Cardeno C.'s Blog, page 137

Fun Stuff from T.C. Blue

Okay, so I'm running a wee bit behind today. My apologies, all. I've been confused (aka temporally baffled) all week. I swear I thought today was Wednesday until maybe 15 minutes ago.

As some of you may know, I'm one of those people who needs to be occupied at all times. I require near-constant mental stimulation or I become incredibly bored. (Bored Tis does stupid/dangerous things just for the hell of it, so avoiding boredom is one of my main callings in life.)

So what do I do to avoid boredom, when I'm not working through edits on two different books and trying to complete a short story by September 1st? (The story needs to be finished by then. The edits deadlines are much tighter, haha!) Well, I do a lot of things.

I waste -- I mean spend -- time on Twitter (I'm @tc_blue, if anyone's wondering) where I cyber-stalk my friends, as well as some total strangers... I watch what is possibly the oddest assortment of things ever on Netflix -- right now, I'm working my way VERY slowly through 'The 10th Kingdom,' a mini-series from 2000 starring John Larochette, Kimberly Williams, Dianne Wiest and assorted others. I watch porn, of course, because who doesn't? And I talk/text with people at all hours. Pretty normal, I guess.

I've said many a time, though not here, that August is a clusterfuck of a month for me, largely due to family issues in addition to the writing-related crazy. Oh, relations (of whatever kind)! Haha! That being the case, I thought I'd share a link with you this week. Now, this link will take you to the most recent blog post by my dear friend (and fellow M/M author), Kage Alan, who I truly believe is one of the nicest and funniest people it's ever been my privilege to know. His post is, appropriately enough, all about having a crazy week, which fits because my whole MONTH has been like this. :)

http://www.kagealan.com/blog/2012/ever-have-one-of-those-weeks-you-swear-was-a-conspiracy/

Check it out and tell him Tis sent you! Hahaha!

Welcome to Spicy Wednesday withScotty Cade at Café Risque...

Welcome to Spicy Wednesday withScotty Cade at Café Risque!

