Haole Writes

The Devil's Coattails: More Dispatches from the Dark Frontier

2011-08-07T21:16:00.000-07:00

My short story "If You Love Me" is included in this amazing anthology edited by Jason V. Brock and William F. Nolan. It has just gone up for pre-order. Take a look at this list of contributors and tell me how lucky I am.

Ramsey Campbell, John Shirley, Jason V Brock, Marc Scott Zicree, Norman Corwin, Dennis Etchison, Earl Hamner, Jenny Brundage, Nancy Kilpatrick, Jerry E. Airth, Sunni K Brock, Richard Christian Matheson, Paul J. Salamoff, Paul G. Bens, Jr., William F. Nolan, Dan O'Bannon, Max Brand, Richard Selzer, James Robert Smith, and Wilum Pugmire/Maryanne K. Snyder.

You can preorder at: http://jasunni.mybigcommerce.com/pre-order-special-the-devils-coattails-more-dispatches-from-the-dark-frontier-trade-hardcover/

Interview at Nightlight

2011-03-14T16:13:00.001-07:00

The very sweet Darla Sands over at Nightlight was kind enough to ask me to do an interview which has now gone live. Please check it out if you have a moment.

And thank you Darla!

http://noonnight.blogspot.com/2011/03/my-virtual-sit-down-with-paul-g-bens-jr.html

Talk Story: Three Tales of Hawai'i - review

2010-12-14T09:59:00.000-08:00

A huge, huge thank you to Lisa over and Michele 'n Jeff Reviews for this amazing review of Talk Story: Three Tales of Hawai'i.

Here's a snippet of what Lisa had to say:

Talk Story: Three Tales of Hawai’i often feels like a glimpse into a private journal filled with thoughts and confessions and emotions of a deeply personal nature. The credit for that goes to the author’s absorbing prose and vivid imagery.

Kelland Reviewed

2010-11-26T23:24:00.000-08:00

A huge thank you to Kassa over at Three Dollar Bill Reviews for this amazing review of Kelland.

Check out the review, but in the meantime, here's a snippet:

Kelland proves that Paul G Bens is an exceptional author. After reading his collection of short stories, I knew I wanted to read Kelland and it doesn't disappoint. While well written and technically easy to read, the topics broached are anything but light. The characters suffer, deeply, but this isn't a depressing book. Instead it's compelling, interesting, and dynamic on several levels. You can't put the book down and don't want it to end yet you know what's coming isn't necessarily good.

And just a reminder...Kelland is now available in multiple e-book formats. You can find it in the Sony e-reeader Store, the iPad bookstore, Barnes & Noble Nook store, Kobo books, Diesel Books or just cut out the middleman and go to Smashwords.

The Fear of Gay Men

2010-11-03T08:21:00.000-07:00

THE FEAR OF GAY MEN: A roundtable interview on the New Queer Horror that I conducted with dark scribes Vince Liaguno, Michael Rowe, Lee Thomas , Robert Dunbar and Chad Helder is now live at Dark Scribe Magazine.

Check it out!

Part 1:

http://www.darkscribemagazine.com/dark-fiction-roundtable/the-fear-of-gay-men-a-roundtable-discussion-on-the-new-queer.html

Part 2:

http://www.darkscribemagazine.com/dark-fiction-roundtable/the-fear-of-gay-men-a-roundtable-discussion-on-the-new-queer-1.html

Go...read...what could be scarier than last night's election results?

Dark Discoveries & The Beheld reviewed

2010-07-15T14:23:00.000-07:00

Author David Agranoff has reviewed Dark Discoveries #16 and has some really lovely things to say about my contribution, "The Beheld."

The highlight for me was the wonderfully crafted “The Beheld” by Paul G. Bens. It is subtle, but unnerving tale that slowly worms it's way into your head.

Read David's review of the whole issue right HERE.

Thank you David!

The Beheld in Dark Discoveries #16

2010-06-23T23:58:00.001-07:00

Dark Discoveries #16 which contains my short story The Beheld is finally available for order. And I hear a number of copies are signed by William F. Nolan, Cody Goodfellow and Jason and Sunni Brock. So get those while they last.

The Beheld is probably the most extreme of my horror stories and is a story about the horrors of objectification and degradation.

Check it out.

http://darkdiscoveries.1freecart.com/i/170916/dark-discoveries-16-spring-2010-comics-pulps-mayhem.htm

Talk Story: Three Tales of Hawaii - review

2010-05-27T14:42:00.000-07:00

A pleasant surprise today....Three Dollar Bill Reviews has posted a blushingly good review of my short story collection Talk Story: Three Tales of Hawaii.

The review starts out with... Paul G. Bens' new collection of stories left me breathless... and only gets better from there.

Please check out the review and my huge thanks to Kassa and TDBR.

Talk Story available Now

2010-04-14T00:25:00.000-07:00

A Christmastime erotic journey through the streets of Waikiki...Life-long friends share an unexpected New Year's Eve...and the last Halloween between boyhood friends. Award-winning author Paul G. Bens, Jr. takes us on a trip through the Hawaiian Islands in this trio of short stories featuring the acclaimed erotic novella "Mahape a ale Wala'au." So, pull up a chair and let's Talk Story.

Featuring Mahape a ale Wala'au;
Me Ka Hau'oli Makahiki Hou;
an all new story, Ka Heleui Hope
and as a bonus, Kili's Tour of the Islands.

Talk Story: Three Tales of Hawai'i
ISBN 978-1-4524-5585-3
Price: $2.75
Purchase Link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/13032
Formats: RTF, PDF, epub, LRF (Sonyy ereader), plaintext, .mobi (Kindle)

NOTE: The version of Mahape is largely unchanged from the Torquere version released a few years ago. The one change is I did change back all the spelling to British spelling as Toshi being schooled in English at a British school was a character trait I liked. Likewise, Me Ka Hau'oli is identical to the version that was posted on my website for a few weeks about a year ago except for typo corrections. Ka Heleui Hope is a completely new story of about 3,000 words. Kili's Tour is the same version as was on my website except, again, for typo corrections.

My huge thanks to logophilos , lilygcs and Lavinia Ludlow for their guidance and support.

ETA: A couple people have asked about a print version of this. I'm investigating. Stay tuned.

Coming Soon

2010-04-11T16:22:00.000-07:00

Kelland for a Good Cause

2010-03-28T16:50:00.001-07:00

I am donating all of my 2010 second quarter (April through June 2010) royalties from sales of my novel Kelland to the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), a volunteer self-help organization of survivors of clergy sexual abuse and their supporters which works to end the cycle of abuse by supporting one another and by pursuing justice by holding individual perpetrators responsible and the church accountable.

With Pope Benedict using his Palm Sunday homily to call accusations of child abuse within the Catholic Church "petty gossip," SNAP's mission is more important than ever. It's an organization which has helped me many, many times.

Combining elements of horror and mystery, Kelland focuses four story lines, with each character meeting the titular Kelland, an enigmatic stranger who profoundly impacts their lives. Dark and unflinching in its examination of the impact of priestly abuse, Kelland has amassed an impressive amount of critical praise, with Bens' work compared to such prolific authors as Michael Cunningham and Stephen King. It has been called “perplexing and rewarding,” by Edge Magazine, and Stoker Award-winner Vince A. Liaguno of Dark Scribe Magazine--commenting on the small press origins of the book--declared that Kelland is "likely the best book you might not read this year. " Most recently, Kelland received a Black Quill Award for Best Small Press Chill.

Please feel free to spread the word by linking or re-posting.

"Kelland" Takes Home a Black Quill Award

2010-02-09T09:16:00.001-08:00

I'm very pleased and grateful that my novel Kelland has been awarded a Black Quill Award, specifically the Best Small Press Chill (Editors' Choice) award.

Black Quill Award Winners Announced
FLYNN, SIMMONS TAKE TOP HONORS IN BLACK QUILL AWARDS

LONG ISLAND, NY, February 9, 2010 — A master of otherworldly suspense and a literary fiction darling have taken top honors in the 3rd Annual Black Quill Awards, as winners were announced today by DARK SCRIBE MAGAZINE, the virtual magazine “dedicated to the books that keep readers up at night.”

Chicago-based author Gillian Flynn snagged the coveted Editor’s Choice award for DARK GENRE NOVEL OF THE YEAR for her sophomore effort, DARK PLACES, while veteran dark scribe Dan Simmons took Readers’ Choice honors in the same category for DROOD, his historical reimagining of the last years of Charles Dickens’ life. Simmons was nominated in the same category in 2007 for THE TERROR.

The Black Quill Awards were handed out in (8) categories honoring works of dark genre literature – horror, suspense, and thrillers – from both mainstream and small press publishers. While six of the awards recognized literary efforts, two of the awards recognized important aspects of book publishing and promotion: cover design and artwork and book trailer production — a growing marketing aspect of dark genre publishing. Peter Mahaichuk and César Puch dominated the BEST COVER ART AND DESIGN category for their work on Michael Louis Calvillo’s AS FATE WOULD HAVE IT for Bad Moon Books, while Calvillo himself took Readers’ Choice for BEST SMALL PRESS CHILL. Filmmaker JT Petty won Editors’ Choice for BEST DARK GENRE BOOK TRAILER for his work on the book trailer for real-life wife Sarah Langan’s AUDREY’S DOOR, while up-and-coming trailer producer John Palisano took Readers’ Choice in that same category for Gary Braunbeck’s FAR DARK FIELDS.

First-time nominees fared well in this year’s Black Quills, with Paul G. Bens Jr. taking top honors in the BEST SMALL PRESS CHILL category (Editor’s Choice) and Stoker Award-winner Lisa Morton scoring an Editors’ Choice nod for her editing work on MIDNIGHT WALK in the BEST DARK GENRE ANTHOLOGY category. Jameson Currier snagged an Editors’ Choice award for BEST DARK GENRE FICTION COLLECTION for THE HAUNTED HEART AND OTHER TALES, while David Nickle picked up the Readers’ Choice award in that same category for MONSTROUS AFFECTIONS. Editor Michael Knost took Editors’ Choice honors in the BEST DARK GENRE BOOK OF NON-FICTION category for the how-to compilation WRITERS WORKSHOP OF HORROR, while frequent Stephen King chronicler Bev Vincent earned Readers’ Choice honors in the same category for his THE ILLUSTRATED STEPHEN KING COMPANION. Elsewhere, Sarah Totton and Harry Shannon earned Editors’ Choice and Readers’ Choice nods, respectively, in the BEST DARK SCRIBBLE category. Totton’s short story “Flatrock Sunners” appeared in the UK print magazine BLACK STATIC, while Shannon’s “The Night Nurse” ran on the webzine Horror Drive-In.

Prolific genre editor Ellen Datlow – a double nominee this year – added a Black Quill Award to her lengthy list of honors for her editing work on POE: 19 NEW TALES INSPIRED BY EDGAR ALLAN POE. This was Datlow’s third nomination, following last year’s nomination for INFERNO: NEW TALES OF TERROR AND THE SUPERNATURAL and a second nomination this year for her work on the LOVECRAFT UNBOUND collection.

Nominations for the Black Quills are editorial-based, with both the editors and active contributing writers submitting nominations in each of the (8) categories. Once nominations are announced, readers of DSM cast their votes for their picks in each category. For this year’s outing, more than 3,300 votes were cast by the magazine’s readers. In a unique spin intended to celebrate both critical and popular success, two winners are traditionally announced in each category – Reader’s Choice and Editor’s Choice. Winners receive recognition in DSM, inclusion in press release materials announcing nominations and winners, a virtual icon to be used on their own website, and a handsome award certificate.

For a list of all the nominees, click HERE.

Casperian Books for Haiti Relief

2010-01-17T20:47:00.000-08:00

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD:

From now until Sunday, January 24, 2010 (or until they run out of local inventory) my publisher, Casperian Books, will donate its portion of the proceeds from any book sales made through the Casperian Website to Doctors without Borders. To add to that, I've asked Casperian to donate my royalties on any sales made of my novel Kelland during this period as well.

So check out the list and buy some books and if you've any desire to pick up a copy of Kelland, now would be the ideal time as all goes to a good cause.

Pre-editor & Editors Readers Poll

2010-01-03T21:29:00.000-08:00

First, a huge thanks to whoever nominated Kelland in the various categories.

Once again, the P&E Readersʻ Poll is going on. For those not familiar, this is a readersʻ poll and you can vote for your favorites or nominate something/someone that is not on the list as long as their work falls into the 2009 Calendar year.

You have to register an email to vote. This is my second year voting and they have never sent me an email (other than to confirm the individual votes).

Thereʻs a lot of good work in these lists and I hope everyone will take a moment to vote for their favorites (and if Kelland happens to be one of them, that would very, very much appreciated).

Overwhelmed by the categories? Here area few suggestions. =-) [Note that the list of nominees will continue to grow and not all the categories are listed below...just the ones where I had some thoughts]

NOVEL
HORROR - Kelland
MYSTERY - Kelland
ALL OTHER NOVELS - Honolulu by Alan Brennert / The Life Plan by Sybil Baker

SHORT STORY
HORROR - Mama Fish by Rio Youers

ANTHOLOGY - THE SILENT HUSTLER by Sean Meriwether

NON-FICTION ARTICLE- A Stark Interview with Christopher Conlon by Karen L. Newman

BOOK/E-BOOK COVER- Kelland by V.L. Ta

POETʻS PAGE- Karen L. Newman

ARTISTʻS PAGE- Kiriko Moth

BOOK/E-BOOK EDITOR- Lily Richards, Casperian Books (my editor!)

NON-FICTION ZINE- Dark Scribe Magazine

You can vote/nominate until JANUARY 14, 2010

And hereʻs the LINK

Don't Overlook These Books: A 2009 Reading List

2010-01-03T21:24:00.000-08:00

Thank you Kilian Melloy for including Kelland in Edge Magazine's Don't Overlook These Books: A 2009 Reading List. Also a nice to see one of my favorite books this year, Remastering Jerna by Ann Somerville also on the don't miss list.

Here's just a smidge of what Kilian had to say about Kelland:

Mind-bending and heart-wringing: the novel’s charming prose softens you up and then the plot ravishes your head.

The Ripples & Repercussions of Paul G. Bens, Jr.

2009-12-02T19:39:00.000-08:00

Dark Scribe Magazine and Vince Liaguno are just being too good to me.

Vince interviewed me for the Drawing First Blood series over at the magazine and the interview went live today.

So take a look. We cover a lot...from Martinis to literary influences as diverse as Poppy Brite, Armistead Maupin and Roald Dahl. Thank you Vince and Dark Scribe.

"Kelland" nominated for a Black Quill Award

2009-12-01T19:22:00.001-08:00

OK, you may have to pull me off the ceiling. I come home, check facebook and discover...

Holy Toledo!

Kelland has been nominated for Dark Scribe Magazine's Black Quill Award in the category of Best Small Press Chill.

The list of nominess in each category is amazing!

So check it out and if you're so inclined to vote for me (or any of the other books if not mine), please do so. The voting instructions are at the bottom of the page.

What is really neat about this is that I didn't enter this...I actually think you can't enter, if I remember correctly. You simply get nominated.

A huge, huge thanks to Vince Liaguno and the folks at Dark Scribe Magazine.

Dark Scribe Magazine on "Kelland" - Review

2009-11-26T11:19:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful thing to wake up to.

Stoker award-winner Vince A. Liaguno has reviewed Kelland in Dark Scribe Magazine. Here's a bit of what he had to say.

Kelland is a gorgeous, genre-defying novel of heartrending truth, a work that builds slowly and confidently toward a page-turning climax that will leave you breathless in anticipation of the inevitable events one is never quite sure how will play out.

You can read the entire review right HERE.

I have to say that I am very appreciative that people like Vince of Dark Scribe and Karen L. Newman of Dark Discoveries have responded to the novel. Kelland certainly falls into the Dark Fiction genre, but it isn't traditional horror and I'm am very grateful that it has been embraced by the genre.

"Kelland" Reviewed at Pride Source

2009-11-08T16:11:00.000-08:00

This was a pleasant surprise in today's google notifies (especially considering I broke a tooth today and I think I am out of dental benefits for the year).

Richard Labonte--who has a career to emulate and for whom I have enormous respect--has reviewed Kelland at Pride Source.

Here's a snippet

Kelland is a hauntingly beautiful woman. Kelland is a seemingly devout priest. Kelland is a preternaturally precocious boy. Kelland is an emotionally sadistic lover. In all these guises, he's a shape-shifter whose ephemeral timelessness bedevils the four disparate central characters populating this inventive debut novel...

