The Rainbow Awards: The Jury

Sooo, many of you were waiting to know, weren't you? Who is in the Jury of the Rainbow Awards? Who will have the hard task to decide who is the all together Winner of the first Rainbow Awards? Remember the Jury will have to read all the finalists (first book in each category from the popularity contest) AND to nominate and read the books that the jury itself deemed worthy to be included in Phase 4. The Jury can choose books among the books people are still voting, but also bring on some lost pearls, books who hadn't the chance to reach a wider audience. The Jury has to confirm or correct the aim of the popularity contest.



To do so the Jury is various, women, men, of various experiences and interests. They are from all over the world, young and mature, writers, readers and/or reviewers. There are skilled jurors from previous literary contest, or new readers who want to help in choosing the best LGBT book of 2009. There is who told me, "At 70 I find I am less and less interested in erotica, unless it is part of a strong storyline" (guess who was?), and other who told me " I love poetry and classical music", or "I love shapeshifter and alpha males". As you can see they are an interesting bunch of people, and they are way more diligent of the jury above (and also prettier ;-) ). I love them all, so, please, come meet "my" Jury (in alphabetical order):

( Alan Chin )

( Amie Love )

( Amos Lassen )

( Anna Birmingham )

( Antonella )

( Arch )

( Benjamin )

( Bethann Korsmit )

( Bobby D. Whitney )

( Bobby Michaels )

( Bruce Sterling )

( Carey Parrish )

( Christopher Olson )

( Craig Burke )

( Erotic Horizon )

( Eve )

( Eve Birch )

( Jane Ellsworth )

( Jay Hartman )

( Jem )

( Jenre )

( Jessica (Justacat) )

( Jessica Goeller )

( Joan Timberlake )

( Josh Lanyon )

( Lee Rowan )

( Lia )

( Lyne )

( Nem )

( Nicky )

( Rbm00 )

( Rose )

( Rosemary DuBose )

( Ryan Field )

( Victor J. Banis )

( X )

So, is it or not a wonderful Jury? sorry if I sound like a mother with her children, but I'm very proud of them. Wish them good work!

The Rainbow Awards: The Jury

Sooo, many of you were waiting to know, weren't you? Who is in the Jury of the Rainbow Awards? Who will have the hard task to decide who is the all together Winner of the first Rainbow Awards? Remember the Jury will have to read all the finalists (first book in each category from the popularity contest) AND to nominate and read the books that the jury itself deemed worthy to be included in Phase 4. The Jury can choose books among the books people are still voting, but also bring on some lost pearls, books who hadn't the chance to reach a wider audience. The Jury has to confirm or correct the aim of the popularity contest.



To do so the Jury is various, women, men, of various experiences and interests. They are from all over the world, young and mature, writers, readers and/or reviewers. There are skilled jurors from previous literary contest, or new readers who want to help in choosing the best LGBT book of 2009. There is who told me, "At 70 I find I am less and less interested in erotica, unless it is part of a strong storyline" (guess who was?), and other who told me " I love poetry and classical music", or "I love shapeshifter and alpha males". As you can see they are an interesting bunch of people, and they are way more diligent of the jury above (and also prettier ;-) ). I love them all, so, please, come meet "my" Jury (in alphabetical order):

( Alan Chin )

( Amie Love )

( Amos Lassen )

( Anna Birmingham )

( Antonella )

( Arch )

( Benjamin )

( Bethann Korsmit )

( Bobby D. Whitney )

( Bobby Michaels )

( Bruce Sterling )

( Carey Parrish )

( Christopher Olson )

( Craig Burke )

( Erotic Horizon )

( Eve )

( Eve Birch )

( Jane Ellsworth )

( Jay Hartman )

( Jem )

( Jenre )

( Jessica (Justacat) )

( Jessica Goeller )

( Joan Timberlake )

( Josh Lanyon )

( Lee Rowan )

( Lia )

( Lyne )

( Nem )

( Nicky )

( Rbm00 )

( Rose )

( Rosemary DuBose )

( Ryan Field )

( Victor J. Banis )

( X )

So, is it or not a wonderful Jury? sorry if I sound like a mother with her children, but I'm very proud of them. Wish them good work!

Smolder (Screen Shots 2) by Willa Okati

The first story in the Screen Shots series was nice, kinda sweet if you consider the setting, a porn movie company that sells online video. The basic concept is that 20SomethingTwinks is a family company, the two owner, Katherine and Thom are more interesting in having a friendly and comfortable working environment than doing money, and they want for their boys to be pretty sure of the step they are taking... quite an utopia, but it's nice to dream that it exists. And then there are the boys, all young men, most of them just out of college, till now all of them in needing of an easy and fast way to raise the money they need to survive out alone in the big bad world. This is probably the only real thing that makes an appearance in this novella series, these boys are doing that since they need money, they are lucky enough to like what they have to do, and that they are doing it in a nice environment. Plus all the boys share a friends with benefits bond, in and out the set, but some of them have a special bond, a bond that follows them at home.