Good Morning! I hope all of you are enjoying your first cup of Java on this beautiful sunny Wednesday morning. As I mentioned in my last posting, things are quite hectic here on Martha’s Vineyard this time of year and I’m behind on my reading and writing responsibilities, so instead of a Q&A this week and probably for the next few weeks until things settle down, I’ll be highlighting some of my favorite authors and their latest releases.
Here today to start us off please help me welcome to the boards Mr. Eric Arvin, author of “Woke Up In A Strange Place,” “Simple Men,” “Another Enchanted April,” “Galley Proof,” and the “SubSurdity Series.” Today Eric is going to share the third book in his SubSurdity series and his latest release“SuburbaNights: Vignettes from Jasper Lane, Book 3.” Check out the cover and blurb:
"On Jasper Lane, Cassie Bloom is gearing up for Halloween; Becky is expecting, and her father is overbearing and paranoid; Rick and James are their usual happy selves, though James has developed a porn obsession; Terrence is putting together an all drag cheer squad; and David is helping Cliff transition from adult film star to bodybuilder. Of course, that’s just what’s going on at the surface. This is suburbia, and its underbelly is teeming with secrets. 
Like what’s up with that rather odd family that moved in down the street—the family with the big cross in the front yard who look nothing alike. Like where Cassie’s son, Jason, has disappeared to and why he hasn’t called. Like what on Earth Nanna Hench is doing with a scooter, a megaphone, and a clown car full of religious zealots. 
When Cliff suddenly disappears, Jasper Lane goes on high alert. Terrence posts fliers, and Rick and James scour the gym. David is determined to get his husband back, but when he goes missing too—and with Cassie and Melinda on a road trip to find Jason—it’s up to Terrence to solve the mystery and save the day." 
Eric has been kind enough to share an excerpt with us and at the end of the excerpt you’ll find a buy if you are so inclined to purchase the book. This looks hilarious and is on my must read list when I get a life again. J Enjoy!
The Chapter With the Magic Christians
“OH, THAT Terrence! I could just wring his neck!”
Melinda Gold paced furiously back and forth on the deck, her hands clenched tight, as Cassie Bloom listened. It was just the pair of them this afternoon at Cassie’s magnificent home. It was late October, but a warm, glowing day. Both women were dressed casually and comfortably. Cassie had a pair of white-framed sunglasses perched atop her short golden hair. Melinda wore a trendy blue cashmere top.
“Leave it to Terrence to ruin everything! It had all been so perfect until he showed up. The park was lovely, so quiet and peaceful. Things might have even become romantic if given the chance. My date—you remember Mr. Lintrope?—he and I were sitting by the duck pond in a nice secluded spot away from the jogging paths. The flowers and trees and birds decorated the scene for us. And of course, the meal I made last night for our date today was triumphant, if I do say so.”
“Mr. Lintrope?” Cassie interrupted. “The librarian?”
Melinda stopped pacing long enough to give Cassie a warning stare. “Yes, the librarian! There’s nothing wrong with librarians. They’re somewhat respectable, anyway. I think he would have brought some stability back into my life. Not that I’ll ever know now. But he would have been good for me. Sure, there were some of his quirks that I didn’t care for. We’d definitely need to work on the nose hair issue, but….”
She shook her head, regaining control of her narrative. She pinned a strand of loose hair behind her ear. “I made my barbecue chicken. Everyone loves my barbecue chicken. You remember how well it went over at the Fourth of July party. Mr. Lintrope was just about to take a bite when….”
“Terrence.”
“Terrence!” Melinda screamed. “He comes tearing out of the bushes like some carefree heathen, just ripping his clothes off. Just ripping them off and throwing them hither and dither. He didn’t even see us. I nearly went epileptic. Mr. Lintrope looked at me and asked, ‘Isn’t that your friend?’ I hadn’t the time or the ability to respond, Cassie. Terrence was stark raving naked and playing around in the pond like a three-year-old in bathwater, all giggling and singing. Why does he always have to sing? It’s like he’s a member of that damn Sound of Music family. I’d hate to meet the rest of his family, I’ll tell you that!” She crossed her arms and tightened her jaw. “It was only then that he saw Mr. Lintrope and me.”
“Darling, Mr. Lintrope can’t hold you accountable for a friend’s quirks.” Cassie was enjoying this. She was so wrapped up in the story her afternoon cocktail had hardly been sipped from.
“That’s not the end of it. Oh, no. The story continues, Cassie. Oh, does it ever!” Melinda pulled out a chair from the table and sat down with a huff. “Terrence’s frolicking and giggling and singing had been so loud it brought the attention of a group of joggers who were on a nearby path. And who do you think those joggers were, Cassie?”
“I have no idea. This is exciting.”
“None other than Coach… Nipple and his star wrestlers.”
Cassie cackled, clapping her knee. “Imagine that!”
“They thought Terrence was drowning and were coming to his rescue. I can’t blame them. He definitely sounded like a creature in peril. Well, when he saw them and realized what they were thinking, he played right into it. The worm! The wrestlers jumped into the pond, stripping as they dove, and all three of them grabbed hold of our flailing Terrence. When they got him to land, he fainted. He actually fainted… or he pretended to faint so he could be revived. Then he re-fainted two more times. All three wrestlers had to give him mouth-to-mouth. And they were all nearly naked, Cassie! Naked!”
Cassie could say nothing. She could barely sit up straight.
“Well, I’m glad someone sees humor in the situation. The coach looked at me, finally taking notice I was there, and gave me a grin. Like the kind he used to give me after we had… you know. Mr. Lintrope saw that grin. Any handsome man would be intimidated by the coach’s presence. He commands attention. How do you think an average man like Mr. Lintrope felt? After Terrence was dressed and I was left alone again with my date, I asked Mr. Lintrope if we could try this another time, and he said, rather unconvincingly, ‘Sure. I’ll give you a call.’ Can you believe it?” Melinda clenched her fists again. “That Terrence!”
“Indeed. What a treasure,” Cassie said. “And he seems to get on your bad side more than anybody I’ve known.”
Melinda sat back in her chair, as if she was relieved to have told her story and now exhausted.Cassie reached across the table for her cell phone. Melinda, of course, knew what was coming.“You can’t even wait a few minutes?” Melinda asked.
“Vera,” Cassie said into the phone, “get over here now. Melinda has just been through an ordeal with that dull-as-bones Mr. Lintrope, and it’s hilarious.” 