SPOILER ALERT: You can read the whole review right here (third entry), though be warned that there are some spoilers.

Also, just a heads up that thanks to my most excellent friend Ann Somerville there will be a giveaway shortly of "Kelland" specifically for AUSTRALIAN readers. Stay tuned for details.

A Report from Winter by Wayne Courtois - review

2009-10-10T10:03:00.000-07:00

Title: A Report from Winter
Author: Wayne Courtois
Genre: Memoir
URL: Amazon
Price: US$18.00

Summary (from the publisher): It’s January 1998, and the author is returning “home” after a ten-year absence to a Maine winter that’s even more brutal than usual. His mother, Jennie, is dying of cancer; she is well cared for, but unable to speak. Needing support, Wayne calls on his longtime partner, Ralph, who heads northeast for his first exposure to the Maine cold. It’s also his first brush with Wayne’s family, including a feisty aunt and an emotionally distant brother. The contrast between a nurturing gay relationship and dysfunctional family bonds is as sharp as the wind sweeping in from the sea. Leavened with humor, A Report from Winter weaves childhood memories with the harsh realities of a family life that’s short on love. The memoir is a tribute to hard-won relationships in an uncaring world.

My Review:

There’s a freedom to reviewing a memoir that one seldom gets when reviewing fiction. On one hand, both narrative fiction and memoir can be held to the same standard when it comes to fluidity of prose, voice and style. On the other hand, one can’t apply the same standard when it comes to character arcs or “plot,” because in memoir, the author doesn’t have the luxury of instructing the characters to grow and change, to do his bidding. These are real people being depicted here; not fictional constructs, and as we all know, real life is seldom as neat and tidy as the fictional world. Some people don’t grow and change. Some moments aren’t satisfying, all wrapped up in a little bow or a happily-ever-after, and rose colored glasses don’t always work. So how does one go about reviewing a memoir?

For me, I have to look at it from two perspectives: does the author have a narrative style that draws the reader in, wraps him or her up in the lives he/she is spying in on, and does the writer strike emotional resonance with the reader, a universality in which a reader–no matter their orientation–can see him or herself? On both of these fronts, author Wayne Courtois excels in just about every way.

A Report from Winter is an introspective memoir, the author returning home to Maine and hints of a childhood that was hardly warm and inviting. As such, much of the narrative takes place in the narrator’s head, his observations and emotional reactions to a place and a feeling he’d long left behind taking center stage. He’s returning for the death of a parent, one of the quintessential defining moments in any adult’s life. It is that moment when childhood disappears forever, and Courtois captures with amazing clarity all the emotions that run though a person when they face this massive change.

Courtois’ voice and prose are wonderfully accessible, drawing the reader in with an easy style that has warmth and subtle humor. This is counterbalanced sharply by his attention to detail when it comes to creating for his readers the cold, harsh winter about him, a metaphor for the brittle childhood he experienced, one nearly devoid of love and the heart one wants every child to experience. The author’s use of limited flashbacks combined with his attention to detail with respect to the winter setting gives you the perfect picture of what life might have been like for the author while growing up, and he does this wonderfully, never resorting to a litany of who did what to whom. He gives us the broad strokes and anyone who has ever dealt with the passing of an emotionally distant parent will understand and feel every moment of that childhood, even though it may be very different than their own.

And yet, Courtois gives us glimmers of the love trying to break through that emotional permafrost of his family. They are brief, and perhaps they are only the longing perspective of a child grasping ant anything that could be taken for affection, but they are emotionally powerful glimpses.

Likewise, Courtois manages to paint pictures of his family with perfectly tuned phrases that tell us more about those people than long scenes of domestic drama ever could. This is especially important when you are dealing with people who are no longer with us in the traditional narrative sense. Though the author’s father is not really a central “character” as the memoir unfold, Courtois lets us know exactly who he was in a refreshingly spare way: My father didn’t say anything. He secretly disliked Louise, but it was the kind of secret you could practically trip over. And when it comes to the author’s mother, Jennie, who is bedridden and unable to speak, Courtois also paints a vivid picture. Yes, there was my mother, carrying on in a low voice, spitting out grudges like watermelon seeds.

Despite all this, we feel the author’s need to find something positive in his family, the desire for closure and approval as a major chapter of his life ends. Courtois captures the mixed emotions of such a time: the bitterness from holding on to a past, the longing for closure, the guilt for staying away so long, the claustrophobia of remembering why you left in the first place. It is here the memoir excel the most, crossing wonderfully from the story of one man’s family, into a universal story that has emotional depth and resonance.

If there is one qualm I have with the book is that while the POV remaining entrenched in the author’s thoughts works brilliantly when addressing the past and family, I did long for it to open up a bit when the author’s partner, Ralph, arrives on the scene. I wanted the introspection to ease a bit so that I could get to know who Ralph was, especially in relation to the author. We certainly get close to that at times. The chapter where the author recounts their first date is wonderfully truthful, hope and potential love peeking out. It also has a light humor to it that really makes you want to know these two people as a couple. But while we see glimpses of it, I never really felt that I knew Ralph and never quite saw exactly what he brought into the author’s life. I certainly know what I have been told by the author, but because the narrative remains entrenched in introspection, I never get shown who they are together. And I wanted to see that, feel the spring that Ralph brought into the author’s life.

But in the end, Courtois has taken a piece of his life, let us glimpse in, and built a world that is full and truthful, one that will feel familiar to many. With humor, wit and sharp prose, he builds a family, dissects it and holds it up for examination. He never gilds the lily and the result is an honesty that has depth and resonance for the reader. Does he tie it up in rosy endings? No. But he doesn’t need to. Life can be messy and feel unresolved at times, because, as author Courtois shows us, you really can’t go home again…but sometimes that is not a bad thing.

"Kelland" in Dark Discoveries Magazine - review

2009-10-02T19:14:00.002-07:00

I've known about this review for a while, but it just came out today.

Karen L. Newman of Dark Discoveries Magazine has written an amazing review of Kelland.

Here's a snippet of what she had to say:

Bens’ style of writing seems to flow across the pages and his use of language and strong characterization is reminiscent of Stephen King. The horror in Kelland is ripped from the headlines, yet is presented in a fresh, original manner. The supernatural being Kelland is left as an enigma, part of the symbolism used to enhance the story. Bens’ immense talent is showcased in this outstanding novel and he is an author to watch.

You can read the whole review right HERE.

My huge thanks to Karen and DD.

Contest Results!

2009-10-02T19:14:00.001-07:00

I was going to post this last night, but I wasn't feeling well. But the joint giveaway contest for "Kelland" and "Remastering Jerna" has come to an end.

Our winners ended up being:

For Kelland – April and Kathy

For Remastering Jerna – Carly and Leah

I'll be emailing everyone shortly. Thank you all for playing and enjoy the reading!

Win a Great New Novel! Or Even Two!

2009-09-12T20:12:00.000-07:00

It’s the most exciting giveaway since Eve offered fruit on Adam!

Enter for a chance to win a copy of one of two fabulous new novels – Paul Bens’ dark and fascinating Kelland, or Ann Somerville’s erotic BDSM tale, Remastering Jerna. It’s easy!

Answer the following questions:

1. What does ‘BDSM’ stand for?
2. Who were the three lead singers for Van Halen?
3. What is the city of Sài Gòn now called?
4. BDSM practitioners abide by a principle called ‘Safe, Sane and _ _ _’ What?

And send your answers to:
Paul Bens, if you want to enter for a chance to win Kelland, at whoiskelland@gmail.com

Ann Somerville, if you want to enter for a chance to win Remastering Jerna, at logophilos@gmail.com

to both addresses, if you want to enter for a chance to win both books.

Sorry – open to US residents only. There are four books to be won in all.

Competitions closes at midnight PST on 1 October.

Winners will receive notices through email.

Kelland - review

2009-09-07T14:13:00.000-07:00

A fine author in his own right, Wayne Courtois has reviewed Kelland over at Out in Print. Thank you Wayne for your kind words about the novel.

Here's a snippet of what Wayne had to say:

No light snack, Kelland is a novel you can sink your teeth into, chew on for a good while, and still have more for later. This is good news, since its dark, mysterious, smoky flavor is worth savoring.

And you can read the whole review right HERE.

Kelland - another review

2009-09-06T12:46:00.000-07:00

And writer extraordinaire (is that how that's spellled?) Kit Zheng is too kind to me in her review of Kelland.

[Kelland] does not shy away from the ugliness that is inside people and that waits for us around every corner of life, but at the same time, it somehow reminded me that for all these flaws and failures, there is something forgivable, and perhaps even something worth loving there, too.

You can read Kit's entire review right HERE and go check out her amazing writing HERE.

Kelland - excerpt at Velvet Mafia

2009-09-06T12:45:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to amazing editor and even more amazing writer Sean Meriwether of Velvet Mafia: Dangerous Queer Fiction for adding an excerpt of Kelland to the VM pages. Sean was one of the first editors ever to accept my short fiction (his notes on Kama made the story so much better) and by working with him, I learned a lot about writing. Thanks, Sean!

Step out for a night with rocker, Toan, as he throws out his lure to reel in the next little fishie... only his laws of attraction work on the wrong boys. Read an excerpt from Paul G. Bens, Jr's new novel, Kelland.

http://velvetmafia.com/2009/09.04.bens.php

Go have a read and please sample some of the other amazing fiction over there.

Kelland - review

2009-09-06T12:44:00.000-07:00

lilygcs has written a really lovely review of Kelland. I really am very, very appreciative. You're too goo to me.

Here's a snippet of what she has to say.

As I read this book I found myself wanting to keep reading straight to the end because the story just didn't want to let me go and at the same time I wanted to slow down so that it didn't end. That's the same feeling I would get when reading some of my favorite Stephen King books and it had been quite a while since I had felt this way about a book.

And the whole review is right HERE or HERE, which I just now discovered (Paul's not very observant these days).

Kelland is Released!

2009-09-01T21:17:00.000-07:00

I am proud and thankful to have Casperian Books release my first novel today.

When the Truth Is All That Matters

The truth begins with a family evacuated from
Saigon during the final days of the Viet Nam War.
Or perhaps it begins later, with a devoutly Catholic child
with the voice of an angel who is troubled by visions both
sacred and profane. Or perhaps later still, with a couple
drifting apart following a tragedy.

Kelland appears to them all in the guise of a small
boy, a lover, a priest...Kelland is an enigma, a puzzle,
and an almost imperceptible presence. Kelland is
violence, sorrow and joy. Kelland is the common
thread tying five disparate strangers together.

You can purchase it at
Casperian Books
and your local independent bookstore
or at
Barnes and Noble
Amazon

Read some of the
reviews

Reviews and/or ratings on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and GoodReads are always appreciated.

As an added bonus, the publisher of Kelland is holding a raffle wherein one lucky person might win an advance copy of Manna Francis' fifth installment of The Administration Series: Quis Custodiet. Click on the Casperian Book Blog for more information.

Kelland Review by Ann Somerville

2009-08-31T19:06:00.001-07:00

Ann Somerville, a dear friend, an author I admire and someone who has read this novel far more than anyone should ever have to (thank you, Ann!), has also posted a review that humbles me. Here's just a part of what Ann has to say.

It’s a book with gay characters, by a gay author, but it’s not ‘gay fiction’. It’s not a romance, but there is a lot of love – as well as hate. It takes the apparently unconnected histories of a grieving couple, a family making a new life after escaping the Vietnam war, and a young boy with an extraordinary voice and an obsession with God, and draws them together in a narrative which is fascinating, at times horrifying, at other times beautiful and moving.

You can read Ann's full review right HERE.

Kelland review by Elisa Rolle

2009-08-31T19:05:00.001-07:00

Elisa_Rolle has posted a lovely review of Kelland. I so appreciate this because I know this book treads into far darker territory than most like to go and Elisa honors me that she was willing to dive into it.

Here's part of what Elisa had to say:

...I was not expecting for it to have hope, I was ready to being plunged deep into a dark drama and not having even the small hope of an escaping light somewhere. It's not like that, Kelland is that light. Kelland is the guiding light of all the characters in the book, all of them tainted by the dark, but who found a way to escape that darkness.

You can read all of Elisa review (and many, many more reviews) right HERE.

Kelland reviewed at Uniquely Pleasurable - review

2009-08-31T19:03:00.000-07:00

A huge thank you goes out to Lydia Thorne who reviewed Kelland today over at Uniquely Pleasurable. It's a lovely review and I am incredibly appreciative. Here's a snippet of what Lydia had to say

Kelland doesn’t rest on gimmicky thrills and revelations, but there are some ah-ha! moments reminiscent of M. Night Shyamalan’s better films. So while some readers may initially find the novel’s structure disorienting, the tension and thrill of discovery serve as an ample reward for patience. The pacing is tight and by the story’s end, you realize Bens hasn’t wasted a single word.

You can read the whole review right HERE.

Remastering Jerna by Ann Somerville - review

2009-08-30T15:56:00.000-07:00

OK, I finally got all my thoughts together on this brilliant (10 stars outta 10) novel. So have a read.

Title: Remastering Jerna
Author: Ann Somerville
Genre: Gay fiction, speculative fiction, romance, BDSM romance
URL: PD Publishing
Price: US$19.99
Other Information/warnings: Explicit m/m sex; extreme BDSM practices including bondage, masochism; violence; rape; reference to underage sex; psychological stress from imprisonment and torture

Summary [from the publisher]:
In a world not unlike our own, Jerna Setiq has a perfect life, a beloved wife and two adored children, with his past desires and needs firmly put behind him. But when he’s falsely accused of child abuse and imprisoned, he’s cast into hell, with no apparent means of redemption, or regaining all that he’s lost.

In the most unlikely of places, in the most unpromising of circumstances, fate offers Jerna his second chance and a path to freedom. With the cruelly fascinating Tolomy, a dominant in need of education and a patient submissive, Jerna dares to satisfy the long denied passions of his dual nature – but will he risk losing what has become so dear to him, all over again?

Remastering Jerna is a complex, erotic story of redemption, love, and the contract of trust in a relationship of control and submission.

My Review: Anyone who knows me knows that I am a fan of Ann Somerville's work. Never does she fail to take me on an interesting journey replete with full rich characters and interesting worlds. Still when I first heard of Remastering Jerna I was a bit hesitant. That it would be good I had no doubts (Somerville is always dependable on that front), but this particular novel dealt in part with a topic which tends to make me a bit uneasy: a Dominant/submissive relationship with BDSM elements. In the past when I have tried to read works with this content I’ve seldom been able to get past my own qualms (and, let’s be honest, my own prejudices) with the subject matter. Issues of control--and lack thereof--in m/m fiction tend to bother me, tap into my own issues. So, I tentatively stuck my toe in the water. That’s all it took and I was reeled in.

We’re introduced to Jerna and his life as a devoted teacher and father. Jerna is an honorable man, someone who, though he has desire he has kept hidden, sets about doing the best in life that he can. He’s a good man. And so, when a former lover (and master) Kimis reenters his life, Jerna is welcoming to the man, confident and content with the fact that although he once loved Kimis, their past relationship was safely sealed away. Kimis asks Jerna to become a tutor to his new “apprentice,” a bright young man on the cusp of adulthood named Davim, and Jerna gladly agrees to do so. But when Jerna discovers that Kimis is having a sexual relationship with the not-yet-of legal age apprentice, Jerna counsels Kimis to stop the relationship until the young man comes of age. Unfortunately, Davim doesn’t like his new separation and when he and Jerna are caught in what appears to be a compromising position, Jerna is quickly accused, tried and convicted of child abuse.

This turn of events launches Jerna into a pit few people would be strong enough to survive. He is thrown into the corrupt and brutal penal system where all that he was is stripped away, brutally, seemingly irreparably. Subjected to rape and degradation beyond imagining, Jerna tries to draw faith from his belief in the Goddess and in the inherent goodness of man, but soon he finds himself at an abyss of despair from which he shall never recover. It is then that he finds what seems to be a way out, an outsourced “job” at a high-end brothel that sometimes “hires” prisoners who are trying to pay off the almost insurmountable tariffs inflicted on prisoners. Knowing he does not wish his wife and family to be saddled with such debt if he should die in prison, Jerna takes the job and begins not only a journey of self-awareness, but also a journey of healing. But will he survive those journeys or will he end up back in prison for the rest of his life?

