In the Spotlight: Anthony Bidulka

The Book: A gay wedding gone bad. A missing groom. An unsullied reputation at risk. Enter Russell Quant—cute, gay, and a rookie private detective. With a nose for good wine and bad lies, Quant is off to France on his first big case. From the smudgy streets of Paris, he cajoles and sleuths his way to the pastel-colored promenade of Sanary-sur-Mer.

"...Bidulka touches on a variety of serious issues...while neatly weaving these strands into an engaging mystery." --Quill & Quire (Toronto)

"First-rate mystery...by any standards." --The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon)

"Amuse Bouche is a novel that entertains and broadens horizons; something...all literature should do." --NewWinnipeg (Winnpeg)

"[Amuse Bouche] is populated with a broad variety of interesting and very human characters, written with warmth and a genuine sense of humour." --FFWD (Calgary)

"With first novel 'Amuse Bouche', Anthony Bidulka shows a certain je ne sais quoi." --in newsweekly (Boston)

Bidulka manages to spin a compelling detective story with colourful characters, hilarious situations, and touching relationships. — Midwest Book Review"Bidulka touches on a variety of serious issues ... while neatly weaving these strands into an engaging mystery." — Quill & Quire"... carries the reader along on an exuberant joy ride of action with sporadic pit stops for mayhem, menace, and occasional romance." — Halifax Wayves"... there is sincerity and just a hint of sage world-weariness about the self-questioning lifestyle and relationships the author draws from his charming, vulnerable detective." — Canadian Book Review Annual

Amazon: Amuse Bouche (A Russell Quant Mystery)

( Other Books in the List )

The Author: Anthony Bidulka has enjoyed time well-spent and misspent in the worlds of academia, accounting, footwear, food services and farming. In 1999 Anthony Bidulka, BA, BEd, BComm, CA left a decade long career as a Chartered Accountant to pursue writing.

In 2003, Quill & Quire described Amuse Bouche: A Russell Quant Mystery, as “…an effervescent first novel that is much like the tasty French hors d’oeuvres from which it takes its name”, earning Bidulka a nomination for the Crime Writers of Canada Arthur Ellis Award.

With sharp writing, descriptive flair and wry humour, Bidulka’s mystery series tells the story of the first, and perhaps only, half-Ukrainian, half-Irish, gay, ex-farmboy, ex-cop, Canadian, Saskatchewan, prairie, world-travelling private detective being written about today anywhere.

The Russell Quant series has been nominated for a Crime Writers of Canada Arthur Ellis Award, Saskatchewan Book Awards, a ReLit award and Flight of Aquavit was awarded the Lambda Literary Award for Best Men’s Mystery, making Bidulka the first Canadian to win in that category.

New York’s Mystery Scene Magazine proclaimed: “Quant makes for a riveting hero…the kind of friend you want to have—unless you’re a killer.” From the StarPhoenix: "Truly amazing is Bidulka’s sense of sights, sounds and smells. Like a good journalist, he gives exquisitely detailed descriptions of the settings and provides history lessons...” And Sherbrooke Record said: “...Bidulka brings a fresh voice to Canadian crime fiction, with a sense of humour that is often outrageous and always original; he provides his readers with a cleverly-crafted tale full of twists and turns, and challenges readers to broaden their perspectives.”

Like his protagonist, Anthony lives a big life in a small city on the Canadian prairie. He also loves to travel the world—meeting people, sampling food and wine, walking sun-drenched streets, making good use of swim-up bars, and being awed.

Anthony has toured extensively in both Canada and the United States. A great believer in community involvement, he has sat on many boards and committees including those of Persephone Theatre, the Institute of Chartered Accountants, AIDS Saskatoon, the Saskatchewan Writers Guild, the International Association of Crime Writers, Ubuntu Purse, Camp fYrefly Saskatchewan, and Crime Writers of Canada.

He lives in Saskatoon where he is at work on his next novel.

http://www.anthonybidulka.com/

Top 100 Gay Novels List (*)

External Link to the Top100 Gay Novels List (simple - without photos)

External Link to the Top 100 Gay Novels List (wanted - with photos)

*only one title per author, only print books released after January 1, 2000.

Note: I remember to my friends that guest reviews of the above listed books (the top 100 Gay Novels) are welcome, just send them to me and I will post with full credits to the reviewer.

Other titles not in the top 100 list:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog/top50MM

In the Spotlight: Anthony Bidulka

The Book: A gay wedding gone bad. A missing groom. An unsullied reputation at risk. Enter Russell Quant—cute, gay, and a rookie private detective. With a nose for good wine and bad lies, Quant is off to France on his first big case. From the smudgy streets of Paris, he cajoles and sleuths his way to the pastel-colored promenade of Sanary-sur-Mer.

