• The Case of the Missing Drag Queen

    Broke, saddled with a mountain of debt, and dependent on his Aunt Callie’s support, aspiring writer Luke Tanner has returned to Kentucky to put his life back together after a failed five-year relationship. On his twenty-fifth birthday, Luke meets diminutive Pixie Wilder, a long-time performer at the Gilded Lily. After headliner Ruby Dubonnet doesn’t show up, Pixie takes her place as the star of the show—a motive that makes her a suspect in Ruby’s disappearance. Luke reluctantly agrees to help his new-found friend clear her name. He and Pixie set out to find the missing drag queen, and in the process, put themselves in danger.

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  • Aucune Bonne Action

    La veille de Noël, en 1966, Philip Potter, un conservateur du Smithsonian au grand cœur, termine ses achats de dernière minute. Au même instant, James, son compagnon depuis plusieurs années, s’ôte la vie chez eux. Inconscient de ce qui l’attend, Philip dépose des cadeaux à un refuge pour sans-abris, un acte généreux qui fera plus tard de lui un suspect dans le meurtre d’un prostitué. Après la mort choquante de James, deux hommes entrent dans la vie de Philip… et tous deux conduisent une Continental jaune. L’un d’eux, toutefois, est un tueur avec le sang de six prostitués sur les mains. Et tous deux cachent quelque chose. Comme Philip est sur le point de le découvrir, aucune bonne action ne …

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  • Equality: What Do You Think about When You Think of Equality?

    In the tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King’s Stride Toward Freedom and Malala Yousafzai’s, I Am Malala, Equality: What Do You Think About When You Think of Equality? presents thought-provoking and compelling personal essays that probe a concept professed to be the very foundation of our democracy—a concept that may even be more vital today than in the past. From international bestselling author, Anne Perry who asserts we must look within ourselves to our emotions, experiences, and beliefs before we attempt an honest and truthful answer, to Dennis Palumbo, psychotherapist and author, who claims diagnostic labels used in treating mental illness often stigmatize and dehumanize the patient causing clinicians to view their patients in terms of their diagnosis rather than …

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  • No Good Deed

    On Christmas Eve in 1966, Philip Potter, a kind-hearted Smithsonian curator,  wraps up his last-minute shopping. Meanwhile, his lover of several years takes his own life back in their home. Unaware of what awaits him, Philip drops off gifts at a homeless shelter, an act of generosity that will later make him a suspect in the murder of a male prostitute. Following James’s shocking death, two men enter Philip’s life—and both drive yellow Continentals. One of them, though, is a killer, with the blood of at least six hustlers on his hands. And both are hiding something. As Philip is about to discover, no good deed goes unpunished. (Originally released by MLR Press in 2013 as After Christmas Eve)

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  • Whippersnapper

    Tellumo Magnamater is a fresh-out-of-college, first-year English teacher at Salt Lick County High School in Kentucky. He rides the bus to and from work, and every day he walks to the gym behind his small efficiency apartment to exercise. Perhaps because of being raised by two lesbians, Tellumo is attracted to older men. He sets his sights on fifty-something available bachelor Oliver Crumbly. But Tellumo isn’t the only resident interested in Oliver. Peggy Tucker, a widow approaching her sixtieth birthday, is determined to marry again, and she thinks Oliver is her perfect match. Despite Tellumo and Peggy striking up a friendship at the gym, neither realizes they are interested in the same man. But the joke might be on both of …

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  • Happy Independence Day

    Terrence Bottom wants to change the world. Little does he know the world is already changing, and his part in it won’t be what he expects. A prelaw student at Columbia University, Terrence’s interests range from opposing the draft and the war in Vietnam, to civil rights for gays, to anything to do with Cameron McKenzie, the rugged blond hanging around the Stonewall Inn. Too bad Cameron bolts whenever Terrence looks his way. College dropout Cameron McKenzie left tiny Paris, Kentucky with dreams of a career on Broadway. Although he claims to be straight, he prostitutes himself to survive. Now the Mafia is using him to entrap men for extortion schemes. He’s in over his head with no way out—at …