Now some of the things I always know that I’ll get from a Somerville novel are really well developed characters, plot and world building, and Jerna has all of those and much, much more. Each of the characters is fully realized, nuanced at every level. Her men are wonderfully masculine and blessedly balanced with unique personalities and realistic faults and foibles. Her world building is exquisite. When we’re in the prison, we not only see the place vividly, but we smell the smells and experience the rigid oppression that dominates such institutions. And as a counterpoint, we’re introduced to the brothel and while we knew it was high-end, we might expect a sense of exploitation of the workers as has been drilled into our heads by media. And this is where Somerville gives us the first of many surprises.

The “brothel” is a wonderful place, and not only for the customers. The staff is well taken care of, and even Jerna, a criminal in society’s eyes, is treated with an amount of respect unparalleled in even the outside world. Yet, Somerville doesn’t whitewash it either. It is a business and like every business, the customer is always right, even when they are wrong. This gives the setting a unique dual nature: a place where Jerna alternately feels wonderfully safe and free, but one where he knows he is still at the mercy of the customers’ needs and, sometimes, their capriciousness. One upset customer and Jerna will be sent back to the tortuous prison. It’s really quite brilliantly done and serves to create an air of tension, suspense and an almost palpable fear, one that Jerna lives with every day.

The people in the brothel--from employees to customers and even the management--are wonderfully rich characters as well. No stereotypes here. The dialog is sharp and nuanced and each of the characters has a story and character arc that is wonderfully satisfying. That is another trademark of Somerville’s work: each of her characters grow. They aren’t the same at the end of the novel as they are at the beginning.

Likewise I have to take a moment and commend Somerville on her female characters in the book. Most times in m/m romance and gay fiction, the female characters suffer from a two dimensionality that the male characters do not. Not so in Somerville’s work in general and wonderfully not true here. Each of the female characters here are dynamic and vibrant. Jerna’s wife Tyrme is not some long-suffering wife or a shrew. Neither is she cast into the “hag” role, the generic best friend to the gay protagonist. Though a minor character, we fully understand why Jerna fell in love with her. She is full and rich and so well drawn that we feel Jerna’s longing to return to her and we understand it. The same can be said of the other female characters: from Jerna’s boss at the brothel to the doctor who cares for him. The women are not just there to serve the male characters or the plot. They have lives of their own and we as readers get to share those lives.

But the main thing I want to comment on about this book is the thing that concerned me the most: the D/s-BDSM relationship. I freely admit that these types of relationships I have never fully understood and I am sure I have carried my share of judgments around with me. But with the introduction of the main relationship/romance in the novel (and here I don’t want to say too much lest I give away some of the beauty of this book and its plot), Somerville takes me some place I never expected to go. By having Jerna become a teacher of sorts at the brothel, Somerville brilliantly and subtly teaches about the true dynamics and the beautiful depth inherent in such relationships. The result is that I found myself deeply drawn into the romance, learning what such relationships truly mean to each of the participants. Now don’t get me wrong, this isn’t some textbook or preachy aspect. It is all beautifully woven in and does something amazing for me…helps shatter the stereotypes I held about D/s and BDSM relationships. By using the first part of the book to show true brutality via the prison setting, Somerville exquisitely leads us to a romance and expertly explores the true breadth and depth of trust and love and respect at the heart of D/s and BDSM relationships. I can honestly say that the expert construction and wonderfully accessible understanding of the relationship dynamic opened my eyes. It taught me something, helped to shatter my prejudices. That, for me, is what literature should do, entertain and edify, and Somerville does both brilliantly with Remastering Jerna.

Most highly recommended.

Honolulu by Alan Brennert - review

2009-08-29T18:42:00.000-07:00

Title: Honolulu
Author: Alan Brennert
Genre: Historical Fiction, Hawaiiana
URL: Amazon
Price: US$24.95 (hardcover list price)
Warnings: Some violence
Summary (from the publisher): Honolulu is the rich, unforgettable story of a young “picture bride” who journeys to Hawai’i in 1914 in search of a better life. Instead of the affluent young husband and chance at an education that she has been promised, she is quickly married off to a poor, embittered laborer who takes his frustrations out on his new wife. Renaming herself Jin, she makes her own way in this strange land, finding both opportunity and prejudice. With the help of three of her fellow picture brides, Jin prospers along with her adopted city, which is growing from a small territorial capital into the great multicultural city it is today. But paradise has its dark side, whether it’s the daily struggle for survival in Honolulu’s tenements, or a crime that will become the most infamous in the island’s history.

With its passionate knowledge of people and places in Hawai’i far off the tourist track, Honolulu is most of all the spellbinding tale of four women in a new world, united by dreams, disappointment, sacrifices and friendship.

My Review: Generally, historical fiction is not a genre I actively seek out unless the subject matter is something that intrigues me or about which I have a particular passion. My brief forays into historicals have led me to discover some amazing books and some which, regrettably, read like nothing more than the history textbooks I so despised when I was in school. I stumbled onto Alan Brennert through my passion for Hawaiian history and that led me to his prior novel, Moloka’i, an exquisite example of historical fiction that is moving and full of wonderful characterization. When I learned that his next novel was entitled Honolulu, I was both excited and cautious. I was excited because Brennert was revisiting Hawaiian history which he had done so well in Moloka’i, and cautious because I knew that follow-up novels (one can’t call this a sophomore outing as Brennert has a nice literary back-list) can often be disappointing and because Honolulu had some pretty big shoes to fill in my eyes. Well, I am happy to say that Brennert did not in any way let me down with this novel. From both a fiction and a historical fiction perspective, this novel has everything I crave in a good book: dynamic characters, an easy storytelling style, emotional resonance and that wonderful feeling I am left with when a novel transports me to a different locale. While I can’t say that Honolulu exceeds its predecessor, I can say that it absolutely equals it in just about every respect.

The story in Honolulu is a simple one, but don’t let this lull you into believing that this is merely a domestic relationship story. Told from the first-person perspective of a young girl whose Korean name means Regret (her father’s sentiments when she did not turn out to be a boy), our journey begins in 1912 Korea as we meet Regret and discover her to be a dutiful Korean woman with an independent streak just waiting to blossom. Through a series of events (and with the help of a knowing relative), Regret’s longing for an education is somewhat fulfilled when she is taught to read and write Hangul, skills forbidden to women in Korea at the time. These moments where she is secretly schooled serve as the spark for her to find her own destiny, to see beyond the walls of her acestral home and village. As she grows older, she and a friend who is likewise determined to strike out on her own, hear of Hawai’i — a place that is romantic and warm — and of the Korean women who go there as “picture brides,” so named because the Korean men in Hawai’i chose their wives solely from photographs sent to Hawai’i from “matchmakers” in Korea. Although Regret is convinced no fine Korean man would choose her, a girl so plain and unassuming, the promise of an education and a life that consists of more than walking 3 steps behind, she and her friend set out to become picture brides and move to that island in the South Pacific where the streets are paved with gold.

And move Regret does. However, when she arrives in Honolulu she is shocked to find that her new husband is not the young, handsome man whose picture she had seen back home, but an old, slightly broken laborer with a distasteful temper. But, being the dutiful wife, she goes through with the marriage and spends he first night in the arms of an uncaring man as the two honeymoon in the Hotel of Sorrows, a seedy hotel where nearly all picture brides spend their first nights as new wives. But, as Regret discovers, the hotel’s nickname is no accident as she hears the tears of other picture brides through the walls that first night.

Regret follows her husband into the cane plantation on which he works, but as weeks become months, become a year, her new husband’s temper and alcoholism lead her into a life of walking on eggshells. One night, however, everything changes when Regret’s husband, embittered, drunk and having gambled away all his wages, strikes out at his wife and beats her mercilessly. Not long after, Regret makes a decision that will forever alter her life. She runs away from her abusive husband, and into the arms of Honolulu, a city that allows herself to reinvent her life. She re-christens herself Jin and starts over in the tenements of a city whose streets are barely paved, let alone in gold. And here is where the true breadth of the story begins. What will become of Jin? And will the husband she has left behind let her live a life without him? It’s a fascinating journey that I will not spoil for you.

As I read this novel–which follows Jin up to her 60th birthday–I was swept up in the story, the events and characters playing out in a comfortable and easy style, the sights and sounds of turn-of-the-century Honolulu washing over me. The result is a tale that is remarkably full, the easy style masking the emotional depth of the life I had just lived through Jin. Each character is drawn expertly, small details woven in that not only define them, but subtly adds to their characters, moving them along as the years pass. Even the minor characters are rich and full; yet none is drawn with a heavy hand. Mannerisms are implied, the dialog slowly creates each character, and even those we meet only briefly are far from the cardboard cutouts one can find in any genre of fiction.

Likewise, Brennert’s research is exquisite but never overwhelming. For anyone with a passing knowledge of Hawaiian history, it is evident how “right” Brennert got it, whether he is describing the rough tenement around the city or the price of a tin of sardines. Never once does Brennert “show off” his research skill, and each detail of the city and its surrounds are quietly woven in, each piece of information building that character of the city, a character as strong as any of the living people in this book. It is handled deftly, lightly, expertly.

Now, some of the reviews I have read of this novel complain of the focus on racism and prejudice, as if it is overwhelming. Knowing a little something about the time and place, I can say quite confidently that with respect to this issue, the author got every little detail. While it may be hard to read at times, the fact of the matter is that Honolulu of the time very much was a place where the Native Hawaiians (and, in fact, all people of color) were highly marginalized and subject to much discrimination (if not outright violence). Hawai’i of that time was ruled by rich, white foreigners, haole, who thought nothing of taking everything the land had to offer, and thought even less of the native peoples or ethnic laborers. It was a fact and Brennert depicts it well. He never (despite what other reviews might imply) bashes the reader over the head with it. But it was a fact of everyday life for the Hawaiians and other ethnic groups that rings true on every level.

One of the trickiest aspects of historical fiction can be the inclusion of actual historical figures. One of the potential pitfalls of this is that a story can become a bit like “Forrest Gump,” the hero involved with so many historical figures that it becomes nothing more than a literary device that strains credibility. Brennert never stoops to that level. Yes, the author does integrate historical figures into the story: Queen Lili’uokalani, May Thompson (the inspiration for Somerset Maugham’s Sadie Thompson), Chang Apana (the slight inspiration for Charlie Chan), Duke Kahanamoku and, perhaps most importantly, Joseph Kahahawai, whose moments in the story provide for some of the most emotional aspects. But inclusion of these people is no parlor trick, no “hook” in order to sell a book. Each character is believably integrated. We can easily see how Jin would have met each one considering the life she led. And that is very telling about the kind of author Brennert is. He never exploits his characters, never takes them beyond the life they actually lead. The people that come in and out of Jin’s life are not placed there out of capriciousness. They are there because they would have been and they would have easily encountered Jin. It is completely believable in all respects.

In the end, Honolulu appears to be a story about a strong, young, dynamic woman. And it is. But it is also the portrait of a time and place expertly drawn without the haze of rose-colored glasses. And perhaps most importantly, it is a story about life and family, the ‘ohana we build out of necessity and love and the need for a family when our blood relatives are far away. And like any family, it has its ups and down. But it is a family I was glad to be a part of, if only for a brief while.

Interview at Small Press Reviews

2009-08-23T22:07:00.001-07:00

Extremely talented author Marc Schuster over at Small Press Reviews was kind enough to interview me about Kelland and that interview has gone live.

I don't think there are any spoilers here, so please pop over and give the interview a read right HERE.

While you're there, check out the other reviews and please check out Marc's own novel The Singular Exploits of Wonder Mom and Party Girl. (Which, BTW, has to be one of the greatest titles ever.)

My hugest thanks to Marc. I am very, very grateful.

A Note From Alan Brennert

2009-08-23T18:03:00.000-07:00

Alan Brennert who is one of my favorite authors (read his novels Moloka'i and Honolulu) just sent me the most lovely email after finishing Kelland.

With his permission...here is part of what he said.

...perfectly crafted and absorbing read. Beautifully written, a kaleidoscope of finely drawn characters and an unfolding mystery that reveals the hope and horror in the human heart.

I never expected something so wonderful from him. I am overwhelmed and grateful.

It really is amazing to get mail like this from an author you respect so very much.

Kelland Press

2009-08-21T10:40:00.000-07:00

So far I've been very fortunate with advance reviews and press on Kelland and as we approach release day (9/1/09), I thought I'd lay out everything so far. Updating as new stuff comes in.

Bens allows his novel to surprise the reader in unconventional ways. As the story unfolds...disconcerting twists arise that challenge what you think you know, even daring you to take another look at your long-cherished notions of good and evil.

- Kilian Melloy, Edge Magazine

...the reader is drawn to find out the common thread that binds the players, and the truth behind the tormenting secrets keeping them walled apart from each other—and themselves.

- E.B. Boatner at Lavender Magazine

...a full bodied mystery of human relations and the divineness that can be found in all of us.

-Liz at GLBT Bookshelf

Here is a book that you must read. It will keep you thinking for a very long time---and that's a good thing.

-Amos Lassen at Literary Pride

ARTICLES:

Edge Magazine Interview by Kilian Melloy
Northern Kentucky Native Pens First Novel by Jo Anne Moore at The Skeptik One.
Asian Americans Take Center Stage in Enigmatic Kelland -- Asian Week

REVIEW: Kelland

2009-08-21T10:36:00.001-07:00

As if Kilian Melloy's wonderful interview piece on Kelland was not enough, his generous review of Kelland is now live at Edge Magazine.

Here's a snippet of what he has to say:

Bens allows his novel to surprise the reader in unconventional ways. As the story unfolds... disconcerting twists arise that challenge what you think you know, even daring you to take another look at your long-cherished notions of good and evil.

You can read the whole review right HERE.

Thank you again, Kilian and Edge.

EDGE Magazine interview about Kelland

2009-08-20T19:44:00.000-07:00

Kilian Melloy of EDGE Magazine has put together an interview with me about my novel Kelland (releasing on 9/1/09 for those who may have forgotten).

This was an interesting process for me because Kilian asked some amazing questions which really made me look at Kelland and talk about what I was trying to accomplish. I so seldom talk about writing that it was a wonderful experience from beginning to end.

Please check out the interview and Kilian's other articles on Edge.

My huge thanks to Kilian. When I get out your way, drinks are on me.

REVIEW: Kelland

2009-07-17T19:17:00.001-07:00

E.B. Boatner has been kind enough to review Kelland in Lavender Magazine out of Minneapolis. I have to say that the closing line of the review is more than I could have hoped for.

As author Bens cautions in this first novel, what we each need comes at a price that can escalate to violence—even death.

You can read the whole review right here.

My huge thanks to EB and Lavender!

Looking for GLBT Books and/or Writers?

2009-07-16T21:11:00.000-07:00

Mel Keegan and a group of dedicated folks have set up and launched the the GLBT Bookshelf, a site where readers can find books that are GLBT in content, interact with writers, purchase books, join discussions, read reviews and the like. It is a groovy site where a community of readers and writers interested in GLBT fiction can support our mutual habits.

Registration is free, and it is set up like a Wiki pretty much as easy as a blog. I haven't had a lot of time to go in and play, but here's my bare-bones page to take a look at.

So pop over and join up. Good stuff over there.

Kelland contest on GoodReads!

2009-07-13T19:03:00.000-07:00

My novel Kelland is being released on September 1, 2009, by Casperian Books, and two copies of the novel have been put up on GoodReads book giveaway contest, this particular contest being open to residents of the U.S.

You have to be a GoodReads member (it's free) to enter and GoodReads solely chooses the winners when the contest ends. They'll inform me and I'll send the copies to the winners.

The contest opens on TODAY and closes on August 15, 2009; so the winners should receive their copies on or slightly before the September 1, 2009 release date.

Cheers!
Paul
**********
When the Truth Is All That Matters

The truth begins with a family evacuated from Saigon during
the final days of the Viet Nam War. Or perhaps it begins later,
with a devoutly Catholic child with the voice of an angel who
is troubled by visions both sacred and profane. Or perhaps
later still, with a couple drifting apart following a tragedy.

Kelland appears to them all in the guise of a small boy, a lover,
a priest...Kelland is an enigma, a puzzle, and an almost
imperceptible presence. Kelland is violence, sorrow
and joy. Kelland is the common thread tying five
disparate strangers together.

Kelland mentioned in Asian Week

2009-06-30T18:37:00.001-07:00

Melissa He over at Asian Week has done a little blurb on Kelland in the most recent Daily Dose.

You can check it out here.

My thanks to Melissa and to Asian Week!

Kelland Article!

2009-06-28T14:39:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Jo Anne at The SkeptikOne in my hometown area of Cincinnati for this piece on me and Kelland.

