De-blog

Penumbra is a clever novel and not what I was expecting based on the previous books by Dan Ackerman that I've read, which admittedly is not their full back catalogue, although I'm working on it. The world Ackerman narrates is so complex, so different yet familiar. For this reason, there is no need for blatant world-building up front, and I'm delighted Ackerman doesn't insult the reader by going down that route. We know how capitalism works, how inherited privilege persists unchallenged. So we're thrown into the thick of reality on Eden - a space station carrying potentially all that's left of humankind - ruled by Arden, a young, entitled, drug-dependent autarch, all of which are understandable given he inherited the responsibility and Eden is unsustainable. What I've said so far doesn't reveal much more than is given in the blurb. Of course, there's all the technology that goes with the setting of a self-sufficient space station, most of which is ...

Title:  In The Present Tense Author:  Carrie Pack Publisher:  Interlude Press Published:  19th May, 2016 ISBN:  9781941530788 Blurb: Miles Lawson goes to sleep dreaming of a future with his boyfriend Adam, but wakes to find he is married to Ana, an acquaintance from high school. When he learns he has been time traveling, Miles is consumed with finding a cure for his rare condition—and finding his first love. Traveling more frequently, Miles assembles the puzzle pieces of his life and, in doing so, alienates his wife. As he loses control, Miles must realize that sometimes fixing your past mistakes means changing your future. But will he be able to convince Adam he is telling the truth before it’s too late? Review: In The Present Tense isn’t literary fiction. I appreciate this is a curious way to start a review – what the book is not – but most novels I’ve come across that take on topics of an intellectual/political nature in the way Carrie Pack doe...

Title:  The Rose Thief Author: Claire Buss Publisher: CB Visions Published: 10th November, 2017 ISBN: print: 1549982443 / ASIN: B076FT93YN Link: http://cbvisions.weebly.com/the-rose-thief.html Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36438619-the-rose-thief Blurb: ​Ned Spinks, Chief Thief-Catcher has a problem. Someone is stealing the Emperor's roses. But that's not the worst of it. In his infinite wisdom and grace, the Emperor magically imbued his red rose with love so if it was ever removed from the Imperial Rose Gardens then love will be lost, to everyone, forever. It's up to Ned and his band of motley catchers to apprehend the thief and save the day. But the thief isn't exactly who they seem to be, neither is the Emperor. Ned and his team will have to go on a quest defeating vampire mermaids, illusionists, estranged family members and an evil sorcerer in order to win the day. ​What could possibly go wrong? Review: What's the worst thing abou...

I’m delighted that C H Cleppitt has joined me for a festive sherry and a mince pie this Christmas Eve. C H’s brilliant, hilarious novella I Wore Heels to the Apocalypse is FREE this Christmas. What a wonderful gift! So, tell me…erm, is it safe for badgers to eat mince pies—oh, never mind. Deb: Do you have any writing quirks? C H: I don't know that I have any quirks. In terms of writing I just have to sit down and do it when the mood takes me, which isn't always.  Working collaboratively is good because there's always someone pushing you forward.  My stories are very character driven, so I spend a lot of time just getting to know the characters, then I let them run wild and see where they take me. Usually it's all sorts of strange places! Deb:  Jaffa cakes: cakes or biscuits? C H:  Biscuits! I am particularly fond of a ginger nut... Jaffa Cakes are a weird hybrid creature that is not quite a biscuit and not quite a cake, far too confusing on the palate! ...

Title:   Keeping the Faith  (Faithfully Yours #3) Author:  A. M. Leibowitz Publisher: Supposed Crimes Publication Date: November 1, 2017 Length: 238 pages (~84k words) Genre: Literary fiction/romance Categories/Tags: Bisexual, transgender, grief and loss, spirituality, Christianity ISBN: 1944591273 (ISBN13: 9781944591274) ASIN: B0764ZQMJP Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36086132-keeping-the-faith Purchase Links: Amazon  |  Amazon UK  |  Smashwords  |  Kobo Synopsis: It’s been three years since Micah’s spouse, Cat, passed away at the age of thirty-six. In the process of cleaning his house, Micah discovers a series of letters Cat hid before he died, in which he made one request: that Micah empty his life of Cat as a way of moving on. Micah has been able to work through his sorrow, but he’s unable to fulfill Cat’s last wish. He can’t see a way past his loneliness despite all the caring people aroun...

Title: The Descent of Man Author: Grayson Perry Publisher: Allen Lane Published: 20th October, 2016 ISBN: 9780241236277 Blurb: Grayson Perry has been thinking about masculinity - what it is, how it operates, why little boys are thought to be made of slugs and snails - since he was a boy. Now, in this funny and necessary book, he turns round to look at men with a clear eye and ask, what sort of men would make the world a better place, for everyone? What would happen if we rethought the old, macho, outdated version of manhood, and embraced a different idea of what makes a man? Apart from giving up the coronary-inducing stress of always being 'right' and the vast new wardrobe options, the real benefit might be that a newly fitted masculinity will allow men to have better relationships - and that's happiness, right? Grayson Perry admits he's not immune from the stereotypes himself - as the psychoanalysts say, 'if you spot it, you've got it' - and h...

Well, author Emily Alter wins the prize for the fastest time of getting me from 'the MC seems like a nice guy' to 'what the hell is he doing?!' :D Emily's a new-to-me author of LGBT+ fiction and fellow psychologist, and we met via the QSF group on Facebook . I'm currently reading Emily's recent release, Who Loves You ; I'm a couple of chapters in and enjoying it very much so far. Kudos to the author for delving straight into mental health - realistically and, I think, respectfully. I've had a few encounters similar to Ben's. Very well captured. Also, Julian sounds like an awesome dude - cheese, mushrooms and anchovies in sandwiches. I think Julian and I could make beautiful suppers together. OK, back to it. I'm about to meet Claude! I think they're non-binary. (Yay!) Guess I'll find out soon enough. I'll do the full review once I've finished it, although I'm a slow reader with a lot of books on the go, so it migh...

