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Leta Blake

author. human. working hard to become stellar at life.

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    • Contemporary
      • North’s Pole
      • Punching the V-Card
      • Cowboy Seeks Husband
      • Mr. Christmas
        • Mr. Frosty Pants
        • Mr. Naughty List
        • Mr. Jingle Bells
      • My December Daddy
      • Any Given Lifetime
      • Training Season
        • Training Season
        • Training Complex
      • Wake Up Married
      • Will & Patrick Wake Up Married, Episodes 1 – 3
      • Will & Patrick Wake Up Married, Eps 4 – 6
      • Will & Patrick’s Endless Honeymoon
      • Smoky Mountain Dreams
      • The River Leith
      • Vespertine
      • The Difference Between
      • Stay Lucky
      • Bring On Forever
    • Omegaverse
      • Heat of Love
        • White Heat
        • Slow Heat
        • Alpha Heat
        • Slow Birth
        • Winter’s Truth
        • Bitter Heat
        • Winter’s Heart
      • Heat for Sale
        • Heat for Sale
        • Bully for Sale
    • Fantasy
      • Raise Up, Heart
      • Gay Fairy Tales
        • Levity
        • Flight
      • Omega Mine: Search for a Soulmate
      • Any Given Lifetime
      • Angel Undone
    • New Adult
      • ’90s Universe
        • My Skin Begs You Please
        • 90’s Coming of Age
          • Pictures of You
          • You Are Not Me
          • Only You
    • Audiobooks
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    • French
      • Bulletin
      • Titres autonomes
        • À l’ombre de Smoky Mountain Dreams
        • Dans n’importe quelle vie
        • La chute de l’ange
        • Le coeur ne ment pas
        • Le Retour de Leith
        • Monsieur Frosty
        • Monsieur Naughty
        • Vespéral
      • Entrainement
        • Saison d’entrainement
        • Centre d’entrainement
        • Entraînement: Intégrale
      • Passion
        • La montée de la passion: Passion #1
        • La passion de l’Alpha: Passion #2
        • Une passion amère: Passion #3
      • Se réveiller mariés
        • Will & Patrick (se réveiller mariés : épisode 1)
        • Will & Patrick rencontrent la famille ( se réveiller mariés : épisode 2)
        • Will & Patrick traversent les fêtes ( se réveiller mariés : épisode 3)
        • Will & Patrick combattent leurs sentiments ( se réveiller mariés : épisode 4)
        • Will & Patrick rencontrent la mafia: se réveiller mariés #5
        • La fin heureuse de Will & Patrick: se réveiller mariés #6
        • La lune de miel de Will & Patrick: Se réveiller mariés #7
        • Se réveiller mariés: Intégrale
      • Tentations
        • Lévitation: un conte de fées gay
        • Envol : un conte de fées gay
      • Vers la vie adulte
        • Vers la vie adulte #1
        • Vers la vie adulte #2
    • Italian
      • Notiziario
      • Titoli indipendenti
        • North’s Pole: Un pacco per Natale
        • Cowboy cerca marito
        • Vespertine : Edizione italiana
        • Smoky Mountain Dreams: Edizione italiana
        • In ogni singola vita
        • Un uomo fortunato
        • Un fiume in piena
        • Le Differenze
        • ANGELO IMPERFETTO
        • La leggerezza del principe
        • Rise: Una favola gay
      • ’90s Coming of Age – Versione italiana
        • Ritratti Di Te (’90s Coming of Age Vol. 1)
        • Tu non sei me (’90s Coming of Age Vol. 2)
      • Calore d’Amore
        • Slow Heat: Calore Inatteso
        • Calore Proibito
        • Calore Amaro
      • Calore in vendita
        • Calore in vendita
      • Home for the Holidays – Versione italiana
        • Cuore di ghiaccio (Home for the Holidays Vol. 1)
        • La lista dei cattivi (Home for the Holidays Vol.2)
      • La stagione dell’allenamento
        • Training Season: La stagione dell’allenamento
        • Training Complex: Il complesso dell’allenatore
      • Svegliarsi sposati
        • Svegliarsi sposati (Wake Up Married Vol. 1)
        • Svegliarsi sposati 2 & 3: Will e Patrick incontrano la famiglia (Wake Up Married 2 & 3)
        • Svegliarsi sposati 4 & 5: Will e Patrick combattono i loro sentimenti – Will e Patrick incontrano la mafia (Wake Up Married 4& 5)
        • Svegliarsi sposati: Il lieto fine di Will e Patrick – La luna di miele infinita di Will e Patrick (Vol 6 & 7) (Wake up married)
    • German
      • Die einbändige
        • Auch in diesem Leben
        • Das Herz findet immer einen Weg
        • Heat for Sale – Deutsche
        • Mr Frosty Pants (German)
        • Mr. Naughty List (German)
        • Smoky Mountain Dreams – Deutsche Version
        • Stay Lucky– Deutsche
        • Vespertine: Der Priester und der Rockstar
      • In der Hitze der Liebe
        • Langsame Hitze
        • Alpha-Hitze
        • Langsame Geburt
        • Bittere Hitze
      • Training Season – Deutsche Version
        • Training Season – Deutsche
        • Training Complex – Deutsche
      • Überraschend … verheiratet!
        • Überraschend … verheiratet! (Wake up Married 1)
        • Überraschend … verliebt! (Wake up Married 2)
        • Will & Patrick: Endlose Flitterwochen: Wake up Married Bonusstory
      • Newsletter
    • Spanish
      • Sueños en las Montañas Humeantes
  • About