Oh, and should you so be inclined, you can pre-order through Barnes and Noble or better yet, support independent bookstores like Passage Books in New Richmond, Ohio or find your local indie bookstore through Indie Bound.

Kelland - Reader Review

2009-06-16T21:08:00.000-07:00

The wonderful latetocomics was one of the folks on my Live Journal friends list who won one of the advance, sneak-peek copies of Kelland a few weeks back. Well, she read it and gave me a lovely review that I wanted to share with everyone. (I'm such a tease, aren't I?)

Here's a snippet of what she had to say:

Paul adds so much realism to the story and brings the characters to life with the Vietnamese family, dialogue and interactions, Ma & Ba, Toan's singing, guitar playing, song composing, the pomp and pageantry of the Catholic Mass, and the gremlins that potentially hide beneath the most innocent of exteriors.

You can read her whole review HERE (as well as my admission that I am hot for one of my own characters). I don't think there are any real spoilers here.

I am so appreciative, L. Words can't express the smile you gave me today.

Kelland is available September 1, 2009.

The Singular Exploits of Wonder Mom and Party Girl by Marc Schuster

2009-06-14T15:41:00.000-07:00

One of the things I love about small presses it the huge variety of stuff that gets published...stuff mainstream houses usualy don't touch. But what I love about it even more is the number of titles you just stumble across that make you go..."Oh, I have to pick this up." I'm constantly very happily amazed at the quality of material that small presses find and publish.

I'm terribly behind in my reading, but when I stumbled on Marc Schuster's book, The Singular Exploits of Wonder Mom & Party Girl I laughed out loud at the title and the artwork. And then I read the blurb and I was hooked. The juxtaposition of humor and very serious themes will get me just about every time. I love dark humor, especially when it examines real stuff. So I added it to my to be-read list and really am looking forward to it.

The other thing that really got me about this book was the entire package. From the artwork to the blurb, it all just really drew me in. Just goes to show you how important these things are.

SIlver Phoenix by Cindy Pon

2009-04-28T09:58:00.000-07:00

God bless Moye at 8Asians.com making me aware of this new sci-fi book. Well, not me personally, but by blogging about it. Can I just say that I can't wait to read this.

And this is a pretty amazing book trailer for it.

It's Official!

2009-04-26T21:14:00.000-07:00

A visitor to my website clued me in that the product page for Kelland has gone live at the Casperian Books website. So I can now make it official...

Kelland is Coming
on
September 1, 2009

It's very cool to see it up there live. And isn't the artwork beautiful?!

Now begins the marketing push. Have a look!

Boycott Avatar: The Last Airbender

2009-04-21T21:20:00.000-07:00

NOTE: This post is NOT about the James Cameron film "Avatar" which is why I am deleting all comments about the James Cameron film.

A fascinating idea to spread the word of a boycott against the live action version of Avatar: The Last Airbender is HERE. Check it out. Sounds like a cool idea.

If you haven't been keeping up, Paramount finally responded to MANAA HERE. And MANAA has responded to Paramount HERE.

Oh, and Producer Frank Marshall has said via Twitter (in response to a very polit inquiry) that "The casting is complete and we did not discriminate against anyone. I am done talking about it."

Luckily, we aren't done talking about it. Ya see Mr. Marshall, it's a bit of privilege showing when you, a rich old white guy in a position of power -- and one of the offenders--- has decided that a conversation about race, discrimination and exclusion should come to an end.

And Mr. Marshall, might I suggest that if you are planning on a live-action movie of Mulan, Miley Cyrus is really not an appropriate actress to cast. (Not that he is planning this movie or casting, but knowing him....)

Kelland Website Update

2009-04-19T19:19:00.000-07:00

So, the BF and I did some updating of the Kelland website and taking a major cue from fellow Casperian author Sybil Baker, there is now a Reading Group's page for when the novel comes out. We had to figure out how to do the coding and all (well, the BF did since I'm a website idiot), but this is a groovy idea and tip of the hat to Sybill.

Sybil's website is very, very cool with fun, fun stuff and her novel The Life Plan is getting some great reviews. So, please check her out and support a fellow Casperian author. Here's a link where you can read the first chapter of The Life Plan.

A Fun Email

2009-04-18T16:28:00.001-07:00

I got an email the other day from a young woman who had seen my trailers (#1 and #2 on YouTube for Kelland. The videos ask Who is Kelland? and she emailed me to say that she is Kelland...rather a Kelland. She shares last names with the title character of my book and she wanted to know where I had gotten the name.

It was a very nice email to receive and I appreciated it. It's nice to know people have been catching the trailers. So I answered her back and told her the source of the name.

Los Angeles Based Fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender

2009-04-15T21:20:00.000-07:00

There is a meeting tomorrow with the Media Action Network for Asian Americans to discuss the whitewashing of Avatar: The Last Airbender and if you are able to make it, MANAA wants to know your thoughts as fans. The meeting is in Chinatown tomorrow night at 7:30. Though I haven't seen them for years, the MANAA folks are great, dedicated people. If you're in LA or just know people who are and who are Avatar fans or concerned with Asian exclusion in mass media, please spread the word.

Here's more info: http://community.livejournal.com/racebending/22879.html

Work has been really hectic, but I'm going to try and be there tomorrow.

Important American History

2009-04-15T21:18:00.000-07:00

Completely gacked from Resist Racism because this is something that is very important to many people I know (and me as well).

You may have all heard that The Simpsons are getting their image on a U.S. postage stamp. The Simpsons! Now before you Simpsons fans hoot and holler...

Do you know an important group of people who deserve to be remembered on a U.S. stamp for their contribution to our nation? The Japanese American veterans of WWII who fought on behalf of our country, despite the fact that EO 9066 deprived many of them of their civil rights, their livelihood and their property when our government -- their government -- interred them in concentration camps like Manzanar.

The fight to get the Nisei the tribute they deserve has been going on for a long time. Yet the Simpsons (fictional characters) get a stamp and brave men who fought and in some cases died for a country that had essentially turned them into prisoners of war, do not. That, frankly is embarrassing.

Resist Racism first wrote about this issue two years ago, and the campaign for a stamp is ongoing.

If you wish to write a letter in support, here is the address:

Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee
United States Postal Service – Stamp Development
1735 North Lynn Street, Suite 5013
Arlington, Virginia 22209-6432

Send your letter soon, because the committee meets on April 24. You can read more about this issue here and on Resist Racism.

Amazon Fuckery

2009-04-12T13:57:00.001-07:00

OK, this is just breaking now and elisa_rolle has a good breakdown of the events as does ryda_wong.

It seems that Amazon is reclassifying certain books as "adult" and as a result, they are excising sales rankings from these titles. The result? Well, if you search for one of these titles on Amazon in the "all departments" search, you will not find the book. But if you search in just "Books" you will.

So, Amazon is reclassifying things as adult. But as this develops, it appears that they are targeting GLBT books for this reclassification and it appears they are not really doing so based on explicit content. Just GLBT in general is enough to make it "adult.". Heterosexual titles (explicit or not) do not seem affected so far, although this may change.

Authors, check your listings on Amazon.

Amazon's response to Mark Probst's, author of Gay YA The Filly, complaint: In consideration of our entire customer base, we exclude "adult" material from appearing in some searches and best seller lists. Since these lists are generated using sales ranks, adult materials must also be excluded from that feature. Hence, if you have further questions, kindly write back to us. Best regards, Ashlyn D Member Services Amazon.com Advantage

An example..."Heather Has Two Mommies" has been affected.

Courtesy of ryda_wong, the Amazon customer services phone number is 1-800-201-7575 and the executive customer services e-mail is ecr@amazon.com

Please spread the word, especially to GLBT organizations.

ETA: HERE is a listing so far of some of the books excluded.

ETA: Mark Probst's LJ entry (thanks ryda)

ETA: clarelondon 's books have ben affected.

ETA: EDINBURGH by Alexander Chee has had its sales rankings stripped, but it does still show up in "all departments" searches. Justin Chin's books BURDEN OF ASHES and HARMLESS have been stripped of ranking and do not show up in "all department" searches.

Memi and Nate

2009-04-03T22:18:00.000-07:00

So my nephew Nate got married this past March. And I was at the wedding. So, I started a blogspot blog for Nate and Memi's wedding. There are only a few pictures up, but if you want a peek at some of the shenanigans, go HERE. Nate and Memi and my nephew Jon all have posting access, so you will see posts pop up from all of us at one time or another.

Me ka Hau'oli Makahiki Hou - review

2009-01-01T14:48:00.000-08:00

The very gracious TT Thomas has given my little free new year story Me ka Hau'oli Makahiki Hou, a really, really nice review on the always interesting The Daily Horse.

Here's a little of what TT had to say...

...his story stands as a beacon of light and hope to anyone who ever had to do their “coming out” alongside a beloved best friend who was not gay.

You can read the whole lovely review right HERE.

And read HERE to see how you can help contribute to a wonderful cause by doing nothing more than reading this story and telling me you read it.

Thank you TT and everyone else! This has made the first day of the New Year a memorable one!

New Year Free Fiction and a gift

2009-01-01T14:01:00.000-08:00

Inspired by all the great things people have said about Mahape a ale Wala'au and despite food poisoning and general lethargy, I made my deadline and finished the piece I was working on. In 3 days. That is the fastest I have written anything. Ever.

It isn't my best work. It doesn't have the purple prose that Mahape lent itself to, and it tends toward more tell than show, but I hope it tells an honest story about a couple of nice guys.

So what's this whole gift thing?

No, I'm not so vain as to think my writing is a gift for anyone, but you can make it a little bit of a gift by reading

Me ka Hau‘oli Makahiki Hou

for free on my website. If you do (and here's where the gift part comes in) and you send me an email at gwailowrite@livejournal.com or comment on my LJ that you read it (loved, hated or were indifferent), I will donate $2.00 for each response I get to

Ka 'Ohana O' Kalaupapa
Names Memorial Project

a cause dear to my heart. So give it a read. Let me know that you read it and hopefully we'll be able to send a nice little donation to ka 'Ohana.

The story will only be up for a week or so and it's only about 7,500 words. Feel free to tell others or post this message on your blog or website. Just be sure to tell people to send me a comment ("Read it" is just fine) so I can tally up some money for ka' Ohana.

A Special Thanks
to my dear friend
Ann Somerville
for doing the world's fastest beta
and helping make the story better.

P.S.: Some of you might recognize Kili in this story. You may know him more by the name Kristoper. But this is before he became the laid back, gorgeous guy he was.

P.P.S: If you notice any typos, please let me know.

Poor Boy by Jaime Samms - review

2008-12-30T12:35:00.000-08:00

Originally reviewed for Uniquely Pleasurable.

Title: Poor Boy
Author: Jaime Samms
Genre: Contemporary gay romance
URL: Freya’s Bower
Price: US$4.99
Other Information/Warnings: Mild violence, mild drug usage, unsafe sex
Summary (from the publisher):

All his life, Roy has had things easy; born to money and privilege, he’s a grown man before he realizes how his father’s money has bought his privilege off the backs and tragedies of too many people. Now he’s on his own, and making his way in the world might be a lot harder than he thought.

When he meets street hustler, Scooby, he falls, hard and fast, not wanting to believe the possibility Scooby is one of the unfortunates his family has stepped over to get their way. As young and fragile as Scooby seems, he might be the only one strong enough to save Roy from himself.

My Review: Jaime Samms knows how to write men…masculine, flawed and terribly appealing men. There is no doubt about it. You won’t find pale stand-ins in any of Samms’ work (at least not that I’ve read so far), no overly feminized version of men. This is no chick-with-dick lit. What you get in Samm’s work is an utterly realistic view of gay men at their very best and at their very worst. You not only get the men–in all their flawed beauty–but you also get what goes into making a man, the journey that has brought them to this particular place in their lives…and sometimes, it isn’t pretty.

And so it is with Poor Boy, an excellent addition to Samms’ growing body of work. Often gritty and set in a seedy world of hookers and pimps and users, Poor Boy is not your typical gay romance and is not always the easiest read…and I mean that in the best way possible. The novella takes some dark turns as we travel through life with our protagonist, Roy, a young man who should have had everything in life, but doesn’t. He comes from disgustingly affluent parents, has had the best education, the right friends. Not only has he grown up on the right side of the track, but he’s lived on the hill overlooking those tracks and the town that surrounds it. Yet, Roy has always liked living on the edge, running with a dangerous crowd, throwing his decent boyfriend over for the rough edges he sees in Stryker Preston (another boy who could have had everything he ever wanted), embarrassing his family by having his shenanigans land on the front pages of every important newspaper. But as we learn, there’s a reason behind all of this.

When the story opens, we meet Roy, returning to a family home he detests to face his father and the rapidly declining woman who had once been his mother. Having accidentally killed two young parents and leaving their children orphaned, Roy’s mother is on the mental and physical decline caused by too many years of alcohol abuse and too long a time mourning for her own son, the elder Paul, the incredibly handsome, favored son who died while attempting to help Roy. Father, it seems, has decided to force Roy to walk away from his wild lifestyle by carting him and his mother off to Virginia, where she can escape the memories the house drowns her in, and Roy can leave his partying days behind him and lead a respectable life, one fitting the family name. But when Roy refuses, his father cuts off his funds, and when Roy tells his “boyfriend,” the drug addict Stryker, the user kicks him to the curb, literally abandoning him in a seedy section of town with no money, nothing but the rich clothes on his back.

It is here that Roy meets Scooby, a young, wonderfully attractive hooker and former drug addict, and his brother Clark. Roy is pulled into their world of living hand-to-mouth. Without money or friends or even a cell phone, can Roy find a way back into his posh, pampered world? If not, can he survive in Scooby and Clark’s? And what about Scooby and Clark…is there more there than meets the eye, a connection to Roy’s former life? But most of all, can Roy keep his desires and libido in check and stay away from the boy-like Scooby as Clark has warned him to do?

One of the things that Samms always does well and repeats here is get down exactly how men talk (or in some case, don’t talk) to one another. There’s a distinct suspiciousness and caution in most men’s–and especially gay men’s–interaction with each other, a sizing up that happens almost silently. When we’re good at talking to one another, we’re very good, and when we’re not, we can be the biggest idiots on the planet. And each of the three primary character’s are full of this verbal and non-verbal interaction, Scooby being generally open, but cautious; Roy often not thinking of the impact of his words; and Clark being a reserved man, one of few words but many meanings. Samms also handles the non-communication well, a tricky thing to accomplish in any fiction. Many times non-communication tends to drag the pace of a story down, but here it reveals a lot about each of the characters. There is a lot going on in the silences.

Wisely, Samms let’s us spend time with the characters before we get to the real romance and sex of the piece. We see Roy’s attraction to the achingly adorable Scooby from near the get go. At first it is a superficial lust, but when Roy controls himself (with the help of brotherly threats from Clark), he actually begins to discover Scooby’s personality, the quirks that make him the appealing man he is. The result is an air of tension that slowly builds and makes the reader ache for these two to get together. By the time Scooby and Roy do come together physically, it is both romantic and highly erotic, the time taken to build the relationship being time exceedingly well spent.

Lest you think this piece is all about getting to know one another, let me mention that there is a plot and it is peopled with interesting character. The world Samms has built is palpable, gritty and grimy, but one that is completely realistic. That world is what propels the plot. We wonder how Roy will get himself out of the situation he is in and we wonder right along with him if he’ll be able to save Scooby and his brother from the life his family may have placed them in. In that respect, the story is one of Roy’s self-redemption, his saving of others to save himself. But what is really interesting is that the character Roy wants to save most is the man who hasn’t let his past haunt him or tear him down. Who is the man that needs protecting? Scooby or Roy? It is a beautiful dynamic.

Now, as much as a fan as I am of Samms’ work, there are some nits to pick in here, though the relationships built overcome all of them. At times, the story veers slightly into melodrama, taking on a Douglas Sirk feel. Luckily, when Samms stands on the brink of going too far, she pulls back to the well-grounded reality that serves the story best. Writing wise, the prose matches exactly the tone of the piece. It is descriptive enough without ever turning purple, with just enough gritty detail to keep the piece from becoming overwhelming. I had a few problems simply with the layout of the text and paragraph breaks, however, and at times I had trouble knowing exactly who was speaking. I would have to go back and read again, keeping careful track of the back and forth. Luckily these times are rare. There are also a few misplaced modifying phrases that niggled the grammar side of my brain. But all in all, it’s all very clean and smooth.

