R.E. Bradshaw (born June 25)

"How did a girl from the Outer Banks of North Carolina end up writing contemporary women's fiction in Oklahoma? Well, there has to be a woman involved. Bradshaw began her writing career in 2010, after leaving Theatre and teaching. Since then, her novels ranging from the popular romance, Waking Up Gray, to the Lambda Literary Award Finalists, thriller Rainey Nights and mystery Molly: House on Fire, have remained among Amazon’s bestsellers in lesbian fiction. All of Bradshaw’s books, thus far, are set in her beloved home state of North Carolina. She was transplanted from the coast to the Heartland by the love of her life, an Oklahoma girl, with whom she celebrate twenty-five years in June 2013. They have a son, Jon, and share their home with two dogs and two cats"

Out on the Panhandle won a 2013 Rainbow Award as Best Lesbian Contemporary General Fiction and Best Lesbian Novel.

Source: www.goodreads.com/author/show/4334738.R_E_Bradshaw

Further Readings:

Out on the Panhandle: A Decky and Charlie Adventure by R. E. Bradshaw
Paperback: 242 pages
Publisher: R. E. Bradshaw Books (September 28, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0983572097
ISBN-13: 978-0983572091
Amazon: Out on the Panhandle: A Decky and Charlie Adventure
Amazon Kindle: Out on the Panhandle: A Decky and Charlie Adventure

Take a thirty-nine-year-old woman, born and raised on the beach, and plop her down on the Panhandle of Oklahoma in the midst of a huge family reunion. Add in a cow chip throwing contest, a horse round up, Native American legends, a crazed fundamentalist sister-in-law, a family secret, an unforgettable romance, and Decky Bradshaw is in for a wild ride. The sequel to Out on the Sound, this novel continues the tales of Decky and Charlie. From Lambda Literary Award Finalist, author R. E. Bradshaw, Out on the Panhandle will illicit tears one moment and side-splitting laughter the next, on the way to discovering that true love never ends.

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

Ariel Gore (born June 25)

Ariel Gore is an award-winning editor, memoirist, journalist, and fiction writer. She teaches online at http://literarykitchen.com.

The End of Eve won a 2014 Rainbow Award as Best Lesbian Book and Best Gay & Lesbian Non Fiction.

Further Readings:

The End of Eve by Ariel Gore
Paperback: 237 pages
Publisher: Hawthorne Books (March 11, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0986000795
ISBN-13: 978-0986000799
Amazon: The End of Eve: A Memoir
Amazon Kindle: The End of Eve: A Memoir

At age 39, Ariel Gore has everything she’s always wanted: a successful writing career, a long-term partnership, a beautiful if tiny home, a daughter in college and a son in preschool. But life’s happy endings don’t always last. If it’s not one thing, after all, it’s your mother. Her name is Eve. Her epic temper tantrums have already gotten her banned from three cab companies in Portland. And she’s here to announce that she’s dying. “Pitifully, Ariel,” she sighs. “You’re all I have.” Ariel doesn’t want to take care of her crazy dying mother, but she knows she will. It’s the right thing to do, isn’t it? And, anyway, how long could it go on? “Don’t worry,” Eve says. “If I’m ever a burden, I’ll just blow my brains out.” Amidst the chaos of clowns and hospice workers, pie and too much whiskey, Ariel’s own ten-year relationship begins to unravel. Darkly humorous and intimately human, The End of Eve redefines the meaning of family and everything we’ve ever been taught to call “love.”

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

Labi Siffre & Peter Lloyd

Labi Siffre (born 25 June 1945) is a British poet, songwriter, musician, and singer most widely known as the writer and singer of "(Something Inside) So Strong", "It Must Be Love", and "I Got The", the sampled rhythm track which provides the basis for a number of well-known hip-hop tracks such as Eminem's breakthrough hit single, "My Name Is". Openly gay, Siffre met his partner, Peter Lloyd, in July 1964. Under the Civil Partnership Act 2004, they became legally recognised partners when the Act entered into force in December 2005. Lloyd died in 2013 after 49 years together.

Born the fourth of five children, at Queen Charlotte's Hospital in Hammersmith, London to a British mother of Barbadian–Belgian descent and a Nigerian father, Siffre was brought up in Bayswater and Hampstead and educated at a Catholic independent day school, St Benedict's School, in Ealing, west London.