Gay Rights

NOW AVAILABLE! Pictures of You by Leta Blake (90's Coming of Age, Book 1)

September 18, 2016 by Leta

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“Go ahead and start getting excited about this.” Katie, Back Porch Reader
“An amazing story that I couldn’t put down!” Jaime, Alpha Book Club
“Five freakin’ awesome stars. Wow, Leta, you have outdone yourself.” Jewel, My Fiction Nook
“I couldn’t put this book down. I absolutely loved it.” Tracy, Bayou Book Junkie
“What a book! It consumed me from start to finish.” Amy, Goodreads Librarian/Reader
***
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Growing up gay isn’t easy. Growing up gay in Knoxville, Tennessee is even harder. 

Eighteen-year-old Peter Mandel, a private school senior—class of 1991—is passionate about photography. Peter doesn’t have many friends, preferring to shoot pictures from behind the scenes to keep his homosexuality secret.

Enter Adam Algedi, a charming, worldly new guy who doesn’t do labels, but does want to do Peter. Hardly able to believe gorgeous Adam would want geeky, skinny him of all people, Peter’s swept away on a journey of first love and sexual discovery. But as their mutual web of lies spins tighter and tighter, can Peter find the confidence he needs to make the right choices? And will his crush on Daniel, a college acquaintance, open a new path?

Join Peter in the first book of this four-part coming of age series as he struggles to love and be loved, and grow into a gay man worthy of his own respect.

This new series by Leta Blake is gay fiction with romantic elements.

Book 1 of 4.

These books contain aspects of: New Adult fiction, ‘90s gay life, small city homosexual experiences, Southern biases, sexual exploration, romance, homophobia, bisexuality, and twisted-up young love. Oh, and a guaranteed happy ending for the main character by the end of Book 4.

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Crossposted to Steemit.

Filed Under: ebook, ebooks, Gay, Gay Rights, How to be a better person, LGBT, Reading, writing Tagged With: 1990s, adam, bisexual, books, coming-of-age, daniel, gay, knoxville, leslie, new adult, peter, pictures of you, poy, reading

NOW AVAILABLE on B&N, Kobo, iTunes! Will & Patrick's Happy Ending by Leta Blake & Alice Griffiths

July 17, 2016 by Leta

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The final installment of the Wake Up Married serial is out of Kindle Unlimited and available at most retailers! If you’ve been waiting for this last Will & Patrick story, or if you’v been waiting to start until they were all out at your preferred retailer, now’s the time! Thank you to all the readers who have made this journey so fun!

“This is a series that will stick with me hundreds of books from now.” Ulysses, Prism Book Alliance

“I adore this series more than words can express. The writing is stellar and the storyline just keeps getting better and better.” Bayou Book Junkie Reviews

“Ms. Blake and Ms. Griffiths have crafted an endearing tale full of promise, humor, tension, drama, sadness, and forgiveness. An incredible read!” Alpha Book Club

“If you have not read these stories yet what are you waiting for?” Sinfully Gay Romance Book Reviews

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Filed Under: books, ebook, ebooks, Gay, Gay Rights, LGBT, Reading, Reviews, romance Tagged With: final episode, final installment, fun, funny, happy ending, laugh out loud, romantic comedy, serial, will & patrick

"Wow, I do love this author's amazing writing style and story lines!" Review: The River Leith by Leta Blake

April 6, 2016 by Leta

“Wow, I do love this author’s amazing writing style and story lines! This was a very enjoyable read, it may be heartbreaking at times but there is plenty of humour between the characters and some great sub characters that make this a excellent read. I was wishing throughout for Leith to get his memory back and everything to fall into place but also knew the brain is a complex organ that sometimes just can not heal itself. I can’t give the story away so this is a must read!! I would really like a second book,as I would love to know what the next year or Two brings for these wonderful characters! Highly recommended!!”

via Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: The River Leith.

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Memory is everything. 

After an injury in the ring, amateur boxer Leith Wenz wakes to discover his most recent memories are three years out of date. Unmoored and struggling to face his new reality, Leith must cope anew with painful revelations about his family. His brother is there to support him, but it’s the unfamiliar face of Zach, a man introduced as his best friend, that provides the calm he craves. Until Zach’s presence begins to stir up feelings Leith can’t explain.

