Jane Elliot (born June 3)

"I've been writing for twenty years, in every genre, format, and length. I believe that fiction can help promote understanding and acceptance of alternative and marginalized societal groups. Most of my writing is focused on relationships, be they platonic or romantic, between individuals from all walks of life.

With regard to writing, I believe that the last comma in a list has value and should be retained, that everyone should understand the difference between 'loose' and 'lose', and that "should of" is a bastardization of "should've" and that there is no reason why those two words should ever be next to each other, unless they are thoroughly separated by a comma.

My novels, End of the Trail, Above All, The Devil in Dead Horse, and Montana Red are currently available from Manifold Press."

Montana Red won a 2013 Rainbow Award as Best Gay Historical Romance. Randy won a 2014 Rainbow Award as Best Gay Historical.

 

Source: www.goodreads.com/author/show/477474.Jane_Elliot

Further Readings:

Montana Red by Jane Elliot
Publisher: Manifold Press (September 27, 2013)
Amazon Kindle: Montana Red

It’s out of the frying-pan and into the fire on the day Henry first meets Red. He’s happy enough at first to be having sex with a man – Heaven knows, it’s better than what he’s running away from! – but it isn’t too long before Red’s sexual extravagances are driving the two of them apart. It’s only when Henry’s trying to manage on his own again that he at last begins to achieve a little perspective – on inversion in general, on himself in particular, and even on his relationship with Red. That’s when he starts to wonder if maybe there isn’t a way back for them after all, but this time it will definitely have to be on his terms …

Randy by Jane Elliot 
Publisher: Manifold Press (September 1, 2014)
Amazon Kindle: Randy

Approaching middle age, Garrison Gaines is aware that all his humble hopes for the future have crumbled into dust. He’s travelling through the vast Unorganized Territories of the central United States when his path crosses that of Randy Everett, a young man who dreams of great adventures in exotic far-away locales – and, while no one can accurately predict the future, one thing is quite certain: that neither man will walk away from the encounter completely unaffected.

More Rainbow Awards at my website: www.elisarolle.com/, Rainbow Awards/2013 & 2014

Anderson Cooper & Ben Maisani

Anderson Hays Cooper (born June 3, 1967) is an American journalist, author, and television personality. He is the primary anchor of the CNN news show Anderson Cooper 360°. The program is normally broadcast live from a New York City studio; however, Cooper often broadcasts live on location for breaking news stories. As of September 2011, he also serves as host of his own eponymous syndicated daytime talk show, Anderson Live, which will be cancelled at the end of the second season.

Cooper is openly gay; according to The New York Times, he is "the most prominent openly gay journalist on American television." For years, Cooper avoided discussing his private life in interviews.

On July 2, 2012, however, he gave Andrew Sullivan permission to publish an email that stated, in part:

I’ve begun to consider whether the unintended outcomes of maintaining my privacy outweigh personal and professional principle. It's become clear to me that by remaining silent on certain aspects of my personal life for so long, I have given some the mistaken impression that I am trying to hide something—something that makes me uncomfortable, ashamed or even afraid. This is distressing because it is simply not true...The fact is, I'm gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud.

Cooper has stated his intentions to marry his boyfriend, gay bar owner Benjamin Maisani, in New York City. He considered coming out to the public when same-sex marriage became legal in New York in July 2011. The couple has been dating since 2009.


Anderson Cooper is an American journalist, author, and television personality. He is the primary anchor of the CNN news show Anderson Cooper 360°. He gave Andrew Sullivan permission to publish an email that stated, in part: "The fact is, I'm gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud." Cooper has stated his intentions to marry his boyfriend, gay bar owner Benjamin Maisani, in New York City. The couple has been dating since 2009.



( Read more... )

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anderson_Cooper

( Further Readings )

More LGBT Couples at my website: http://www.elisarolle.com/, My Ramblings/Real Life Romance

George Quaintance & Victor Garcia

George Quaintance (June 3, 1902 – November 8, 1957) was an American artist famous for his "idealized, strongly homoerotic" depictions of men in physique magazines.

His first art assignments were anonymous advertising work, but by 1934 he had begun to sell freelance cover illustrations to a variety of "spicy" pulp magazines, such as Gay French Life, Ginger, Movie Humor, Movie Merry Go-Round, Snappy Detective Mysteries, Snappy Stories, Stolen Sweets, and Tempting Tales. These were sold at burlesque halls as well as under-the-counter at discreet newsstands. These illustrations, which were clearly influenced by Enoch Bolles, were often signed "Geo. Quintana."