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  • The Bear King of Snowbird Mountain

    Recently single Jeremy Jenkins is an average guy working hard as a landscape designer in the mountains of Tennessee. At a conference in DC, he meets gorgeous Donald Matthews, who says the strangest things—like how he thinks Jeremy is hot and wants them to spend the rest of their lives together. This story is part of A Taste of Honey, a Dreamspinner Press Anthology. Other stories in the collection: The Bear Fetish, by John Amory The Bear Next Door, by Jack Byrne The Bear at the Bar, by J. Scott Coatsworth Barefoot, by Lillian Francis Just Breath, by John Genest Bear Chasing, by Renae Kaye Golden Bear, by G. P. Keith Hunting Bear: A Fairy Tale with a Very Hairy …

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  • Until Thanksgiving

    Josh Freeman knows his best days are behind him. After his partner of seventeen years has an affair with a younger man, Josh buries himself in takeout boxes, half-smoked joints, and self-pity until his best friend gently kicks him in the ass and encourages him to try out a new job in Washington DC—at least until Thanksgiving. Though DC has its share of troubles, specifically in the form of a murderer targeting gay men, Josh soon discovers its charms as well. Unlike his old home, DC is crawling with men who want to date him—apparently he’s not as overweight, out of shape, or over the hill as the man he once loved made him believe. In particular, Josh would love …

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The Crotchety Old Man

Nov 21, 2013
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Jacob Flores: Chasing the Sun

Hi, everyone! I’m Jacob Z. Flores, and I’m excited about being here at Michael Rupured’s blog. This is my first time here, and I’m honored that Michael has allowed me to sully his blog with my presence. I met Michael at GRL, and let me tell you, he’s such a sweet guy. It makes being here that much grander. So why am I here taking up space? Well, Michael has graciously offered to be the last stop on my blog tour promoting my latest release, Chasing the Sun, which is the second book of my Provincetown Series. For those interested, I have included a blurb and excerpt below. Additionally, as part of my blog tour I’m holding a contest. All …
Nov 18, 2013
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Charlie Cochet’s The Impetuous Afflictions Blog Tour

All right, I’m here. Not that I have much of a say on it. My name’s Gideon Brooks and I’m here to tell ya that Jonathan Wolfe is a bloody wanker. Did I say wanker? I meant, Jonathan Wolfe is a right bloke and not a complete arse at all. At least not all of the time. I promised Jacky I’d keep the swearing to a minimal and behave all gentlemanly and whatnot, remember how to speak proper and all. Fact is, I ain’t no gentleman. Not that I don’t try, though I suppose I could try a little harder sometimes. I don’t mean to, it’s just my nature. I guess the reason Johnnie gets on my bloody wick is …
Nov 14, 2013
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Shira Anthony: Encore

Thanks, Michael, for hosting me today and letting me tell everyone a bit about my brand-new Dreamspinner Press release, Encore.  Make sure to enter the drawing for the Blue Notes Holiday 2013 Blog Tour—I’m offering up some great prizes, including a brand-new Kindle with a bunch of my books loaded on it!  Details at the bottom of this post. For those of you new to the Blue Notes Series, each book is a standalone story (books can be read in any order).  Although Encore is fifth novel by publication date, it is chronologically the first, and it’s a great place to start reading the series. Encore is both a coming of age story and a romance between adult men.  It’s …
Nov 11, 2013
By Michael Rupured
In Call Me Stupid, Gripes, Humor, Just My Luck, Technology and Me
Comments Off on My $85 Watch Battery–Revisited

My $85 Watch Battery–Revisited

The watch I wear everyday stopped running again. The battery lasted from March, 2010 to just the other day. I call that a good value, even at $85. This time, I went straight to the watch store. Here’s the story, reprinted from 2010, of how I came to pay $85 for a watch battery. Almost every watch I’ve ever owned was a Timex. I had a Swatch once, but somebody stole it. Nobody ever wanted my Timex watches. They took a licking and kept on ticking until I either stopped winding them or quit replacing batteries. My ex bought me a nice watch for Christmas (2008). I’m sure he was disappointed by my lack of interest in fancy features. He’s …
Nov 11, 2013
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GayRomLit: A Virgin’s Tale (Part 3: Friday)