Whereas Samms’ lead characters are extremely well rounded, the secondary characters fare less well. Personally, I would like to have seen more of Clark and his personal feelings and reaction to the life he and his brother have found themselves in. He is the protective brother and while we see glimmers of the man who has been forced to be both brother and father to Scooby, we never really delve into what it has all cost him. Likewise, the “villains” of the piece tend to be the slimmest of the characters. We never really get to know Stryker beyond the definition of user; the pimp Pater doesn’t quite rise beyond his occupation. And the extremely minor (but important) character of Mr. White veers dangerously close to a modern-day Fu Manchu. Still, the secondary characters generally fare much better than usual in such a short work.

Plot wise, the story moves along at a nice pace, but it does rely heavily on deus ex machina. Rather than the characters working themselves out of the situation they’ve found themselves in, the resolution hinges on a series of events that, while not coincidences, are definitely the results of others’ actions. The escape route is simply handed to them. Still, this doesn’t draw away from a completely engaging piece built on the strength of the lead characters and their developing relationship.

In the end, Samms has created believably wounded characters that never feel oppressive in their angst. She masterfully maintains a subtly romantic tone in an utterly realistic world, and gives us characters who we just want to see get together. Along the way, without ever noticing it, we also get a nice story about how one’s past can make you weaker or stronger, depending on the choices we make. One has to wonder who is the titular Poor Boy, and Samms wisely leaves that up to us to decide. A very satisfying journey.

More Mahape

2008-12-28T13:04:00.000-08:00

As if Jesse's wonderful review (see immediately prior post) wasn't enough...

Book Utopia Mom has also been so very, very kind to me, voting Mahape a ale Wala'au not only her Favorite Short Story of 2008, but also her Favorite Erotic Story of 2008 and her #1 pick in Uniquely Pleasurable's top five of 2008.

As if that were not enough, a writer and reviewer I admire, Ann Somerville, also name Mahape her #1 pick in Uniquely Pleasurable's round-up.

Given the amount of stuff both these ladies read every year, I'm extremely flattered and honored.

And to think, I wrote this piece originally just as a challenge to myself, not knowing anything about the m/m romance market. Not only am I grateful for all the good words I've gotten for this story, but I am forever thankful to it for introducing me to a fascinating genre and some amazing writers, readers and reviewers.

Mahape a ale Wala'au - review

2008-12-28T12:59:00.000-08:00

OK, I'm getting too many Christmas presents this year. The wonderful Jesse Wave has given my little Mahape a ale Wala'au five stars outta five. I'm blushing and very, very grateful.

Here's just a hint of what jesse had to say...

I became so immersed in the story and the wonderfully drawn characters it was as if I was living it and experiencing all the "firsts" with Toshi, including the great sex.

And you can read the entire review right HERE.

And if you haven't read it yet. Act fast, because on February 17, 2009, Mahape goes away for a bit.

Mahape a ale Wala'au makes a top 5 list

2008-12-16T13:37:00.000-08:00

The lovely and gracious bookutopiamom at Book Utopia has rated my story Mahape a ale Wala'au, the best short story she's read this year. I'm terribly flattered and honored, especially considering how many books and short stories Book reads every year.

You can see the article right HERE.

Mahape a ale Wala'au - review

2008-12-13T13:48:00.000-08:00

I need to pay attention more.

In checking links today (to make sure the link to Mahape a ale Wala'au on the Torquere website hadn't been changed yet again), I stumbled upon this lovely review by Tamara Yollick...to whom I am incredibly indebted for her kind words. I need to pay attention more as this review has been up since October! Damn google notifier for not telling me. =-) Thank you, Tamara!

Here's a snippet:

Of all the stories I’ve read from Torquere the past couple of years, this is the loveliest. I don’t just recommend it. I encourage you wholeheartedly to buy it at once. It’s worth every penny.

ETA: Duh, Paul...a Buy It Link for Mahape a ale Wala'au. It'll be available until February.

Vintage: A Ghost Story by Steve Berman - review

2008-12-07T14:44:00.000-08:00

Title: Vintage: A Ghost Story
Author: Steve Berman
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
URL: Lethe Press
Price: US$13.00 (Cover price)
Other Information: A portion of the author’s royalties from this novel are being donated to Gay-Straight Alliance Network and The Trevor Project.
Summary (from the publisher): In a small town, a lonely teen walking along a highway one autumn evening meets the boy of his dreams, a boy who happens to have died decades ago and haunts the road. Awkward crushes, both bitter and sweet, lead him to face not only the ghost but youthful dreams and childish fears. With its cast of offbeat friends, antiques and Ouija boards, Vintage offers readers a memorable blend of dark humor, chills and love that is not your typical teen romance.

My Review: What could possibly be worse than being “one of the odd ones,” an outcast in the small town where you grew up, a place where everyone knows everyone else? How about being a gay outcast? Sure, but how about being a gay outcast that attracts the spirits of the undead? Such is the premise of Steve Berman’s charming Vintage: A Ghost Story, a Young Adult novel with enough in to also satisfy the not-so-young adults out there.

Told in the first person, Vintage focuses on an unnamed (and, therefore, universal) seventeen-year-old boy and his insular group of friends, a family made up of outsiders. Our hero—having recently run away from home and dropped out of high school when his parents discovered he was gay—lives with his likeable, albeit a bit dense (or is she?) Aunt Jan, and passes the time with his best friend Trace, a similarly disaffected young woman. He is young and full of hormones and that exquisite longing for someone to love, someone to help him take his sexuality beyond the theoretical, the bedroom fantasies. The problem is, our hero doesn’t believe any boy would really be interested in him. So, he mostly hangs out with Trace, and the duo try to pass the boredom of their lives by dressing in dark clothes, drinking exotic beverages and attending random funerals that feed their interest in all things occult.

Now, don’t be deceived. Berman may have wrapped his characters in the trappings of the goth scene, but he expertly avoids the character clichés: the faux bravado of goths, the pretentiousness, the acid-dropping recklessness. Berman keeps the characters firmly rooted in reality, imbuing them with the very tangible concerns and fears of youth without ever pushing them into melodrama. The protagonist and Trace have simply adopted some of the aspects of goth as a sort of armor, making themselves stand out before others have a chance to point at them and laugh for their differences. Filtering in and out of our hero and Trace’s lives are a teen lesbian couple, Maggie and Liz, and Trace’s brother, Second Mike—so called as his mother named him Mike after her first son who’d run away and was presumed dead. Second Mike is a typical younger brother, fifteen and standing on the sidelines with admiration, hovering about the older kids in his sister’s life, sometimes annoyingly so.

One night while walking home from Trace’s, our protagonist heads down Route 47 and stumbles upon the ghost of a high school football star who was killed on that road some 50 years before. Though our hero had heard the story before, it never involved the ghost speaking to anyone, and when our hero convinces Trace to come out to the highway on another night, he is amazed to learn that the ghost only speaks to him and no one else. Smitten, he obsesses on the ghost, on his good looks, his vintage physique, and finds himself inexplicably “falling” for him. In short, our hero has found someone who–he believes–in the real world would never, ever give him the time of day, someone who makes him feel special. But as the protagonist has more and more encounters with his ghostly boyfriend and learns that the jock isn’t the only ghost that has taken an interest in him, things begin to feel a little more dangerous. What is it really that this ghost wants? Is he as gentle and loving as he seems? Or are there darker needs feeding this phantom’s desire for our hero, some need that could prove fatal to all involved.

In Vintage, Berman has created a kindler, gentler, and, dare I say it, a vintage ghost story–one that harkens back to the urban legends of our youths, when tales of these types were devoid of massive gore or spatterpunk’s cynicism. Wisely, Berman never pushes things too far and mines humor where he can to keep things on track. When the boy finds himself falling in love with a ghost, the author is wise enough to have his characters understand the absurdity of that notion. And when our hero begins to see more and more ghosts, he sees the humor in it. When did I become the kid from The Sixth Sense? In short, Berman knows just how far he can take the characters and the result is that they are kept very real, very appealing because they are more than stereotypes.

Berman also finds some really nice ways to pack a lot of character information into very few words. Just by the fact that Second Mike was named after his dead brother, we’re given a history without ever having to delve into its constituent parts. We can imagine what it must have been like for Second Mike to grow up in the shadow of a brother who had lived and died before he was even born. And we learn a lot about our protagonist, about his outlook on life from two simple sentences: I always thought my life would end up as an Araki film. Nothing by Burton. Trace is also nicely full character, a girl on the outside who is blooming into a womanhood of her own, even as our protagonist becomes more comfortable with himself, his orientation and the world about him. She is more than a “hag.” She’s a woman who is best friends with our gay hero, but not co-dependent with him; not so wrapped up in him and his feelings that she puts her own life on the sidelines. Very nice.

With Trace, Second Mike and our protagonist, we have a nice trio of likeable, yet flawed characters and the piece works best when it stays focused on them and the plot. When we start wandering too far away from those three or the central story, the characters get a little thinner and the pace a little slower. Maggie and Liz tend to be drawn with a coarser brush than our core characters (I often go them confused as they seemed somewhat interchangeable), and the subplot with their characters is not as strong as it probably could have been had their personalities been drawn a little fuller, more distinctive. But in the end, the focus returns to the core group and the pace goes back to its nice, easy flow.

In the end, Berman has written a very, very nice YA piece that says a lot about self-acceptance, seeing beyond one’s self, learning to recognize the good that may be right under your own nose, and discovering that love is more than infatuation or hormones. Yet, Vintage is never preachy and Berman never hammers any message home. Like the prose, it all just easily woven into the mesh of the book. A charming read that is part coming-of-age, part love story, and part horror story (with some genuinely creepy moments), Vintage may be directed at Young Adults, but its story is one which should appeal to a wide variety of ages.

Originally reviewed for Uniquely Pleasurable.

Kelland Website Update

2008-12-06T18:25:00.001-08:00

The Who is Kelland? website has undergone some revamping, with many new pages added (including some excerpts). If y'all pop over and find anything that doesn't work, lemme know.

Hands by Sean Meriwether - review

2008-12-02T22:27:00.000-08:00

Title: Hands
Author: Sean Meriwether
Genre: m/m erotica, dark fiction
URL: Velvet Mafia: Dangerous Queer Fiction
Price: Free
Other Information/Warnings: Explicit m/m sex, violence (anything more would be a spoiler)
Summary (from the publisher): When David realizes that his hands have rebelled against his body, he seeks medical attention. But once those hands discover the body of David’s boyfriend and bring him to a heightened level of ecstasy, David must take action against his adulterous Hands.

My Review:

Just in time for Halloween, Velvet Mafia presents Sean Meriwether’s macabre story, Hands. It is a short little piece, but Meriwether–as usual–uses its simplicity to pack a lot in. It is alternately highly erotic and deeply disturbing in an almost humorous way, with the clean and concise prose I’ve come to expect from Meriwether, prose that manages to create an atmospere completely appropriate to the season. You can almost see the fog rolling in as David stands on the train platform. In the tradition of Rod Serling, Night Gallery or The Twilight Zone, this story is fun, funny and very dark. If you like a little of the macabre mixed with your erotica, this five minute read will not disappoint.

Drawing Blood by Poppy Z. Brite - review

2008-12-02T22:17:00.000-08:00

Title: Drawing Blood
Author: Poppy Z. Brite
Genre: Gay contemporary horror
URL: Amazon
Price: US$7.99
Other Information/warnings: Explicit m/m sex, gore, violence, murder, drug use
Summary (from the original edition): Robert McGee is a man living under a dark cloud. Acclaimed cartoonist of the underground comic Birdland, he has moved his family from Texas to New Orleans and finally to Missing Mile, North Carolina. But Robert is unable to escape the drinking and violence that have become as natural to him as breathing. Soon after he and his family settle into a decrepit farmhouse, Robert kills his wife, his younger son, and then himself. Only his five-year-old son, Trevor, is left alive.

Twenty years later Trevor McGee, also a cartoonist, returns to Missing Mile to the house in which his family once lived. He has been running from the truth for years, and finally realizes he must face his demons. He fears that what happened to his father will happen to him. “But if it does,” Trevor thinks, “at least I won’t have anyone to kill.” Then he befriends Zachary Bosch, a computer hacker from New Orleans running from the law.

In the house, which Trevor calls Birdland, they must confront more than bad memories. For the house carries its own dark force, which threatens to envelope Trevor in the past and destroy him.

My Review: Back when Anne Rice was all the rage, dozens of authors jumped on the brooding, melodramatic historical vampire quickly turning what Rice wrote into a literary cliché. The shelves were littered with Rice wanna-be’s. Then along came Poppy Z. Brite, a short story writer who was making the horror world sit up and take notice by blending very realistic, human characters with an almost splatter-punk kind of sensibility. To boot, Brite was doing what many authors had never even contemplated. She was making gay characters the protagonists in her stories. When her first novel, Lost Souls, was released, it breathed new life into the bland, clichéd vampire that had become de rigueur, by giving us vamps that loved being what they were and mixing them with goth scene characters who were actually more than brooding, pretentious teens in black clothes, nail polish, and eyeliner. In short, she made her vampires and her other characters real people, warts and all. Her characters weren’t homoerotic. She wasn’t willing to dance around the subject. He characters were homosexual.

With Lost Souls, Brite burst on the scene and along came the comparisons to Rice, the claims by critics and Rice lovers that she must have been influenced by Rice’s writing, despite statements from Brite that she had never read Rice’s work. Wisely, Brite was not one to be satisfied with her immensely popular vampire characters (in fact, she has never returned to them despite what must have been a very lucrative temptation to), and we were treated to another reinvention by Brite, the haunted house story in her second novel, Drawing Blood.

For once, the publisher’s blurb lays out the story very well, so there is not really a need to go into the details of the plot. So, this review can be all about the writing, writing that is still as appealing as it was 15 years ago when I first read this novel.

From the beginning, Brite shows a critical eye for detail in her writing. Each locale is described fully, but never wanders off into frustrating verbosity. In very naturalistic and yet somehow poetic prose, Brite describes not only the sights of a place, but the smells as well (an often over looked area in some genres of fiction), and the result is that we get the psychological reaction of the characters to everything that is about them and a wonderful sense of time. Take this for example:

Missing Mile, North Carolina, in the summer of 1972 was scarcely more than a wide spot in the road….You might think that here was a place adrift in a gentler time, a place where Peace reigned naturally, and did not have to be blazoned on banners or worn around the neck.

And the same detail goes into her characters. The five-year-old Trevor at the beginning of the novel rings utterly true, the wide-eyed outlook of a child tempered by the reality that he has lived with a father who is unpredictable bordering on abusive. Yet, Trevor’s father isn’t reduced to some stereotyped drunkard. We get to see inside him for the brief time we know him. We see the crushed dreams, the pressures, the paranoia that lead him to do the horrible thing he does. When Bobby McGee kills his family, we as readers are horrified by it, but we can see why it happened, why it was almost inevitable. The only thing we can’t understand is why he didn’t kill Trevor as well. And that in itself is what brings Trevor back to Missing Mile some 20 years later.

We’re also introduced to Zachary Bosch, a brilliant computer hacker out of New Orleans, who finds himself dangerously on the wrong side of the law. As he flees New Orleans, we also get to meet the people important in his life, most notably Eddy, a feisty Asian American stripper who is in love with Zach but also his best buddy. But we don’t get some stereotype here either. Eddy isn’t the stock fag-hag. She’s tough, smart, inventive and someone to be reckoned with from the get go. She knows that Zach is not a good match for her. She knows she needs to move on. But she can’t and she never broods about it and never once do you feel that beyond Zach lies a life of loneliness. And the FBI agents following Zach get the full treatment as well, becoming more than one would guess in a novel of this type.

The residents of Missing Mile are equally fascinating, a mix of character traits which could have become cartoonish in lesser hands, but remain blessedly real in the human emotion underneath each of them, the force that drives them. You can see Kinsey’s smile, feel the weight of his family history. You can feel the relationship between Terry and his girlfriend. Even Calvin, who threatens to come between Zach and Trevor, has a likable streak to him.

But when the novel starts to really sing is when Trevor and Zach meet one another in Missing Mile. Both members of the walking wounded, the two cautiously get to know one another and, ultimately, become lovers. It isn’t an easy courtship given the baggage each of them carries, and it isn’t a relationship that is easy to define. There are no tops and bottoms here. No alpha or submissive. Like every relationship, it changes with the ebb and flow of time and events that draw them closer together and push them further apart. It is a wonderful exploration of who each character has been, who they want to become and who they might be together if their relationship lasts. It is, to this day, one of the fullest depictions of gay men I have ever found in literature and, hands down, some of the most erotic and real love scenes I’ve ever read.