Jazz and blues records provided his musical education: Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis and Charles Mingus among many. Jimmy Reed and Wes Montgomery loomed large as guitar influences; Billie Holiday, Jimmy Reed and Mel Tormé as vocal influences.

While trying to become a full-time musician, Labi worked as a warehouseman in Bethnal Green, a filing clerk at Reuters in Fleet Street and as a minicab driver and delivery man. In the early 60s, in a Jimmy Smith style trio, with Bob Stuckey on Hammond Organ and Woody Martin on drums, Siffre, on guitar, played for nine months at Annie's Room, a jazz club fronted by the singer Annie Ross. He then toured as opening act and backing singer for Jackie Edwards, the Jamaican songwriter, soul and reggae star. Labi went on to form another three-piece group called Safari, playing London's Soho clubs. Then, though he did not play folk songs, his first solo gigs came in Amsterdam at the folk club Het Kloppertje, and at the then haven of psychedelic hippiedom Paradiso. Most of Siffre's thirty-year performing career has been as a solo artist.


Labi Siffre is a British poet, songwriter, musician, and singer most widely known as the writer and singer of "(Something Inside) So Strong", "It Must Be Love", and "I Got The", the sampled rhythm track which provides the basis for a number of well-known hip-hop tracks such as Eminem's breakthrough hit single, "My Name Is". Openly gay, Siffre met his partner, Peter Lloyd, in July 1964. They became legally recognised partners in December 2005. Lloyd died in 2013 after 49 years together.

( Read more... )

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

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

Jeffrey Richman & John Benjamin Hickey

John Benjamin Hickey (born June 25, 1963, Plano, Texas) is an American actor with a career in stage, film and television. He won the 2011 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play for his performance as Felix Turner in The Normal Heart. He is openly gay; since 2003 his longtime partner is Modern Family writer, producer and actor Jeffrey Richman.

On Broadway, he originated the role of Arthur in Terrence McNally's Tony Award-winning play Love! Valour! Compassion! in 1995, a role he would recreate for the 1997 film version. He played Clifford Bradshaw in the 1998 revival of Cabaret, which won the Tony for Best Revival of a Musical, and played Reverend John Hale in the Tony-nominated 2002 revival of Arthur Miller's The Crucible. He recently played Sean, the homeless brother of Cathy (played by actress Laura Linney), the main character on the Showtime series The Big C.

Hickey graduated from Plano Sr. High School, Plano Texas 1981 and attended Texas State University - San Marcos from 1981–1983, where he was active in the theater department. He earned his bachelor's degree in English at Fordham University in 1985.

On film, in addition to his role in Love! Valour! Compassion! Hickey played the lead in the 1998 independent film Finding North and played American novelist and playwright Jack Dunphy in the 2006 Truman Capote biopic Infamous, along with supporting roles in a number of other films, including The Ice Storm and The Anniversary Party. Hickey's best-known television role is perhaps that of Philip Stoddard on the short-lived gay-themed ABC sitcom It's All Relative.

Since It's All Relative, Hickey has appeared on Alias, Law & Order, Brothers & Sisters, Stacked, Heartland, In Plain Sight, and most recently Law & Order: Los Angeles. He appeared in Flightplan, Flags of Our Fathers, Freedom Writers, Then She Found Me, the remake of The Taking of Pelham 123, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, The Bet and Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows.


Matthew Broderick, Kelli O'Hara and the cast of Nice Work If You Can Get It celebrate opening night on April 24, 2012. Photographer: Bruce Glikas, © Broadway.com
John Benjamin Hickey is an American actor with a career in stage, film and television. He won the 2011 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play for his performance as Felix Turner in The Normal Heart. He is openly gay; since 2003 his longtime partner is Modern Family writer, producer and actor Jeffrey Richman. (P (clockwise from l.): Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman, Victor Garber, John Benjamin Hickey & Jeffrey Richman, Sarah Jessica Parker & her son James Wilkie)

( Read more... )

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

( Further Readings )

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

Euro Pride Con: L.A. Witt aka Lauren Gallagher

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 L.A. Witt (L.A. Witt will also attend the UK Meet in Bristol and the GRL in San Diego): L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer who has finally been released from the purgatorial corn maze of Omaha, Nebraska, and now spends her time on the southwestern coast of Spain. In between wondering how she didn't lose her mind in Omaha, she explores the country with her husband, several clairvoyant hamsters, and an ever-growing herd of rabid plot bunnies.