For Zach, being forgotten by his lover is excruciating. He carefully hides the truth from Leith to protect them both from additional pain. His bottled-up turmoil finds release through vlogging, where he confesses his fears and grief to the faceless Internet. But after Leith begins to open up to him, Zach’s choices may come back to haunt him.

Ultimately, Leith must ask his heart the questions memory can no longer answer.

Filed Under: books, ebook, ebooks, Gay, Gay Rights, Reading, Reviews, romance Tagged With: amnesia, amnesia trope, emotional, gay romance, intense, mmromance

"OMG this book was so good!" Review: Will & Patrick Wake Up Married by Leta Blake & Alice Griffiths

March 28, 2016 by Leta

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“OMG this book was so good!
Okay Patrick and Will meet each other one night while both of them are drunk in Vegas. Well one thing leads to another and they wake up in the morning married and sore due to the massive amounts of sex they had. Can I just say I loved Patrick’s character so much. He was just so snarky, so many times the things he would say in this book had me laughing to the point I had tears in my eyes.
So due to reasons that are beyond Will’s control they have to stay married until they can figure a way out of their marriage. So many things happen in this book that I was either laughing or feeling sad for Will because of what Ryan does to him. I loved the way the authors wrote these characters and the whole pretense of this story. So I don’t want to give away any spoilers because this book you have got to read for yourself, it was just so good! I can not wait to read the next one to see what these two characters Patrick and Will are up to next.
So all together I loved this book!
I would definitely recommend this book!

I received this book free in exchange for an honest review from Inked Rainbow Reads.”

via Kara’s review on Amazon.com

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Filed Under: books, ebook, ebooks, Gay, Gay Rights, Reading, Reviews Tagged With: funny, gay, laugh out loud, m/m, m/m romance, mafia, opposites attract, romance, romantic comedy, serial, shenanigans, shot-gun marriage, snarky, trope, vegas, wake up married

“You’ll be amazed how quickly you devour it and are left begging for more!!!” Will & Patrick Wake Up Married by Leta Blake & Alice Griffiths

November 28, 2015 by Leta

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“What can I say? I was *immediately* hooked by the debacle of Will and Patrick’s booze-adled shot-gun marriage and the story that ensued. The writing is excellent, well-paced, and I developed an investment in the the characters almost instantaneously. Both Will and Patrick left me enchanted, frustrated, totally smitten…and completely impatient for the next installation!! If any of you are on the fence, get the book. You’ll be amazed how quickly you devour it and are left begging for more!!!”

via Liza’s review on Amazon.com

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Filed Under: books, ebook, ebooks, Gay, Gay Rights, LGBT, Reading, Reviews, romance Tagged With: first in series, forced marriage, funny, mafia, opposites attract, pretend marriage, rom-com, romantic comedy, serial, shenanigans

“An awesome addition to this series!” Review: Will & Patrick Meet the Family by Leta Blake & Alice Griffiths

November 13, 2015 by Leta

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“This book was such a awesome addition to this series! This is not a stand alone so you need to read the first book in the series before you read this one.
So in this book Patrick gets to meet Will’s family and let me say Will’s mom gives a new meaning to mother-in-law from hell. Patrick is his usually snarky self with everyone which I loved! There is just something about his character that draws me in and has me laughing so hard at the things he says. Then there was poor Will I just want him to honestly get over Ryan and realize what a jerk he is.
The sexual tension between these two was off the charts in this book. So many times I just wanted to yell through the book and tell them to just get it on already because you know they are going to be so hot together when they do. I really do not want to say much more because this book you have really got to read for yourself because it was just so good! I will say these two authors have drawn me into this story of Patrick and Will so much that I am on the edge of my seat waiting for the next book in this series to see more of these two characters together and what will happen next.

All together I really loved this book! I would definitely recommend this book!
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review from Inked Rainbow Reads.”

via Kara on Goodreads

 

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Follow Will & Patrick as they cope with the fallout from their Vegas wedding in this second installment of the romantic-comedy serial, Wake Up Married, by best-selling author Leta Blake and newcomer Alice Griffiths! Meeting the family is challenging for every new couple. But for Will and Patrick, the awkward family moments only grow more hilarious—and painful—when they must hide the truth of their predicament from the people they care about most. Throw in the sexual tension flaring between them, uncomfortable run ins with Will’s all-too-recent ex-boyfriend, an overprotective mobster father, and a mafia spy tailing them around Healing, South Dakota, and you’ve got a recipe for madcap laughs and surprisingly heartwarming feels. Episode 2 of 6 in the Wake Up Married serial.
Follow Will & Patrick as they cope with the fallout from their Vegas wedding in this second installment of the romantic-comedy serial, Wake Up Married, by best-selling author Leta Blake and newcomer Alice Griffiths!