Several of his artworks depicted men of Mexican and Indian ethnicities, which has been described as part of the "closeting" of "physique art", as it pretended physique art had anthropological or academic motives. His artworks also depicted idealized Wild West settings. His artwork has been said to establish the "macho stud" stereotype who was also homosexual.

Quaintance was born in Page County, Virginia, and grew up on a farm, displaying an aptitude for art. Even as a teen, Quaintance has been described as "obviously and actively homosexual", despite being closeted. At the age of 18 he studied at the Art Students League, where, as well as painting and drawing, he studied dance, which led to him meeting and briefly marrying Miriam Chester. In the 1930s, he became a hairstylist.


The Crusader, 1943
George Quaintance was an American artist famous for his "idealized, strongly homoerotic" depictions of men in physique magazines. In 1938, he returned home in Virginia with his companion Victor Garcia, described as Quaintance's "model, life partner, and business associate". In the early 1950s, Quaintance and Garcia moved to Rancho Siesta, which became the home of Studio Quaintance. George Quaintance died of a heart attack on November 8, 1957, leaving all his possession to Victor.

( Read more... )

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Quaintance

Gallery of George Quaintance's works:

1940 - 1951 (1 of 6)

1952 (2 of 6)

1953 (3 of 6)

1954-1956 (4 of 6)

1957 (5 of 6)

Afterword (6 of 6)

Days of Love: Celebrating LGBT History One Story at a Time by Elisa Rolle
Paperback: 760 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (July 1, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1500563323
ISBN-13: 978-1500563325
Amazon: Days of Love: Celebrating LGBT History One Story at a Time

Days of Love chronicles more than 700 LGBT couples throughout history, spanning 2000 years from Alexander the Great to the most recent winner of a Lambda Literary Award. Many of the contemporary couples share their stories on how they met and fell in love, as well as photos from when they married or of their families. Included are professional portraits by Robert Giard and Stathis Orphanos, paintings by John Singer Sargent and Giovanni Boldini, and photographs by Frances Benjamin Johnson, Arnold Genthe, and Carl Van Vechten among others. “It's wonderful. Laying it out chronologically is inspired, offering a solid GLBT history. I kept learning things. I love the decision to include couples broken by death. It makes clear how important love is, as well as showing what people have been through. The layout and photos look terrific.” Christopher Bram “I couldn’t resist clicking through every page. I never realized the scope of the book would cover centuries! I know that it will be hugely validating to young, newly-emerging LGBT kids and be reassured that they really can have a secure, respected place in the world as their futures unfold.” Howard Cruse “This international history-and-photo book, featuring 100s of detailed bios of some of the most forward-moving gay persons in history, is sure to be one of those bestsellers that gay folk will enjoy for years to come as reference and research that is filled with facts and fun.” Jack Fritscher

Peter Doyle & Walt Whitman

Walter "Walt" Whitman (May 31, 1819 – March 26, 1892) was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse. His work was very controversial in its time, particularly his poetry collection Leaves of Grass, which was described as obscene for its overt sexuality.

Born on Long Island, Whitman worked as a journalist, a teacher, a government clerk, and—in addition to publishing his poetry—was a volunteer nurse during the American Civil War. Early in his career, he also produced a temperance novel, Franklin Evans (1842). Whitman's major work, Leaves of Grass, was first published in 1855 with his own money. The work was an attempt at reaching out to the common person with an American epic. He continued expanding and revising it until his death in 1892. After a stroke towards the end of his life, he moved to Camden, New Jersey, where his health further declined. He died at age 72 and his funeral became a public spectacle.

Whitman's sexuality is often discussed alongside his poetry. Though biographers continue to debate his sexuality, he is usually described as either homosexual or bisexual in his feelings and attractions. However, there is disagreement among biographers as to whether Whitman had actual sexual experiences with men. Whitman was concerned with politics throughout his life. He supported the Wilmot Proviso and opposed the extension of slavery generally. His poetry presented an egalitarian view of the races, and at one point he called for the abolition of slavery, but later he saw the abolitionist movement as a threat to democracy.


Whitman and Peter Doyle, one of the men with whom Whitman was believed to have had an intimate relationship.
Many literary scholars consider Walt Whitman this country's most influential poet. The works collected in Whitman's Leaves of Grass pay homage to the freedom and dignity of the individual while celebrating democracy and the brotherhood of man. Peter Doyle was a 21-year-old conductor on a horse-drawn streetcar when he and Whitman, who was 45 at the time, became lovers. Whitman and Doyle were in an outlaw marriage from 1865 until 1892, when Whitman died.