This time is the time of Brandon, a newbie of the porn movie industry, but really a newbie at everything, even if it's not clearly said, I think he is a virgin. But Brandon has fantasies, pretty hot fantasies, and he is also in dear need of money. So the chance to see his fantasies come true, and plus being paid during that, it's too much to refuse. Like a sacrificial lamb, the first day at work, Brandon is spotted by Gabriel and Dylan, a perfect duo on the set and a real life couple outside of it. The duo is famous for being very intensive alone, and together they are something no one has ever tried. But they want Brandon, at least for his first time, and they don't want to wait for Brandon to go all over the usual step. In a normal context, Gabriel and Dylan would have been the last step, and maybe something no one will ever reach, for Brandon they will be the training ship. Problem is, starting with something so intensive can ruin a man for life.

It's all about sex, pretty good and hard sex, at least in this second novella. But it's not only about that. Willa Okati with this series built a special world, a world where something that usually is paired with dirty and obscure, here becomes a game in the sunlight, a funny and good game, a game where everyone is a winner. A game so good that people playing it are still willing to continue, even out of the set. It's like a community, you can be friends or lovers, but both bonds are important.

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1206

Series: Screen Shots
1) Seduced: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/751693.html
2) Smolder

The Rainbow Awards: First Week results: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/811346.html

Smolder (Screen Shots 2) by Willa Okati

The first story in the Screen Shots series was nice, kinda sweet if you consider the setting, a porn movie company that sells online video. The basic concept is that 20SomethingTwinks is a family company, the two owner, Katherine and Thom are more interesting in having a friendly and comfortable working environment than doing money, and they want for their boys to be pretty sure of the step they are taking... quite an utopia, but it's nice to dream that it exists. And then there are the boys, all young men, most of them just out of college, till now all of them in needing of an easy and fast way to raise the money they need to survive out alone in the big bad world. This is probably the only real thing that makes an appearance in this novella series, these boys are doing that since they need money, they are lucky enough to like what they have to do, and that they are doing it in a nice environment. Plus all the boys share a friends with benefits bond, in and out the set, but some of them have a special bond, a bond that follows them at home.

This time is the time of Brandon, a newbie of the porn movie industry, but really a newbie at everything, even if it's not clearly said, I think he is a virgin. But Brandon has fantasies, pretty hot fantasies, and he is also in dear need of money. So the chance to see his fantasies come true, and plus being paid during that, it's too much to refuse. Like a sacrificial lamb, the first day at work, Brandon is spotted by Gabriel and Dylan, a perfect duo on the set and a real life couple outside of it. The duo is famous for being very intensive alone, and together they are something no one has ever tried. But they want Brandon, at least for his first time, and they don't want to wait for Brandon to go all over the usual step. In a normal context, Gabriel and Dylan would have been the last step, and maybe something no one will ever reach, for Brandon they will be the training ship. Problem is, starting with something so intensive can ruin a man for life.

It's all about sex, pretty good and hard sex, at least in this second novella. But it's not only about that. Willa Okati with this series built a special world, a world where something that usually is paired with dirty and obscure, here becomes a game in the sunlight, a funny and good game, a game where everyone is a winner. A game so good that people playing it are still willing to continue, even out of the set. It's like a community, you can be friends or lovers, but both bonds are important.

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1206

Series: Screen Shots
1) Seduced: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/751693.html
2) Smolder

The Rainbow Awards: First Week results: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/811346.html

Best Gay Mystery / Thriller (1° place): The Riddle of the Sands by Geoffrey Knight

Also Best Overall Gay Fiction (3° place)

First of all, strange events in the publishing industry I'm not aware of, made that the first book in the series was out with Starbook Press, and this second with Cleis Press. True, it's not necessary to read The Cross of Sins to understand and enjoy The Riddle of the Sands, but without it you loose one of the most interesting aspect of this novel, the fact that it's the quintessence of all the gay fantasies, and probably the result of a lively imagination fed with lot and lot of adventures movies and books. There is one for every taste in the Fathom's Five: you like them careless and friendly, like a homemade dish? Shane, the Western modern cowboy is your man. You like them exotic and fascinating, like an ethnic speciality? Eden, brazilian doctor is ready for you. Young and fast, like burger and fries, but served in a china plate? Will, the son of an American ambassador and part time history student, part time pro football player is on the drive through. Traditional and just with that spicy taste? Luca, Italian dongiovanni and former art model, ready to please. And last but not least, you like coffe and donuts? Jake, half mercenary half good hearted man, is always a right choice. All right, now I'm hungry, and Geoffrey Knight's novel is the only one that can satisfy all those fancy ideas.

