What Writing LGBTQ Means to Me

For the Rainbow Book Reviews Blog Hop, I’ve been asked to write about what writing GLBTQ literature means to me… and I had to think really hard about that. I write because I love writing, but what about writing in this genre makes that special? 

For this blog hop, I will be giving away a winner’s choice of either a copy of my just released M/M fantasy novella, Sorcerer’s Knot, or a copy of M/F romance novel Captive Heart, or a $10 Amazon gift card. The winner will be chosen by a random drawing. All it takes to enter is to follow this blog and leave a comment at the bottom of this post with an email address so I can contact you if you win. Commenting also enters you for the Grand Prize offered by Rainbow Book Reviews. Visit here to find all the wonderful blogs you can visit. 

As for why I write M/M fantasy…

I yearn to explore worlds that embrace all gender identities and exclude none.

I love building stories around strong, sexy gay characters for which the first word used to describe them isn’t a reference to their gender preference.

I strive to write characters who grapple with important issues that challenge their gender identity and come to terms with these issues: having strong devotion to a religion that’s hostile to their orientation, for example, or wanting to please a parent who disapproves, or being seen as somehow flawed and imperfect by others. I want to show characters finding ways to integrate all parts of who they are.

I believe in writing rounded, complex heroes who strive to be noble and fight fiercely for the people and values they love—worthy love interests for any romance. I want to show them having passionate lives.

I love giving gay males adventures, histories, challenges, and intense plot lines that exist outside of their sexual orientation or relationship. They are full participants in the stories that surround them.

I use the creative flexibility of fantasy to build societies in which gay unions are not only possible but considered positive, recognized openly, and afford benefits to their societies and those around them.

I have the opportunity to celebrate all the ways a person might desire to befriend, have sex with, love, adore, despise, or revile a person of any gender or identity. My characters’ options are wide open. They’re not locked into the tug of war that accompanies traditional representations of male and female sexuality.

So there you have it!

Remember to join this blog, and leave a comment and an email for the prize. Or leave a comment without an email if you just want to say hi!