Anne Brooke (born June 21)

Anne Brooke was once voted Woman Most Likely to Become a Serial Killer at one of her many jobs, but the next month came second in the Top Banana Award, so feels there's no accounting for taste. Instead of causing havoc amongst the hard-pressed Police Force, she decided to become a writer, and now scribbles away in a variety of genres, including gay romance, fantasy, comedy, thrillers, biblical fiction and the occasional chicklit novel.

When the wind's in the right direction, she has even won a writing prize or two, and has been shortlisted for the Harry Bowling Novel Award, the Royal Literary Fund Awards and the Asham Award for Women Writers. She has also twice been the winner of the national DSJT Charitable Trust Open Poetry Competition.

She's never met a chocolate she doesn't like (with the possible exception of Ferrero Rocher), and once took a dawn balloon flight over The Nile, much against her better judgement. She spent most of the time screaming.

An Essex Girl at heart, Anne now lives in Surrey with her long-suffering husband and spends a lot of time in the garden attempting to differentiate between flowers and weeds.

The Bones of Summer won a 2009 Rainbow Award as Best LGBT Mystery / Thriller.

Further Readings:

The Bones Of Summer by Anne Brooke
Paperback: 212 pages
Publisher: Amber Quill Press, LLC (June 21, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1611248736
ISBN-13: 978-1611248739
Amazon: The Bones Of Summer
Amazon Kindle: The Bones Of Summer

The sequel to Maloney's Law, garnering third place in the inaugural 2009 Rainbow Mystery Fiction Awards... When Craig Robertson’s religious fanatic father disappears, Craig is forced to return to the home he left behind after an underage affair in order to look for answers. He takes with him his new lover, private investigator Paul Maloney, who is more than willing to help solve the mystery. During his initial search, Craig locates items that belonged to Michael, his lover in that long-ago ill-fated affair, and soon discovers that Michael has disappeared as well. The search becomes an investigation into Craig’s past, and, because of distressing gaps in his memory, he’s terrified of the truths he might find. As Craig’s obsession with uncovering clues grows, however, his fragile relationship with Paul begins to disintegrate. Haunted and stalked, Craig has to face down the horror of his memories if he wants to have any hope of a future at all...

More Rainbow Awards at my website: www.elisarolle.com/, Rainbow Awards/2009

Alyson Annan & Carole Thate

Alyson Regina Annan OAM (born 21 June 1973) in Wentworthville, New South Wales is a former field hockey player from Australia, who earned a total number of 228 international caps for the Women's National Team, in which she scored 166 goals.

Annan was voted the Best Female Hockey Player in the World in 1999. In the following year, lead the Australian team to gold at the 2000 Summer Olympics, where she split with her former husband Maximiliano Caldas. She subsequently retired from international competition, and moved to the Netherlands, where she met her current partner, former Dutch hockey captain and fellow Olympic medallist Carole Thate. In the Netherlands she played for HC Klein Zwitserland from The Hague. She retired in 2003, becoming the coach of Dutch league team HC Klein Zwitserland. In 2004 she was an assistant of Dutch Head Coach Marc Lammers at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, where the Netherlands won silver.

Annan and Thate had their first child, Sam, in May 2007. Their second son, Cooper, was born in October 2008.

Annan will be the coach of the first women's team of the Amsterdamsche Hockey & Bandy Club during the 2012-2013 season.


Alyson Annan is a former field hockey player from Australia, who earned a total number of 228 international caps for the Women's National Team, in which she scored 166 goals. She  retired from international competition, and moved to the Netherlands, where she met her current partner, former Dutch hockey captain and fellow Olympic medallist Carole Thate. Annan and Thate had their first child, Sam, in May 2007. Their second son, Cooper, was born in October 2008.

( Read more... )

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

( Further Readings )

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

Chloe Carter & Jean Acker

Jean Acker (October 23, 1893 – August 16, 1978) was an American film actress with a career dating from the silent film era through the 1950s. She was perhaps best known as the estranged wife of silent film star Rudolph Valentino. After divorcing Valentino in 1923, Acker met Chloe Carter (Jun. 21, 1903, Tennessee - Oct. 28, 1993, Los Angeles County, California), a former Ziegfeld Follies girl with whom she would remain for the rest of her life. The couple owned an apartment building together in Beverly Hills. Acker died of natural causes in 1978 at the age of 84, and is buried next to Carter in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.