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/stor...http://www.amazon.com/SuburbaNights-Eric-Arvin/dp/1613725973/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1345569159&sr=8-10&keywords=eric+arvin
Eric, thanks for being with us and I promise we’ll do a real interview very soon. See you at GayRomLit.
Scotty

Oopsie...

Yesterday was my birthday (and everyone above a "certain age" knows exactly how much I love to celebrate it), and tomorrow is my anniversary (31 years of...well, 31 years). In between, I managed to slip and fall in my living room on the tile, banging myself up. Nothing broken, just bent, but still...owie.

Anyway, between all that, I never managed to write a blog for today! I apologize, and can offer this bit of solace -- today I was in the spotlight over at Mantastic Fiction (for those who aren't familiar with this site, it runs the annual GRL Reading Challenge, among postings of m/m book reviews). So, if you've got the time and inclination, trot over to read what I wrote about writing (or, as the case may be, re-writing) history. :)

http://mantasticfiction.wordpress.com...

New Release (and Shameless Self-Promotion) by Cardeno C.

My first paranormal book was released last week and I'm really excited about it. So excited, in fact, that I'm going to take a break from the two sentence movie reviews (don't panic, they'll be back next Monday), to share an excerpt from Wake Me Up Inside. Enjoy!
Adult Excerpt: Wake Me Up Inside by Cardeno C.Jonah was reeling. What would Zev have done if Jonah hadn’t essentially dragged his ass out of the closet? Would he have ever realized he was gay? Jonah was truly starting to wonder whether his friend lived in a bubble. Maybe “cult” wasn’t as outrageous a description of Zev’s church, or whatever it was, as Jonah previously thought. “It doesn’t have to hurt, Zev. In fact, I’m pretty sure it feels good. Guys enjoy it. At least, I think I’d enjoy it.”The disbelieving expression on Zev’s face made Jonah laugh. He was actually explaining the ins and outs of sex to a six and a half foot, two-hundred-twenty-pound man as if he were a pubescent teenager. The whole thing was kind of endearing. He looked at Zev tenderly and kissed his way across that strong jaw. Letting his tongue lead the way, Jonah traced a path down Zev’s neck and over to his ear, where he took a few moments to suck on the lobe.“You ever watch porn online, Hassick?”Zev pushed his hands under Jonah’s shirt and massaged his back.“Nuh-uh.”The idea hadn’t even crossed Zev’s mind. Zev’s every sexual fantasy involved Jonah, so he hadn’t ever wanted to watch other men. Plus, he didn’t have a computer in the tiny trailer he was now calling home. It was an improvement over the tent, especially since he’d dug a well and put in a septic tank, but it was still pretty rudimentary. Zev spent very little on the trailer so he could keep saving to build a house Jonah would want to call home.After nuzzling Jonah’s neck, Zev moved one hand from Jonah’s chest to the back of his friend’s head and drew the blond into a kiss. He gnawed on Jonah’s lip, sucking it into his mouth, and licking it. Jonah gave as good as he got, and it wasn’t long before he was straddling Zev’s lap, pushing his hard dick against Zev’s stomach, and sucking Zev’s tongue into his hot mouth.When the men finally separated in search of air, Jonah rested his forehead against Zev’s shoulder and continued their conversation.“I wanna show you, Zev.” He reluctantly moved off Zev’s lap and pulled him off the couch. “Come on.”Zev followed Jonah to the desk and stood behind him, massaging his shoulders as Jonah clicked a few buttons on the keyboard. It didn’t take long for the screen to be filled by a view of two naked men in a bed. One was on his hands and knees and the other was behind him, pressing first fingers and then a hard dick into his waiting ass. The blissful expression on both men’s faces and the happy moans that streamed from their mouths seemed to prove Jonah’s point.“See. It feels good.” Jonah’s husky voice was accompanied by a motion from his rear end against Zev’s crotch. Zev was leaning over his shoulder, staring at the screen. “Damn, Zev, from the feel of things back there, I think you might be interested. Wanna try it?”Jonah’s hands went to the sides of his track pants and he hooked his thumbs in his pants and briefs together, pushing both of them down to his knees. Jonah felt a large, warm hand moved over the globes of his ass reverently, and Zev’s mouth took purchase of Jonah’s neck, sucking and nibbling.