Meeting the family is challenging for every new couple. But for Will and Patrick, the awkward family moments only grow more hilarious—and painful—when they must hide the truth of their predicament from the people they care about most.

Throw in the sexual tension flaring between them, uncomfortable run ins with Will’s all-too-recent ex-boyfriend, an overprotective mobster father, and a mafia spy tailing them around Healing, South Dakota, and you’ve got a recipe for madcap laughs and surprisingly heartwarming feels.

Episode 2 of 6 in the Wake Up Married serial.

Filed Under: books, ebook, ebooks, Gay, Gay Rights, LGBT, Reading, Reviews Tagged With: funny, gay, gay romance, laugh out loud, m/m, m/m romance, meet the family, neurosurgeon, opposites attract, pretend marriage, rom-com, romance, romantic comedy, sexy, snark, snarky, UST

“This book was just as good as book one!” 5 Star Review: Will & Patrick Meet the Family by Leta Blake & Alice Griffiths

November 11, 2015 by Leta

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“5 stars

I was given this book by Inked Rainbow Reads for an honest review.

Book 2 in the Vegas Marriage of Will and Patrick. This book was just as good as book 1. Patrick gets to meet Will’s family. And of course Patrick can’t hold his tongue. Oh my I just love his snarky attitude. And the things he does voice are hilarious.

Once again I enjoyed this book very much. Definitely need to read these books in order. Looking forward to reading more about Will and Patrick.”

 

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Follow Will & Patrick as they cope with the fallout from their Vegas wedding in this second installment of the romantic-comedy serial, Wake Up Married, by best-selling author Leta Blake and newcomer Alice Griffiths! Meeting the family is challenging for every new couple. But for Will and Patrick, the awkward family moments only grow more hilarious—and painful—when they must hide the truth of their predicament from the people they care about most. Throw in the sexual tension flaring between them, uncomfortable run ins with Will’s all-too-recent ex-boyfriend, an overprotective mobster father, and a mafia spy tailing them around Healing, South Dakota, and you’ve got a recipe for madcap laughs and surprisingly heartwarming feels. Episode 2 of 6 in the Wake Up Married serial.
Follow Will & Patrick as they cope with the fallout from their Vegas wedding in this second installment of the romantic-comedy serial, Wake Up Married, by best-selling author Leta Blake and newcomer Alice Griffiths!

Meeting the family is challenging for every new couple. But for Will and Patrick, the awkward family moments only grow more hilarious—and painful—when they must hide the truth of their predicament from the people they care about most.

Throw in the sexual tension flaring between them, uncomfortable run ins with Will’s all-too-recent ex-boyfriend, an overprotective mobster father, and a mafia spy tailing them around Healing, South Dakota, and you’ve got a recipe for madcap laughs and surprisingly heartwarming feels.

Episode 2 of 6 in the Wake Up Married serial.

Filed Under: books, ebook, ebooks, Gay, Gay Rights, LGBT, Reading, Reviews Tagged With: awkward family, family from hell, gay, gay romance, laugh out loud, m/m, mafia, opposites attract, pretend marriage, rom-com, romance, serial, shenanigans, UST

“What could be more entertaining then two drunk guys getting married in Vegas? Nothing!!” Review: Will & Patrick Wake Up Married by Leta Blake & Alice Griffiths

November 8, 2015 by Leta

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“Well what could be more entertaining then two drunk guys getting married in Vegas, nothing!! This book is great, it starts out and the writing is so good it just captured my interest immediately.

Will and Patrick couldn’t be more different but as as couple they are fantastic. Patrick is a jerk, a very smart one and knows it. But that is what makes him a lovable character. Will, I kind of felt sorry for, he’s hung up on his ex boyfriend.

I loved how Patrick knew how to push Wills buttons and really irritate him. I’m looking forward to the next book just to find out what happens in this crazy story.”

via Sherry’s review on Amazon.com. 

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Filed Under: books, ebook, ebooks, Gay, Gay Rights, LGBT, Reading, Reviews, romance Tagged With: first in series, funny, jerk, mafia, pretend marriage, rom-com, romantic comedy, serial, snarky, trope

“Fast paced and very entertaining, the first Episode of Will & Patrick has left me wanting more.” Review: Will & Patrick Wake Up Married by Leta Blake & Alice Griffiths

November 3, 2015 by Leta

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“I thought this was a really good start to the serial. Both men are clearly attracted to each other and have the same ultimate goal, but they have such polar opposite outlooks on life and how to go about things, that I can’t wait to see them navigate what’s coming. If they don’t physically kill each other first the underlying sexual tension just might do the trick! We don’t get to see them in bed, but the few memories we’re treated to and hints of some shared kinks are enough of a promise to keep me going.

Fast paced and very entertaining, the first Episode of Will & Patrick has left me wanting more. Next up, Will has to take Patrick to face the wrath of his mother.