Acker was born Harriet Acker in Trenton, New Jersey where she attended school. She performed in vaudeville until she moved to California in 1919. After arriving in Hollywood, Acker became the protegee and lover of Alla Nazimova, a film actress whose clout and contacts enabled Acker to negotiate a $200 per week contract with a movie studio. Acker appeared in numerous films during the 1910s and 1920s, but by the early 1930s she began appearing in small, mostly uncredited film roles. She made her last onscreen appearance in the 1955 film How to Be Very, Very Popular, opposite Betty Grable.

After meeting and befriending the then-struggling actor Rudolph Valentino at a party, they entered a two-month courtship and married on November 6, 1919. Acker quickly had regrets and locked him out of their hotel bedroom on their wedding night. The marriage was reportedly never consummated.


Jean Acker was an American actress with a career dating from the silent film era through the 1950s. She was perhaps best known as the estranged wife of Rudolph Valentino. After divorcing Valentino in 1923, Acker met Chloe Carter, a former Ziegfeld Follies girl with whom she would remain for the rest of her life. The couple owned an apartment building together in Beverly Hills. Acker died of natural causes in 1978 and is buried next to Carter in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.



Chloe Carter & Jean Acker are buried together in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California

( Read more... )

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

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
CreateSpace Store: https://www.createspace.com/4910282
Amazon (Paperback): http://www.amazon.com/dp/1500563323/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
Amazon (Kindle): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MZG0VHY/?tag=elimyrevandra-20

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

Dennis Niekro & Paul Richmond

“We met online in a chat room on New Year’s Eve.” Paul Richmond (born March 22, 1980) was looking for a party to crash, and Dennis Niekro (born December 29, 1968) was looking for meaningful conversation. Intrigued by Paul's bio, Dennis struck up a conversation.

“We hit it off and made arrangements to meet the following week for dinner, followed by a viewing of the movie Sordid Lives. Although it was clear that we were very different people, we immediately recognized that we shared some commonalities, including a love for Cher, Dolly Parton, and art (Paul making it, Dennis buying it!). We also had an undeniable chemistry. After that first date, we were eager to see each other again, and we continued to explore our similarities and share our differences with each other as our relationship deepened in the weeks and months ahead. To this day, we strive to support and nurture each other in our individual commitments to self-growth--both personal and professional--while intentionally seeking meaningful ways to nurture our evolving identity as a couple. As more states have legalized marriage equality, we decided that an important step in committing ourselves to one another needed to include a legal wedding ceremony in a state that recognizes same-sex marriage. We were married June 21, 2013 in Washington DC with 24 other LGBT couples in front of the US Supreme Court building.”


“We met online in a chat room on New Year’s Eve. After that first date, we were eager to see each other again, and we continued to explore our similarities and share our differences with each other as our relationship deepened in the weeks and months ahead. To this day, we strive to support and nurture each other in our individual commitments to self-growth--both personal and professional--while intentionally seeking meaningful ways to nurture our evolving identity as a couple. We were married June 21, 2013 in Washington DC with 24 other LGBT couples in front of the US Supreme Court building.”

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
CreateSpace Store: https://www.createspace.com/4910282
Amazon (Paperback): http://www.amazon.com/dp/1500563323/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
Amazon (Kindle): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MZG0VHY/?tag=elimyrevandra-20

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

Randy Gene Florke & Sean Patrick Maloney

Sean Patrick Maloney (born July 30, 1966) is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who has served as the U.S. Representative for New York's 18th congressional district since 2013. Born in Quebec, Canada and raised in Hanover, New Hampshire, he earned his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia. He entered politics as a volunteer for Bill Clinton's presidential campaigns, and later served as his senior West Wing adviser and White House Staff Secretary. After the Clinton Administration he served as the First Deputy Secretary to New York Governors Eliot Spitzer and David Paterson.