"...Bidulka touches on a variety of serious issues...while neatly weaving these strands into an engaging mystery." --Quill & Quire (Toronto)

"First-rate mystery...by any standards." --The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon)

"Amuse Bouche is a novel that entertains and broadens horizons; something...all literature should do." --NewWinnipeg (Winnpeg)

"[Amuse Bouche] is populated with a broad variety of interesting and very human characters, written with warmth and a genuine sense of humour." --FFWD (Calgary)

"With first novel 'Amuse Bouche', Anthony Bidulka shows a certain je ne sais quoi." --in newsweekly (Boston)

Bidulka manages to spin a compelling detective story with colourful characters, hilarious situations, and touching relationships. — Midwest Book Review"Bidulka touches on a variety of serious issues ... while neatly weaving these strands into an engaging mystery." — Quill & Quire"... carries the reader along on an exuberant joy ride of action with sporadic pit stops for mayhem, menace, and occasional romance." — Halifax Wayves"... there is sincerity and just a hint of sage world-weariness about the self-questioning lifestyle and relationships the author draws from his charming, vulnerable detective." — Canadian Book Review Annual

Amazon: Amuse Bouche (A Russell Quant Mystery)

( Other Books in the List )

The Author: Anthony Bidulka has enjoyed time well-spent and misspent in the worlds of academia, accounting, footwear, food services and farming. In 1999 Anthony Bidulka, BA, BEd, BComm, CA left a decade long career as a Chartered Accountant to pursue writing.

In 2003, Quill & Quire described Amuse Bouche: A Russell Quant Mystery, as “…an effervescent first novel that is much like the tasty French hors d’oeuvres from which it takes its name”, earning Bidulka a nomination for the Crime Writers of Canada Arthur Ellis Award.

With sharp writing, descriptive flair and wry humour, Bidulka’s mystery series tells the story of the first, and perhaps only, half-Ukrainian, half-Irish, gay, ex-farmboy, ex-cop, Canadian, Saskatchewan, prairie, world-travelling private detective being written about today anywhere.

The Russell Quant series has been nominated for a Crime Writers of Canada Arthur Ellis Award, Saskatchewan Book Awards, a ReLit award and Flight of Aquavit was awarded the Lambda Literary Award for Best Men’s Mystery, making Bidulka the first Canadian to win in that category.

New York’s Mystery Scene Magazine proclaimed: “Quant makes for a riveting hero…the kind of friend you want to have—unless you’re a killer.” From the StarPhoenix: "Truly amazing is Bidulka’s sense of sights, sounds and smells. Like a good journalist, he gives exquisitely detailed descriptions of the settings and provides history lessons...” And Sherbrooke Record said: “...Bidulka brings a fresh voice to Canadian crime fiction, with a sense of humour that is often outrageous and always original; he provides his readers with a cleverly-crafted tale full of twists and turns, and challenges readers to broaden their perspectives.”

Like his protagonist, Anthony lives a big life in a small city on the Canadian prairie. He also loves to travel the world—meeting people, sampling food and wine, walking sun-drenched streets, making good use of swim-up bars, and being awed.

Anthony has toured extensively in both Canada and the United States. A great believer in community involvement, he has sat on many boards and committees including those of Persephone Theatre, the Institute of Chartered Accountants, AIDS Saskatoon, the Saskatchewan Writers Guild, the International Association of Crime Writers, Ubuntu Purse, Camp fYrefly Saskatchewan, and Crime Writers of Canada.

He lives in Saskatoon where he is at work on his next novel.

http://www.anthonybidulka.com/

Top 100 Gay Novels List (*)

External Link to the Top100 Gay Novels List (simple - without photos)

External Link to the Top 100 Gay Novels List (wanted - with photos)

*only one title per author, only print books released after January 1, 2000.

Note: I remember to my friends that guest reviews of the above listed books (the top 100 Gay Novels) are welcome, just send them to me and I will post with full credits to the reviewer.

Other titles not in the top 100 list:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog/top50MM

Only Forever by Shawn Lane

Only in His Dreams by Shawn Lane

This is a really nice office romance, simple, light and easy, but really enjoyable. Darrell is a shy and a bit geeky guy working as accountant for a law firm; while he has a good relationship with all four lawyers working for the firm, with on of them in particular his shyness seems to stop him to further their acknowledge, Travis is simply too handsome and successful to being interested in someone like Darrell; then there is also the interracial nature of their relationship, even if Darrell has a degree in Finance, he is always the African American guy from downtown, while Travis is the classical wasp from the wealthy suburbs.