Now, don’t get me wrong. This is not some mushy love story in the slightest. It is balls-to-the-wall horror–albeit heavy on the psychological horror. The tension is palpable, the finely tuned description, exquisite, and the dialog completely real. Each character has a purpose in this piece. Each character (and the locales themselves) has a place here. There is very little fat in this novel, each aspect weaving together easily with those that came before and those which follow. By the time we get to the climax of the book, we are utterly invested in each of these characters. We want Trevor and Zach to survive. We can’t help but ache for Eddy and her loss. We understand how Missing Mile will never be the same after the events that take place in that dilapidated old house out on Violin Road. We care because Brite created characters we love despite all their faults. We care because Brite has drawn us a vivid picture of where we have been living as we took the journey along with Trevor and Zach. We care because Brite has taken the time to show us all the pieces that go into making the puzzle of man. In short, she has created a place we want to visit and characters who feel like real friends.

For me, Drawing Blood is a classic…classic horror, classic gay fiction and classic character fiction. Hell, it is even manages to be a classic romance, in the very best and non-traditional sense of the phrase. It was and remains a ground breaking literary work and should be required reading for readers and writers not only of horror, but of gay fiction, gay romance and even gay erotica. This is how it is done, folks.

Originally reviewed for Uniquely Pleasurable

Press Release - Kelland

2008-11-30T01:02:00.000-08:00

Casperian Books Acquires Enigmatic "Kelland."

Kelland Trailers

2008-11-29T20:39:00.000-08:00

OK, so I now have a grand total of two trailers for my forthcoming novel, Kelland. Take a look and if you would be so kind, pop over to You Tube and give them a rating. Or if you feel so inclined to cross post the videos to you blog, I would be your indentured servant for all time. It's very seldom that I ask others to engage in shameless promotion for myself, but I've got a year to go and I'd like to get the buzz rolling early as this novel is very important to me. =-)

Who is Kelland?

Who is Kelland 2

Please, Please, Please

2008-11-27T22:35:00.000-08:00

If you rent no other movie this year, please rent

The Visitor.

Rarely do I see a movie where everything is gotten right from beginning to end.

Richard Jenkins, Haaz Sleiman and Hiam Abbass all deserve Academy Award nominations (and it doesn't hurt that Haaz Sleiman is sooo sexy).

It is an amazing story of friendship and of growing out of yourself, who you have become comfortable being. It is about living.

I wish I could write a story as simple and beautiful as this film.

ETA: Can I just say that it is such a pleasure seeing actors of middle eastern descent playing something other than terrorists.

Partial summary from the IMdb (as the whole summary contains major spoilers)

A deeply moving drama built around longtime character actor Richard Jenkins, The Visitor is a simmering drama about a college professor and recent widower, Walter Vale (Jenkins), who discovers a pair of illegal aliens who were the victims of a real-estate scam living in his New York apartment. After the mix-up is resolved, Vale invites the couple--a young, Syrian musician named Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and his Senegalese girlfriend (Danai Gurira)--to stay with him. An unlikely friendship develops between the retiring, quiet Vale and the vibrant Tarek, and the former begins to loosen up and respond to Tarek's drumming lessons as if something in him waiting to be liberated has finally been unleashed.

A Day Without a Gay

2008-11-22T20:14:00.001-08:00

Please help spread the word
A Day Without a Gay Website

The worldwide media attention surrounding our massive grassweb efforts for gay rights has been tremendous. Join the Impact was a HUGE success and will continue to thrive because of our efforts.

We've reacted to anti-gay ballot initiatives in California, Arizona Florida, and Arkansas with anger, with resolve, and with courage. NOW, it's time to show America and the world how we love.

Gay people and our allies are compassionate, sensitive, caring, mobilized, and programmed for success. A day without gays would be tragic because it would be a day without love.

On December 10, 2008 the gay community will take a historic stance against hatred by donating love to a variety of different causes.

On December 10, you are encouraged not to call in sick to work. You are encouraged to call in "gay"--and donate your time to service!

December 10, 2008 is International Human Rights Day. CLICK HERE to join us, and search or add to the list of human rights organizations that need our help RIGHT NOW.

Casperian Books Sale!

2008-11-10T08:55:00.000-08:00

Casperian Books -- who will be publishing my novel Kelland in the fall of 09 -- is having a great sale. Every book is $10.00 while supplies last!

They have some great stuff...I've read Without Wax and loved it. I'm part way through the amazing Manna Francis' Mind Fuck and finding it as brilliant as everyone has said (and have put her other two books into my TBR list) and I'm currently engrossed in The Tea House which has a wonderfully creepy and yet almost ethereal feel to it. Enjoying it very much.

Oh...on Mind Fuck, I can't link to Uniquely Pleasurable's review of this from work, but it is archived there, and just yesterday UP reviewed Manna's latest offering Games and Players.

So, pop over to Casperian Books and check out the sale. I guarantee you'll find something you'll like.

Who is Kelland?

2008-10-15T09:13:00.000-07:00

On Wings, Rising by Ann Somerville - review

2008-10-15T08:29:00.000-07:00

Title: On Wings, Rising
Author: Ann Somerville
Genre: m/m romance, speculative fiction
URL: Samhain
Price: $4.50 (ebook)
Warnings: Explicit m/m sex, inter-species sex
Summary (from the publisher):

Book 1 of the Encounters series. Dinun can’t fly—but he could be the answer to an Angel’s prayer.

Barely tolerated by his own kind, Dinun is a self-reliant soul who scratches out a living from the great, empty lands of Quarn. Always looking for unexpected treasure, he never dreams of finding an injured Angel.

Moon belongs to a race of telepathic winged humanoids. Exquisitely beautiful, sexually playful, Angels have always fascinated humans. Dinun’s feelings for Moon take flight as they become lovers, but a planetary invasion could destroy their future together.

Centuries ago, humans on Quarn saved their race from destruction by joining their DNA with that of the Angels. Now full-blood humans are stealing Angel children—including Moon’s son—for barbaric experiments. The full-bloods are prepared to slaughter anyone who gets in their way.

Thrust into a desperate race against time to save the infants, Dinun and Moon must battle against a people with weapons far beyond anything the Angels—or their human friends—can hope to defeat. Dinun brings to the fight his bravery and a determination to be true to himself. Will that be enough to save the children, and win the Angel he’s come to love?

My Review:

One of the things I’ve come to expect in reading Ann Somerville’s works is that as an author she never goes for the obvious, for the stereotypes of character and plot that plague any genre, not just the m/m romance genre. I am happy to say that Somerville once again takes us on an enjoyable journey down the road less often taken with the charming, touching and completely entertaining On Wings, Rising.

On the world of Quarn, we are introduced to Dinun, an everyman who is, perhaps, a little less ordinary than he actually believes. Somewhat of an outsider in his village because of his choice of lifestyle, Dinun is content with his life as a fossicker, his relationship with his the mother of his children and his playful relationship with his “little tax reliefs,” the children he fathered through sperm donation. The "family" relationship is one of convenience for all parties, a tax relief and benefit which is sanctioned by the government. While Dinun would prefer a fuller life and a relationship with another man, he never broods about it, accepting his life as it is and supplementing with the occasional secret encounter with other men in the village, men who are open to using him but give little back in return. In short, Dinun is an even-tempered man who is not dissatisfied with his life, but knows that there is something—that special connection—missing.

As the story starts, Dinun is off on his seasonal fossicking sojourn with his trusty beast of burden, Almi. Having drawn one of the less desirable routes in the town’s lottery, Dinun decides to venture off the main road, taking a path that may contain more finds, as the road most often traveled has been pretty well picked over through the years. His instincts are good and though his early finds won’t cover all his expenses, it’s a good start. Dinun pitches camp and then, with the nosy nature of Almi lending a hand, discovers something astonishing. An almost mythical creature, an Angel, lying wounded in the underbrush.

These Angels aren’t your average mythological beings. These Angels have sharp teeth, dark skin, luxurious fur and communicate only by a form of telepathy. Dinun tends to the angel’s wounds, learns that his name is Moon, and that his child (and the children of other angels) have been stolen in a brutal attack by off-worlders for some unknown reason.

Dinun vows to help Moon find his child, and as the angel recovers, the two come to know and trust one another. Dinun learns of the unique society and laws of Moon’s race and, quite innocently, he also discovers their sexual playfulness. Slowly a bond develops and once Moon fully recovers, Dinun is introduced to the angel population and helps to develop and lead a plan to rescue the stolen children.

There is a lot of dimension that Somerville has woven into this novella, most of it extremely subtle, but the result is a very dimensional world and characters. With an angel, it could have an easy trap to fall into to make Moon this almost ethereal creature, one of goodness and light. Instead, Somerville gives us a very flesh and blood character, full of anger and sadness and dreams. And for a moment, Somerville even makes us dislike him. Given that the genre dictates certain things, we know generally how this moment will resolve itself, but still, Somerville gives us such great empathy with Dinun that we can’t help but stamp our feet a little and go “How can Moon do that!”

Likewise, Dinun is extremely well-drawn. Yes, his village does look down upon him somewhat for his orientation and the relationship with his wife does seem unfulfilling, but Dinun accepts his life. He never turns his desire for something more into angst over his situation. His wants and needs live in him, but never do they consume him.

Also, I have to say, Somerville does several very nice things in building Dinun’s village and his relationship with the other villagers. She does not make his orientation the sole possible reason for the other villager’s skewed perspective of him. Somerville early on alludes that this world is far more tolerant of “alternative lifestyles” than our world is; it just so happens that Dinun is the only “gay” man in the village and he had the nerve to take on profession that is, essentially, an oversaturated market.

“…some of them kind of thought I was muscling in on their territory.”

The result is that, while we may not have the warm and fuzzies about the villagers and their disdain for Dinun, neither do we hate them. They aren’t reduced to cardboard villains or villagers running with torches to drive the gays out of their town. Like anyone, their dislike of Dinun is likely colored by multiple things, sexuality being only one of the possible influences. So, the homophobia in his village is a fact but it is not overwhelming. Wisely, this is something that Dinun keeps in mind. He’s not naïve about his situation, but neither is he willing to lump everyone together into one hate-boat. He keeps his perspective. Frankly it’s refreshing that the homophobia present is never allowed to become oppressive or the focus of the piece.

Another aspect of the village that I enjoyed is the sense of community Somerville builds in. Despite the villager’s disdain—whatever its origin—toward Dinun, they come to his aid when help is needed in the battle for the angels’ children. Though we really spend very little time in this novella in Dinun’s village, we get a very clear picture of it being a community in the truest sense of the word, one where people look out for one another despite of—and perhaps even because of—their differences.

Now, when the villagers do come to Dinun’s aid, Somerville gives us some nice conflict in the character Jenke, a man who has absolutely no great fondness for Dinun. We’re given hints of its origin—hubris on Jenke’s part, a perceived power-struggle between the two, an Alpha-male sensibility in Jenke’s personality. There are a number of possibilities and Somerville takes a turn that keeps the character from becoming a mere plot-device and turns him into a real human being. Somerville gives similar depth to other minor characters, from the other angel’s in Moon’s community to the mother of Dinun's little tax reliefs. Never can you pin down their motivations to just one thing. There’s always a multitude of influences on their character and desires. That is very, very nicely done.

But the crux of this story is the relationship between Dinun and Moon. It really is wonderfully romantic without once dipping into syrupy sweetness or cliché. It’s an honest-to-god get-to-know-one-another out of which the sex develops naturally. Both characters are intrigued by the differences they find in the other. People can have to different reactions to “different” people. Fear or fascination. Somerville gives both Dinun and Moon a fascination with their differences without ever slipping into a clichéd “celebration of diversity” or exoticism of another race. They are different, but so very much the same, but it is done very subtly. And since both are interested in each other—and treat each other—as more than exotic specimens, each character learns something from the other, something applicable to their own lives. As for the sex…well, Somerville has always surprised me how very erotic she can make sex with furred creatures (see my review of I Was an Alien Cat Toy on Uniquely Pleasurable), and this is no exception. The sex is very erotic and playful; yet it remains appropriately restrained. It doesn’t over power the novel or the relationship of the characters. It just the right amount and very arousing.

In the end, what we as readers get for our money is a really enjoyable, futuristic adventure, some pretty hot sex, a wonderfully romantic yet realistic tone, and characters which begin the novella one way and actually grow throughout the story, learning something about themselves. First and foremost, it’s an extremely well-written, stylish adventure, but underneath it all is a story about family, honor, community, growth and love, for others and for oneself.

The Runaway by Jaime Samms

2008-10-15T08:28:00.000-07:00

Title: The Runaway
Author: Jaime Samms
Genre: M/M Romance
URL: Freya's Bower
Price: US$1.49
Warnings: None
Summary [from publisher]: After his father's death, Miles returns to the farm he ran from ten years ago. When his past returns to haunt him, he has to decide if the memories will fence him in, or if he's ready to free himself from remembered pain and return home.

My Review: There's something about real life stories that I just adore. Don't get me wrong, I like sci-fi and fantasy and I like both when mixed with m/m romance, but stories about true life, those slices of life stories that may not be dependent upon plot, per se, just grab ahold of me especially when they are done well. And Runaway by Jaime Samms is done exceptionally well.

The piece is deceptively simple in its set-up, but underneath lies a wealth of imagery and emotion that hits home. Miles is returning home following the death of his father, a drunkard whom Miles had left behind ten years ago. But Miles has done anything but leave his past behind. Like all of us, he carries part of it with him, deep down inside where it gives birth to resentment and pain and colors how he sees the world. But when he returns to the farm his equally abusive and manipulative Uncle had run, Miles comes face to face with his past in the form of Dillon, his Uncle's step-son, who now manages the place. The past catches up with Miles and he might just realize that you can't--and perhaps don't really want to--run away from the past.

I don't want to go too much into the relationship between Miles and Dillon and their respective relationships with the now absent fathers in their lives because unfurling it all is what makes this piece so wonderfully romantic and touching. Samms does a remarkable job in describing Miles' return to the farm. Her description of the setting is so well crafted, you can practically smell the hay, feel the hot sun, hear the thrum of the grasshoppers. But woven in subtly with that description is the emtotional response Miles has as he comes back to a place he never thought he would. It is ripe with longing and sadness and even the joy that Miles has very nearly forgotten about his home. And when he meets Dillon again, he sees all that was good, that everything might not be the shit he remembers it being.

Now, don't get me wrong. This story is not filled with over-the-top angst. Samms keeps everything very subtle, extremely real. We're never told all the details of the past, but we don't need to be told. Samms gives us just enough so that the past hovers around the characters, informs who they have grown up to be, but never does it turn them ugly. Sure, these guys have their wounds, but they aren't crippled by them in any way. They both simply have their regrets and when they come together again, the reunion is understandably cautious, but also suffused with a warmth that I can really only describe as "true home."

As for the characters, Samms gives each of them depth and their own distinct personalities and demeanors. Both are immensly attractive, confident in their masculinity without being poor stereotypes of gay boys trying to be butch. They are genuine midwestern guys who just happen to be gay. Samms accomplishes this depth and distinctiveness by giving us tiny snippets of their past relationship, they dynamic of who they were combined with who they have become, only avery brief glimpse of their past sexual relationship. And, I must say, Samms uses her setting to build her characters as well. Storm, the horse from Dillon's farm, which plays an important part of bringing these two men back together, becomes a fully-realized character in its own right, while serving as a metaphor for the boys' past and possibly future relationship. It really is wonderfully full.

This is a short story (14 pages), but Samms packs a lot into it, managing a richness of setting and character in an effortless style that just warms you. She does this by relying on her audience to read between the lines, to imagine the unspoken words and sketch in the details of these characters' lives from our own memories. In short, Samms doesn't talk down to her audience, never has to spoon feed us anything. The result is a wonderfully romantic tale about moving on from the past, returning home, and perhaps just a little about seeing some things differently than maybe we want to.

I cannot recommend this more highly. It just put a smile on my face.

Letters to Montgomery Clift by Noel Alumit - review

2008-10-12T22:00:00.000-07:00

Hey all. Just a review I did originally for Uniquely Pleasurable of one of my favorite books.