Reviewed by Debra for Sinfully…Addicted To All Male Romance

 

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Filed Under: books, ebook, ebooks, Gay, Gay Rights, Reading, Reviews Tagged With: arranged marriage, forced marriage, funny, gay, gay romance, laugh out loud, mafia, mmromance, opposites attract, pretend marriage, reviews, rom-com, romance, shenanigans, trope, vegas, wedding, woke up married

“I was hooked by the debacle of Will and Patrick’s booze-adled shot-gun marriage.” Review: Will & Patrick Wake Up Married by Leta Blake & Alice Griffiths

October 28, 2015 by Leta

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“What can I say? I was *immediately* hooked by the debacle of Will and Patrick’s booze-adled shot-gun marriage and the story that ensued. The writing is excellent, well-paced, and I developed an investment in the the characters almost instantaneously. Both Will and Patrick left me enchanted, frustrated, totally smitten…and completely impatient for the next installation!! If any of you are on the fence, get the book. You’ll be amazed how quickly you devour it and are left begging for more!!!”

via Liza’s review on Amazon.com

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Filed Under: books, ebook, ebooks, Gay, Gay Rights, Reading, Reviews, romance Tagged With: arranged marriage, force marriage, humor, mafia, opposites attract, pretend marriage, rom-com, romantic comedy, sexual tension, snark, trope, UST, vegas, wedding

224 authors giving away books for the LGBTQ Push Back Giveaway! #bethechange #pushback

April 18, 2015 by Leta

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“224 authors, review bloggers, and publishers have got together to offer something wonderful: a reward for people who do a little bit to give back to charity. Instead of spending $5 on a book in the next two weeks, give that $5 to an LGBT charity of your choice, tell us about it in the comments, and go into the draw to win a book from one of our participating donors. And because it’s not all about money, if you can’t make a donation then please take a moment to share a charity’s links and tell us about that instead.

Three fundraisers have been set up to counter the hateful effects of Indiana’s SB 101. #Pizza4Equality is aiming to match the money raised by *that* pizza parlor, with all donations going to Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund. Another fundraiser is aiming to raise $100,000 for Indiana Youth Group. Finally, Planting Peace is trying to raise $100,000 to provide beds for homeless LGBT people.

Please consider giving to one of these deserving fundraisers, or any other LGBT charity anywhere in the world. We’re not telling you where you should donate your time and money, only asking that you do. The smallest things can make the biggest difference, and together, we can do something incredible.”

Find out more at Diverse Reader! You can register to win! So many authors! So many books! Let’s do something together for change!

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Filed Under: books, food, Gay, Gay Rights, How to be a better person, LGBT Tagged With: #Pizza4Equality, bisexual, ebooks, free ebooks, gay, giveaway, lesbian, lgbt, push back, questioning, trans

Go Rams! The World Is Changing! Love Is Beautiful! #michaelsam #kiss

May 11, 2014 by Leta

Go Rams! Whooo! Love is love! Support is support! Beautiful!

I’m so happy to see our world changing with regards to love bit by bit every single day. The fact that this kiss was aired by ESPN without any excuses or backpedaling or censorship or shock value makes my friggin’ day!

Filed Under: Gay, Gay Rights, Sports Tagged With: boyfriend, espn, football, kiss, love is love, michael sam, rams

Homophobia’s Root – The Frozen Closet – Newsweek #gay #homophobia #effeminate

February 19, 2014 by Leta

“Today, there is more room for gay men but almost no room for effeminacy,” says Adams.

via The Frozen Closet – Newsweek.

This quote just speaks volumes, doesn’t it? It reeks of misogyny. Read the whole article. It’s worth it.

I’m with this guy. Go fuck yourselves, homophobic misogynists.
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Training Season can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, ARe, and Smashwords. And also on iBooks.
Unquestionably talented figure skater Matty Marcus is willing to sacrifice everything for his Olympic dream, but his lack of discipline cost him the gold once before. Now the pressure’s on. He needs a coach who can keep him in line, but top coaches don’t come cheap, and Matty can’t afford to stay in the game no matter how badly he wants to win.
When a lucrative house-sitting gig brings him to rural Montana, Matty does his best to maintain his training regimen. Local residents turn out to be surprisingly tolerant of his flamboyant style, especially handsome young rancher Rob Lovely, who proves to be much more than a cowboy stereotype. Just as Matty requires a firm hand to perform his best on the ice, Rob shows him how strong he can be when he relinquishes control in the bedroom. With new-found self-assurance, he drives himself harder to go straight to the top.
But competition has a timetable, and to achieve his Olympic dream, Matty will have to join his new coach in New York City, leaving Rob behind. Now he must face the ultimate test. Has he truly learned how to win—on and off the ice—during his training season?

