As we come close to the end of my LGBT tales series, I am happy to host once more Kory Steed, who wrote such a beautiful post for his first release, From Lightning to Love. Today he is back to the Lair with the second book in that series,and another very interesting post about his experiences as a (gay) novelist. I will let him do the talking!
"Thank
you so much, Katherine for inviting me to share my personal views on
contemporary LGBTQ lifestyles with your readers. While thinking about
what would make a suitable topic for your series, and how it relates to
my novels, several questions ran through my mind. “What was my
inspiration for writing my Lightning Series, and why me, a former medic?
Why now? What do I try to communicate through my novels? What's
important to me in my life, in my writing, for American society, for the
world?” This got me to thinking about how I reached this point in my
career, and why I believe I have something to offer in the gay novels
that bear my name.
The
adage, write what you know, has always rung true for me. To try to write
anything that didn’t contain at least some part of what I’ve
experienced would never come across as genuine. I’ve learned so many
lessons from the people and animals I have known and cared for, both
personally and professionally over the course of my lifetime. I’ve
learned how to live my life, as often as I’ve learned how not to. I’ve
intentionally include animals here because from a very young age,
animals were some of my closest friends and they played a large part in
molding my personality as a nurturer and caregiver.
While
I credit many positive experiences in shaping me as a person, I cannot
discredit the negative ones for there are lessons just as valuable in
them as in the ones that have allowed me to soar. I think this rings
true for all people, but as a gay man who has finally found a degree of
love that goes far beyond the physical passion of youth, I’m at a point
where I believe I can convey a depth of substance in my characters that
reveals their internal struggles with morality as much as mortality.
They ask the questions “Why am I here? What is my purpose? What can I
offer in the time I have left on this planet?”
I
think many gay men who are now in their 40’s, 50’s, or beyond, and who
have done (and are done with) casual sexual encounters in all their
forms, be they one night stands, the baths, the hook-ups, the
drug-riddled sex parties, or even their infatuation with maintaining a
youthful appearance or a toned or muscular body have reached the point
where they recognize that time continues to march on and can’t be
beaten. At some point they ask themselves, “What do I do now? What comes
next?” This is the moment where they are presented with the opportunity
to look inward to discover who they are and what is important to them.
What do they want to impart on the world? What will be their legacy?
Many
gay men do not have biological children so what else is there to leave
behind? Good works, helping others to realize their potential, and
making a difference whenever and wherever they can is a good place to
begin. For Jason (from my Lightning Series), these questions arose when
he was in his 20’s, and carried through into his 30’s. As an
army-veteran-medic, he suffered from PTSD for over a decade. He was
forced to face death on an immense scale and in doing so, he came to
recognize his own mortality much earlier than most. Rescuing and caring
for Aaron gave purpose to his once sequestered life because he was able
to channel all his energies and attention onto another human being. The
fact that Aaron was also gay and lost his lover in the airplane
explosion presented both characters with a second chance at love, and
they grabbed for it together and held on for dear life.
Introducing
the altruistic component of Nathan’s Promise (dedicated to Aaron’s
deceased lover), an LGBTQ(S) focused physical rehabilitation facility
for athletes and military and law enforcement personnel, will enable
them to give back to the world and make a difference in the lives of
others. The fact that Jason is a billionaire, gives them the means to do
it and surrounding themselves with loving, like-minded, and skilled
supporting characters will give them the tools they need.
Finally,
I instill these characteristics and situations into my writing in an
attempt to reveal that members of the broad-spectrum LGBTQ community are
no different from the heterosexual one and in doing so, hope that I can
convey that we are all in this together.
In
the end though, we cannot forget that this is all fiction, portrayed
within an imaginary world, drawn from my own aspirations and
inspirations, but that does not mean it cannot inspire us to be kinder,
more conscientious, and giving people who pause every now and then to do
good work."
Thank you, Kory, for this beautiful post!
And now, the book!
"From an
author that really knows how to play your heartstrings and make you
believe in love again, I was taken to places I totally didn't expect not
only through shocking plot twists, but also when romance is found in
the tender moments you wouldn't expect. "
Jason
cannot believe that Aaron, the man whose life he saved and who helped
him break free from PTSD, has suddenly returned to him. Healed, whole,
and ready to renew their growing love, they begin to plan a future
together. With their first night of torrid lovemaking, they dream of
many more, but fate is against them.
A dark nemesis from Jason’s past reappears with lethal intent, driven by a grudge from having been disgraced by a military tribunal. The fallout for Jason and Aaron is far-reaching and heart-wrenching and tears into the fabric of the life they have so carefully begun to weave.
When hatred strikes in a barrage of gunfire, they are left fighting for their lives. Their only focus is to take back what has been ripped away from them; their only hope, that the strength of their love will be enough.
A dark nemesis from Jason’s past reappears with lethal intent, driven by a grudge from having been disgraced by a military tribunal. The fallout for Jason and Aaron is far-reaching and heart-wrenching and tears into the fabric of the life they have so carefully begun to weave.
When hatred strikes in a barrage of gunfire, they are left fighting for their lives. Their only focus is to take back what has been ripped away from them; their only hope, that the strength of their love will be enough.