“Can’t do that, Blondie. Not yet. Need to think first. But, oh, man, do I want you.”Zev moved his hand to the button of his pants and managed to get them down. His briefs were next, and then his cock was free to rub against Jonah’s ass.“Lotion.” Jonah gasped. “I have lotion in the right drawer.” Jonah scrambled to the side, pulled open the drawer, and found the bottle of lotion he used to beat off when he was alone, watching his favorite videos on the computer. Then he flipped the cap and pulled Zev’s hand in front of him, squeezing some of the liquid onto it. “Coat your dick with it. Do whatever you want to me, Zev. I want it. Want you.”And with those words, Jonah stopped talking. He bent over the desk, rested his face on the surface, raised his ass in the air, and reached back, spreading his cheeks.“Holy shit, Jonah. Damn.”Zev moved his finger up and down Jonah’s cleft and soon replaced the finger with his cock. Once the hard member was settled between Jonah’s cheeks, the two men moved together, back and forth. It wasn’t the penetration Jonah had been seeking, but just having Zev pay attention to that part of his body was enough to spin Jonah into overdrive. He met Zev’s thrusts and moaned his pleasure. When Zev’s hand reached around him and started stroking his cock, Jonah shouted and came all over his desk.“Jonah! Oh, Jonah.” Zev bucked against his firm body, groaned and shuddered, coating Jonah’s lower back with his seed and biting into the muscle where Jonah’s neck met his shoulder.Although he’d previously licked and nibbled on that part of Jonah’s body, Zev had never truly bitten him. Even at that moment, he hadn’t let his wolf canines out or broken the skin, but this bite was definitely harder than any other he’d bestowed on his mate. Before he could worry about whether he was hurting Jonah with the firm grip his teeth had on the other man’s neck, Jonah cried out his name, and Zev felt the dick he was still holding come back to life and climax once again.With his muscles too spent to hold himself up, Jonah’s knees buckled and he collapsed. Zev put one arm around his mate’s shoulders and the other under his knees. Then he lifted Jonah in his arms and made his way to the bed. His motions were slow and awkward since his pants were still pushed down around his ankles, but once he reached the bed, he yanked off his clothes, undressed Jonah, then wrapped the other man in a tight embrace.“What the hell was that, Zev?” Jonah asked as he burrowed against Zev, trying to get warm and curb the shivers that had taken over his body. “I’ve never come that hard in my life. Or twice that quickly. Damn, I never thought I was into pain, but when you bit me, my entire body felt like it was on fire. A good fire.”“It’s not the pain.” Zev stopped himself before he said anything else and blew his secret. He wanted to tell Jonah everything. Wanted to explain shifting, mates, and the claiming bite. That’s what had aroused Jonah, a bite so very close to the one Zev would one day use to permanently mark his mate and let the world know Jonah was taken. Based on Jonah’s reaction, Zev knew his mate’s body was ready for that step, but it couldn’t happen until they finally tied together.Oh God, did Zev want to explain tying. He’d been wondering how tying would work with a male mate and now he knew. And if his mate’s words earlier that evening were any indication, Jonah was very much up for it. Well, Jonah was up for sex. The human didn’t know about tying.But there was no way for Zev to tie with Jonah and then let him go. It was already hard enough to live apart from his mate. The distance between them went against every one of Zev’s instincts. He had to regularly remind himself that he had to let Jonah follow his dreams and couldn’t drag his mate back to Etzgadol and force the man to stay by his side.Once they were tied together, Zev knew his wolf wouldn’t allow Jonah to leave. Hell, Zev wasn’t at all convinced his human could remain civilized enough to allow the distance between them after he tied with his mate. So there was no other choice. Tying would have to wait until Jonah graduated from college and moved back home.Buy Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3154Website: www.cardenoc.com

Getting to Know Nikki McCoy

Today, we welcome Nikki McCoy to our blog. She'll tell us a little about herself and share some info about her new novel.