With the help of an unexpected fairy mother (very fairy and little mother), Darrell has the chance to see a different Travis, someone who is lonely as much as Darrell is, and maybe shy as well. Probably if Darrell had not taken matters in hand, I don’t know if Travis would have done it; even if older and richer, Travis has a well deep rooter failure syndrome, like a little voice that tells him that is useless to try, there is no way to have an happy end for him. Maybe the double tragedy of losing first his parents and then his partner in different accidents rooted that feeling in him, something like a curse that prevents him to be really happy. Or maybe, in both cases, being him the one who survived, gave him the double idea that he was not worthy and that he didn’t do enough to prevent those accidents, and so depriving himself of happiness is a right punishment.

In a case or the other, even if younger, poorer and shier, Darrell is the stronger of the two, he has probably fought more, and everything he gained, he knows to deserve it. And know he knows to deserve someone like Travis, and Darrell will find the strength to reach for him. And he will also prove to have a domineering core that will make all the sex scenes good.

This is only a novella, but it’s a concentrated of events. To give you an idea, from the first time they go out dinner, Travis and Darrell have the following three meals together, alone or with company, and then spend the night together in the same house, even if not in the same bed… from barely speaking to each other to an almost cohabitation in 2 days, it’s a long stretch. But probably packing all these events in so little time space was the right solution to give credibility and deepness to the novella.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/OnlyInHisDreams.html

Amazon Kindle: Only In His Dreams

Only for Him by Shawn Lane

Like in the previous book, Only in His Dreams, Only for Him is a classic office affairs romance. And as in the best office affairs, the two men involved apparently are not good for each other, but then they are perfect, like missing pieces of a puzzle. Barnaby is a flamboyant gay man who, I think, hides his insecurities behind makeup and flashy garments; he was orphaned by mother even before he was able to remember her, and he has an estranged father. He was raised by a loving grandmother, but as often happens in these cases, he was sheltered when he was young, and maybe the first experiences with the big bad world were not good. Nothing tragic, but for sure Barnaby tends to search reassurance, and to build a safe haven like the one he left. Barnaby is like a wonderful paradise bird, showing off all his beautiful plumage to attire the perfect mate to build the perfect nest where to live happily ever after. And like a paradise bird, Barnaby is high maintenance, non in the monetary meaning of the word, but in showing affection and attention.

Nathan is one of the partners of the lawyers firm where Barnaby works as PA. He is also the man Barnaby pointed out as a different type of partner, a private life partner. When he thinks that his colourful plumage is not drawing in the “prey”, Barnaby tries to change his exterior look, to be more similar to conservative Nathan, but he hasn’t realized that it’s not his look that worries Nathan, but everything in Barnaby. Barnaby is too shiny, too friendly, too much for someone “boring” like Nathan.

Without even realizing it, Barnaby does exactly the right thing to catch Nathan, instead of waiting for him to do the first move, Barnaby almost forces Nathan out for a date and then for a hot weekend of sex. In the privacy of his house, and probably playing on an home field, Nathan reveals a domineering side that is exactly what Barnaby needs; all right, it’s cheap psychology, but I think that Barnaby needs a fatherly figure in his life, and even if Nathan has not the age (he is not so much older than Barnaby), he has the look, and even the cool attitude. Even when he is maybe a bit too harsh with Barnaby, I think that he is exactly what Barnaby needs, if he was too easy a conquest, Barnaby would loose soon the interest.

Again Shawn Lane wrote a nice and sweet novella, very romantic, something that I think could appeal to a female target, but even to that young gay men that can easily identify in Barnaby, and even in Nathan, how many geeky guys out there are dreaming of finding a Barnaby for their own?

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/OnlyForHim.html

Amazon Kindle: Only For Him

Only His Heart by Shawn Lane

I’m starting to like a lot this series of short novellas centering around a lawyer firm whose three partners are all gays. Only His Heart is almost a spin off, since it’s the story of Matt, Nathan’s stepbrother, and Calvin, Barnaby’s brother. Nathan and Barnaby, a couple from the previous novellas, did nothing to let Matt and Calvin meet, but they are working on the same hospital, as nurse and doctor, and so it happens.

Here is probably the first nice surprise, it’s an out-track from the usual Nurse/Doctor romance, since it’s not the Doctor who is pursuing the Nurse but viceversa. Even if with a less high professional career, Matt, the nurse, has a more domineering character than Calvin, and so it’s him that almost force Calvin in a relationship. Calvin is cautious, but interested, and so it’s easy to convince him. Calvin’s perplexity is not much due to the difference in career level or since they work in the same place, even if he tries to use them, I think it’s more a fear to commit with the wrong person; Calvin has never had a real long lasting relationship in his life, and he is always ready to find a reason to avoid it. But with Matt the fight will be uneventful.

