Tag Archives: GLBTQ

Down syndrome Awareness Month & PULPIT to PORN (novella)


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It’s a coincidence that PULPIT to PORN was released in time for Down syndrome Awareness Month.

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Reverend Marc Strawder’s life is turned upside-down when he is forced to make a life-altering sacrifice to save his beloved nephew’s life. Complications associated with Down syndrome put’s Marc’s nephew’s life in jeopardy as Marc’s life spins out of control.

http://PulpitToPorn.dustinadrianrhodes.com

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Published: 9-23-2012 
Word Count: 27040 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN-13: 9781301396634
ISBN-10:1301396634
ASIN: B009FMVR6A

Available to purchase:

Amazon (Kindle or Paperback)
Smashwords

What I’ve learned from self-publishing


It’s been one year since I self-published my first novella. Boy was that an adventure and a half. Just months earlier I had written my first short story (Storm of Passion). The overwhelming positive feedback and encouragement I received from readers prompted me to write an expanded version of the original short story. Mind you, I had no prior writing experience or training, yet, I boldly went where I had never gone before.

The first draft of the manuscript was sent off to a small group of Beta readers who volunteered to give their feedback on my story, grammar, punctuation, etc. Their comments came back and I could barely make out the actual manuscript from their too numerous to count comments. I sifted through their notes and I made revisions to the manuscript. After reading my revised work, I created cover art for the book cover and then formatted the manuscript for submission to Amazon and Smashwords.

Already, I had learned some valuable lessons and more would follow:

  1. Importance of patience

    Take the time to do it right to my fullest ability. Don’t rush.

    My novel Auf Wiedersehen~Journey to Goodbye is the perfect example. It’s been three years in the making and it’s still morphing and improving as each day passes. This is the fourteenth re-write, the core story has not changed, but the manner of how the story unfolds has changed dramatically. Patience I tell myself – Rome was not built in a day.

  2. Importance of relying on the kindness of others

    I could save myself time and frustration if I do it alone, but the final outcome is more rewarding if I recruit outside help. Beta readers for example, they were wonderful. But they had not been in total agreement with their generous comments and suggestions during the Storm of Passion Beta read. I took from the experience the comments I was in agreement and revised the manuscript of my first novella.

  3. Importance of editing & proofreading

    Ok, here’s where I learned the valuable lesson about the importance of proper editing and proofreading. After the novella (Storm of Passion) was published, the reviewers comments were focused on the lack of and need of editing and proofreading. I will be the first to admit that I have no idea how to structure a proper sentence, my punctuation skills suck and I can’t spell worth a ding dong. But through my many flaws and inadequacies, I was still able to get the gist of my story across to most readers.

    An author friend told me that there are three kinds of writers:

    1. The technical writer: an individual that has the training and proficient skills to write professionally, but they aren’t as creative as a storyteller.

    2. The storyteller: an individual that can mesmerize his/her audience with endless stories, but can’t write a proper sentence if his/her life depended on it.

    3. The technical writer AND storyteller: an individual who possesses BOTH talents (like Stephen King or J.K. Rowling), but this kind of extraordinary talent only comes along once in a blue moon.

    So, I’ve accepted the fact that I can weave a yarn (in fact quite a few) but lack the technical training and ability. There are lots of folks in this world that are more than willing to assist, if only I ask.

  1. Importance of formatting

    Formatting a manuscript for self-publishing can be a chore and a headache. I read all the manuals and help hints and guidelines before I began my various forms of formatting for self-publishing. I applied all of the knowledge I had absorbed and began the online manuscript submission process. Overall, they came out ok, there were a few minor glitches I was unable to rectify.

    Recently the importance of proper formatting slapped me in the face (big time) as I read a self-published book on my Kindle. The text was all over the place, and not on just that page but the entire book. It was difficult to follow the story and especially the witty dialogue. I limped through the rest of the book, just because I was drawn into a wonderful story. Had the book been better formatted, the read would have been much more enjoyable. After all, isn’t that what a reader wants, an enjoyable read?

  2. Importance of believing in myself

    I’d have to say that the most important lesson I’ve learned is to believe in myself and to follow my dream. From the start, I realized that I had to block out the little voice inside me, the one that said I couldn’t do it. Because I ended up doing it! I had self-published my first book.