About Nikki McCoy:Well, I regret to say there’s not much to me when it comes to adventure, hehe. I have always loved a simple life and find more joy in the presence of my family at home than I ever would by traveling around the world or constantly filling my days with excitement. Don’t get me wrong, I also love to do something crazy every once in a while, but nothing for me beats a day of waking up to a houseful of boys, writing until my brain shuts off, then curling up in bed with the hubby (when the youngest one isn’t using his big brown eyes to sucker me into letting him sleep with us J).

I’ve recently taken a break in my studies as a psychology major. I think I definitely burned myself out in that department, but it’s only temporary. I’m still going for that all-elusive PH. D. soon as I get my butt around to concentrating on school again. Meanwhile, I’m enjoying the simple life and immersing myself in my addiction of reading and writing.

Currently, I’m working on a fantasy book for teenagers and finding it a bit difficult to concentrate on. I actually have to remind myself to veer away from sensual scenes and erotic pleasures. In fact, I am constantly have to stop and get a quick romance fix by reading a steamy book before I can go on with the g-rated novel I’m working on, lol. What can I say, I’m a romance junkie. While I look forward to returning to the genre I love so much, I am very excited to write this new challenge I’ve set for myself. Anyhow, I hope everyone is having a great week and has the opportunity to sit back just once today and think, ‘Life is sweet’ J

About Crimson Mate by Nikki McCoy:For centuries, a feud has existed between two powerful races, pitting Ba'Kal against Vam'kir, shifter against vampire. Quinn has suffered through the pain of the ongoing contention in ways no man should ever be subjected to. Once the respected son of the King of Vam'kir, his life was forever altered the day his father realized a truth not even he was aware of.

 As ruler of the Ba'Kal, it is up to Manning to seek justice for the vicious attacks on his kind perpetrated by the Vam’kir, but his very beliefs are called into question when he discovers that his newly found mate is also his enemy. To keep Quinn safe, he must put aside his anger and learn to trust in the impossible, that love might truly exist beyond boundaries. For if he fails, his future will not be the only one to come to an end.

Buy Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/coming-soon-c-2/products_id/982/?zenid=6dfc05285b6508fc3fea995d611c5240

About the Characters in Crimson Mate by Nikki McCoy: Quinn was a very easy man to write. I see a little bit of him in all of us ― the fear of committing to the uncertain, desire to love and be loved, and the absolute need to find independence. Manning is both his equal and opposite in many ways. In most books that are centered around characters who are predestined mates, I get the sense that those characters learn to love the qualities of each other while being physically tethered by sexual desire. Even in some of the books I’ve written, that is the case. In this book, however, it felt like the characters recognized the qualities of one another as that of those they’d been searching for all along in a partner. There was nothing really to learn, only accept.

As much as I fell in love with them, though, I must admit that Merebeth and George were my favorites. In one of my psychology classes, I remember reading a theory on the cycles of love that suggested the romance in relationships eventually peters out, giving way to a sense of companionship and complacence. Personally, I can’t imagine that ever happening in my relationship with my husband. The day I become satisfied with simple companionship and nothing more with him is, I hope, the day I leave this world. The all-encompassing love and compassion Merebeth and George have for each other after countless years together was beautiful and reaffirmed my hopes that I will be just like them when I’m older.

Cameron Wolf -- an interview w/ T.C. Blue

So I've mentioned my old friend Cameron Wolf a few times here (old as in I've known him for ages, not as in he's old or anything because if he is then I am and that's NOT allowed to happen), and guess what? I'm actually ready to share the wee interview I bullied him into agreeing to! :D

Now, back in the day (I totally just said that, didn't I? But in this case, the day was not so long ago), Cam and I were roommates. Flatmates, really, as we didn't share a room. We had our whole goth/punk (on my part) and punk/goth (on his) thing going on and we were fucking fabulous! *grins* If you don't believe me, check out my pics on FB! LOL

We were young and stupid and did all sorts of crazy things just because we could. Luckily, it didn't kill either of us, though the same can't be said for several of our friends from that time... and for me, at least, for friends I made later, too.