Prior to being elected to Congress, he worked as an executive in a private equity firm and as an attorney. In 2006 he ran in the Democratic primary for New York Attorney General, but came in third to Mark J. Green and winner Andrew Cuomo. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 after defeating Republican incumbent Nan Hayworth. He campaigned for the election as a moderate and is a member of the New Democrat Coalition. He is the first openly gay person to be elected to Congress from New York.

Maloney was born on July 30, 1966 in Sherbrooke, Quebec; to United States citizen parents. Maloney's father's work as a lumberjack had temporarily brought them to Canada. Maloney grew up in Hanover, New Hampshire with his six siblings in what he describes as a "small Irish Catholic family."

After attending Georgetown University for two years, Maloney transferred to the University of Virginia where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in international relations in 1988. After earning his undergraduate degree, Maloney spent a year volunteering with Jesuit priests in the slums of Chimbote, Peru. Afterwards Maloney returned to the U.S. and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1992.


The couple were engaged in December after their youngest child asked Santa to make her dads get hitched. By Diane Anderson-Minshall. June 23 2014 2:35 PM EDT (www.out.com/out-exclusives/wedding-guide/vows/2014/06/23/congressman-sean-patrick-maloney-marries-his-partner)
Sean Patrick Maloney is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who has served as the U.S. Representative for New York's 18th congressional district since 2013. Maloney has been with his husband Randy Florke since 1992. Together they have three adopted children. Florke is an interior decorator who has been featured in Oprah's magazine. Maloney and his family live in the Putnam County community of Cold Spring, New York. On June 21, 2014, he and Florke were married in Cold Spring, New York.


Representative Maloney, 47, and Florke, 51, have already been together 22 years, but decided to tie the knot in December after their 11-year-old daughter Essie asked Santa to make her dads get married. All three of their children — including 24-year-old Reinel and 13-year-old Daley — were in attendance.

( Read more... )

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Patrick_Maloney

( Further Readings )

Euro Pride Con: J.A. Rock

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 J.A. Rock (J.A. Rock will also attend GRL in San Diego): J.A. Rock is the author of queer romance and suspense novels, including BY HIS RULES, TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME, and, with Lisa Henry, THE GOOD BOY and WHEN ALL THE WORLD SLEEPS. She holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Alabama and a BA in theater from Case Western Reserve University. J.A. also writes queer fiction and essays under the name Jill Smith. Raised in Ohio and West Virginia, she now lives in Chicago with her dog, Professor Anne Studebaker.

Further Readings:

By His Rules by J. A. Rock
Paperback: 310 pages
Publisher: Loose Id, LLC (December 12, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1611188318
ISBN-13: 978-1611188318
Amazon: By His Rules
Amazon Kindle: By His Rules

Aiden Cole can be anything men want--naughty schoolboy, palace slave, virgin twink, or slutty secretary. He's a gifted actor with a gorgeous body who gives legendary head. Aiden could have his pick of any Top in the local leather bar, but is drawn to Scott Runge--a cruel, sexy Dom who pushes Aiden to his limits, allowing Aiden to experience the excitement and danger of the BDSM lifestyle to a degree he never has before. But when Scott goes too far, injuring Aiden, Aiden withdraws from the BDSM scene completely. Until he meets Keaton Hughes.

Keaton's looking for something he can't find in any dungeon: A domestic discipline relationship, in which he can provide his partner with guidance, support, and loving discipline. When Keaton takes Aiden in after Aiden's traumatic encounter with Scott, he vows not to pursue any sort of relationship with the troubled sub. But as Aiden struggles to overcome the damage Scott has done and get his life back on track, Keaton's rules might be just what he needs.

&

UK Meet: Garrett Leigh

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 Garrett Leigh: Garrett Leigh is a British writer and book designer, currently working for Dreamspinner Press, Loose Id, Riptide Publishing, and Black Jazz Press. Her protagonists will always always be tortured, crippled, broken, and deeply flawed. Throw in a tale of enduring true love, some stubbly facial hair, and a bunch of tattoos, and you’ve got yourself a Garrett special.

