Ann McMan (born July 27)

From her early days, growing up on the western frontier of Pennsylvania, Ann McMan found creative ways to exercise her gift for fiction. Her first literary endeavors were modest--mostly confined to aphorisms scrawled on cracked pavement with colored chalk.

"FREE UPPER VOLTA!"

But as the years passed and her skills increased, she branched out into literary nonfiction--best exemplified by the abstracts that follow.

"Please excuse Ann from gym this week; she has contracted a virulent case of Norwegian Scabies."

Sometimes, the performances were less effective.

"Please excuse Ann from this week's field trip to the IXL Cottage Cheese Creamery. She is suffering from acute bouts of ague and malaria--which, combined, render it impossible for her to travel by bus."

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Further Readings:

Sidecar by Ann McMan
Paperback: 216 pages
Publisher: Bedazzled Ink Publishing Company (June 2, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1934452769
ISBN-13: 978-1934452769
Amazon: Sidecar
Amazon Kindle: Sidecar

A fast, funny, and wholly satisfying compilation of short stories filled with the same rich detail, witty humor, jagged verbal jousting, and joyous intellectual tête-à-tête that are Ann McMan's calling cards. Reconnect with Syd, Maddie, and the Jericho gang in "V1: A Valentine's Day Odyssey," as a sweet and simple gesture of love ignites a conflagration that could destroy friends, lovers, and a professional-grade mixer named Gloria. Meet Kate Winston, Shawn Harris, and the best, brightest, and most uniquely "gifted" personalities in contemporary lesfic, in the all-new novella, Bottle Rocket. Grace and Abbie screw up the courage to let themselves go for one magical night-only to find that the Fates are cheeky little bitches with a wicked sense of humor in "Falling from Grace." Take flight with Poe's celebrated raven in "Nevermore!" as two improbable coworkers, Diz and Clarissa, find friendship and maybe a bit more in a comic holiday romp set to the dulcet tones of Enya. Features a foreword by The Rainbow Reader's Salem West. Sidecar carries a bounty of fun, a bit of pathos, and a few fine wine recommendations.

More Rainbow Awards at my website: www.elisarolle.com/, Rainbow Awards/2012

Bryan Fuller & Scott Roberts

Bryan Fuller (born July 27, 1969) is an American screenwriter and television producer. Fuller has worked exclusively as a writer/producer in television, creating a number of critically acclaimed television series, including Dead Like Me, Wonderfalls, Pushing Daisies and more recently, Hannibal. Fuller is also a partner in Fuller + Roberts Co. LLC, a Los Angeles-based shop featuring vintage and custom home furnishings. Profiled in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and chosen by Elle Decor (Feb/March issue) as one of the "What's Hot! Shops" of 2011, Fuller opened the West Hollywood showroom with interior decorator Scott Roberts. Bryan Fuller and Scott Roberts began their partnership in 2006, after they were introduced in a Hollywood antiques shop.

Fuller was born in Lewiston, Idaho and was raised in Clarkston, Washington. After graduating from Clarkston High School, Fuller attended Lewis–Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. He later transferred USC School of Cinematic Arts, but had to drop out due to his tuition being too high and began working as an office temp for the next five years.


Bryan Fuller is an American screenwriter and television producer. Fuller is also a partner in Fuller+Roberts Co., a Los Angeles-based shop featuring vintage and custom home furnishings. Profiled in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and chosen by Elle Decor as one of the "What's Hot! Shops" of 2011, Fuller opened the West Hollywood showroom with interior decorator Scott Roberts. Fuller and Roberts began their partnership in 2006, after they were introduced in a Hollywood antiques shop.

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

( Further Readings )

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

Carol Leifer & Lori Wolf

Carol Leifer (born July 27, 1956) is an American comedian, writer, producer and actor whose career as a stand-up comedian started in the 1970s when she was in college. David Letterman discovered her performing in a comedy club in the 1980s and she has since been a guest on Late Night with David Letterman over twenty-five times as well as numerous other shows and venues. She has written many television scripts including for The Larry Sanders Show, Saturday Night Live, and most notably, Seinfeld. Leifer is currently in a committed relationship with Lori Wolf, who works in commercial real estate. They share a $3.2-million, 5,000-square-foot (460 m2) home in the Santa Monica Hills. They have one adopted son, named Bruno, who was born in 2007.