She also has substantially more time on her hands these days, as she has recruited a small army of mercenaries to search South America for her nemesis, romance author Lauren Gallagher, but don't tell Lauren. And definitely don't tell Lori A. Witt or Ann Gallagher. Neither of those twits can keep their mouths shut...

Further Readings:

What He Left Behind by L. A. Witt
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (August 18, 2015)
Amazon Kindle: What He Left Behind

Can you ever have a second first time?

Josh Carver thinks it’s just another lunch with his best friend, Michael—until Michael confesses he just turned down a date with his hot veterinarian crush. It seems Michael’s abusive ex left him more scarred than Josh realized.

Josh and his husband, Ian, have done their best to help Michael leave his horrific past behind, but even Josh is stunned when Ian suggests that Josh help Michael with his fear of physical intimacy. After all, it isn’t like it would be the first time—Josh and Michael were once each other’s firsts.

A hesitant first kiss, and Josh and Michael’s natural attraction eases the way. But with Michael still balking at the prospect of sex with someone new, Ian steps into the breach.

Everything is fine and dandy until emotions become so entangled, their friendship—and a marriage—could be at risk.

& &

UK Meet: Joanna Chambers

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 Joanna Chambers: Joanna Chambers always wanted to write. She spent over 20 years staring at blank sheets of paper and despairing of ever writing a single word. In between staring at blank sheets of paper, she studied law, met her husband and had two children. Whilst nursing her first child, she rediscovered her love of romance and found her muse. Joanna lives in Scotland with her family and finds time to write by eschewing sleep and popular culture.

Further Readings:

Enlightened (Enlightenment Book 3) by Joanna Chambers
Paperback: 226 pages
Publisher: Samhain Publishing (May 5, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1619225263
ISBN-13: 978-1619225268
Amazon: Enlightened (Enlightenment Book 3)
Amazon Kindle: Enlightened (Enlightenment Book 3)

The cruelest duel may not spill a drop of blood...but it could break their hearts. Enlightenment, Book 3 Five months ago, David Lauriston was badly hurt helping his friend Elizabeth escape her violent husband. Since then, David has been living with his lover, Lord Murdo Balfour, while he recuperates. Despite the pain of his injuries, David's time with Murdo has been the happiest of his life. The only things that trouble him are Murdo's occasional bouts of preoccupation, and the fact that one day soon, David will have to return to his legal practice in Edinburgh. That day comes too soon when David's friend and mentor takes to his deathbed, and David finds himself agreeing to take on a private mission in London. Murdo is at his side in the journey, but a shocking revelation by Murdo's ruthless father leaves David questioning everything they've shared. As tensions mount and the stakes grow higher, David and Murdo are forced to ask themselves how far they're prepared to go-and how much they're prepared to give up-to stay together. And whether there's any chance of lasting happiness for men like them. Warning: Men in love, men with secrets, and men armed with dueling pistols.

2015 GRL Featured Blog Tour: Erica Pike

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). Moreover I'm taking part at the 2015 GRL Featured Blog Tour as Featured Blogger.

For the 2015 Featured Blog Tour, today author is Erica Pike:

Saving Money at GRL

GayRomLit is one of my favorite events of the year. It’s pretty close up there with Christmas. This year will be my fourth and I’m looking forward to it as much as I did the first one. Naturally, I’m less nervous because I know what to expect, but I still get this warm flutter in my stomach whenever I think about October. As always, my trusty side-kick and cousin Thora will travel with me.