Walt Whitman and Bill Duckett

( Read more... )

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Whitman

Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman. Yes, the same book of poetry you probably had to slog through in eleventh grade high school English class. Though I don't write much poetry now, I did write many poems in high school and college. I was never one for structured form, so when I was introduced to Walt Whitman's free verse, I felt a very kindred spirit. Even in my teenage years, I delighted in the sensual homoeroticism in Whitman's words, particularly the poems which dealt with camraderie during wartime (what'd I tell you? I like that theme). The more I read of Whitman, the more I discover in his words, and my own personal experiences color the way I read his poems when I revisit them. Now I see deeper nuances to his poetry that I didn't before, and I can appreciate his homoeroticism in a way I couldn't before. No matter how often I reread this book, it seems to change each time. --JM Snyder

What can you say about Whitman? I discovered him at that acutely painful, critical period in my own lonely, confused adolescence when poetry was the only chance I was willing to take toward being who I really was. Whitman was a sweeping, shining, larger-than-life beacon and expression of what could be, not to mention a literary force who literally changed the face of American poetry. --Dan Stone

If you know me, you know about the poetry thing. Leaves of Grass is the book I can quote on command. I’ve been reading it for twenty years ands it’s etched in my mind like verses of the Bible ought to be.

“Sure as the most certain sure, plumb in the uprights, well entretied, braced in the beams,
Stout as a horse, affectionate, haughty, electrical,
I and this mystery here we stand.

Clear and sweet is my soul, and clear and sweet is all that is not my soul.”

Imagine they mystery of life as a tall, dark stallion. Makes your scalp tingle, doesn’t it? --AM Riley

Further Readings:

Days of Love: Celebrating LGBT History One Story at a Time by Elisa Rolle
Paperback: 760 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (July 1, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1500563323
ISBN-13: 978-1500563325
Amazon: Days of Love: Celebrating LGBT History One Story at a Time

Days of Love chronicles more than 700 LGBT couples throughout history, spanning 2000 years from Alexander the Great to the most recent winner of a Lambda Literary Award. Many of the contemporary couples share their stories on how they met and fell in love, as well as photos from when they married or of their families. Included are professional portraits by Robert Giard and Stathis Orphanos, paintings by John Singer Sargent and Giovanni Boldini, and photographs by Frances Benjamin Johnson, Arnold Genthe, and Carl Van Vechten among others. “It's wonderful. Laying it out chronologically is inspired, offering a solid GLBT history. I kept learning things. I love the decision to include couples broken by death. It makes clear how important love is, as well as showing what people have been through. The layout and photos look terrific.” Christopher Bram “I couldn’t resist clicking through every page. I never realized the scope of the book would cover centuries! I know that it will be hugely validating to young, newly-emerging LGBT kids and be reassured that they really can have a secure, respected place in the world as their futures unfold.” Howard Cruse “This international history-and-photo book, featuring 100s of detailed bios of some of the most forward-moving gay persons in history, is sure to be one of those bestsellers that gay folk will enjoy for years to come as reference and research that is filled with facts and fun.” Jack Fritscher

Ivan Bussens & Peter Unsworth

Ivan Bussens (3 June 1960 – 27 August 2007) was a British sportsman who competed at water polo at the Gay Games. He was a driving figure in raising the profile of LGBT sport, having co-founded the Out for Sport organisation representing gay clubs in London, represented London at the Federation of Gay Games, and served at other international sporting associations.

Bussens was born at Batu Gaja, Malaysia, and educated at Culford School. Having moved to London, he became a fashion buyer, events planner and interior designer. The latter brought prominence with photographers and television companies, and the house he shared with his partner of 26 years Peter Unsworth featured in magazines and in scenes from ITV's Footballers Wives.

He then founded Out for Sport, an umbrella organisation representing gay sports clubs in London, and promoted its first multi-sport competition. He served on the board of the International Gay & Lesbian Aquatics (IGLA) and represented London at the Federation of Gay Games. Before his illness he was forging links with the 2012 Olympics and the Mayor of London's office to ensure lesbian and gay inclusion. He persuaded the Out To Swim committee to sponsor a women-only session to encourage more participation, and saw the establishment via a lottery grant of a water polo team in 2000.

After fighting cancer during 2006, he suffered a relapse and died in hospital in summer 2007, aged 47. He is survived by Unsworth and his parents. His funeral took place in Norfolk, where his parents Alan and Cyndie live, and where he is buried.


