More Male Stories Need To Be Told In Literature

This is something that has been on my mind for a long time now. As a writer, I can't help but think about this subject on a daily basis. Now that I am working on my own projects, this is beginning to come up in my head surreptitiously.


Aside from going to cafes and beach houses, I love going to libraries. I love walking around, seeing constant pieces of literature hanging on the shelves. From one writer to the another, it's just amazing see the work of numerous writers. It's not just something great to look at, but it's also a reminder for myself. It reminds me everyday of who I am and what I want to see in the future. I'm still waiting for that day to come when I see my first published book on a shelf somewhere. It just gives me happiness mentioning something like this.


However, one thing appears to always disappoint me. When I look at a shelf, I'm always looking for a real male story. Everyone knows what I'm talking about. The book where it takes on the everyday life of the everyday man. A male oriented dramedy or romantic comedy with a male protagonist carrying the story to the last page. I know they are there, but it's being overpopulated by female protagonists and stories by 98% when it comes to telling those kinds of stories.


The only time I see these male characters is when I find them in detective, thriller, and horror novels. Even though that is amazing, it's still kind of putting our male characters in a bubble. We have to show that men are not just strong built, brave, and gutsy men who knows how to take control of the situation. We have to show that men go through their everyday lives just like a woman. Some of them are fun. Some of them are heart wrenching. Some can be both. We have to show that men has feelings too. We can laugh, cry, hate, love, and every other emotion just like women.


I have nothing but love and respect for female writers. I love all of their stories and the strong females they've created. I can sit in bed and read a book by Emily Giffin, Marian Keyes, Jennifer Weiner, Kristin Hannah, Candace Bushnell, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sophie Kinsella all over again, and still love them the same way. Everyone that knows me is aware that I love romantic comedies. But as a man, I'm looking for the stories I see when it comes to my life. I want to see a buddy story with two men. I want to see literature become more masculine.


As a writer, I want to walk into a library where I see my stories being displayed. Either written by me or another writer, I hope to see it real soon.

Arts.Advocacy+Wellness: "Lee Hayes: THE BAD SEED"

NOW AVAILABLE:

The Bad Seed

Hello Future Fans,

So I just received some great news about a book release from my dear friend Lee Hayes. I would like to share Lee's note with you all today:

Dear Friends,

At long last, The Bad Seed is here! I want you to share my excitement. This novel is a hot, sticky and fast-paced summer read that is sure to get your pulse racing!

Help me send this book to the top of the NY Times Bestseller's list by purchasing a copy and forwarding this email to everyone you know and encouraging them purchase a copy or two!

Click the link below to purchase your autographed copy from me!

Sincerely,

Lee Hayes

"Lee Hayes has done a remarkable job, once again, of bringing vivid, powerful characters to life in The Bad Seed."

- ZANE, NY Times bestselling author

BUY THE BAD SEED

click here

"A dangerously vivid story of love, lust, sex and lies. I was so shocked by the boldness of the characters; had me looking behind closed doors and uttering to myself. Wow!"

- Tina Brooks McKinney, author of Snapped and

Deep Deception

Literary Review: "Love Yourself First"

Every so often, I come across a book that I describe as a good "train book". That's a book like black, gay author Delvon Johnson's debut novel, Love Yourself First. It's a smart, funny, fast-paced story that just might cause you to become so engrossed in its drama, that you miss your station on your way home. Set in the high-stakes, fabulous fashion world, the story centers on executive Dwight Jones, who has teamed up with his best friend, Issiah, to open up their own fashion-consulting agency, Vondel. As the business partners chase their dreams among the glitterati of fashiondom, they meet shoe designer Joan Marks, an ambitious career woman looking to stake her claim to high society and fashion. Seeing opportunity in Dwight's consulting business, she signs on with Vondel and sets her sights on fame and wealth, regardless of cost or ruined lives. Along the way, we meet other memorable characters such as Joan's fiancee Ron, who is set to marry her, but his head and his heart differ sharply on who he wants to share his future with, and Corey, who adds love and passion to Dwight's busy life.



Delvon Johnson credits the late, iconic writer E. Lynn Harris as one of his literary influences, and he sees himself as fulfilling the legacy Harris left behind for gay authors of color. Johnson hosted a Gala tribute to E. Lynn Harris last month, in which he reaffirmed his commitment to Harris' vision and works. Looking forward to the future, Johnson strives to continue the advancement of the black gay genre, to which Love Yourself First is a worthy addition. The story deals with some up-to-the-minute slices of life in the gay world, including the controversial "down-low" issue, violence among and against gay men, jealousy, and the complexities of dealing with one's own sexuality and self-acceptance. Johnson reveals the glittering, but treacherous, world of high fashion, and shows us how some people will ruthlessly crush and claw their way to the top of the industry--then suddenly realize their avarice has a heavy price.



