?

Music is my number one resource: for Speakeasy, I listened to a lot of jazz and swing and also more modern electroswing while I was writing. I’ll also try and read other books in that genre or set in that period, or watch films. During the summer, when I was in the process of editing Speakeasy, I was reading a collection of Fitzgerald’s short stories, to try and keep my head in the Jazz Age era.

Word Sprints!

Coffee or tea? Coffee is my life source.

Cats or dogs? Cats—we have all the same favorite activities.

What’s a charity/cause you support? Mind, a British mental health charity.

Do you have any body art? Five tattoos and a nose ring (much to my mother’s distaste!)

As a kid, were you a Goody-Goody or a Wild Child? Such a Goody-Goody; still am, a bit.

18-Feb Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Love Bytes, Kirsty Loves Books, Hearts on Fire

19-Feb Prism Book Alliance, Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance, Nephy Hart, Kiki’s Kinky Picks, Inked Rainbow Reads

22-Feb Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, 3 Chicks After Dark, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, Book Reviews and More by Kathy

23-Feb Unquietly Me, My Fiction Nook, Havan Fellows, The Hat Party

24-Feb Dawn’s Reading Nook, Divine Magazine, Bayou Book Junkie

25-Feb V’s Reads, Lee Brazil, MM Good Book Reviews

26-Feb A.M. Leibowitz, Boys on the Brink Reviews

28-Feb Molly Lolly, Jessie G. Books

29-Feb Happily Ever Chapter, BFD Book Blog

1-Mar Three Books Over The Rainbow, Up All Night, Read All Day

2-Mar Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Alpha Book Club, Cathy Brockman Romances

Rafflecopter Prize: $25 IP Web Store Gift Card Grand Prize + 5 eBook editions of Speakeasy to randomly-drawn winners

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Featured Book: Chosen by Jennifer Ortiz

Books, Guest Post

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Check out more information on #IABBAddicts here
Join us every Thursday for IABB #Confessions
ABOUT THE BOOK

 

Author: Jennifer Ortiz

Title: Chosen

Series: The Chosen Chronicles, #1

Pages: 275

Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance

Date published: January 8, 2015Synopsis:

 
 
 

Cal Reynolds has always been special. He comes from a long line of Hunters – a group of humans gifted with exceptional strength, speed, and magical ability. The Hunters’ purpose is to protect the world from demons from the Underworld. But even among this select group, Cal stands out. 

When his strained relationship with his father causes Cal to leave the Hunters, a series of events is set in motion that causes him to discover secrets about himself, his family, and his future that he could never have imagined. In the midst of trying to decipher the pieces left from this chaos, Cal reconnects with Gabrielle Morgan, the only girl he’s ever loved, after a nearly seven year estrangement. 

But Cal is Chosen – and that has far reaching ramifications, not only on himself but on those he loves as well. When Cal is faced with the ultimate deception, he begins to realize that he will need to choose where his loyalties, and his love, lie…and the seduction of darkness is almost overwhelmingly alluring…

AMAZON // GOODREADS

I was probably going to die.I really shouldn’t be surprised. After all, when you hunted evil, supernatural creatures, getting killed was sort of an occupational hazard. But I was good at what I did – really good. And I figured I was still going to die.I watched the Abassy, an iron-toothed man-eating demon, approach riding a dragon. The Abassy was seriously tough shit…and it only had one arm, one eye, and one leg. To make matters worse, its mount was a two-headed, eight-legged, two-tailed dragon. These things were supposed to solely be creatures of the Underworld so how the hell they had gotten out, I had no idea. I had been trying to banish them back, which, despite how powerful the Abassy was, should have been fairly simple. Only what should have been a pretty quick mystical banishment had turned into an all-out clusterfuck of a fight. I laid in the dirt that was slowly being turned to mud, courtesy of all the blood seeping out of my way-too-many wounds. I knew I was in bad shape when I tried to lift my left arm and couldn’t feel anything on that entire side of my body. Breathing slowly in and out, I focused on the sweet musk of the earth all around me and ignored the prevalent metallic twang of all the blood (MY blood) that was every-freaking-where. Forcing myself to stand up…or at least stand hunched over, I decided to wait for the Abassy to make a move rather than expend energy in chasing it.Clearly I had caused some injury to the Abassy and its dragon since I could see that they limped towards me but, even with my enhanced vision, between the pitch black of the night and the dark skin of the creatures I couldn’t see any obvious wound. I figured I had one decent attack left before my body just completely gave up. My right hand gripped the banishment crystal and I willed my left hand to curl around my dagger. The crystal was going to have to do most of the work so my best hope was to distract with the weapon – thankfully I’d had a semblance of foresight to bring an enchanted blade along, which should sting the Abassy even more, provided I could make direct contact.The Abassy stopped and we engaged in a Western-movie-type stare down. For a nanosecond, I almost felt like John Wayne. But before I had time to blink, it rushed at me. I didn’t think, I didn’t breathe. I stabbed blindly with my dagger hand and slid my right hand up towards the Abassy’s chest, underneath the Abassy’s stretched out arm, while twisting my body to avoid the dragon. Searing, jolting pain shot through my body as the Abassy’s dragon clamped down on my right leg with two of its own. I heard muscle rip and felt bones snap. My world started to go dark – even I couldn’t stay conscious after the vicious ass-kicking I had received.

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