What does this wee view into Tis' past have to do with anything, you ask? Well, it has an awful LOT to do with today's post.

We were crazy and young and kinda stupid, yes, but we survived. Me and Cameron. We went our separate ways, way back when, and have been sort of hit-and-miss in the time since. But to this day, I do still consider him a friend. He's also one of those people -- we all have them -- who changed me in ways I still can't define, and that's a good thing. I like that. So when I saw on his FB page that he was going to have an exhibit of his photographic art at the World AIDS Conference 2012 last month (July), I decided to Metro my ass down into DC and see it... and him. (Seeing Cameron mattered more to me, to be honest, but I was also looking forward to seeing the various exhibits in the Global Village section of the Conference. Global Village was open to the public and didn't require registration for the Conference, which is a good thing as the charge for a one day pass was $450 US, to the best of my recollection.)

So I went to the Global Village and was astonished by all the booths and people and information available. It was fucking awesome! And then I found Cameron's area with the photos he'd taken whilst living in Bangkok.

I'm not one of those people who goes to galleries or museums. I'm not one of the folks who look at art and go "Oh, wow, that's amazing, I need to own it!" That's just not my thing. But the pictures I saw there, in the exhibit... were glorious. Triumphant. Brilliant!

And they were Cameron's.

He was there because of his... well, you know what? This is way more than enough lead-in. I'm going to just let you guys get on to the interview (and accompanying pictures).

* * *


TCB: Hello, Cameron, and thank you for stopping by Cafe Risque. I know you're an incredible photographer and we'll get to that shortly, but can you give our readers a bit of background about you? What do you do for a living these days, and what was involved with pursuing that path?
CW: Hello there!  Well you know I always have loved the arts.  I studied music from early years through high school and gravitated first toward sculpture.  I think you will recall some of the series of twisted bodies emerging from the walls with broken mirrors that I had up in some club events back in the late 80s.  I minored in photography during my undergrad studies at the University of Maryland Baltimore Country (UMBC) while majoring in sociology and it just felt natural and easy.  I had a cheap pawn shop camera and never used any expensive equipment or lighting.  I always photographed people, but at first more as sculptures than portraits.  I began to show my work in local group shows in Baltimore and Washington and then as benefits for AIDS organizations and the 1993 March on Washington for LGBT Equal Rights.  This was a time when the AIDS epidemic was still raging out of control and I was exploring my anger and the way that AIDS changed the way that we see the world.   By the time I finished my BA in in 1993, I had been picked up by the Nye Gomez Gallery in Baltimore and they featured a solo show of my work.  They represented a number of amazing figurative photographers and I had to think long and hard about whether I wanted to go to art school or into health.  When I got accepted into Harvard for public health, the decision was made.  I remember my mother saying, “Nobody says no to Harvard.” At the same time, I have always been an activist.  I knew that I had a calling to fight AIDS.  I saw from the ACT UP days that art was a powerful tool at changing attitudes. While at Harvard, I still continued shooting in my spare time and participating in a local art cooperative run out of the Noonan Gallery in Cambridge during my Master’s and then in DC with a gay artist group called the Triangle Artist Group (TAG) while doing my doctoral studies in Public Health at Johns Hopkins.  While finishing my degree, I was recruited into government work at the very beginning of pilot work on bringing ART (Antiretroviral Therapies) to developing countries.  It was an exciting time.  In 2006, I moved to Thailand and this is where the body of work featured at the 2012 AIDS Conference began.  I always appreciated and supported local and underground artists and galleries and while visiting a local show at an emerging gallery and alternative performance space, I found a perfect home for a show.  I had been touched by the dedication of SWING and their incredible story working with male and TG sex workers and knew that I wanted to help them do their first fund-raiser.  It was an amazing success and featured local and international artists performing, a condom fashion show by SWING, and an after-party from a British club promoter.  So that was how it started.  After that we had two more shows and SWING continued to develop and grow.


TCB: You recently had a photographic showing at the World AIDS Conference 2012, in the Global Village area. How did that come about, and can you tell us a bit more about SWING? How did the organization start and what are its goals?