More than curiosity and the convenient Atlanta location motivated me to attend my first GayRomLit. Yes, I wanted the visibility and to make a good impression. But I couldn’t wait to meet other writers — especially the friends I’ve made through author message boards, guest appearances on my blog, and conversations on Facebook and Twitter. GayRomLit confirmed what I’d observed over the last fifteen months. I’ve yet to meet a writer in the genre who was anything but nice. Really. You couldn’t ask for a friendlier, more helpful bunch of people. We share fans, because nobody can write fast enough to satisfy the voracious appetite readers have for more books. The atmosphere is cooperative, not competitive. Charlie Cochet and Eden Winters, …
Nov 07, 2013
By Michael Rupured
In Dieting, Exercise, Friends, Habits
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An Update on My Healthy Lifestyle

Two years ago, because the monthly membership fee was cheaper than paying by the class for Zumba, I joined a gym. To make sure I didn’t pay for something I never used, I got the most expensive plan available. Having never set foot in a weight room in my life, I figured the weekly sessions with a trainer would get me off to a good start and keep me from hurting myself. Those first few months, in addition to my training sessions, I hit the gym twice every week to workout, and at least three times a week for Zumba. Three months later, I was hugely disappointed not to see the results that before and after pictures had led me to …
Nov 04, 2013
By Michael Rupured
In An Author's Life, Friends, Gay Lifestyles, Gripes, Travel
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GayRomLit: A Virgin’s Tale (Part 2: Thursday)

Last Monday, I wrote about my preparations for GayRomLit in Atlanta. Today’s post picks up with Thursday morning — the first full day of the retreat — before I really knew what I’d gotten myself into. What an experience! First thing Thursday morning, the organizers offered an orientation session for newcomers. All the newbies got cherries to wear on our name tags and an informative overview by the energetic and enthusiastic Jay from Joyfully Jay Reviews. Later, I also got to meet Becky of Mrs. Condit Reads Books, a number of women who are reviewers for other review sites, and quite a few readers who came for the chance to meet their favorite authors. After the orientation session I wandered around the hotel …
Oct 31, 2013
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H.L. Foster: Burning Ashes

Thank you so much for having me on your blog today, Michael—it’s great to be here. I loved writing my new novel Burning Ashes, and it all started when I watched a cricket match between England and Australia one sunny weekend in London. The competition on the pitch was so fierce, the idea of an equally passionate love between such wonderfully attractive men was too enticing to resist. You really don’t need to know anything about cricket to enjoy Burning Ashes, but it might help to know a little about the sporting relationship between England and Australia. Matches between the Aussies and the Poms, as we affectionately call each other, are incredibly competitive, no matter what the sport. The fans …
Oct 28, 2013
By Michael Rupured
In An Author's Life, Friends, Travel
Comments Off on GayRomLit: A Virgin’s Tale (Part 1: Getting There)

GayRomLit: A Virgin’s Tale (Part 1: Getting There)

Readers and writers of gay romance novels from around the world come together for the annual Gay Romance Literature Retreat. The first GayRomLit was in New Orleans in 2011, moving to Albuquerque for 2012, and this year — from October 17-20 — the biggest event in the gay romance genre was in Atlanta. Being so close, I decided to go. Participation is limited to 400, including several featured authors, a small group of supported authors, and lots of readers. I registered as a reader for a chance to check things out. I didn’t know what to expect, but was pretty sure GayRomLit would be nothing like the academic conferences I’d attended. Confirmation of my suspicions arrived three weeks before the event …
Oct 24, 2013
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C Jane Elliott: Serpentine Walls

Thank you, Michael, for hosting me on your blog! Hello all, I’m CJane Elliott and my novel Serpentine Walls is being released by Dreamspinner Press on October 30th.  I’ve published three novellas through Dreamspinner but this is my first novel-length work and I’m excited (and terrified).   Serpentine Walls is a contemporary novel set at the University of Virginia.  Most of the characters are in their early twenties, trying to figure out where they’re going and what life means to them. My main character, Pete, is a typical college guy and at the beginning of the story he comes off as somewhat shallow.  Angry over his parents’ divorce, he insists he wants nothing to do with love and relationships.  He …
Oct 21, 2013
By Michael Rupured
In Changing Times, Gay Lifestyles
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The End of Gay Culture?