Filed Under: Feminism, Figure Skating, Gay, Gay Rights, How to be a better person, LGBT Tagged With: effeminate, effeminate gay male, figure skating, gay, guy in a dress, guy in make-up, homophobia, male, misogyny, phobia

“Male athletes berate each other by slinging words associated with femininity” – #gay #sissy #feminism The Frozen Closet – Newsweek

February 15, 2014 by Leta

Just think of the insults most prevalent in sports – male athletes berate each other by slinging words and phrases associated with femininity. From the elementary school playground to Madison Square Garden, men routinely call each other “sissy,” “wuss” and “pussy” or tell each other, “you throw (or run) like a girl.” Belittling a female athlete is to call her “butch,” “manly” or a “beast.”  The Frozen Closet – Newsweek.

I think it’s important to look at the underlying message behind these insults. I don’t think they are actually all that similar for men and women. The first set of comments has a much more global impact. For a male to be called effeminate, told they are a pussy, or a sissy, or told that they do anything “like a girl” impacts their masculinity. And in our society/world masculinity is linked with value as a whole person. Calling a woman “butch” or “manly” or “beast” is insulting, because it says that they aren’t a woman. But the real message behind not being a woman is…you’re not sexually attractive or pretty. Or, basically, I wouldn’t want to fuck you.

So, the message to men who show any kind of perceived feminine quality is “you, as a whole person, fail to live up to masculine standards”. The message to girls is “you’re not fuckable/marriagable”. The message to gender non-conforming males is all encompassing. The message to gender non-conforming females is less so. The implication is that they can still be good at what they’re doing. They can still be an awesome athlete, still be smart, funny, etc, but they’re just not fuckable. (And in a world where women are told from infancy that the most important thing they can be is fuckable, that’s a big deal, don’t get me wrong!) But effeminate men are basically told that they are something so much “less than” they “should” be. And what is that less than thing? Something resembling the always-and-obviously unworthy female. Putting females of any stripe at the bottom of the totem pole and only of value if they’re sexually viable for the straight men of the world.

Who has it worse? It’s hard to say. A woman is immediately at an eternal disadvantage by virtue of her femaleness and the fact that being female isn’t valued. A man, assuming he can “butch up” enough to pass muster in the world, is going to be head and shoulders above any woman in the world (heterosexual or not) simply because he’s a man (gay or not). But a man who is being targeted as too effeminate has it pretty bad, too. But the reason it is so bad is because their masculinity is being questioned. And masculinity is the definition of power and prestige and privilege in the world. If women weren’t seen as such a terrible thing to be compared to, if softness, artistry, gracefulness wasn’t seen as “woman’s work”, and if the words that mean “woman” weren’t used as insults, then there wouldn’t be this problem at all. If the things that are perceived as feminine were valued in the world then exhibiting non-masculine behaviors wouldn’t be problematic at all in our society.

Regardless, I feel like the quality of the insults are different. One is reducing a person who could have full privileges of masculine humanity down closer to the level that women already occupy. And the other is an attempt to strip the already low-on-the-totem-pole woman of her sole power–sexual attraction. Interestingly, though, I see that as much less worrisome or problematic, because if a woman is stripped of that power, but allowed to take on more privilege because of being stripped of it (acknowledged as strong, athletic, smart, etc) then it might not be that terrible of an insult. It’s still sickening that our world mainly values women for how much straight men want to put their dicks in them, but being called “butch” or “beast” might actually free a woman up to become so much more than a sex object.

(Though so long as society, and this includes other women, mostly value females on their sexual viability, it’s bound to make a woman feel bad about herself. BUT–and this is a huge but–the fact is that’s not what’s important about women at all, and learning to love a body that is athletic or capable, despite not being the world’s ideal of sexy, is hugely valuable.)

On the other side of the issue, taking a man’s masculinity, wadding it up, and tossing it away due to a perception of femininity in his interests or behaviors, reduces him from a place of human male privilege he was born into, and that reinforces not only homophobia but misogyny as well. There doesn’t seem to be anything freeing for anyone in that. Well, I take that back. It could be freeing if the man in question chooses to step outside of society and to value the feminine in himself and in others.

I think I’m rambling now. My main point was that the two types of insults have different end results. One involves the whole of a person’s being, and the other targets sexual attraction because THAT is already deemed the only thing valuable about that person because she’s female. But they are not actually the same thing at all.

cover-web-copy
Training Season can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, ARe, and Smashwords. And also on iBooks.
Unquestionably talented figure skater Matty Marcus is willing to sacrifice everything for his Olympic dream, but his lack of discipline cost him the gold once before. Now the pressure’s on. He needs a coach who can keep him in line, but top coaches don’t come cheap, and Matty can’t afford to stay in the game no matter how badly he wants to win.
When a lucrative house-sitting gig brings him to rural Montana, Matty does his best to maintain his training regimen. Local residents turn out to be surprisingly tolerant of his flamboyant style, especially handsome young rancher Rob Lovely, who proves to be much more than a cowboy stereotype. Just as Matty requires a firm hand to perform his best on the ice, Rob shows him how strong he can be when he relinquishes control in the bedroom. With new-found self-assurance, he drives himself harder to go straight to the top.
But competition has a timetable, and to achieve his Olympic dream, Matty will have to join his new coach in New York City, leaving Rob behind. Now he must face the ultimate test. Has he truly learned how to win—on and off the ice—during his training season?