I really like how the author managed to give power to Matt’s character without actually giving it with the usual ways: he is not rich, not successful, average handsomely, while Calvin is striking… Matt is strong since he is at ease with himself, he is convinced of his reason and of what he wants, something that Calvin, despite career and success, has still yet to learn.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/OnlyHisHeart.html

Amazon Kindle: Only His Heart

His One and Only by Shawn Lane

The last in this series follows the love adventure of Mark, the third lawyer in a firm of all gay partners, two of them already paired in the previous books. Mark is the workaholic one, who seems not interested in having a love life. During a B&B at Nathan’s home, one of his business partners, Mark meets Drew, a kind and cute man, who finds the courage to do a move on aloof Mark. Surprisingly, for his friends, but also for Mark himself, he accepts Drew’s invite for a coffee, and they start a tentative relationship, more similar to what you will see between two teenagers, than two adult and independent men.

This is probably the best part of this novella, and all the stories preceding this one, they are uber-romantic stories, but the common leit-motiv is that they are ordinary stories, something that could happen also to you, meeting someone at work, or at a friends gathering. These men are young and handsome, but not “stunningly” handsome, they are more cute, or pretty, or interesting, they are your neighbor, your friend’s friend, your colleague. They come from different family experience, maybe even particular, like Drew who is the result of an artificial insemination, or sad, like Mark who has lost his life-partner to AIDS years ago.

I like this feeling, I like to be able to read of ordinary men and ordinary lives; when you close one of these stories, you are happy and comfortable, you had your dose of sweet and bitter, perfectly balanced, and the feeling is basically of a successful dish.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/HisOneAndOnly.html

Amazon Kindle: His One And Only

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/OnlyForever.html (print book)

Amazon: Only Forever

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading+list&view=elisa.rolle

Only Forever by Shawn Lane

Only in His Dreams by Shawn Lane

This is a really nice office romance, simple, light and easy, but really enjoyable. Darrell is a shy and a bit geeky guy working as accountant for a law firm; while he has a good relationship with all four lawyers working for the firm, with on of them in particular his shyness seems to stop him to further their acknowledge, Travis is simply too handsome and successful to being interested in someone like Darrell; then there is also the interracial nature of their relationship, even if Darrell has a degree in Finance, he is always the African American guy from downtown, while Travis is the classical wasp from the wealthy suburbs.

With the help of an unexpected fairy mother (very fairy and little mother), Darrell has the chance to see a different Travis, someone who is lonely as much as Darrell is, and maybe shy as well. Probably if Darrell had not taken matters in hand, I don’t know if Travis would have done it; even if older and richer, Travis has a well deep rooter failure syndrome, like a little voice that tells him that is useless to try, there is no way to have an happy end for him. Maybe the double tragedy of losing first his parents and then his partner in different accidents rooted that feeling in him, something like a curse that prevents him to be really happy. Or maybe, in both cases, being him the one who survived, gave him the double idea that he was not worthy and that he didn’t do enough to prevent those accidents, and so depriving himself of happiness is a right punishment.

In a case or the other, even if younger, poorer and shier, Darrell is the stronger of the two, he has probably fought more, and everything he gained, he knows to deserve it. And know he knows to deserve someone like Travis, and Darrell will find the strength to reach for him. And he will also prove to have a domineering core that will make all the sex scenes good.

This is only a novella, but it’s a concentrated of events. To give you an idea, from the first time they go out dinner, Travis and Darrell have the following three meals together, alone or with company, and then spend the night together in the same house, even if not in the same bed… from barely speaking to each other to an almost cohabitation in 2 days, it’s a long stretch. But probably packing all these events in so little time space was the right solution to give credibility and deepness to the novella.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/OnlyInHisDreams.html

Amazon Kindle: Only In His Dreams

Only for Him by Shawn Lane

Like in the previous book, Only in His Dreams, Only for Him is a classic office affairs romance. And as in the best office affairs, the two men involved apparently are not good for each other, but then they are perfect, like missing pieces of a puzzle. Barnaby is a flamboyant gay man who, I think, hides his insecurities behind makeup and flashy garments; he was orphaned by mother even before he was able to remember her, and he has an estranged father. He was raised by a loving grandmother, but as often happens in these cases, he was sheltered when he was young, and maybe the first experiences with the big bad world were not good. Nothing tragic, but for sure Barnaby tends to search reassurance, and to build a safe haven like the one he left. Barnaby is like a wonderful paradise bird, showing off all his beautiful plumage to attire the perfect mate to build the perfect nest where to live happily ever after. And like a paradise bird, Barnaby is high maintenance, non in the monetary meaning of the word, but in showing affection and attention.