    I had considered the suggestions and comments from Beta readers and took what I deemed the better of the advice and applied it to my writing. I never compromised my story, but willingly listened to the advice along the way. Ultimately, that advice vastly improved my story.

    After the Beta read of my second novella Masked Identities, one of the Beta readers advised me to trash the whole manuscript as it was nothing but sheer crap. Sure, the comment stung, but I wasn’t about to let one person’s opinion squash my story. After all, for each story read, each individual reader will take away a different opinion. This particular comment had only been one person’s opinion. I forged ahead and self-published the manuscript. As of this writing, Masked Identities has two 5-star reviews posted on Amazon and additional 5-star reviews on other review sites.

  3. Importance of setting a goal

    Right from the start, I was determined to write and publish my stories, because I had tales to share. I wasn’t writing for fame or money, I wrote to tell my stories. Sure, my books haven’t graced the best-seller lists, nor have I received huge, whoppin’ commission checks, but that wasn’t my goal. I enjoy weaving my tales and hope that one or two readers will be whisked away from reality for a few minutes and settle into the fictional world I create in the form of a written story.

    Pulpit To Porn, my current WIP is just that kind of novella.

  4. What have I learned?

    More than I could have ever imagined. I’ve traveled to places and periods in history where it would have been otherwise impossible. I’ve become intimately acquainted with colorful characters living within my imagination. I’ve laughed. I’ve cried. I’ve cheered. I’ve told my yarn.

    That’s the reward of self-publishing …

Dustin Reviews: Man*hattan: a fairy tale by Philip Higgins



Meet Michael Dearborn. Telephone therapist by day, complete and utter mess by night.

It’s just another New York story of boy meets boy, boy breaks up with boy, boy gets depressed, works in the basement of a funeral home, drinks too much, wakes up in a strange bed, dates a crazy person, and still makes it to brunch in time to tell the tale.

Man*hattan: a fairy tale is a breath of fresh air – a thoroughly entertaining read. Philip Higgins writes in a style similar to that of Michael Thomas Ford, with a smattering of Bart Yates and a dash of Proust. Higgins takes the reader on a journey of discovery through a varying mix of human emotions with just the right amount of humor to make for a superb tale. His characters are colorful, yet believable and they jump to life right off the pages. Mr Higgins has a winner here! I look forward to more exciting tales from this new author.

About the author
Philip Higgins is a licensed clinical social worker and fiction writer. He lives in Massachusetts with his husband – whom he met, dated and, when he finally came to his senses, married in Manhattan – and their adorable son in a great big old house they never could have afforded in New York City.

 Man*hattan: a fairy tale is available at: Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Man-hattan-fairy-tale-ebook/dp/B008IXE5DO

Tags: gay romance and love, gay love triangle, gay college romance, gay college boys, gay college, gay adult romance, gay contemporary romance, gay erotic romance, gay romance, contemporary romance

Print Length: 241 pages
Publication Date: July 8, 2012
Language: English
ASIN: B008IXE5DO

5 out of 5 stars

Dustin Reviews: What A Tangled Web: A Non Fiction Narrative by Daniel Curzon


The Dark Side of the Internet appears in the form of a so-called Teacher Review website that becomes a source of Machiavellian deviltry.

A college teacher (Dr. Nathaniel Tack) runs into the dark side of the Internet when a libelous website is allowed to post lies. Also tells the story of being a gay father as well as being in a hard-fought love relationship with another man. A side theme is the stranglehold Political Correctness has on telling the truth.

What A Tangled Web was a delightfully funny story, but a difficult read due to a slaughtered job of Kindle formatting. The text was all over the place which made it difficult to follow the witty dialogue. Let’s not even begin on the long list of missing words and repeated phases. This manuscript needs a good thorough editing/proofreading. Overlooking the train-wreck technical flaws, the story was wonderful, it was just difficult to read due to the overwhelming amount of errors. I give the story a 5+, however the technical issues made for an uncomfortable read. Overall, the best I can rate this book is an anemic 3.

About the author

Daniel Curzon (born March 19, 1938) is the pen name of Daniel R. Brown. He is the author of Something You Do in the Dark, first published by G. P. Putnam in 1971 and which may be considered as one of the first gay protest novels.It is the story of a gay man’s attempt to avenge his entrapment by a Detroit vice squad police officer by murdering him.