It's useless that I summarize the story, first since I can't do that without giving to much details and risking to spoil the story, and second since, truth be told, the story is classic, like all the adventure books of the last 100 years, there is something to find, there are the good boys who are always first on the place, and there are the bad boys who always follow closely. The good boys are doing that not for money, but for a bigger and worthier reason, and the bad boys are only interested in finding a treasure. What I probably liked best in this second book is that the adventure seemed more innocuous, there were less dead bodies around, and probably there were also more funny moments. I liked very much Will's scenes with his estranged father, and was very interesting in the apparently sweet love story between Jake and Sam, even if, actually, since it is soo sweet (meaning that without sex or anything sexual at all), I didn't understand if Jake has a fatherly interest in Sam or something more personal. My favorite from the previous book, Luca, has only a secondary role here, but I think the author is thinking at something special for him, and I had the strong impression that, the author himself, through the words of Professor Fathom, let the reader know that Luca is also his favorite. Eden and Shane have their own little story going, and it's Shane's turn to have a little sexy story on the side, as Eden had in the previous book; they are important supporting role, and the author is always kind with them, but they have not yet achieved the upper level like Will, Jake and Luca.

The Riddle of the Sands is a surprisingly easy and fast book to read, I thought to have just started it and when I realized that I was more than half the book away. For me it's a compliment, it means that I was so sucked into the story, that I lost track of the time.



Amazon: Riddle of the Sands

Amazon Kindle: Riddle of the Sands

Series: A Fathom's Five Adventure
1) The Cross of Sins: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/640072.html
2) The Riddle of the Sands

The Rainbow Awards: First Week results: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/811346.html

Best Gay Mystery / Thriller (1° place): The Riddle of the Sands by Geoffrey Knight

Also Best Overall Gay Fiction (3° place)

First of all, strange events in the publishing industry I'm not aware of, made that the first book in the series was out with Starbook Press, and this second with Cleis Press. True, it's not necessary to read The Cross of Sins to understand and enjoy The Riddle of the Sands, but without it you loose one of the most interesting aspect of this novel, the fact that it's the quintessence of all the gay fantasies, and probably the result of a lively imagination fed with lot and lot of adventures movies and books. There is one for every taste in the Fathom's Five: you like them careless and friendly, like a homemade dish? Shane, the Western modern cowboy is your man. You like them exotic and fascinating, like an ethnic speciality? Eden, brazilian doctor is ready for you. Young and fast, like burger and fries, but served in a china plate? Will, the son of an American ambassador and part time history student, part time pro football player is on the drive through. Traditional and just with that spicy taste? Luca, Italian dongiovanni and former art model, ready to please. And last but not least, you like coffe and donuts? Jake, half mercenary half good hearted man, is always a right choice. All right, now I'm hungry, and Geoffrey Knight's novel is the only one that can satisfy all those fancy ideas.

It's useless that I summarize the story, first since I can't do that without giving to much details and risking to spoil the story, and second since, truth be told, the story is classic, like all the adventure books of the last 100 years, there is something to find, there are the good boys who are always first on the place, and there are the bad boys who always follow closely. The good boys are doing that not for money, but for a bigger and worthier reason, and the bad boys are only interested in finding a treasure. What I probably liked best in this second book is that the adventure seemed more innocuous, there were less dead bodies around, and probably there were also more funny moments. I liked very much Will's scenes with his estranged father, and was very interesting in the apparently sweet love story between Jake and Sam, even if, actually, since it is soo sweet (meaning that without sex or anything sexual at all), I didn't understand if Jake has a fatherly interest in Sam or something more personal. My favorite from the previous book, Luca, has only a secondary role here, but I think the author is thinking at something special for him, and I had the strong impression that, the author himself, through the words of Professor Fathom, let the reader know that Luca is also his favorite. Eden and Shane have their own little story going, and it's Shane's turn to have a little sexy story on the side, as Eden had in the previous book; they are important supporting role, and the author is always kind with them, but they have not yet achieved the upper level like Will, Jake and Luca.

The Riddle of the Sands is a surprisingly easy and fast book to read, I thought to have just started it and when I realized that I was more than half the book away. For me it's a compliment, it means that I was so sucked into the story, that I lost track of the time.



Amazon: Riddle of the Sands

Amazon Kindle: Riddle of the Sands

Series: A Fathom's Five Adventure
1) The Cross of Sins: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/640072.html
2) The Riddle of the Sands

The Rainbow Awards: First Week results: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/811346.html