Ivan Bussens was a British sportsman who competed at water polo at the Gay Games. He was a driving figure in raising the profile of LGBT sport, having co-founded the Out for Sport organisation representing gay clubs in London. He became a fashion buyer, events planner and interior designer. The latter brought prominence with photographers and television companies, and the house he shared with his partner of 26 years Peter Unsworth featured in magazines and in scenes from ITV's Footballers Wives.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Bussens

More Real Life Romances at my website: http://www.elisarolle.com/, My Ramblings/Real Life Romance

Euro Pride Con: Alex C. Clarke

Starting from June 1, 2015, I will daily feature authors attending the three conventions I will join, Euro Pride in Munich (July), UK Meet in Bristol (September) and GRL in San Diego (October).

For the Euro Pride in Munich, July 11-12, 2015, today author is Alex C. Clarke: (translation from French) "I am a M / M novels' translator and author. 32 years old and a sense of humor a little offbeat that is reflected in my writing.

I love cats, nature, my children (and my husband)), my wonderful friends in real life and on Facebook, love stories, but only if they have an happy ending, and more.

I support LGBT rights as best I can. My stories are meant to entertain but also to tell the stories of love between men that are not made of only unbridled sex sessions (also but not only that ...), but also of love, tenderness, acceptance, struggles and conflicts. They are no less love stories than M / F."

Further Readings:

Un Nouveau Rêve (Rêves t. 1) de Alex C. Clarke
Broché: 232 pages
Editeur : CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; Édition : 1 (12 mai 2015)
Collection : Rêves
Langue : Français
ISBN-10: 1511828862
ISBN-13: 978-1511828864
Amazon: Un Nouveau Rêve (Rêves t. 1)
Amazon Kindle: Un Nouveau Rêve (Rêves t. 1)

Après la mort de son épouse Suzanne, décédée dans un accident de voiture alors qu’il conduisait, David a sombré dans une profonde dépression. Trois ans plus tard, il a décidé de quitter la France pour Boston pour un changement de vie complet. Il raccroche son costume trois-pièces d’avocat d’affaires pour devenir gérant d’un bar. Dans l’avion, il rencontre James, copropriétaire du bar en question. James est un ancien Marine – un Marine très gay, tatoué et musclé à croquer. David voudrait bien explorer les sentiments qu’il semble éprouver pour son patron. Mais James ne fait pas dans les sentiments. Pas du tout. Genre, jamais ! Eh bien, il ne faut jamais dire jamais…

UK Meet: A. J. Rose

Starting from June 1, 2015, I will daily feature authors attending the three conventions I will join, Euro Pride in Munich (July), UK Meet in Bristol (September) and GRL in San Diego (October).

For the UK Meet in Bristol, September 11-13, 2015, today author is A. J. Rose: It began with a Halloween themed short story assignment from a second grade teacher, and from then on, AJ Rose fell head over heels in love with writing. Time has seen the beginning and end of many things, college and graduation, a finance career, and a marriage, and through it all, writing has been her first love. Now, AJ is also head over heels for her wife-to-be, fellow author Kate Aaron, who gets it, the twitchy fingers when word counts are low too many consecutive days, the thousand-yard stare when an idea turns AJ's vision inward, and the jitters when the word-babies go out to meet the world. Nothing could stop the tall tales about imaginary people that refused to be ignored. With a life full of this much passion, it's no wonder AJ chose romance. The voices in her head are mostly of the male persuasion, so m/m romance was about the only option. But don't be surprised if the occasional ghost still pops up.

Further Readings:

Consent (Power Exchange Book 3) by AJ Rose (Author)
Series: Power Exchange
Paperback: 290 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (February 1, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1505598591
ISBN-13: 978-1505598599
Amazon: Consent (Power Exchange Book 3)
Amazon Kindle: Consent (Power Exchange Book 3)

Cole, what’s wrong?

Former detective Gavin DeGrassi likes his new life and his job as a university professor, molding the minds of the next generation of law enforcement. It keeps him in the field he loves, but out of the media and out of the danger he seems to draw. He’s settled and happy with his partner and Dom, Ben Haverson.

It’s Myah.

Until a middle of the night phone call from his brother, Cole, whose desperation and fear yank him back into the world of criminals and countdowns. Only this time, the stakes are much higher.

She’s missing.

Detective Myah Hayes, Gavin’s sister-in-law and former partner, has a past of her own, one that has returned to claim her. With only their instincts and the help of a rogue CSI, Gavin, Ben, and Cole will do whatever it takes to find Myah, following a flimsy trail of evidence to Chicago, where all is not what it seems—dirty cops, moral pimps, and a nest of snakes who call themselves businessmen.

They’re on a collision course with the worst of humanity, and more than Myah’s life is caught in the vortex. Can they find her, and if they do, will there be anything left to save?

