Domestic Abuse Representation in LGBTQ Writing

Since February 10, 2014 I have been writing a fictional portrayal of young, gay man trying to get out of an domestic abuse relationship because I feel like queer fiction, gay fiction, needs to add more subjects and content, more diversity, to its wheel house, to represent those who are not normally represented.

It's not a popular subject.  I can understand why people don't want to talk about it.  It's frustrating.  It's real and it can be disturbing for people who never experienced it because it is closer than the boogeyman or some monster in a horror movie.

Sometimes the closest I got to finding some kind of representation of the topic was in bdsm erotica, novels trying to deal with PTSD and trauma. While I appreciate these efforts I worry that the intention is muddled by the other content, not maliciously but incidentally.  For some those subjects are even closely related as they equate bdsm with domestic abuse.  I don't equate the two and in my personal life and fictional portrayals look to define the two as separate subjects.

My story line is post break up, post abuse, and I consider other characters besides the subject of the story line (Josh), like Spencer who let's him move into his apartment and develops a crush on the recovering character.  In one part natural attraction and another it is about 'coming to the rescue', a sort of paternalistic urge, especially given their difference in age.  And yet Spencer is terribly insecure with his own past and troubles. 

Can they overcome their fears?  Will they endure?  And can they depend on their friends for support?

insidethebeltwaygayfiction.blogspot.com

New Character, New Romance - Inside the Beltway

In this week's post to Inside the Beltway I am introducing the character of Josh who is trying to get out of an abusive relationship with another man. He is welcomed by the guys and taken in by Spencer who has his own apartment, and although Spencer spends a lot of time with the guys he also likes his alone time and a new roommate doesn't really allow for that... but maybe there is also some kind of connection?

While I am not looking to get into the graphic depiction of abuse I feel, know, the scars of trauma can be painful and want to treat it with respect.

The issue was one I didn't think about much as a younger gay man and I haven't yet seen it portrayed or talked about much.  Was it in L Word? I only saw a few episodes of that show which I thought was great but never got around to collecting.

But I digress, Josh, domestic abuse, healing, and maybe a little romance will be in the mix. I have posts for the next three weeks and leads for several more to flesh it out so I hope you check it out and stick around.

http://insidethebeltwaygayfiction.blogspot.com/

Caleo by james crawford Feb. 5, 2014 Book Giveaway

February 5th 2014 (12:01a.m. PST)
Free Kindle Books.

Book Info

Every High School has their social outcasts. The band nerds, the math geeks, the chess club, the girl that chews her hair, but at Butler High, even the creepy nose picker in the chess club is more popular than Caleo Anima. No matter what he did, his pale skin, snow white hair, and piercing blue eyes always made him an easy target. He used to think that the only way things could get worse would be if someone found out that he was gay, but that isn't even the tip of the iceberg of problems after a mysterious stranger shows up and changes Caleo’s life forever.

Hidden amongst our society, a secret and magical race of people known as ‘Leeches’, have been engaging in civil war for decades. Both sides are desperately searching for a weapon with unlimited power that will give them the advantage they need to rule their world. This wouldn’t mean anything to Caleo, except for one problem...He is that weapon!

Forget making it through High School. Caleo has bigger problems! As the search for him goes on, the world is quickly crumbling around him. He's now fighting for his life and the life of what little family he has left. With the help of new friends, he has little time to try and master his newly found powers as he tries to figure out who he can trust, who is trying to use him, and who just wants him dead. One wrong step and being the awkward pale outcast will be the least of his worries.

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Click here to claim your free copy on Amazon Feb. 5th only!

The Dome by Nova Sparks February 5, 2014 Book Giveaway

February 5th 2014
(12:01a.m. PST)

Free Kindle Books.

What if you knew the exact date and time the world will end, what would you do?

Sam Tucker was faced with that dilemma when he began getting visions of the Earth's demise. Luckily for him, he was able to save his family and as many people as he could before the tragic event occurred, and he did so with the help of unknown visitors. With Earth now destroyed, Sam, his family, and thousands of other lucky survivors must live the rest of their lives on a faraway planet in a Dome that simulates life on Earth. But Sam's mind can't seem to rest as a few questions arise. Why did the aliens save them? How did they know about Earth's sure fate? And exactly what are they hiding?

Emma Tucker begged for an escape from her boring life but never in a million years did she think it would come at the destruction of Earth. Living on a new planet and finding it difficult to get rid of her rebellious habits, Emma finds herself making friends with a member of the alien race and it soon develops into an unexplainable love; a love that is more dangerous than she could ever imagine. While her father is searching for his own truths, she has no idea that she is stumbling on a truth of her own.

Told from the point of view of both Sam and Emma, author Nova Sparks takes readers on a journey to discover love, fate, faith, truth, and the mystery of the DOME!

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