Collin's comments (member since Jan 12, 2009)

Collin's comments from the Gay fiction/non-fiction group.

My just-published novel, Conquering Venus, is labled on the back cover as "Gay Literary Fiction." I'm not thrilled about it -- since only one character in the book identifies as gay -- but the publisher thought it would help the book find a niche. I think what defines the "genre" is still nebulous. For example, Michael Cunningham is gay and The Hours has gay characters, but its with all the other fiction books.

That's too bad. It's an excellent novel. I hope some of you will still read it.

I read this book when I was a teenager (which has been some 20 odd years ago now) and it remains one of my favorite John Irving novels. If you've only seen the film -- which butchered the multi-layered plot -- this is a must read. Keep passing the open windows. ;-)

I don't support the gossip rags and Perez Hilton is the online version of the supermarket aisle.

This is a snip of a larger post I made over in Queereaders:

Many in the GLBT community have said they will never shop at Amazon again and have cancelled their accounts. For some, this isn't option. I'm one of those authors. Like it or not (and I don't), Amazon translates into sales, especially for many small publishers and bookstores who use Amazon's Marketplace as a storefront. My publisher, Finishing Line Press, sells "After the Poison" and its other titles exclusively through Amazon. Vanilla Heart, which is publishing my debut novel "Conquering Venus" this summer, also has big sales through Amazon and those who download their titles through Kindle. It's a catch 22 without a clear answer.

While I have always tried to shop locally at indie bookstores, Amazon continues to have the cheapest prices and the biggest selection. I will limit my purchases there and continue to be vigilant to Amazon's practices and potential hidden agenda.

You can read the rest of the post at
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1303...

Ted, I'm with on the UK version of Queer as Folk. It towers over the horrible US version. The Brits always do it better. ;-)

Ted, I don't mean to go hogwild on publicity, just trying to get some early feedback and see who might like this book. It's been my baby for 10 years and it's finally getting birthed. lol I'd love to send it to you and get your thoughts. So, yes, let me know where I can send it. :)

I have a question for everyone: Would you consider reading the prologue and the first chapter of my novel, "Conquering Venus", which is coming out later this year. I have it in PDF format and would happily email it to anyone who would like to look it over and let me know if it intrigues them enough to purchase the book.

Jeanette Winterson's "Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit" is an important book, and I would recommend anything by Armistead Maupin.

I just picked up the Flannery O'Connor biography, "Flannery," by Brad Gooch. Since I'm a Georgia boy, Flannery is one of our patron saints so I can't wait to hear about her secret, torrid lesbian affair. Hope everyone is enjoying what they're reading.

I'm still trying to finish Jeanette Winterson's "The Stone Gods," which I'm loving but there are so many distractions lately!

A big bowl of brunswick stew is perfect for a winter evening, especially if eaten while reading a great book.

I would add The Stone Gods by the brilliant (and lesbian) novelist Jeanette Winterson. One of the best books I've read in ages.

Hi everyone. My name is Collin Kelley and my debut novel, Conquering Venus, will be released this summer by Vanilla Heart Publishing. I have written three collections of poetry: After the Poison (2008, Finishing Line Press), Slow To Burn (2006, MetroMania Press) and Better To Travel (2003), which was nominated for a Lambda Literary Award and the Kate Tufts Discovery Award.

The novel is about a young writer named Martin Paige who agrees to help his friend, a school teacher, chaperone a group of high school seniors on their graduation trip to Europe. Martin is still grieving the death of his lover, Peter, who committed suicide. While on the trip, Martin begins falling for one of the students. He also meets a mysterious widow, Irene Laureaux, who spies on the guests of the Parisian hotel across from her apartment. Martin and Irene discover logic-defying connections between themselves and work to uncover the mystery surrounding the death of her husband during the 1968 riots and the truth about the role Martin played in his lover's suicide.

I've been working on the novel for more than a decade, so I am thrilled that I finally have that contract.