Filed Under: Feminism, Figure Skating, Gay, Gay Rights, How to be a better person, LGBT Tagged With: beast, belittling, butch, femininity, feminism, fuckable, gay, homophobia, insulting, male privilege, marriagable, masculinity, misogyny, pussy, queer, root of homophobia, sissy

I Swear I’m Not A Creeper But This Might Be Kinda Creepy #twitter #instagram #gaydads

January 26, 2014 by Leta

So, I sort of follow the twitter of these gay dads that I’ve never met and will likely never meet. (And probably shouldn’t meet because I feel weird about the fact that I follow their twitter and they have no clue I exist.) I look at their twitter feed daily to see what’s up with their twins and if they’ve posted any new pics or videos. Their kids are seriously adorable and when they smile or laugh, it’s like the world becomes a better place in an instant.

This is not Matt and Josh, but I felt like it would be way creepy to put their family pictures on my blog. Like that would feel creepier to me than following them daily on Twitter, which I already feel creepy about anyway.

Now, my bff will tell you that guys and babies are my kryptonite and it’s true. Men? Babies? I’m in. So maybe that explains it. But, thinking about it today, I believe it’s a little more than that. These kids are so damn happy and so obviously loved that it brings me joy just looking at their pictures. How could anyone be against this? These fathers worked very hard to have these children. They jumped through a ton of very interesting (and possibly controversial) loops to get their son and daughter. You can read all about that journey here on their blog.

I realized something else today about Matt and Josh’s twitter/blog while reading a comment from another man I follow. He admitted that he’d realized yet again how lucky he was to be alive. As a gay man, he’d struggled through his adolescence with self-loathing and suicidal thoughts because he didn’t see the possibility of a future that looked anything like the life he has now–a legally recognized husband, home, happiness. So, I realized, yeah, it might be weird that I look at pics of this family, but it hit me that if I’m looking at them, there are other people who find them, too. And some of those people might be adolescents who maybe haven’t ever seen or imagined Matt and Josh’s reality. And maybe some of those people are the parents or grandparents of a kid who has just come out and who need to see that, hey, their kid can find love and have whatever kind of life they’ve dreamed of, even if it includes a husband and kids.

(By the way, I believe there is absolutely value to be found in a life that doesn’t involve anything as ‘heteronormative’ in appearance as a wedding and a family, so don’t take this to mean I value this above all life choices. But, hey, can we really call two married, gay men raising children ‘heteronormative’ at all? I would challenge that assumption. But moving along.)

So, I guess I wanted to take a moment to thank Josh and Matt for sharing their life online for people to see and learn what is capable of happening in this world. If we need to see it to believe and achieve it, then Josh and Matt are showing a lot of folks that it can be done.

Filed Under: Gay, Gay Rights, How to be a better person, LGBT, Marriage, Parenthood Tagged With: gay, gay dads, gay fathers, josh, lgbt, matt, new dads on the block, suicide, surrogacy, twins

Gay Games and Inclusiveness #gaygames9 #lgbt #gay

January 24, 2014 by Leta

Because of all the terrible things happening in Russia right now, I’ve had mixed emotions about the Olympics this year, especially on the heels of releasing Training Season, an erotic romance which features an Olympic athlete. I wanted to find a way to feel like I was making even a small difference and that’s when I read up on the Gay Games and found that they are inclusive in every way, representing the true ideals of the original Olympics. Well, so long as you were male and not a slave and yadda. Never mind, forget my comment about the original Olympics. The Gay Games are much more inclusive than they ever were!

Regardless, I’ve pledged to donate 10% of the first six months of Training Season profits to the Gay Games to support an organization that is truly inclusive and open.

Now, Training Season might not be a read for everyone. It’s a gay erotic romance with some (smokin’ hot) graphic scenes that aren’t for every reader. But, in this post-50 Shades world, many people are looking for material of this nature and if you are, then this might be a book for you. With that reference alone, one should be able to determine if the book is for them or not.If you do purchase any time from now until May the 10% of your purchase price goes to support the Gay Games!

cover-web-copy
Training Season can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, ARe, and Smashwords. Coming soon to iBooks.

Filed Under: books, Figure Skating, Gay, Gay Rights, How to be a better person, LGBT, Sports Tagged With: cowboy, effeminate gay male, erotic romance, figure skating, gay erotic romance, gay games, gay games 9, post-50 Shades, ranching, training season

Wearing my Pride #comeouteveryday #gay

January 14, 2014 by Leta

Wearing my Pride.

Above is a really thought provoking post about being true to yourself and coming out every day.