Title: Letters to Montgomery Clift
Author: Noel Alumit
Genre: Literary Fiction
URL: Amazon.com
Price: US$12.55
Warnings: Explicit m/m sex, violence.
Summary [from publisher]: “Praying is not enough–better put it in writing!’ Bong Bong Luwad is living with his selfish Auntie Yuna in L.A., far from his Philippine village, the Marcos regime, and his mother who helped him escape. Bong Bong spends his nights watching old movies on TV, while Auntie Yuna writes pleading letters to saints and dead relatives. One night on the late-late movie, Bong Bong finds his own saint: Montgomery Clift, playing a soldier who helps a lost boy find his mother. Can Monty do the same for him? He gets out a pencil and paper and thus begins a series of extraordinary events that carry him from boyhood to adolescence, through sexual awakening, madness, and finally back to a place where he can begin his life again. Letters to Montgomery Clift is a novel of endurance and hope. It is a tale of growing up, coming out, and going home.

My Review:

december 4, 1976

dear mr. montgomery clift,
i want one thing only. please bring my mama back to me. safe. with no more bruises.
i will wait one week. if nothing bad happens then i know it is ok to write you.
Sign
bong bong luwad

With that one child-like letter, author Noel Alumit sets a haunting tone that carries on throughout his remarkable debut novel, Letters to Montgomery Clift. But not only does that letter mark the beginning of the story, it is also the start of a long and sometime intimate relationship that young Bong Bong Luwad develops with Mr. Montgomery Clift, the dead, sexually confused actor who starred in such films as From Here to Eternity and The Search. But don’t let this tone fool you. Letters to Montgomery Clift is not a downer of a book. It is at its heart a story about love, about growing up and coming out, about enduring and overcoming, and, most of all, about going home.

We learn that Bong Bong’s story starts before he discovers the cinema persona of Mr. Clift and, in fact, before he ever comes to America. Born in the Philippines during that country’s most repressive regimes, Bong Bong is witness to the thugs of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos beating his mother and father, both democratic activists, and carting his father away to some unknown location. His mother, fearing for her boy, manages to smuggle Bong Bong out of the Philippines, sending him to live with his auntie in the United States of America and vowing that she and her husband will join him there soon. It is a promise Bong Bong holds onto dearly as the first people in his family begin to “disappear.”

In Los Angeles, Bong Bong lives with his Auntie Yuna, an abusive, alcoholic woman whose life has not gone as she thought it would. Though life with her is fairly toxic, Bong Bong is still with family and he knows deep down that it won’t be long before his Mama and Papa come for him. But when time passes and life with Yuna becomes more and more unstable, Bong Bong begins to wonder just when his parents will fulfill their promise.

One night, the devoutly Catholic Yuna tell young Bong Bong about why she prays, how she prays. It’s better, she says, to write them down, otherwise the prayers just go from your head into thin air. And it is even better to send the prayers to dead relatives because, Dead relatives already know you and you know them. People will do things for people they know. God knows everyone and treats everyone the same. I want to ask a favor from someone who will give better treatment.

Not knowing any of his relatives, Bong Bong doesn’t know to whom he should direct his prayers. Then one night, while watching The Search on television, he is struck by the kindhearted soldier, played by Mr. Clift, who cares for a young boy until his mother returns. Bong Bong decides that if Mr. Clift helped that young boy, surely he would so the same for him. Mr. Clift becomes his patron saint, and Bong Bong begins writing prayers to him, a habit that will continue for years and become very nearly his only means of emotional support.

Auntie Yuna, Bong Bong discovers, is also somewhat of a busy-body, constantly keeping an eye on the rather attractive man next door and his floozy (to her anyway) girlfriend. While she wishes the man’s attentions were being paid to her, Yuna tells Bong Bong that the man is evil. Through the wall, Bong Bong hears the sounds that Mr. Evil and his girlfriend make at night and becomes fascinated with the man, spying on him at one point because he wants to see what evil looks like. Mr. Clift…evil is real good looking. Soon, though, Bong Bong, Mr. Evil and his girlfriend become friends, and Bong Bong finds a support sorely lacking in his life. That is until Mr. Evil gets a job that transfers him away, and yet two more people disappear from Bong Bong’s life. When Auntie Yuna vanishes, too, on her way to a liquor store, Bong Bong is left alone to fend for himself until showing up on Social Services’ radar.

Cut off from all family, absent parents whose love he is beginning to doubt, Bong Bong is shuffled from bad foster home to bad foster home. Ultimately, he lands with an affluent Filipino-American family and though the situation seems ideal, the hole in Bong Bong (now rechristened Bob) only widens, and slowly his need for Mr. Clift becomes desperate, all-consuming, obsessive-compulsive. As he grows into adulthood he becomes as self destructive as Mr. Clift had been, and when he discovers that his new family has skeletons of their own in their closet, everything comes to a boil. His life—and sanity—starts spiraling out of control. Where does Bong Bong go from here? Can Mr. Clift save him the way he did that little boy in the movie? And whatever became of his parents who never, ever seemed to want to come to him.

Alumit packs a lot into this novel—the political climate of the Philippines, the cultural significance of religion in Filipino families, self abuse, mental illness, teen pregnancy, burgeoning awareness of sexuality, but never once does it feel crowded or overwrought. More importantly, it never gets in the way of Bong Bong’s story. Each of these things is simply an aspect of his life, the multitude of things that swirl about him. The focus remains solely on our protagonist. Part of this is due to Alumit’s expert use of clean, simple language. Bong Bong’s voice does indeed “change” as he gets older, but the author always keeps the prose sharply focused and to the point, and the letters to Mr. Clift which start each chapter give a cohesive feel even as the character’s narrative voice grows up.

Alumit also has an expert eye for real-life dialog and the little details that make up lives. The result is that the setting and the characters are full without feeling overworked. And we are treated to a protagonist who is eminently appealing and someone you want to root for. You hurt for him when things are bad and brighten when something good comes his way. But this also extends to even the less immediately likable characters such as Auntie Yuna who, despite her problems, the reader is never made to despise her. In fact, you develop an empathy for this broken woman, and though it is not easy, you can even come to forgive her a little for her foibles.

And when it comes to Bong Bong’s parents, by their absence they become as strong a character as any other in the novel, their spirit omnipresent. It’s remarkable that characters who appear so briefly in the novel seem to grow as the story does, and your feelings toward them shift as does Bong Bong’s. One moment you love them and the next, you hate them for leaving their son alone.

Perhaps the strongest relationship in the book is the relationship between Bong Bong and Mr. Clift. For an illusory relationship, it is a strong and appealing one. Bong Bong finds in him a saint, a friend, a mentor, a lover, a father and a faulty role model. Clift becomes the mirror for Bong Bong, the sole source of support, and a measure of comfort. And then he becomes a crutch that Bong Bong simply can’t let go of, because he cannot deal with someone else in his life diasppearing.

Something wonderful about this book is that Bong Bong—unlike Mr. Clift—never seems conflicted about his sexuality. Certainly, he has issues around it, but as for angst over being gay, Bong Bong is remarkably free of that, a fact I greatly appreciated. In a very real sense, this is a coming of age story, but it is not as so many novels people with gay characters, a sexual coming of age.

Alumit dedicates his book “To those who have Disappeared,” and loss—loss of family, loss of political freedoms, loss of human contact—is the driving theme of the novel and it is what defines Bong Bong Luwad, at the very least, in his own mind. Despite this and to Alumit’s immense credit, although the novel can be an emotional roller coaster, the loss is balanced with an optimism which at times seems to defy logic, almost crossing into faith. As bad as things get for Bong Bong, there is still that faint glimmer of hope burning in him that refuses to be snuffed out, a hope that pushes him to move forward and yet drives him to the brink of insanity.

By books’ end, Alumit has taken us on a terribly affecting emotional journey of sorrow and loss and joy and resignation, yet the hope pervading the novel resonates deeply, ultimately creating a remarkably uplifting story of love—for one’s family and for one’s self—of growth and of survival and new beginnings.

It is a novel for which I have great fondness and respect and I cannot recommend it strongly enough.

Who Is Kelland?

2008-10-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

Viet Nam.

Marin City.

Louisville

Benison's Pass

Los Angeles

Kelland is there.

Watching.

Waiting.

Kelland knows the truth.

Who is Kelland?

Without Wax by William Walsh - review

2008-10-09T08:54:00.000-07:00

OK...so this book doesn't fit into our mission over at Uniquely Pleasurable (i.e., it isn't homocentric), but I did a quick review of Without Wax by William Walsh. It's a fascinating book written in a non-traditional format and it manages to do alot within it's pages.

Title: Without Wax: A Documentary Novel
Author: William Walsh
Genre: Literary Fiction
URL: Casperian Books
Price: US$15.00
Additional Information: Explicit sex, explicit sex talk, non-traditional structure.
Summary (from the publisher): Interweaving traditional narrative with consumer profiles, faux interviews, court depositions, and a film script, Without Wax is a fictional biography that provides an intriguing glimpse into the adult entertainment industry.

My Review: In doing some google research on this novel, I came across many different meanings attributable to the title of the book, but the one that intrigued me the most was one I came across first in the Urban Dictionary (though you can find it elsewhere):

Back in the day when people still made sculptures, some artists made mistakes. To correct these mistakes when making a sculpture of stone, they would use a colored wax to fill in the mistake. A truly great sculpture was described as being "without wax." This term went on to be used for anything that was authentic or flawless. It is also the root of the word sincerely. Sin - without and Cera - wax.

I found this description incredibly applicable to this work, not because it is a perfect novel (what novel is?), but because author William Walsh has created an immensely likable, utterly sincere titular character, Wax Williams, a male porn star and the "8th wonder of the world" due to his huge endowment. Now, I'm sure John Holmes will spring immediately to mind (well, for those of us old enough to know who John Holmes was), but while Wax' back-story is not the most happy to be found, it is certainly not tragic, and therein lies the charm of this novel.

In writing a novel about porn, it would be easy to fall into the trap of turning the story into an indictment against the industry it portrays. An author could load it down with heartbreaking, abusive histories for the characters who have become stars in the biz, or worse yet, create cardboard characters, stereotypes that never amount to anything but a bad C-grade movie. Yet, like a documentarian and true to the non-traditional structure of the book, Walsh steps back, views it all through the lens of the "camera," and never imposes his own moral or ethical judgment on the characters he has created. The result impressive, with characters that actually do seem like human beings, particularly when they are at their worst.

The plot (such as it is) revolves around Wax who is shooting (pardon the pun) his swan song in the industry, what was intended to be a jerk-off video featuring just Wax and an impressive sex doll. Wax has saved his money, invested wisely and is ready to retire, lead something of a normal life. This isn't to say that Wax is bitter about his life. Quite the opposite. Wax is an even-keeled sort of guy, a star not only because of his impressive size, but because his is genuinely down to earth, a quality which makes all of his fans feel like they know him, as if they have a special connection with their idol. In short, Wax has "it" and the "it" is far more than what is hanging between his legs. Women want to be wooed by him, and men want to be him. But, when it turns out that the man who created Wax' porn persona--manager Lyle Mammon--is the financing behind the final video, the plot of the porn is changed, and Wax find himself--if even from a distance--entangled with the man he wanted to get away from. And, just when you think even that will iron itself out, Wax discovers that his potential retirement might be derailed when a young man who damaged himself using a Wax Williams sex toy files suit against Wax and his former manager. Will Wax ride off into the sunset? You have to read it to find out.

Walsh expertly crafts the novel in the non-traditional format, writing it as if it were indeed a documentary. He uses "clips" of interviews with those in the industry who knew Wax as well as interviews with fans, video scripts, and testimonials. Court depositions are introduced, and even traditional prose is woven into the story. Surprisingly, very little of the story is told from Wax' perspective, which adds a nice little bit of tension to the piece as we're never quite sure if our hero will be alive or dead when we get to the last page (especially considering the title). While one would think this back and forth between different styles of storytelling would make for a schizophrenic novel, Walsh handles it very well. He stays committed to whichever style he happens to be writing in at the time, and each section flows easily into the next because the subject never veers far from the story of Wax.

What Walsh also does wisely in employing this literary conceit is allow we the readers to get multiple perspectives on each character introduced. For each person who adores Wax the celebrity with unwavering faithfulness, we also get the personal reminisces which give Wax the depth he needs, show him to be a man who may not necessarily be a sad person, but someone who wants to move on. So, instead of a perfect man, a man without wax, we get a man who has his fair share of wax. Likewise, for every person in the novel who finds Wax' manager, Mammon, a manipulative misogynist, a user who met a boy with a peculiar talent and exploited him, we have characters who give us examples of the other side of the man, his humor, the man who knows exactly who he is and has no illusions about it. While Mammon could have easily have been made into a cartoonish villain, instead we get a character with a surprising amount of depth. He is likable despite his foibles.

Now this isn't to say that there isn't a fair amount of manipulation of Wax. Everyone uses Wax one way or another. Everyone wants something from him. But Wax is a man who knows what he is to others and accepts it. The manipulation runs throughout the book and this particularly hits home when the female doctor who is going to help Wax with one aspect of his retirement enters the picture. But it isn't done with a sledgehammer. Walsh does it all subtly, and we as readers are never manipulated into feeling sorry for Wax. Best of all, never once does Walsh resort to demonizing one character for the benefit of the other. It really is quite masterful.

Now, if I have to point out one problem I did have with the novel it would be in the relationship Wax has with his very first screen star, the beautiful Renee Salmon. We are told throughout the story that Renee and Wax were likely the loves of each other's life, but we never are really shown this, and, in fact, of all the characters Renee is the least developed. As a result, the impact of them not being together never really worked and the event that Renee goes through near the end of the novel--a turn that should definitely garner either an emotional or physical reaction from the reader--falls flat and seems superfluous. But in the big picture of this novel, this is a minor, minor quibble.

For those who have problems with non-stop talk or honest depictions of sex and the sex industry, this book might prove too much for you. The talk is frank, but it never feels exploitative, and is not presented, necessarily, for titillation. It is used well, a shop-talk aspect of the book that is integral, matter-of-fact and revealing of the characters. It's realistic and natural, and, one might say, about as erotic as listening to two accountants talk debits and credits.

Perhaps the most interesting and artful part about Without Wax is that it truly does function exactly like a documentary. When you are done, you've been given enough of their life stories to feel that you've made a connection with these people. You've come to know them or love them or despise them for their words. But what one also walks away with--no matter how likable Wax might be, no matter how dynamic you might find Mammon--is the nagging feeling that you don't really know them. And in a novel that is as much about celebrity and objectification as it is about the porn industry, that's a remarkable feeling to be left with.

Kelland, A Novel

2008-09-17T09:51:00.000-07:00

Well, after a year of not-so-great news on multiple fronts, I actually have some news that is worth crowing about...

It is official. My novel KELLAND will be published in the Fall of 2009 by Casperian Books, a groovy independent publisher with a nice list of really interesting material.

Mood...stoked.

The End

2008-07-16T12:20:00.001-07:00

This is just shaping up to be one fuck of a week.

After five years.

FINAL APPEAL DENIED

Church wins. Earl wins.

I will be offline and not responding to emails for a while while I sort some things out.

REVIEW - Mahape a ale Wala'au

2008-07-06T19:57:00.000-07:00

Dropping in from my virtually internet free existence this weekend to crow about a really, really lovely review of Mahape a ale Wala'au from Singapore Sling over at Cocktail Reviews.

Here's a snippet of what Singapore Sling had to say:

Graceful, lyrical, and literary, this novelette is a mature and engaging piece of fiction. In essence, it’s a coming of age story even though the protagonist is already an adult...Heartfelt, intense and beautiful, this is writing of the highest quality. Well recommended and for me, this one’s a keeper.

She also gave the story a lovely Five Flutes and you can read the entire review right over HERE.

My hugest thanks to Singapore Sling!

Now if I could just get an attention span bigger than a flea's so that I could finish any of the three projects I've got going...or, I dunno, answer my email.

Toybox Rocks!

2008-06-24T18:50:00.000-07:00

So, I went this weekend to see my adopted nephew Yohei's band Toybox over at Relax Bar here in L.A. It was a great show and since I can't really post pictures on this blog, you can wander over to my livejournal blog to check out some snapshots and my thoughts on the evening.

Just click away right here!

SALE - The Beheld

2008-06-12T08:35:00.000-07:00

It's fairly official. My short story The Beheld will be included in the fine, fine magazine Dark Discoveries. We're not sure which issue it will be in, but it is most likely to be issue 14 (although there is a slim chance of it making it into issue 13).

Currently, the mag is on issue 11, with 12 to be released fairly soon. So, it looks like in all probability, it will be an early to mid 2009 release. For those who have an interest in horror, I really, really recommend Dark Discoveries. They publish some really, really interesting fiction and I'm very excited to be a part of it. My big thanks to editor James Beach and the whole team at DD.