Since the beginning of time, doing gay things hasn’t necessarily made a person gay. You know — boys will be boys. Stuff happens, especially when the guys are far away from womenfolk fighting wars, doing time in prison, hunting, fishing, or hanging out drunk at the frat house. Beyond those who took the occasional walk on the wild side, I suspect even cavemen had an eccentric uncle, tolerated because he grilled amazing bison steaks, made the best loincloths, and showed no interest in diddling the women. What he did in his own cave was his business. And because of his…cooking skills, the men invited him along for hunting expeditions. Really I have no idea what gay people did prior to …
Oct 17, 2013
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Tinnean: The Start of a Beautiful Friendship

First I’d like to thank Michael for giving me this opportunity. Thanks, Michael! 🙂 If there’s one thing I love, it’s talking about my guys. So here we go. I first introduced Mark Vincent in the twenty-four-part online series, Mann of My Dreams. He’s a caustic agent (the “spy” in Spy vs. Spook) who works for the Washington Bureau of Intelligence and Security, or WBIS. When Dreamspinner expressed an interest in publishing Mann, I took it down, added a brand new introductory chapter, did some trimming and fiddling, and it became the Spy vs. Spook trilogy, Houseboat on the Nile, Not My Spook!, and Forever. These books cover the events from New Year’s Eve, 2002, to Mark’s birthday in 2003. …
Oct 14, 2013
By Michael Rupured
In Changing Times, Gay Lifestyles, Modern Gay Dating
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The New Gays

They just don’t make gays like they used to. Kids who come out today are different from those who stepped through the closet doors when I did. For a select group, being gay is not — and never has been — an issue. I grew up in the 60s and came out in 1979, at the age of 21, into a very homophobic society. Interestingly enough, I recall very few occasions, outside of the occasional dirty joke, when the topic of homosexuality even came up. Queer was the polite alternative to faggot. Cool parents didn’t exist when I came out. My child, gay? Absolutely not! Some parents handled the news better than others, but hours of tearful attempts to talk the …
Oct 10, 2013
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After Christmas Eve Blog Hop

MLR Press has released After Christmas Eve, my second novel, and I’m having a party! To celebrate I’m giving away lots of copies. Keep reading to find out how to win. The celebration begins with a giveaway on Sid Love’s web site starting tomorrow. Next week, Joyfully Jay is offering another giveaway. Rules vary with each site. Be sure to stop by for a chance to win. I’m giving away ten more free copies (ebooks) of After Christmas Eve through an eleven-stop blog hop. For the next two weeks, I’ll do a guest post a day, Monday through Friday, on eleven different blogs. Comment on this post and/or my posts on any of the participating blogs before midnight, October 25, 2013 for a chance …
Oct 07, 2013
By Michael Rupured
In Becoming a Writer, Friends, Habits, Profound Observations
Comments Off on A Writer’s Temperament

A Writer’s Temperament

Anything I’ve done — whether writing a novel, losing fifty pounds, becoming a runner, or whatever — I tend to believe anyone can do. On the other hand, just about everyone I know does something I could never do.  I’m not smart enough, don’t think that way, or lack the talent. I’m an ordinary guy in a world of extraordinary people. Recent conversations about becoming a published author opened my eyes. I encouraged two friends who like to write to try writing a novel, insisting, since I had done it, they could too. They disagreed, and in different ways, told me I have what they referred to as “a writer’s temperament.” I wouldn’t repeat the character-building decade of my twenties …