When I tell people I’m a writer, most want to know what I
write. Depending on my audience, I’ll answer with science fiction, romance, or
sometimes science fiction romance. I rarely label what I write as gay romance.
It’s not that I’m embarrassed by what I write. I’m not. That’s
my name on the cover of every book. Not a pseudonym. I love my guys and the
stories I tell about them. I want people to know these books are mine. But getting
into the gay thing can be an awkward conversation starter, particularly if you
don’t really know the person you’re talking to.
My deflection doesn’t always have good results. I have told
someone I write science fiction only to have them answer, “My nephew LOVES
science fiction, what’s the name of your book?”
The nephew in question is
eight. I’d love to imagine an eight year old reading a story about two men who
reclaim their love in the aftermath of a devastating war. But we kill a lot of
people in the Chaos Station series. And then there’s the sex. On the page sex.
Lots of man parts, described in sexy detail.
My books are not appropriate for an eight year old.
So I tack on the caveat, “Oh, well, they’re romance as well.”
Everyone knows science fiction romance is all about space
barbarians needing to have sex with every woman on the planet in order to save
the universe, right? Well, everyone I’ve ever mentioned my books to does.
Except for the woman who told me, “My husband likes sex! I’m
sure he’d love your books.”
“But does he like reading about sex between men?”
Honestly, I really should just tell the truth from the
beginning. “My books are gay romance. One series is science fiction, the others
are mostly contemporary romance. I’ve got one coming out this summer that’s
paranormal. A mystery writer adopts a cursed house cat shifter from the local
shelter.”
That, right there, is the point where I lose them again.
So is what I’m writing really that weird? That difficult to
explain?
My friends get it—or simply don’t care what I write. They’re
happy I’m published because I’m happy to be published and they buy my books
because I’m published. Some of them actually read them and then tell me
embarrassing stories about what they thought gay sex was all about, and how
their perceptions have been changed—and that's a good thing.
Others flat out ask the follow up question. “But why are you
writing gay romance?”
There’s no simple answer to that one. Well, actually,
there is. I write science fiction because I love science fiction. I write
romance because I adore love stories.
It gets a bit more complicated from there.
I write gay romance because I will never tire of putting men
in situations where they must confront their emotions—regardless of whether
they do it with a grunt or over a romantic, candlelit dinner. I write it
because the stories in my head at the moment often have two male protagonists
and, because I’m in love with love, they usually end up together.
But here’s the thing. I’m not really writing men. Or just
gay men. Yes, my characters are male and some of them identify as gay. Some are
bisexual, some of them don’t care to put a label on it. I see them as people,
though. I’m writing stories about two people falling in love.
Some of these stories are set in space; some of them include
guys who can shift shape into house cats (and squirrels. I’m not looking
forward to explaining that one). They’re about college students and forensic
accountants. Travel agents and art appraisers. Mystery writers, soldiers and
property developers. I’ve got a baker and a numbers guy in there. They’re
young, old and in between. Some have broken hearts; some have never been in
love. More than a few have bit of a belly because I kinda like a little belly
on a guy. Lots of them wear glasses. An extraordinary number have blue eyes
because I’m a sucker for blue eyes.
I don’t set out to write gay men (or bisexual men, or
otherwise), I’m just writing guys. And, often, the stories aren’t about their
orientation. The plumbing on the object of their affection is important as the
colour of their hair (until we get to the sex).
My stories are about guys being, well, guys. Falling in love—and
fending off a marauding alien or two. So, when people ask me what I write, I
start with that, because, honestly, that’s how I think of my books. I write
science fiction and I write romance. Sometimes I combine the two.
~*~*~*~
Phase Shift, the final book in the Chaos Station series
(co-written with Jenn Burke) releases next week! You can read Chapter One on
our website. There, you can also sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date
with release news, giveaways and free extras.
Phase Shift
Book five of
Chaos Station
Zander and Felix’s relationship has always pushed
boundaries—personal and professional alike—but their love and commitment is
stronger than ever. So strong that Zander’s ready to ask commitment-shy Felix
the question of a lifetime when he’s interrupted. The Chaos is being hacked, and crucial, top secret information
about the project that created Zander—and his fellow super soldiers—has been
leaked.
Neither man could have expected the enormity of what’s
discovered at the end of the data trail: an entire colony of super soldiers run
by the very doctor who changed Zander’s life forever. And now she needs them
both—Zander to train her new crop of soldiers, and Felix’s new crystalline arm
to stabilize their body chemistry.
With help from the unlikeliest of allies, Zander, Felix and
the Chaos crew must destroy
the project and all its ill-gotten information. But when the team is split up
and Felix is MIA after a dangerous run, galactic disaster is a very real
possibility…and Zander may have missed his chance to ask for forever.
~*~*~*~
About Kelly
If aliens ever do land on Earth, Kelly will not be prepared,
despite having read over a hundred stories of the apocalypse. Still, she will
pack her precious books into a box and carry them with her as she strives to
survive. It’s what bibliophiles do.
Kelly is the author of a number of novels, novellas and
short stories, including the Chaos Station series,
co-written with Jenn Burke. A lot of what she writes is speculative in nature,
but sometimes it’s just about a guy losing his socks and/or burning dinner.
Because life isn’t all conquering aliens and mountain peaks. Sometimes finding
a happy ever after is all the adventure we need.
Visit Kelly Online:
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