Nathan is one of the partners of the lawyers firm where Barnaby works as PA. He is also the man Barnaby pointed out as a different type of partner, a private life partner. When he thinks that his colourful plumage is not drawing in the “prey”, Barnaby tries to change his exterior look, to be more similar to conservative Nathan, but he hasn’t realized that it’s not his look that worries Nathan, but everything in Barnaby. Barnaby is too shiny, too friendly, too much for someone “boring” like Nathan.

Without even realizing it, Barnaby does exactly the right thing to catch Nathan, instead of waiting for him to do the first move, Barnaby almost forces Nathan out for a date and then for a hot weekend of sex. In the privacy of his house, and probably playing on an home field, Nathan reveals a domineering side that is exactly what Barnaby needs; all right, it’s cheap psychology, but I think that Barnaby needs a fatherly figure in his life, and even if Nathan has not the age (he is not so much older than Barnaby), he has the look, and even the cool attitude. Even when he is maybe a bit too harsh with Barnaby, I think that he is exactly what Barnaby needs, if he was too easy a conquest, Barnaby would loose soon the interest.

Again Shawn Lane wrote a nice and sweet novella, very romantic, something that I think could appeal to a female target, but even to that young gay men that can easily identify in Barnaby, and even in Nathan, how many geeky guys out there are dreaming of finding a Barnaby for their own?

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/OnlyForHim.html

Amazon Kindle: Only For Him

Only His Heart by Shawn Lane

I’m starting to like a lot this series of short novellas centering around a lawyer firm whose three partners are all gays. Only His Heart is almost a spin off, since it’s the story of Matt, Nathan’s stepbrother, and Calvin, Barnaby’s brother. Nathan and Barnaby, a couple from the previous novellas, did nothing to let Matt and Calvin meet, but they are working on the same hospital, as nurse and doctor, and so it happens.

Here is probably the first nice surprise, it’s an out-track from the usual Nurse/Doctor romance, since it’s not the Doctor who is pursuing the Nurse but viceversa. Even if with a less high professional career, Matt, the nurse, has a more domineering character than Calvin, and so it’s him that almost force Calvin in a relationship. Calvin is cautious, but interested, and so it’s easy to convince him. Calvin’s perplexity is not much due to the difference in career level or since they work in the same place, even if he tries to use them, I think it’s more a fear to commit with the wrong person; Calvin has never had a real long lasting relationship in his life, and he is always ready to find a reason to avoid it. But with Matt the fight will be uneventful.

I really like how the author managed to give power to Matt’s character without actually giving it with the usual ways: he is not rich, not successful, average handsomely, while Calvin is striking… Matt is strong since he is at ease with himself, he is convinced of his reason and of what he wants, something that Calvin, despite career and success, has still yet to learn.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/OnlyHisHeart.html

Amazon Kindle: Only His Heart

His One and Only by Shawn Lane

The last in this series follows the love adventure of Mark, the third lawyer in a firm of all gay partners, two of them already paired in the previous books. Mark is the workaholic one, who seems not interested in having a love life. During a B&B at Nathan’s home, one of his business partners, Mark meets Drew, a kind and cute man, who finds the courage to do a move on aloof Mark. Surprisingly, for his friends, but also for Mark himself, he accepts Drew’s invite for a coffee, and they start a tentative relationship, more similar to what you will see between two teenagers, than two adult and independent men.

This is probably the best part of this novella, and all the stories preceding this one, they are uber-romantic stories, but the common leit-motiv is that they are ordinary stories, something that could happen also to you, meeting someone at work, or at a friends gathering. These men are young and handsome, but not “stunningly” handsome, they are more cute, or pretty, or interesting, they are your neighbor, your friend’s friend, your colleague. They come from different family experience, maybe even particular, like Drew who is the result of an artificial insemination, or sad, like Mark who has lost his life-partner to AIDS years ago.

I like this feeling, I like to be able to read of ordinary men and ordinary lives; when you close one of these stories, you are happy and comfortable, you had your dose of sweet and bitter, perfectly balanced, and the feeling is basically of a successful dish.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/HisOneAndOnly.html

Amazon Kindle: His One And Only

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/OnlyForever.html (print book)

Amazon: Only Forever

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading+list&view=elisa.rolle