Title: The Truth About Goodbye Author: Russell Ricard Publisher: Wise Ink Creative Publishing Published: 4th April, 2017 ISBN: 9781634897877 Link:  http://www.russellricard.com Blurb: Sebastian Hart has dealt with a lifetime of goodbyes. And now, a year after his husband Frank’s death, the forty-year-old Broadway chorus boy still blames himself. After all, Sebastian started the argument that night over one of Frank’s former date-items, someone younger than Sebastian who still wanted Frank. Challenged by his best friend Chloe, a quirky ex-Rockettes dancer, Sebastian struggles toward his dream of becoming a choreographer, and grapples with romantic feelings for Reid, a new student in his tap class. Ultimately, Sebastian begins to wonder whether it’s his imagination, or not, that Frank’s ghost is here, warning him that he daren’t move on with another love. He questions the truth: Is death really the final goodbye? The Truth About Goodbye is a coming-of-middle age story...

Title: Leaps of Faith Author: A.M. Leibowitz Published: July 12, 2017 Categories/tags: LGBT literature, Christian fiction, bisexual, genderqueer, romance, contemporary, disability Synopsis: From Christmas to Easter and from childhood through the end of life, here are ten interconnected stories revolving around one couple and the people who love them. These are tales of friendship, family, sensuality, and all the intimate moments that make them who they are, together and apart. The stories, while standalone, also fill in the gaps before and around the events in the novels in the Passing on Fatih series. Included: a youth embraces his identity; two women build a life together; a former rebellious teen finds her way; a pair of lovers explore each other's minds and bodies; a man copes with loss and grief. Review: It's no secret that I love character-driven fiction, which is also why I love book series. Whilst a skilled author can realistically depict characters withi...

Title: Nightsong (Notes from Boston #2) Author: A.M. Leibowitz Publisher: Supposed Crimes Published: 1st May, 2017 ISBN: eBook: 978-1-944591-24-3/print: 978-1-944591-25-0 Link: https://supposedcrimes.com/products/nightsong-notes-from-boston-2 Goodreads : https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33974194-nightsong Blurb: Nate Kingsley is a master at messing up. Out of jealousy, he outed his best friend in a public and embarrassing way. Now he’s doing his best to make up for his crimes, but it’s left him empty and frustrated, unfulfilled even by his career as an opera singer and creative director. He enters an unsatisfying relationship he keeps hidden from his closest friends. When that ends on a disappointing note, he seeks solace in his crush on one of the drag queens performing at his favorite club. Izzy Kaplan is an EMT by day, a drag queen named TaTa Latke by night. He hasn’t been in a relationship since his divorce from his wife, despite the best efforts of his mothers and...

Title: Transphobia: Deal with it and be a gender transcender Author: j wallace skelton, illustrated by Nick Johnson Publisher: James Lorimer & Company Ltd. Published: 1st January, 2017 ISBN: 9781459407664 Link: http://www.lorimer.ca/childrens/Book/2892/Transphobia.html Blurb: Who do you think you are? Part of identity is how people experience their gender. Transphobia is intolerance of any part of the range of gender identity. This accessible, illustrated book offers information, quizzes, comics and true-to-life scenarios to help kids better understand gender identity and determine what they can do to identify and counter transphobia in their schools, homes and communities. Considered from the viewpoint of gender challengers, gender enforcers and witnesses, transphobic behavior is identified, examined and put into a context that kids can use to understand and accept themselves and others for whatever gender they are — even if that's no gender at all! Revi...

Title: Regeneration Author: Louise Lyons Published: January 15, 2017 Genre: Gay fiction, science fiction, MM romance Length: 75,000 words Cover design: Simon Searle   Purchase Links: Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NAL4NJ8 Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01NAL4NJ8 Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/688822 Blurb: In the 23rd Century in the galaxy of Sigma Kappa, Kim Fortune was the first surviving experimental enhanced human—a regenerate. Aged fifteen, he escaped the lab and years later, his failings as a regenerate and the suspicion of regular humans, leave him lonely and lacking in self-worth. Stranded on an abandoned planet, the arrival of a stricken ship and its crew give him hope that he may finally find what he always longed for—love. Christian Novak is a successful regenerate with all the intended attributes—including lack of human emotion. Despite their immediate attraction to each other, Kim's failing confidence, ...

Title: Walking by Faith Author: A.M. Leibowitz Publisher: Supposed Crimes, LLC Publication Date: November 1, 2016 Length: 261 pages Goodreads Categories/tags: LGBT literature, Christian fiction, bisexual, genderqueer, romance, contemporary, disability Purchase Links: Amazon | Amazon UK | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes | Publisher Synopsis: For Becket “Cat” Rowland, falling in love has never been easy. The summer he meets Micah Forbes, the intensity of his feelings brings back all the memories of eight years earlier. Following a brutal attack that left him nearly dead, Cat is a mess inside and out. To cope with the trauma and with his view of himself that he’s nothing but an empty shell, he’s taken three vows: simplicity, chastity, and silence. His once colorful, trendy, and often feminine wardrobe has been replaced with jeans and t-shirts, and he’s sworn off men. He locks himself away from the world, using the memorized prayers of his childhood ...