Curzon has written other novels, including The Misadventures of Tim McPick (original title: Queer Comedy), From Violent Men, Among the Carnivores, The World Can Break Your Heart, Curzon in Love, The Bubble Reputation, or Shakespeare Lives!, and What a Tangled Web. His non-fiction books include The Big Book of In-Your-Face Gay Etiquette andDropping Names: The Delicious Memoirs of Daniel Curzon. This last was described by Ian Young in Torson as “ferociously honest and very funny” and by Philip Clark in Lambda Book Report as “a blunt, hilarious, page-turning ride that is…impossible to put down.”

Curzon edited and published the early homophile magazine “Gay Literature: A New Journal” In 1975 and 1976. The magazine included poetry, fiction, literary reviews, essays, photography, and short plays. Curzon’s own written work sometimes was included. Curzon contributed articles for other magazines such as “Gay Times” in 1976 and “Alternate” in 1978.

In the theater, Curzon won the 1999 National New Play Contest for Godot Arrives, and has won many other play contests, such as the Great Platte River Play Contest. His play My Unknown Son was produced off-Broadway at the Circle Rep Lab in 1987 and at the Kaufmann Theatre in 1988, as well as in Los Angeles in 1997. Baker’s Plays published Curzon’s one-act play, A Fool’s Audition. Seven volumes of his Collected Plays have been published as POD books through BookSurge.

Curzon, who is openly gay, is currently a retired professor of English.(Wikipedia)

What A Tangled Web: A Non Fiction Narrative is available at: Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/WHAT-A-TANGLED-WEB-ebook/dp/B003XT5J92

Tags: pet, chicago, alcoholism, sexual violence, rape, oral sex, black gay, dogs

Print Length: 569 pages
Publisher: IGNA Books (February 24, 2010)
Language: English
ASIN: B003XT5J92

3- out of 5 stars

Dustin Reviews: Rainbows All Around Us by Nathan J. Morissey


Rainbows All Around Us by Nathan J MorisseyDeeply closeted and lonely, Justin spirals into a depression when he has no one to turn to. When compassionate and sexy Lucas enters the picture, he changes Justin into a confident and happy young gay man. But tragedy strikes when Lucas gets involved in the gay rights movement and attracts homophobic bigots. Can Justin protect his true love? Or will they be torn apart forever?

Set amid the gay marriage movement, Rainbows All Around Us is an uplifting and inspirational gay love story about the difficulties of being both gay and masculine in the modern world, the importance of being yourself, and most importantly, the power of love to change your world.

Please note that this story contains explicit sexual content and language not appropriate for readers under 18. Reader discretion is advised.

Rainbows All Around Us was a sweet sweet read. Justin and Lucas are perfectly paired and through their individual strengths and weaknesses a beautiful tale of love unfolds and builds to an emotional climax. Wiping the tears from my eyes, I discovered the story continued with what I considered a ramble of explanations that was not needed. The additional closing passage and epilogue were a disappointment after the story peaked so beautifully. It’s nice to have all the loose ends tied up in a bow, but sometimes not every detail needs to be explained. Leave a little to the readers imagination.

Do I recommend this book? ABSOLUTELY YES!

About the author

Nathan J Morissey loves to read and write gay fiction and gay erotica. When he’s not reading or writing, he’s rock-climbing, exercising and weight-training.

Blog: http://nathanjmorissey.blogspot.com


Rainbows All Around Us is available at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Rainbows-All-Around-Us-ebook/dp/B007G1BRTY

Tags: romance, erotic romance, crush on me, gay erotic romance,love,love story, sweet romance, actor fiction, gay marriage, novella, fiction, high school, young adult, homophobia

Word Count: 25,000 Words (approximate)

Language:English

Published March 1st 2012

ASIN: B007G1BRTY

4 out of 5 stars

Dustin Reviews: Bonds of Fire by Sophie Duncan


Drekken is a dragon warrior. Bonded to his dragon, Miri, together they lead a squadron of fliers. His fliers respect him, his enemies fear him, his reputation precedes him. Yet, nothing in his life could have prepared Drekken for his greatest challenge: babysitting.