Leifer's "inner monologue" observational style is often autobiographical encompassing subjects about her Jewish ancestry and upbringing, coming out, same-sex marriage, relationships (having been married previously to a man and now partnered with a woman) and parenting.

Leifer has become vegan, saying "I recently became vegan because I felt that as a Jewish lesbian, I wasn’t part of a small enough minority. So now I’m a Jewish lesbian vegan."

Leifer was born in East Williston, New York, to an Ashkenazi Jewish family, the daughter of Anna, a psychologist, and Seymour Leifer, an optometrist.


Carol Leifer is an American comedian, writer, producer and actor whose career as a stand-up comedian started in the 1970s when she was in college. She has written many television scripts including for The Larry Sanders Show, Saturday Night Live, and most notably, Seinfeld. Leifer is currently in a committed relationship with Lori Wolf (since 2002), who works in commercial real estate. They share a huge home in the Santa Monica Hills. They have one adopted son, named Bruno, who was born in 2007.

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

( Further Readings )

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

Gary Edwards & Wade Rouse

Wade Rouse (born March 30) is the "laugh-out-loud-funny" (NBC's Today Show), "wise, witty, wicked" (USA Today), "engagingly funny memoirist" (Chicago Tribune) who is a "hybrid of "David Sedaris and Dave Barry" (Library Journal) and "Erma Bombeck's lovechild" (Advocate). Rouse "beautifully combines humor and pathos" (Out Magazine), and has quickly established himself as "an original writer and impressive new voice" (The Washington Post) whose "combination of honest emotion and evocative prose is destined to be a hit!" (St. Louis Post-Dispatch). In short, Wade Rouse is "hilarious, riotously funny, catty, and an absolute delight!" (Christian Science Monitor)

Wade Rouse is the author of four, critically-acclaimed memoirs, including America's Boy (Dutton/2006), Confessions of A Prep School Mommy Handler (Harmony/2007), and the bestsellers, At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream: Misadventures in Search of the Simple Life (Harmony/2009), and It's All Relative: A Memoir of Two Families, Three Dogs, 34 Holidays and 50 Boxes of Wine (Crown/2011). He is also the creator and editor of the upcoming, humorous dog anthology, I'm Not the Biggest Bitch in This Relationship: Hilarious, Heartwarming Tales about Man's Best Friends by America's Favorite Humorists (NAL/2011), which features a foreword by Chelsea Handler and her dog, Chunk.

The IndieBound bestselling It's All Relative: A Memoir of Two Families, Three Dogs, 34 Holidays and 50 Boxes of Wine asks and attempts to answer the question, "How come the only thing my family tree grows is nuts?", in blisteringly funny detail. The book deals with America's obsession with picture-perfect holidays and celebrates Rouse's imperfect family--a chatty yet loving mother, an eccentric engineer of a father, a marvelously Martha Stewart-esque partner, a garage-sale obsessed set of in-laws, and an oddball collection of relatives--through the yearly celebrations that bring out the very best in our nearest and dearest. Rouse paints a funny, sad, poignant, and outlandish portrait of an all too typical family that will have you appreciating or bemoaning your own. "It's rare to find a book that is both funny and mean, family-intensive and gay-friendly, gossipy and sweet. It's All Relative is all of the above!" Minneapolis Star-Tribune.


Wade Rouse is a bestselling author and humorist. Wade is the author of 4 memoirs, including America’s Boy, named to the American Library Association’s Rainbow List of the most important LGBT books. Gary Edwards is the marketing and event manager for Wade Rouse. Wade, Gary and their rescue mutts, Mabel and Doris, split their time between the beaches, woods and water of Saugatuck, MI; and the sun, desert and mountains of Palm Springs. Together since July 27, 1996, they married on March 28, 2014.

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Source: http://waderouse.com/content/index.asp

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

Phillip Ray De Blieck & Troy Perry

Troy Deroy Perry Jr (born July 27, 1940) founded the Metropolitan Community Church, a Christian denomination with a special affirming ministry with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, in Los Angeles on October 6, 1968.