GRL: Z. Allora

Starting from June 1, 2015, I will daily feature authors attending the three conventions I will join, Euro Pride in Munich (July), UK Meet in Bristol (September) and GRL in San Diego (October).

For the GRL in San Diego, October 15-18, 2015, today author is Z. Allora: Z. believes in soul mates, love at first sight, and overcoming all odds to find happily ever afters. Born in Upstate NY, Z. Allora and partner have spent the last fifteen years together traveling across the United States, the Middle East and Asia. These travels provide the inspiration behind many of the detailed settings and characters throughout Z.'s work. Z. received a Master degree in Psychology and Bachelor degrees in both English and Philosophy. (though Z's editors would probably question the English degree). Z. is both a writer and a huge fan of M/M romance as well as Yaoi. It is said the pen is mightier than the sword. Z. thinks all writers and publishers of M/M are promoting equality, since everyone deserves a happily ever after.

Further Readings:

Finally Fallen (The Dark Angels Book 3) by Z. Allora
Series: The Dark Angels
Paperback: 268 pages
Publisher: Rocky Ridge Books; 2 edition (December 9, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1626220182
ISBN-13: 978-1626220188
Amazon: Finally Fallen (The Dark Angels Book 3)
Amazon Kindle: Finally Fallen (The Dark Angels Book 3)

What’s the use of being a rock legend if you have no one to share the fame and fortune with? Not that Dusty Davis is looking. He’s content taking care of himself, his bandmates, and his rambunctious younger brothers. 

 And while the rest of The Dark Angels are happily paired with men, Dusty can’t be gay. A night in a club brings him face to face with the woman of his dreams. J is articulate, well-read, witty, and smart. How could Dusty not finally fall? 

 J didn’t mean to deceive Dusty; he introduced himself as Justin, after all. He didn’t realize the drummer heard, “Justine” and missed the other cues. Dusty’s declarations of love sounded too good to be true. After all, who could possibly want someone as broken as Justin? 

 But the heart wants what the heart wants, and love knows no gender.

Book Blast: Despite the Odds by Chris T. Kat

Despite the Odds (Odds Are 1) by Chris T. Kat
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press; 1 edition (June 3, 2015)
Amazon Kindle: Despite the Odds (Odds Are 1)

Never judge a book by its cover.

Michael Campbell can’t hold a job for more than a few days. He’s lucky his foreman is giving him another chance with the solar panel project at a primary school in Atlantic City. When he spies a man walking strangely in front of the school, Michael laughs, assuming he’s drunk or high. Little does he realize that Joshua Stone, a teaching assistant, has cerebral palsy, and he’s having a bad muscle control day. Taking a tumble right in front of the handsome construction worker is just his luck.

When Michael learns the truth, he feels badly for his cruel behavior. He offers to give Joshua—and his tricycle, the Racing Rhonda—a lift. Joshua accepts the help, and suddenly there’s a gorgeous man breezing into his life, turning his world upside down. But Michael has more issues than his inability to hold down a job, and neither man is sure if they’ll be able to overcome their fears in order to be together.

( Excerpt )

About the author: Chris T. Kat lives in the middle of Europe, where she shares a house with her husband of many years and their two children. She stumbled upon the M/M genre by luck and was swiftly drawn into it. She divides her time between work, her family—which includes chasing after escaping horses and lugging around huge instruments such as a harp—and writing. She enjoys a variety of genres, such as mystery/suspense, paranormal, and romance. If there's any spare time, she happily reads for hours, listens to audiobooks or does cross stitch.

Where to find the author:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ChrisTKat
Twitter: http://twitter.com/christi_kat
GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/ChrisTKat
Blog: http://christikat.blogspot.com
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Chris-T.-Kat/e/B008FQQH2Q



Tour Dates & Stops: June 3, 2015
Parker Williams, Divine Magazine, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, MM Good Book Reviews, BFD Book Blog, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Multitasking Mommas, Full Moon Dreaming, Molly Lolly, Andrew Q. Gordon, Amanda C. Stone, 3 Chicks After Dark, Inked Rainbow Reads, Velvet Panic, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Bike Book Reviews, Cate Ashwood, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Bayou Book Junkie, Mikky's World of Books, Elisa - My Reviews and Ramblings, The Hat Party, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, Charley Descoteaux, Chris McHart, Nephylim, Kristy's Brain Food, Butterfly-O-Meter, Decadent Delights

Rafflecopter Prize: Chris T. Kat’s Jeff Woods Mystery collection, a three-book collection
Rafflecopter Code:
a Rafflecopter giveaway