Stranded after a deadly battle, separated from his squadron and Miri, Drekken finds himself the only hope for two young empaths and their nursery group of hatchlings. He must lead them all to safety and, along the way, discover some truths about himself. 

Bonds of Fire was a pleasant read surprise. A fantasy short story with heart and feeling. The characters are well developed and interesting. A sweet feel-good read when a pick-me-up is needed.

About the author

By day Sophie Duncan is a project manager developing IT solutions for a large company in the South East of England. By night, you’ll find her scribbling away at many a story that just won’t leave her alone. Sophie has been writing since she was a wee thing, and publishing since she discovered the internet in 1994 or so.

“Writing is a passion and there’s nothing better than writing for an audience. Any writer who says they don’t care about feedback must have had an ego amputation :) ”

Bonds of Fire is available as a free-read download at Smashwords:
http://www.smashwords.com/isbn/9781908333094

Tags: gay, fantasy, dragons, dragon, gay romance, augmented human, dragon bond, baby dragons, short story

Words: 20697 (approximate)

Published June 6th 2011 by Wittegen Pres

4 out of 5 stars


Dustin Reviews: Freshman Orientation (Pauer Bautam University #1) by Brandon Reed


Welcome to Pauer Bautam University… where gays… young and old… come to play.

Hunky college senior Ryan Kelly hasn’t gotten any in weeks… but that’s about to change. A new wave of freshmen are swarming the college campus, and he’s got his eyes set on a young hottie named Sean. Will Ryan’s dry spell finally come to an end?

WARNING: Explicit Gay Sex

Freshman Orientation is an adorable story of Ryan’s quest to score with the hottest new freshman Sean. Is it bad timing or kismet that repeatedly comes between these two young men preventing them from getting it on? A cute fast read.

Freshman Orientation is available at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0057YDBCS

Tags: mm romance, gay romance, gay & lesbian fiction, gay fiction, short story, young men, college boys

Kindle Edition, 51 pages (approximate)

3 out of 5 stars

Dustin Reviews: A Not-So-Grimm Fairytale by Ann Somerville


A Not-So-Grimm Fairytale is proof positive that fairy tales aren’t just for children. This tale of a Prince in search of love has a witch, a spell and of course a handsome prince. An entertaining tale for sure.

About the author:

Ann Somerville grew up in one of Australia’s prettiest small cities. In 1989, she left Australia with a BA and a burning ambition to see more of the world and its people, and to discover this ‘culture’ thing people kept telling her about. In 2006, she returned home to Southeast Queensland with two more degrees, an English husband, and a staggering case of homesickness, vowing never to leave Australia again.

Her long, plot-driven fiction featuring gay and bisexual characters has been professionally published, although copious free full length stories and novels are also available on her website. She blogs about writing, publishing, her life and many shiny distracting things.

A Not-So-Grimm Fairytale may be obtained at Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/99652

Tags: mm, gay romance, silliness, gay & lesbian fiction, gay fairytales, short story

Words: 5019 (approximate)

3 out of 5 stars

Dustin Reviews: Reasons for the Fall by Greg M Schumaker


Channeling the magical love of storytelling of early American writers like Kate Chopin and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Reasons for the Fall follows a trio of aimless, romantic and wealthy friends on a summer vacation to Saugatuck, an enchanted and bohemian town snuggled alongside the dunes of Lake Michigan. This volume also includes three short stories which travel from the sandy Great Lakes coast to the mind of an enchanted old woman, to a personal narrative by the author and, across the solar system, to the cold surface of one of Jupiter’s mysterious moons.

Reasons for the Fall was a delight to read. I found myself smiling at the generous sprinkles of subtle humor. An entertaining fast read. The additional bonus stories (Dinner for Buddha, Decaffeinated and Jupiter) were enjoyable, but not as much fun as Reasons for the Fall.

Reasons for the Fall may be purchased at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Reasons-for-the-Fall-ebook/dp/B00802JI2G

Tags: gay drama, gay fiction, gay love, gay romance, homosexual, gay and lesbian, gay fantasy, gay suspense, gay themed, homosexuality, short story, young adult drama, young guys

Kindle Edition, 137 pages

4 out of 5 stars