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Thursday 4 July 2013

Equal Rights Blog Hop 4th - 7th July




June 26th 2013

I was asked to write a blog post about what being a part of the LGBT community means to me and I'll admit, I floundered. I felt like something of a fraud to even consider myself a part of the community. I am a heterosexual woman who writes stories about gay, and bisexual, men. I have no idea how it feels to be considered different every day, to have people who don't even know me judge me and hate me on principle, or to have a government decide that I can't legally marry the person I love. I can do as much research as I like, but unless I have ever found myself in a situation that only a gay person can be in, I will never know what it truly means to be gay.

I have been writing stories about gay men for a while now, but only recently did I ever submit a book to be published. Since then my family have asked a lot of questions about my book and I have so far kept them all in the dark. I realised that I have, in a sense, been in the closet this whole time. None of my family members know what I write about. I suppose I don't want them to judge me or think of me as different, which I presume is a sliver of what a LGBT person might feel about coming out.

If the LGBT community consider me to be a part of them, then I am proud to be so. I have made the decision to 'come out' to my family, as it were. I feel nervous about it, and I feel annoyed that I should have to feel nervous. I have a pretty loving and accepting family, and although I don't think they will get why I write what I do, I think they will be supportive none the less, but even knowing that I still feel anxious.


July 1st 2013

I have now 'come out' to my entire family, and I couldn't have wished for a better response. My mum was delighted and begged me to let her read one. She's currently lying by a pool in Lanzarote getting through The Holy Trinity. My dad asked to see the cover of my book and told me he was proud of me. My grandmother interrupted me to tell me all about the underground gay clubs she used to go to in London during the fifties. I think my grandfather was a little uncomfortable and over compensated a bit to try and hide it. You know the type, the, "Some of my best friends are gay," types. I know that living in the U.K attitudes are generally more relaxed than in other places, so I'm aware that I got lucky with such a loving and supportive family.



To enter the grand prize giveaway click on the button.




Congratulations Cathy Romanczuk on winning a copy of my book, The Holy trinity. I will email it to you today.

I used a very high tech method for selecting the winner, I wrote all the names of bits of paper, closed my eyes, and grabbed one lol

39 comments:

  1. The Holy Trinity :D

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  2. The Holy Trinity

    I feel nervous about it, and I feel annoyed that I should have to feel nervous.

    I think that's a very telling feeling. We shouldn't have to be nervous; we're not doing anything wrong. I am very glad that your experience 'coming out' was so positive -- and it sounds like your grandmother might be a treasure trove of information!

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    1. I know, I think it's time I learned all about these underground gay clubs in the fifties :)

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  3. She's reading THE HOLY TRINITY (cool)!

    vitajex(at)aol(dot)com

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  4. Congrats on coming out. A wonderful post.

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  5. The Holy Trinity
    Thanks for the post and hop.
    cvsimpkins@msn.com

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  6. I already have your book - loved it and I am looking forward to more. I wanted to leave a comment about your post. I can relate to your closet because mine is similar. No one in my family knows what I enjoy reading! Since the Kindle came out I have become a Hugh fan of this genre -- but I don't think my family would get it.
    thanks for participating
    Cyndy

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  7. She's reading the The Holy Trinity.

    Thanks for sharing your own story and for taking part in the hop. Also congrats for coming clean to your family about what genre you write. Its a great achievement and shouldn't be hidden.

    humhumbum AT yahoo DOT com

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    1. Thank you very much. I have been overwhelmed and very touched my family's reaction, especially my dad's. It feels nice to hear your dad tell you he is proud of you :)

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  8. Your mum is reading 'The Holy Trinity' :)

    penumbrareads(at)gmail(dot)com

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  9. 'The Holy Trinity'

    lena.grey.iam@gmail.com

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  10. Your mother is reading The Holy Trinity. Nice post, by the way. :)

    terrihawk66@yahoo.com

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  11. The Holy Trinity. Thanks for participating in the blog hop and Congratulations on your "Coming Out"
    romanczukc@yahoo.com

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  12. The Holy Trinity

    Wolphcall(at)bellsouth(dot)net

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  13. She's reading The Holy Trinity.
    sstrode at scrtc dot com

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  14. Your mum is reading The Holy Trinity. Thank you for participating in the blog hop!
    -Marie

    awindandbooks at gmail dot com

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  15. What an awesome reaction! I have to admit, I wouldn't get the same one. As a matter of fact, I have a 'moral turpitude' clause in my contract that could get me fired for writing the stories that I do.

    So kudos for you for 'coming out' to your family! They rock!

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    1. Wow, that's a shame for you. It feels pretty good no longer having this big secret. In fact, given how my family reacted I felt like maybe it wasn't as big a deal as I thought.

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  16. Congratulations on your coming out! I'm so glad your family is supportive of your writing, and how cool that your mom wanted to read The Holy Trinity. I mean, actions speak louder than words!

    Congratulations on being published and so glad you could be part of the hop!

    Carolyn
    caroaz [at] ymail [dot] com

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    1. Thank you. My whole family have been great. My dad has surprised me the most. He had read all of my reviews and practically quoted them back at me when we talked the other day.

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  17. Congratulations on your recent coming out. I loved that your Mom is reading your book, The Holy Trinity. Thanks for sharing and participating.

    SophieBonaste at gmail dot com

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    1. Thank you. I got lucky with my family, my mum said she loved the book, but then she is my mum so she kind of has to say that lol.

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  18. She's reading your book The Holy Trinity. Thanks so much for sharing and participating, and congrats on your "coming out"!

    tiger-chick-1(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  19. Love your grandmother's reaction. :)

    Already bought and loved The Holy Trinity. Even recommended it to several of my Goodreads friends. :)

    carolcobun @ yahoo .com

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    1. Thank you very much. I know, my grandmother is quite a lady :)

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  20. What a great story and a great blog post! I think my family would be just as supportive no matter what I write. They've been very positive and supportive so far. I feel lucky to have such an open-minded family.

    By the way, you're not the only one who uses that high tech method to draw your winners. LOL I give every entry a number, then write the numbers on little bits of paper that I toss into the man's fedora. I then mix them up and draw a winner. :-D

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  21. Well sometimes it's best to go old school lol. Thanks for your comment, it feels really good to have it all out in the open :)

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