Filed Under: Gay, Gay Rights, How to be a better person, LGBT

What You Believe About Homosexuality Doesn’t Matter

January 12, 2014 by Leta

What You Believe About Homosexuality Doesn’t Matter.

This is a bit old, but still a powerful statement from a Christian about why what people believe about homosexuality and the Bible doesn’t matter.

Filed Under: Gay, Gay Rights, LGBT Tagged With: bible, christianity, gay rights, gay suicide, homosexuality

Heteronormativity or Misogyny? How About Both! #lgbt #gay #mmromance

January 6, 2014 by Leta

Interesting discussion at Brandonshire’s blog about heteronormativity in M/M Romance. I replied there with the following and wanted to post it my comment on my blog. It’s a bit out of context, but I think sense can be made of it. Otherwise, you can check it out at Brandon’s blog for full contextual understanding. 😉

**

What you’re describing is not actually this, “Even the most effeminate gay men are still that, they are men, they aren’t women, they shouldn’t be written like women” but rather this, “That is writing a stereotype of a woman, who is not a woman.” Because what you’re describing are BADLY WRITTEN CHARACTERS. Women don’t behave in those ways either.

So, to me, the issue is not if the gay man is effeminate, or horny, or not horny, or “alpha male”, or whatever else…the issue is whether or not they are written as well-rounded, true-to-life human beings. Basically, when I see people complaining about gay men being written like women, I start wondering just how they see WOMEN, you know? I mean, when was the last time I read a woman in a book–especially a romance–that I related to as a woman? It’s sadly been awhile.

So, I have no problem with you or anyone else pointing out that some of the characterizations of gay men (and of women) in books are deeply problematic because they are unrealistic, stereotypical, and lacking in creativity, but I guess I do end up having a problem with the idea that it is because the men are being portrayed as ‘like women’…because generally I don’t even know any women who behave like these stereotypical characters we see in books.

Maybe a better phrasing would be “gay men who behave like the worst and most unrealistic stereotypes of women”. That’s a phrasing I could probably get behind.

**I have been told that I should shut up about this and that female authors of m/m can write whatever they want because women are the biggest readers of the genre.**

and

**I’ve had gay friends of mine (authors) who were told by female readers of the genre that their gay men were wrong, because they didn’t fit how they see gay men.**

Well, obviously, that’s shitty and short-sighted and homophobic and fetishizing on the part of those who have said these things. I’m certainly not expressing that opinion. I’m just challenging the idea that these characters are written “like women” because I think that they’re just crappily written characters who are not like women at all.

Hope this made sense! I haven’t had my coffee yet!

Filed Under: Feminism, Gay, Gay Rights, LGBT, Reading, romance, writing Tagged With: badly written characters, effeminate, gay, heteronormative, heteronormativity, man, men, misogyny, stereotypes, woman, women

Pat & Billy are GETTING MARRIED! #vlog #gay #marriage

July 23, 2013 by Leta

A friend of mine suggested to me that I watch Pat & Billy vlogs on YouTube awhile back when I was having a bad day. She guaranteed that these videos would cheer me up and bring me joy. Oh my gosh, you guys, seriously, these vids have become my absolute go-to videos for feeling good.

So, let me walk you through some highlights so you can also fall in love with them and start to follow them on YouTube (and Twitter and Instagram) like I have. *cough*

1. How they met which is a charming, wonderful, sweet, and awwww-my-heart story. (Though please ignore the one moment of ableism which they at least seemed to catch and cut off quickly.)

[youtube=http://youtu.be/Q1rSu0rtebY]

2. How they got engaged. Loved it because it was realistic and not some over-the-top story of full-on dance numbers and hot air balloon rides.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/rkgewHjIpE8]

3. Their discussion of PDA and if they do PDA and why or why not.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/BGYTzvsVwDA]

4. Will they take each other’s last name? This one isn’t so much darling as just really interesting. As a woman, I had so many of these same issues when I got married. I liked seeing dudes struggle with this.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/k9d6QEa2zvk]

5. And they answer with charm and hilarious adorableness the really annoying question of “Who is the bride?”

[youtube=http://youtu.be/e7yakd-wyKk]

6. Pat and Billy react to the many outraged reactions to their announcement that they were not going to have a traditional tiered wedding cake. Hilarious! Adorable! Too cute!

[youtube=http://youtu.be/GppAOveFQzw]

Now, admit it! You love them, too! Go forth and follow them on social media far and wide! Do not follow them in person, though, because that’s creepy.

Filed Under: Gay Rights, How to be a better person, Marriage, Video Tagged With: billy, engaged, engagement stories, gay, gay marriage, gay wedding, humor, last name, lgbt, love, love is love, manners, marriage, pat, pat and billy, Pittsburgh cookie table, quiltbag, rainbow, the cutest, two grooms, videos, vlog, wedding, wedding cake, wedding etiquette, who is the bride

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