Troy Perry is the eldest of five brothers born to "the biggest bootleggers in Northern Florida," Troy Perry and Edith Allen. As early as he can remember, Perry felt called to preach, labeling himself as a "religious fanatic". He was influenced by his aunts, who held street services in his hometown, and who hosted Perry giving sermons from their home. Perry's father died fleeing the police when his son was eleven years old, cementing Troy's resolve to become involved in the church as much as possible. After his mother remarried and moved the family to Daytona Beach, Perry was abused by his stepfather and he ran away from home, to return after she divorced him.

His fanaticism increasing, Perry dropped out of high school, but was a licensed Baptist preacher by the age of 15 years. He married a preacher's daughter named Pearl Pinion in 1959, remembering, "I was always interested in pastor's daughters because I thought they would make good preacher's wives. I didn't love her when I married her, but I did love her after our first year." They had two sons and were relocated to Illinois where Perry attended Midwest Bible College and Moody Bible Institute. Perry was the preacher at a small Church of God, and sometimes had sexual relationships with other men, but considered it just youthful exploration. When he was 19 years old, however, church administrators told him one of the men he had been with had told them what they had done. He was forced to leave the church immediately.


(L-R) Reverend Troy Perry and Phillip Ray De Blieck attend the Los Angeles Gay Pride Mayor's Reception at the Factory on June 4, 2008 in West Hollywood, California. (June 4, 2008 - Source: None/Getty Images North America)
Reverend Troy D. Perry (born July 27, 1940) lives in Los Angeles with his long term partner, Phillip Ray De Blieck, whom he married under Canadian law on July 16, 2003. Perry founded the Metropolitan Community Church, a Christian denomination with a special affirming ministry with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, in Los Angeles on October 6, 1968. Perry's mother became the first heterosexual member of the Metropolitan Community Church and supported her son until she died in 1993.

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Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_D._Perry

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

Granville Piper & Richard Wise

A classically-inspired monument in St Mary Magdalene Church, Launceston, commemorates Granville Piper (died April 16, 1717) and Richard Wise (died in 1726) who are buried at Bath. It combines busts of the deceased and allegorical figures. It dates from 1731.

"There is a fine joint monument to Granville Piper and Richard Wise (who died in 1717 and 1726) erected in the church of St Mary Magdalen in Launceston marking their burial together, with an inscription recording their friendship — Fidissimum Amicorum Par: "the most faithful of friends". Their portraits are set between a single flaming funerary urn, as in the tomb monument of John Finch and Thomas Baines in Cambridge." Alan Bray

Translation from Latin inscription: The Empty Tomb of Granville Pyper, Esquire, and Richard Wise, gentleman., formerly Alderman of this Town, whose mortal remains are lying at Bath in the County of Somerset.

As they had in life been of one mind and most closely associated together, so now after death these equally true hearted of friends are not divided.

The former when much urged to seek his health at Bath, consented. He died there 16th April in the year of our Lord, 1717, in the 38th year of his age. The latter dying at Launceston on the 27th July, in the year of our Lord, 1726, aged 64 wished that his ashes should be deposited at Bath near those of his most loving and dearest Master.

This Cenotaph (a memorial of their mutual affection and of the highest respect which he always had for the most liberal and most munificent of patrons) Richard Wise, gentleman, ordered by his latest writing to be erected.


© English Heritage.NMR. Reference Number: AA98/04754. Photographer: Eric de Mare
A classically-inspired monument in St Mary Magdalene Church, Launceston, commemorates Granville Piper (died April 16, 1717) and Richard Wise (died in 1726) who are buried at Bath. It combines busts of the deceased and allegorical figures. It dates from 1731. The epitaph reads "As they had in life been of one mind and most closely associated together, so now after death these equally true hearted of friends are not divided."

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Mark Hardy (born July 27, 1965)

Like Vincent in Nothing Pink, Mark Hardy (born July 27, 1965) is a preacher's son. However, he is the youngest of seven children, not an only child.

He grew up in several Virginia cities: Danville, Salem, Hampton, Madison Heights, Chatham and Dry Fork. He graduated high school from Hargrave Military Academy. He has a bachelor's degree from Asbury College and a M.S. in Education from Fordham University.

He started his teaching career in New York City public schools and currently teach third grade at Creech Road Elementary School in Garner, North Carolina. He also consults nationally in literacy education.

He lives in Raleigh with his partner James and Daphne, Darla and Mittens.