The Behheld is probably one of the darkest and more disturbing stories I've written. It is extreme, but with a purpose. It's a story about objectification, using sexual objectification as the driving force of the story. It made me uncomfortable writing it and even more uncomfortable asking friends to read early drafts. But they assured me it was good and that the point the story was trying to make was clear.

Mahape a ale Wala'au Reviewed and price redution!

2008-05-28T10:06:00.000-07:00

A nice little surprise popped up in my google notifications.

Linda Yau of The Journal of the Lincoln Heights Literary Society has graciously reviewed Mahape a ale Wala'au. This wasn't a site to which I submitted so I am especially appreciative that Ms. Yau took the time to read and review Mahape.

Here's a snippet of what she had to say:

This story seems to be good for reading on the run, and exhibits the experience of a man stepping out of his normal niche to enjoy life.

All in all, I take this as a very positive review although she didn't particularly care for the fact that I didn't reveal the meaning of the title. That is a valid criticism. It is a choice I debated for some time but in the end, I decided not revealing the meaning was more important to the spirit of the piece. I knew that some readers would and some would not appreciate the mystery of that. I still feel it is the right choice, but I completely understand if it puts people off a bit.

My many thanks to Linda Yau and you can read the whole review right HERE.

MAHAPE IS ON SALE! I note that Torquere has dropped the price of Mahape to $1.99. Not sure what prompted this, but if you haven't picked it up, now would seem like a good time (and a reasonable price to pick it up at). Follow the link....Mahape a ale Wala'au.

Synchronised by Ann Somerville (Sequel to Interstitial)

2008-05-26T21:13:00.000-07:00

Ann Somerville has written a lovely little sequel to her rousing space opera Interstitial. And the best part...it's absolutely free!

So, if you read Interstitial and want to see where Seb and North and Jati go from there, you can pop over to Ann's site and read Synchronised for free.

If you haven't read Interstitial, you can still read Synchronised as it is a wonderful story in its own right, but please keep in mind that this new story contains massive spoilers for the first.

Oh, it has NSFW content and runs about 11,000 words. It's a nice way to spend 40 minutes or so with some old friends.

Uniquely Pleasurable

2008-05-24T12:36:00.000-07:00

Mrs. Giggles' recent post about Uniquely Pleasurable reminded me that I should make a post here about UP, a review site for homocentric works, be they books, ebooks, short stories, flash fiction or the like. As long as it is original and related to ‘original slash’, homoerotica, m/m, or GLBT fiction, art, movies or other creations, it can be reviewed over at UP.

Ann Somerville, an author I admire, asked me to become a part of the review team a while back after I had posted some very "man on the street" reviews. So, in the interest of fairness, I have to say that I "work there." But I can tell you that Ann goes to great lengths to make sure that all the reviews are balanced and well thought out. So, if you are a homocentric writer, pop over and think about submitting your work for a fair, balanced and honest review. Or, if you are just a reader/fan of homocentric works, check out the reviews there.

Of course, Mrs. G herself writes some fun and great reviews at her Mrs. Giggles website. You should absolutely check her out as well. She is on my daily reading list.

CONTEST - INTERSTITIAL by Ann SOmerville

2008-05-17T10:53:00.000-07:00

Okay...a special offer to help celebrate my friend Ann Somerville's rousing new novella Interstitial which was released this week by Samhain Publishing. Here's the details:

If you buy Interstitial,

(1) email me (paulblog [at] yahoo [dot] com) a redacted copy (no personal financial information, please) of your receipt
and
(2) tell me the name of Seb's former husband.

Everyone who enters between now and 6:00pm (U.S. Pacific Time) on Sunday will have their name entered into a drawing for a free copy of Mahape a ale Wala'au, my gayrotic novelette. On Sunday, I'll draw names and not one, not two, but five people will be chosen from the sneaker to win a copy Mahape.

BUT WAIT, you say. I already bought Mahape a ale Wala'au. First off, thank you for buying my little ditty. And second, if you'd still like to play, please go ahead. Along with the info noted above about Interstitial, also tell me the name of the drink that Kristopher buys Toshi in Mahape. If you already happen to own Mahape and you happen to win one of the drawings, you can have your choice of any item I have on my little Cafe Press store.*

So, come play with me. I like to be played with.
________________________________

“Interstitial” by Ann Somerville

Buy from MBaM!
Read An Excerpt Online
Genre: Fantasy-SciFi, Gay-Lesbian

ISBN: 1-59998-938-7
Length: Novella
Price: 3.50
Publication Date: May 13, 2008
Cover art by Anne Cain

Love triangles. Alien monsters. Planetary war. Just another day in space.

Sebastien ven Hester, decorated war hero and captain of the sentient cargo ship Naurus, can face any danger—except his own feelings. Jason North, his pilot, finds out the hard way that Seb’s not ready for a relationship after his recent divorce. And Jatila Kan, their engineer, discovers her feelings for North aren’t returned—because her lover’s pining after another man.

Not the best situation for a crew starting a three-week run across the galaxy.

But there are bigger terrors in space than their messy love triangle. A ruthless, horrifying enemy stands ready to test them to their physical and emotional limits.

Failure means certain death not only to themselves and their passengers, but to the entire planetary alliance.

Warning: This title contains explicit sex, a messy love triangle, sniping, bad language and ravening space monsters.

Interstitial by Ann Somerville

2008-05-13T19:25:00.000-07:00

I am popping in from my internet-less and work-less holiday week to put a big old plug in for my friend Ann Somerville, aka logophilos, whose book Interstitial was released today by Samhain Publishing. I was lucky enough to get a sneak preview of this a while back and it is great fun. I urge y'all to go out and pick it up as it is a great read.

“Interstitial” by Ann Somerville

Buy from MBaM!
Read An Excerpt Online
Genre: Fantasy-SciFi, Gay-Lesbian

ISBN: 1-59998-938-7
Length: Novella
Price: 3.50
Publication Date: May 13, 2008
Cover art by Anne Cain

Love triangles. Alien monsters. Planetary war. Just another day in space.

Not the best situation for a crew starting a three-week run across the galaxy.

But there are bigger terrors in space than their messy love triangle. A ruthless, horrifying enemy stands ready to test them to their physical and emotional limits.

Failure means certain death not only to themselves and their passengers, but to the entire planetary alliance.

Warning: This title contains explicit sex, a messy love triangle, sniping, bad language and ravening space monsters.

___________

OH.....and if you buy Interstitial , hold on to your receipt, because I will have a special contest this weekend where you might have a chance to win a copy of Mahape a ale Wala'au, or, if you've already bought Mahape, a little prize. Details to come, but let's just say that I've been playing around on CafePress. More info soon.

____________________

EDIT: BTW...if you nose around my CafePress thingy and are inclined to buy something, don't do so yet as I haven't seen the final products yet and I want to make sure they look OK first. My order won't arrive until the end of the week or early next week.

Review - Master of None: The Eight of Pentacles by Lee Benoit

2008-04-27T12:25:00.000-07:00

My review of leebenoit's wonderful story Master of None: Eight of Pentacles is now posted over at Uniquely Pleasurable.

Go read the review and then buy the book....pretty please.

http://unique.logophilos.net/?p=490

Title: Master of None: The Eight of Pentacles
Author: Lee Benoit
Genre: Romance
URL: Torquere Press
Price: US$2.49
Other Information/warnings: Mild references to animal cruelty, adult themes, slavery, mildly graphic m/m sex.
Summary (from the publisher): Adiún has terrible luck with lovers. One has died, the other has been traded away to help the village, and he has [...]

Free Fiction - Means of support by Ann Somerville

2008-04-22T11:08:00.000-07:00

The amazing Ann Somerville has just posted a new, absolutely free story, Means of support, on the nonfantasy page of her website.

I was lucky enough to read this in advance and it is a wonderful story of a non-traditional family. Set in Brisbane, Australia, with really wonderful characters and lovely, regional dialog, this is a great read.

So, check it out. It is 100% work safe.

Summary: Five years ago, Evan lost almost everything. Now he rents his house in Brisbane out to a bunch of vulnerable, wonderful kids, and tries to find a meaning to his life through helping them. The arrival of a newcomer could be a disruption or a blessing. Is he finally ready to move on?

NEW RELEASE - Sunny Spaces by Danie Ho

2008-04-22T11:07:00.000-07:00

For those who listened to me ramble on on my Live Journal about the Hawaiian language covers in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and sampled the tracks, Daniel Ho, the voice behind the Hawaiian language versions of "Everybody Hurts," "Nothing Compares 2 U," and "More than Words" from that soundtrack has a new release today.It's called Sunny Spaces and is available of Daniel Ho's website or through iTunes (though, you have to search under the album title as the search isn't picking it up yet under his name...and make sure you click on the album as there are 13 tracks and only 9 come up if you just take the search results).

From the sampling I've done, it all appears to be English language, with the Bonus Track --"The Breakfast Song"-- having some Hawaiian in it. That track, by the way, was co-written by Ho and Amy Ku'uleialoha Stillman, the Hawaiian lyricist from the Sarah Marshall soundtrack. Ho has a really nice voice and when I get home, I'm gonna pick it up.If you pop over to his website, there are a lot of albums available from his label, Daniel Ho Creations, and I have to do a plug for one. Kalakaua is a great album of Hawaiian hula chants. Beautiful and relaxing. You might want to check it out.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATE!

2008-03-25T13:51:00.000-07:00

This goes out to my nephew Nate who lives in Japan and grows a wee bit closer to my age (since I have officially frozen my age). Hope you have a great birthday and have fun with Jon over there visiting! (Waves: Hi Jon!)

So Nate...thirty is a tough age, ain'tit? ;-)

REVIEW: Mahape a ale Wala'au

2008-03-17T06:12:00.000-07:00

Regina at Coffee Time Romance & More has given Mahape a ale Wala'au Five Cups (which according to their site is an "Ultra Rare Extraordinary Read.")

Snippet: The sex is blistering hot but still has an element of deep caring,
making it a very emotionally satisfying read.

And you can read the whole review right HERE. My many thanks to Regina and CTR!

REVIEW - Dwellings

2008-03-12T09:21:00.000-07:00

angusdevotee is just too damn good to me and I thank her so very much for her review of my short story Dwellings.

Here's a snippet:

“Dwellings,” is deeply complex and powerfully symbolic. Bens' gracefully crafted words create a beautiful rendering of a small town, beguiling us with the illusions of quaint town life and antiquated charm....This is a very disturbing story, brutally graphic and painful with its themes of betrayal and bitterness.

And you can read the entire review right HERE (with minor spoilers).

This was another of the pieces that editor Sean Meriwether saw something in and asked me to have another go at before he picked it up for Outsider Ink. I wrote it a very long time ago and haven't read it since it appeared in OI; so I wasn't sure how it held up. I'm glad the wonderful angusdevotee found what I was trying to do with it. Big huge kisses to her.

Lawsuit Update

2008-03-10T22:59:00.001-07:00

For anyone who is interested but probably of interest to only one reader.

My appeal was due on Feb 20 The lawyers were supposed to call me to coordinate the written appeal. However, on the 19th I still hadn't heard from them; so I wrote it myself and fed exed it to the lawyers, the judge and opposing counsel. I have received no news, not even an acknowledgement.

Meanwhile, an article that was to be critical of the settlement was supposed to come out more than a month ago. I was interviewed for it and I said exactly what was on my mind. Given one of the special masters is a press big-whig, it looks like the article has been squashed.

So much for going public.

I was f*cked when I was 8 and it's being done to me again.

REVIEW: Mahape a ale Wala'au

2008-03-07T18:13:00.000-08:00

The very gracious valkovalin has given Mahape a ale Wala'au a really nice review.

Here's a little blurb:

This is a polished jewel of a short story where every word is placed with precision exactly
where it needs to be.
-- Val Kovalin at Obsidianbookshelf.com.

And you can read the full review (and many others) right HERE.

PRESIDENT PARTRIDGE?

2008-03-04T22:51:00.001-08:00

Never Count Out A Clinton. Good night for Hillary. Frankly, I'd be satisfied with either Clinton or Obama as President, but watching Clinton's Ohio victory speech I realized something...Shirley Partridge is running for president. Seriously...she looks like Shirley Jones. Take a look.

And the BF says McCain was on "I Dream of Genie."

CONTEST END. CONGRATULATIONS

2008-03-02T09:35:00.000-08:00

Well, at 12:00am on March 1, 2008, very first contest ended and it was a big success with a lot more participants than I ever thought I'd have. I'm grateful to each and every one who visited the website and played with me...er, you know what I mean.

So, my congrats to

Chris L.
Elaine H-L
and
Katharine H.

Your copies of Mahape a ale Wala'au and Ann Somerville's exceptional novella Going Down should already be in you email boxes!

CONTEST - T-MINUS SIX HOURS

2008-03-01T18:06:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder that in little less than 6 hours the contest I'm running where you can possibly win a copy of Mahape a ale Wala'au and Ann Somerville's exception novella Going Down will come to an end. At that point I will draw 3 names from the "hat" (some know it's really a sneaker) and will announce the winners.

The details of the contest are HERE.

Response has been good so far and I send my many thanks to all who have entered so far.

REVIEW - HeavyGlow Flash Fiction, Two Years Burning Brightly

2008-02-28T21:20:00.000-08:00

angusdevotee is a pure sweetheart, having gone out and purchased the anthology HeavyGlow Flash Fiction, Two Years Burning Brightly in which two of my pieces appear. But this review is not about me and it is probably the one review that is the most important to me because it is a testament to the hard work ST has put into HeavyGlow over the past few years. Lulu is down at the moment or I would link directly to the purchase point, but please click over to HeavyGlow and check it out.

Here's a snippet of what angusdevotee had to say about the wonderful HeavyGlow anthology:

I was absolutely amazed with the originality and diversity of these little treasures, and how something so short could express so much. They’re like these postcard impressions of significant moments in our lives - heartbreaking and soul searching, overwhelming and stunning.

And you can read the whole review right HERE.

CONTEST

2008-02-28T09:52:00.000-08:00

CONTEST!
Two e-books for the price of...none!

How’s that for a deal? From Thurday, February 28, 2008, until 12:00 midnight, U.S. Pacific Time on Saturday, March 1, 2008, you can enter for a chance to win not just an e-book copy of my gay romance/ erotica novelette Mahape a ale Wala’au, but also an e-book copy of an excellent novella by the talented Ann Somerville entitled Going Down.

And it’s not one of those complex contests with 10 steps. All you need to do is pop over to Kristopher's Tour of the Hawaiian Islands at my website and take a leisurely journey through the islands as seen through the eyes of Kristopher, one of the characters in my novelette.
Just find the name of Kristopher’s mother and then email me with the answer at paulblog (at ) yahoo (dot) com with "Contest" in the subject header. On Sunday, I will put all the names of those who answered correctly into a hat and three people will win a copy of both Mahape a ale Wala’au and Going Down.

Thanks, ya’ll and I hope everyone plays! Feel free to spread the word!

MAHAPE A ALE WALA‘AU by Paul G. Bens, Jr.

BLURB: On the Island of O‘ahu, vacationing Toshi meets the Speedo-clad Kristopher, a stunning Hawaiian student who sometimes needs “to be a little less” than his serious life affords him to be. As the two embark upon a sensual game throughout the streets of Waikiki, Toshi learns that sometimes he needs to be “something more” than he has let himself be.
Info: Gay romance/erotica; approx 10,000 words

GOING DOWN by Ann Somerville

BLURB: In the world of Periter – a world like our own save for the fact that some of the people living there have a genetic predisposition toward paranormal abilities, Derzo Einan wanted to help people, and for fifteen years he rescued others from fires, floods and natural disasters. But in the aftermath of a horrific event, he’s left unable to help anyone, not even himself, his gift of empathy now more of a curse and his career in tatters. Running from his demons, Einan finds refuge in a big city, discovering an underclass of helpless hopeless people even worse off than himself—and another soul as troubled and damaged as him. In saving one more person, will he find his own salvation?
Info: Sci-Fi, Paranormal, Gay Romance; approx 30,000 words

Thank You

2008-02-27T21:16:00.001-08:00

I have to send a wonderful thank you to ST, a damn fine writer who is also editor of HeavyGlow: A Journal of Fine Flash Fiction for giving a wonderful plug to Mahape a ale Wala'au on the HG Blog. ST has published two of my pieces of flash in HG and since then we have become wonderful friends.

Speaking of HG, writers, click on the link above. HG is open for submissions and still has 2 or 3 slots open for the next issue! And check out the Current Issue link to get a sample of the fine fiction ST finds.