Another aspect of Johnson's book which brought a smile to my face, were the scenes from well-known places in NYC's famous Greenwich Village. Such familiar spots as Chi-Chiz and dining favorite Manatus give authenticity and local flavor to Love Yourself First. There are some hysterically funny moments in this book, and Johnson makes the most of them. Like all good gay-genre stories, drama abounds as the divas get crazy and the fashionistas becoime fierce. There are also some very tender, human moments which give Johnson's characters depth and meaning. His exploration of the complexities we often face in our relationships as gay men is telling, yet honest. I give this first novel by a promising young author four stars. A sequel is in the works, according to Johnson, but Love Yourself First will be a tough act to follow. It's available on Author House and at Amazon.

Winter

The sun hangs low over the horizon,
The wind resists our forward passage over snow-covered streets,
Still we press on, you and me, past sparkling ice-covered trees,
Down frozen avenues, in the gathering twilight.

We hurry past the foggy storefronts, ignore the hissing cars as they wheel through the slush,
For though the night brings deeper cold, we feel no chill,
Because we are together.
The holiday lights twinkle as the sun slips away,
our house beckons us still, ever nearer,
as finally we reach our own doorstep.

Casting off the garb of the darker months, we settle in by the fireplace with summer's sweet wine,
Flickers of the fleeting day dance across our faces,
and as if defying the ice and snow outside,
you take me into your embrace.

The wonder of a spring morning fills me as you follow the line of my face with your fingers, and I caress your strong, hard musculature,
I let my robe fall away as though on a tropical beach,
ever closer to you, no fire hotter than the one you bring forth inside me.
No wind, no storm, no depth of snow,
can take me from you now...

Still we press on,
Exploring each other,
as the wind moans and the snow falls outside,
In this dark, cold winter, we are warm, and safe,
We are together in love.

The sun rises low over the horizon...

Censorship Of Gay Art And Literature: Unacceptable!

In recent months, largely unnoticed by the "mainstream media" or the public at large, there has been a disturbing trend towards censorship of gay art and literature, both in the United States and across the globe. Suppression of gay artistic and literary expression is nothing new. Lately, however, the specter of "acceptable standards" for art and literature has reared its ugly head once more, this time with renewed venom. Consider the Web marketing giant Amazon, whose book division was caught earlier this year quietly de-ranking every LGBT book in its catalog, while leaving straight eotic or romantic titles alone. When Amazon was called out on this by gay and lesbian authors and artists, they blamed a "glitch" in their system for the abrupt change. Of course, the "glitch" was working just fine, thank you.



In addition to the attempts at silencing gay and lesbian authors, the works of gay artists have also been quashed. Witness, for example, the closing of an art exhibit at Brigham Young University. The project, by a local photographer, consisted of pairs of (fully clothed) pictures of men, side by side. One was gay, the other straight. The exhibit (and the artist) won't tell you which is which, hence the theme and the challenge of the exhibit. This was too "unacceptable" for the Salt Lake City Mormon community, which promptly had the exhibit shut down.



As more and more homophobic people, organizations, and government agencies continue to appoint themselves the arbiters of what is "correct" and "acceptable" in art and literature, it's perhaps well to remember where that slippery slope leads to. In 1933, shortly after Adolf Hitler came to power, his Nazi regime began the full-time, wholesale burning of books considered "politically dangerous", as well as those written by Jewish and gay authors. This was merely prologue to the cultural "cleansing" of paintings and sculpture, more book burnings, and finally, the systematic executions of fifteen million human beings. We in the 21st century can scarcely imagine willingly following a government which engaged in these atrocities. Yet, 60 million Germans followed Hitler, and co-signed his policies of censorship and murder. It still happens in modern times, particularly in countries where draconian laws against homosexuality still exist.



It was anti-gay legislation that ultimately led to the demise of Provocateur Magazine, a showcase of gay erotic and classical artistic photography. During the early '90s, the magazine was circulated at newsstands and bookstores nationwide, until local bigots began complaining. Although "straight porn" magazines could be openly displayed on magazine stands, Provocateur drew fire from conservatives for its cover images of scantily-clad men. Citing "decency" and local anti-gay laws, they succeeded in getting the magazine pulled from shelves everywhere. Never mind that "fitness" magazines with shirtless men such as Exercise and For Men Only continued to be sold, Provocateur was relentlessly hounded by self-appointed judges of "acceptable" art. While the editors repeatedly stated their magazine was protected by the First Amendment, it didn't prevent widespread censorship of Provocateur from eventually killing the magazine. This is what we still face today in the LGBT community. So the next time you hear someone say "that's dangerous artwork", or "that book is inappropriate", run, do not walk, to get that book or see that artwork, because if they don't want you to see or read it, you should!

Your (Literary) Entree!

I made myself quite busy,
Preparing your literary delicacy
I had purchased the choicest noun cutlets,
tossed up a mean verb salad,
and braised the adjective slices to the peak of their quiescent flavor.