Like Vincent in Nothing Pink, Mark Hardy is a preacher's son. He graduated rom Hargrave Military Academy. He has a bachelor's degree from Asbury College and a M.S. in Education from Fordham University. He started his teaching career in New York City public schools and currently teach third grade at Creech Road Elementary School in Garner, North Carolina. He also consults nationally in literacy education. He lives in Raleigh with his partner James and Daphne, Darla and Mittens.

Source: http://www.markhardy.biz/

Further Readings:

Nothing Pink by Mark Hardy
Paperback: 110 pages
Publisher: namelos (April 12, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1608981487
ISBN-13: 978-1608981489
Amazon: Nothing Pink
Amazon Kindle: Nothing Pink

Vincent has always known, deep down inside, that he was gay. He was fine with that. The problem was that his faith told him he was a sinner and damned to hell. HONORS Rainbow Project List—American Library Association.

Vincent has always known, deep down inside, that he was gay. He was fine with that. The problem was that his faith told him he was a sinner and damned to hell. Every Sunday after Vincent's father preached his sermon and called on his flock to come to the altar and accept salvation Vincent tried but it never helped. And then, the first Sunday at his father's new church, Vincent meets Robert and what was previously a spiritual crisis becomes all too temporal. Vincent's parents can't do much about the time Vincent spends with Robert, whatever their suspicions and fears. But when Vincent's mother discovers the copy of a magazine in Vincent's room which makes the unacknowledged truth blatantly obvious, Vincent's nature and faith collide.

More Spotlights at my website: http://www.elisarolle.com/, My Lists/Gay Novels

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

UK Meet: Morgan Cheshire

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 Morgan Cheshire: A resident of the north-west of England, Morgan Cheshire has had a lifelong interest in botany and ecology and has lately developed a taste for genealogy too – and rapidly discovered a colorful family history to explore! She is also a patch-worker and quilter, a gardener when time permits, and the enthusiastic grandmother of four boys and two girls. She has been creating and sharing fiction for more than thirty years, but has only recently ventured into the realms of professional publication.

Further Readings:

Always With Us by Morgan Cheshire
Paperback: 238 pages
Publisher: Manifold Press (October 9, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1908312874
ISBN-13: 978-1908312877
Amazon: Always With Us
Amazon Kindle: Always With Us

Liverpool, 1896: Wealthy Harrison Calderwood has never given much thought to the poor of the bustling city until he accidentally runs into firebrand Daniel Harper. Through Daniel’s eyes he begins to see how much more could be done to improve the lot of the working people, and at the same time he begins to feel a very strong attraction towards Daniel himself. However this is the Victorian era, Daniel is believed to be a troublemaker, and Harrison has a position to maintain and a family who are expecting him to marry a well-to-do young woman and settle down to a conventional life …

GRL: Jessica Freely

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 Jessica Freely: Jessica Freely can't resist a wounded hero. As a reader and a writer, her favorite stories are of soul mates finding redemption in each other's arms. Married to the love of her life in a beautiful relationship based on mutual goofiness, Jessica also warps minds as an instructor in Seton Hill University's Writing Popular Fiction MFA program. Her dog, Ruthie, doesn't seem to care that Jessica's an award-winning and best-selling author in multiple genres. She just wants to play tug of war with Jessica's pages.

Further Readings:

True Nature by Jessica Freely
Publisher: Loose Id LLC (April 22, 2014)
Amazon Kindle: True Nature

Lake Clearwater--conservation officer and water spirit--has just been appointed guardian of Gem Pond by The Powers That Be. It's the first time in eight years he's had a real home and he's determined to protect it, even if that means hiding his attraction to his sexy new partner, Forrest Oakwood.

Forrest is a native of the Gem Pond area and the guardian of its trees. He knows the land and its people are a crucial lynchpin in the natural order. He also knows that if he comes out, his boss in the DNR, Sgt. Dennison, will find an excuse to fire him. But ignoring his true nature was a lot easier before Lake Clearwater showed up. The man's a walking, talking wet dream.

Meanwhile, local residents--human and animal alike--conspire to bring Lake and Forrest together. The land needs its guardians united and at their full power. Dennison wants to cut down the trees to make room for water slides and tennis courts. If Forrest and Lake don't embrace their passion for each other, they'll be unable to stop him and that would be a disaster, not just for Gem Pond but for the entire natural world.