Thora and I are flying from Iceland, Europe (not Iceland, California), and GRL is pretty damn expensive. There’s the flight, car rental, hotels, GRL registration, ads, SWAG, books to sell, etc. To top it off, Icelandair only flies to eight cities in the USA this October and the closest one is Seattle, so that means six to eight extra days of driving, dining, and hotels. The whole thing comes down to a pretty hefty sausage to swallow. So what we’ve done is try to find ways to save money on our trips. Here are some that we use at GRL:
- Water: Buy a large pack of bottled water. You can save more by buying large bottles and refill the smaller ones, but I like to be able to grab a small bottle on the go. To save further, you can refill bottles from the sink, but neither of us like the taste of tap water in the USA, so we’ll spend a little extra on the bottled type.
- Snacks: I’m always on the run while I’m there, so we buy a few boxes of granola bars. The USA has a vast variety of them. We’ve come to like the Nature Valley ones, even though they’re sugary – but what isn’t today? This saves money on the in-between meals.
- Fancy Coffee. Thora drinks those chilled coffee drinks, and a way to save a few bucks is to buy them at a supermarket and ask the hotel staff to empty a mini fridge to store them in.
- Meals. We usually don’t buy the hotel breakfast. Last year, breakfast was provided by Riptide and it was the delicious. Never before had I eaten doughnuts so early in the morning. However, if breakfast isn’t included, you can bring your own. Milk for cereal can be stored in the fridge. I also saw this neat ad on Hulu showing how you can heat water in the coffee maker and pour onto instant porridge. If you want to go super cheap, you can replace some meals with Ramen noodles…but, I like to spend lunch and dinner with other GRL attendees, so I’ll splurge on those. Of course, we always attend the sponsored meals, if not for the food then for the company.
- Books. During my first two GRLs, the publishers and authors could sell their books freely. Now we’ve been hit with reality we have to pay sales tax. That often translates into added cost to the buyer. What some publishers and authors did to help save money was to prepare pre-order sheets. That way, the buyers could get the books at reduced prices, often at the author discount. I ordered a lot of books last year and it was nice to be able to pick them up all at once, because I don’t have much time to look at the publishers’ tables, and I don’t have any time during the featured author signing to buy books directly from the authors. I also brought with me unsigned books I had at home.
- Room. The stay at the hotel costs money too, and we save by rooming with two other people. It’s cramped. It’s noisy. But it’s so much fun! And you only pay a quarter of the price.
- Odds and Bits. We always make sure to pack whatever toiletries we need. Everything in the gift shop is insanely expensive, so we tend to walk past them with blinders on.

That’s all I have for money saved during GRL. It kind of makes me sound like a penny pincher, but considering all the other expenses, I have to cut corners where I can.

Thank you, Elisa for hosting me on your blog today. It’s always lovely meeting you at GRL. Hope to see you and your mother again this year.

Black Hurricane by Erica Pike
Paperback: 270 pages
Publisher: MLR Press (August 23, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1608208907
ISBN-13: 978-1608208906
Amazon: Black Hurricane
Amazon Kindle: Black Hurricane

Twenty-three year old Jasper Jones fell in love with Dean McQueen at fourteen, but after a disastrous relationship, Jazz would like nothing better than to see the rock star choke on his own vomit.

After a catastrophic reunion, Dean seems bent on destroying Jazz’s life. It all started when an impromptu bar performance ended up on YouTube and Jazz became an internet sensation overnight. The name “Jazdean” keeps popping up in headlines and the paparazzi stalk his every move. To make matters worse, Jazz is about to end up on the streets for the second time in his life.

In a desperate attempt to keep his home, Jazz signs a deal with Dean’s band, Black Hurricane, to perform at a couple of concerts. It feels like one of Dean’s feeble attempts to get Jazz back, but painted into a corner like he is, Jazz has no choice.



( Excerpt )

Author bio: Erica lives in Iceland with her adorable little twin boys. She often says that her real name sounds like Klingon to foreigners. If “Eyjafjallajokull” looks like a random string of characters it’s nothing in comparison to Erica’s name.
She’s been writing for several years, or ever since reading became an obsession. Aside from a business degree, Erica has taken English courses at the University of Iceland and gulped down anything that might help her in her career as an author. She takes great interest in English, but will break every single grammar rule for the sake of The Voice.
Erica loves hearing from her readers. She’s a friendly, easy-going (if a bit silly) person who doesn’t mind talking about herself in third person.
You can find her at http://www.ericapike.com

Social Media:
Webpage/Blog: http://www.ericapike.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorEricaPike
Twitter: @EricaPike
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5433276.Erica_Pike
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Erica-Pike/e/B006V266ZY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1346175840&sr=8-1

( GRL Blog Tour Appearance Schedule )