Hurrying to get the alliteration soup just right,
I threw the onomatopoeia chips together with the pronoun fritters.
Then I whipped up some metaphor stew to balance the meal out,
garnishing it with oxymoron tails and double-entendre sauce.

After all this cutting, and chopping, and brioling and frying,
After all this steaming and basting and simmering,
(No potboilers for me...this was going to be a gourmet banquet)
I finally emerged from my keyboard kitchen with my piece de resistance...

My story, cooked up just for you!

Enjoy.

SGL Men Of Color In Modern Gay Literature

As we go from a too-short summer into the transition of autumn, it's a good time to pause and take a look at some of the black gay literary voices which are shaping American literature today. SGL men of color have always been a powerful force in American writing, in every genre and style. The richness of their words and the passion of their stories defines us as a culture. The writings of such giants as James Baldwin and Langston Hughes awakened the world to the struggles of people of color in the mid-to-late 20th century. They found expression through their words, as gay men, people of color, and as artists enriching the American experience.


Writers like Baldwin, Hughes, Robeson and Rustin also set the stage for later gay writers, who revolutionized the gay-lit genre. The first modern black gay author to gain widespread acclaim was Everette Lynn Harris, whose first book, Invisible Life, taught American publishers about the possibilities of gay literature. Harris created plausible, human gay characters, and raised awareness in "Mainstream America" about some of the issues gay men face in their lives and relationships.



Following the runaway success of Invisible Life, Harris went on to author eleven more novels, eight of which made the New York Times bestseller list. At the time of his unfortunate death this past summer, Mr. Harris was about to option his first novel with Tracy Edmonds as a Hollywood movie. He is widely considered to be one of the "gateway authors" of modern gay literature.



Another "gateway author" in the company of E. Lynn Harris, is James Earl Hardy, well-known as the man behind the phenomenal B-Boy Blues series of novels. Hardy is an unabashed proponent of the edgy, uncompromising prose style so familiar in gay literature today. With this groundbreaking body of work, Hardy explored in depth the dynamics of relationships among gays of color. His writings continue to enjoy accolades from readers all over the country, who often credit Hardy with giving a voice to their feelings. Gay lit often finds an intersection between sexuality, life, and social commentary. The myriad issues of gay life, social conflict, and the challenges peculiar to gay men of color has given rise to the works of prominent individuals who have helped shape the ongoing discourse on gay life in the 21st century.

Where real-life issues and gay black men meet, you'll often find writers like Keith Boykin, who served in President Clinton's cabinet, and currently comments on items of the day for both MSNBC and CNN. In his current-affairs book, Beyond The Down Low, Boykin took a hard look at closted gay men who live double lives, for fear their sexuality will result in their ostracism from society. During the years Boykin was an active, vocal advocate for the LGBT community, his writings challenged people to re-examine their attitudes towards gays and lesbians with sober, fearless prose. Courage is almost a prerequisite for gay authors, and this is especially true when you're a gay pastor. The division between gays, lesbians and their churches is a long, sad litany of hatred and bigotry perpetrated in the name of God. Reverend Kevin E. Taylor, pastor of the Unity Fellowship Church of New Brunswick (UFCNB), is such a courageous man. With his works, Jaded and Uncluttered, Rev. Taylor comes upon us to let the world know that God does not hate His chikdren, gay or lesbian though they might be. Without apology, Rev. Taylor shows us that we are all welcome under God's roof, statements to the contrary from less enlightened churches and clergy notwithstanding. Taylor teaches us to accept ourselves and our fellows, even in matters at the heart of the gay experience, the way we express love and sexuality.




Gay love and sexuality are the defining attributes of our community, and it is to these concepts that our literature most often speaks. We live, we love, and we share our intense passions in our stories. Bringing our sexuality to life is the province of authors who write gay erotica, one of the most challenging areas of the gay genre. Erotica deals with, as its name implies, the sexual aspect of relationships between people. Sexuality is inextricably linked to gay life, and erotica in gay literature is an important expression of who we, as a community, are. Explorers of gay erotica, such as Taylor Siluwe (Dancing With The Devil, Best Gay Erotica '08), Lee Hayes(Passion Marks, A Deeper Blue, The Messiah, Flesh To Flesh Anthology), and Stanley Bennett Clay (Looker, In Search Of Pretty Young Black Men), each bring out the beauty, wonder, and delight of our love lives in fine form and substance.



Sometimes, social issues find their way into erotic writing, as Nathan James reminds us in The Devil's Details, which combines the unbridled passions of its characters with a strong statement on the absurdity of hatred.

In every way, all of our contemporary gay writers of color describe our world with joy and clarity. Modern American literature is enhanced by the addition of the gay genre, and all who set pen to paper today stand on the shoulders of giants, and strive to reach even higher levels of expression tomorrow. Get to know them as autumn becomes winter, and the time to curl up with a few good books draws nigh.