When not writing, Garrett can generally be found procrastinating on Twitter, cooking up a storm, or sitting on her behind doing as little as possible. That, and dreaming up new ways to torture her characters. Garrett believes in happy endings; she just likes to make her boys work for it.

Garrett also works as a freelance cover artist for various publishing houses and independent authors under the pseudonym G.D. Leigh.

Further Readings:

Misfits by Garrett Leigh
Paperback: 244 pages
Publisher: Riptide Publishing (September 29, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1626492476
ISBN-13: 978-1626492479
Amazon: Misfits
Amazon Kindle: Misfits

Restaurant owner Tom Fearnes has loved his partner Cass for as long as he can remember, but their work often keeps them apart. When he meets a striking young man named Jake on the vibrant streets of Camden Town, their heady first encounter takes an unexpected turn.

Jake Thompson can hardly believe his luck when he wakes up in Tom’s bed. Tom is gorgeous, kind, and . . . taken. Tom’s explanation of his open relationship leaves Jake cold, but Tom is too tempting, and when hard times force Jake to accept Tom’s helping hand, he finds himself between two men who’ve lost their way.

Cass Pearson is a troubled soul. He loves Tom with all he has, but some days it feels like he hasn’t much to give. Jake seems like the perfect solution. Cass risks everything to push Jake and Tom together, but Jake resists, wary, until the darkness of Cass’s deprived childhood comes to call. Then Jake finds himself the last man standing, guiding square pegs into round holes, and it’s time to dig deep and shine a light for the men he’s grown to love.

GRL: K.C. Burn

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 K.C. Burn: KC Burn has been writing for as long as she can remember and is a sucker for happy endings (of all kinds). After moving from Toronto to Florida for her husband to take a dream job, she discovered a love of gay romance and fulfilled a dream of her own--getting published. After a few years of editing web content by day, and neglecting her supportive, understanding hubby and needy cat at night to write stories about men loving men, she was uprooted yet again and now resides in California. Writing is always fun and rewarding, but writing about her guys is the most fun she's had in a long time, and she hopes you'll enjoy them as much as she does.

Further Readings:

Cop Out: Toronto Tales, Book 1 by KC Burn
Paperback: 200 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (November 18, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1613722133
ISBN-13: 978-1613722138
Amazon: Cop Out: Toronto Tales, Book 1
Amazon Kindle: Cop Out: Toronto Tales, Book 1

Detective Kurt O'Donnell is used to digging up other people's secrets, but when he discovers his slain partner was married to another man, it shakes him. Determined to do the right thing, Kurt offers the mourning Davy his assistance. Helping Davy through his grief helps Kurt deal with the guilt that his partner didn't trust him enough to tell him the truth, and somewhere along the way Davy stops being an obligation and becomes a friend, the closest friend Kurt has ever had.

His growing attraction to Davy complicates matters, leaving Kurt struggling to reevaluate his sexuality. Then a sensual encounter neither man is ready for confuses them further. To be with Davy, Kurt must face the prospect of coming out, but his job and his relationship with his Catholic family are on the line. Can he risk destroying his life for the uncertain possibility of a relationship with a newly widowed man?

2015 Rainbow Awards Submission: Finding Tess by Vicki Clifford

Finding Tess: A Viv Fraser Mystery by Vicki Clifford
Bisexual Mystery / Thriller
Series: The Viv Fraser Mysteries
Paperback: 318 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (December 16, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1505584078
ISBN-13: 978-1505584073
Amazon: Finding Tess: A Viv Fraser Mystery
Amazon Kindle: Finding Tess: A Viv Fraser Mystery

In this, the second of the Viv Fraser Mysteries, catch up with fast-moving hair-cutting sleuth Viv Fraser as she wrestles with the deceits of people she thought she knew. She goes in search of a missing girl, while tackling the consequences of a case of missing jewellery. An old friend finds himself professionally compromised and seeks Viv's help. And how is she getting on with Sal, and Mac? Or is there somebody else on the scene?

2015 Rainbow Awards Guidelines: http://www.elisarolle.com/rainbowawards/rainbow_awards_2015.html