CW: My most recent exhibition, Transcendents: Beyond Limitations – Living and Fighting HIV in Bangkok,features 18 black and white images on canvas.  Jointly sponsored by myself and Service Workers IN Group (SWING, Thailand) -- an HIV prevention and care program that targets male and transgendered (TG) sex workers-- the exhibition opened in Washington, DC at the International AIDS Conference on July 22, 2012.  The show, which was free to the public and attracted thousands of attendees and passersby in it’s “Global Village”, ran until the conference’s closing ceremonies on July 27th.  This specially curated show is a selection of highlights from my three previous solo photography exhibitions in Bangkok, which, like this latest exhibition in DC, are fundraisers for SWING in which all of the sales proceeds went to the organization’s HIV prevention efforts, emergency care and medicine and, wherever possible, antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV-positive sex workers who do not have access to health care.

Established in 2004 with funding from The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), where I am currently employed as Senior HIV/AIDS Advisor for Most At Risk Populations, SWING provides health education, group activities, and an accepting social environment for sex workers of any gender.  This is an important delineation as most initiatives in Thailand historically excluded males from outreach and focused primarily on females in the sex trade industry.  SWING’s drop-in centers function as shelters and second homes for sex workers, providing an atmosphere that encourages learning and sharing of information on health, self-care, and support in a country with a staggering rate of infection particularly in men who have sex with men (MSM).  The latest HIV survey data from 2010 in Bangkok – a city of some 12 million people – report HIV prevalence is 31% (42% among those over age 25) among men who have sex with men.  However, for male sex workers, SWING’s key target rates are significantly lower – 16% compared with the aforementioned 31% for all MSM which gives hope that with expanded coverage, disease rates can be lowered.  SWING activities targeting male and TG sex workers have been expanded to the resort cities of Pattaya, approximately 100 miles southeast of Bangkok and Koh Samui, Thailand’s second largest island after Phuket. 


TCB: I was thrilled and excited by the dancing performed at the exhibit. In fact, it seemed to be a highlight of the event, judging by the crowd that gathered for the performances. Have your photographic exhibits always included this sort of performance, and if not, when and how did that come about?
CW: In conjunction with the exhibition, SWING members and performers Apinun Srisamutnak (nicknamed “X”), Rungroj (Roger) Madayung and Chamrong (“Tee”) Phaengnongyang , from Thailand, who are featured in the images, danced and showcased condom dresses made by SWING members.  All of the exhibitions have featured SWING and local artists, who were also models for the images, performing.  SWING’s members come together to create amazing haute couture dresses that feature intricate rosettes of condoms of different colors tied tightly together that look almost like flower petals.  They proudly feature dozens of these colorful costumes in different venues where they capture attention and raise awareness of the people.  One of the images that I had in the show was a group shot of SWING members and volunteers in their costumes at the Hau Lamphong national train station.  Another features three transgender SWING members modeling in the condom dresses (Three Fates).  Additionally, the wings in the image Naga With Monkey Army are adorned with condoms by SWING as well.
 My shows are multi-media events of music, dance, fashion and awareness raising, and very well attended.  I like that I am part of a collaborative effort which brings creativity from many different perspectives.  The dancing that “X” does, in beautifully crafted, traditionally-inspired Thai costumes, is a fusion of ancient classical style with more modern interpretations.  He performed as a Thai puppet, which like Pinocchio, is released from strings; and another piece as a half-swan, half-human, androgynous creature, he is chased by a hunter, akin to a Thai version of Swan Lake.


TCB: Are you associated with any other programs you'd like to mention here?
CW: Not that I can think of at the moment.


TCB: Now that you've returned to the Washington, DC area, do you have further exhibits planned? Your pictures are amazing. I can only imagine how many people would love to see them in person.
CW: I don’t have anything planned at the moment.  Now that I've moved back to the US, I would like to continue to show the work here as well as other venues in Asia and globally.  I think I’ll produce a “Transcendents” book documenting this body of work.  I consider Thailand my second home now, so I would like to continue to work with SWING, who have become part of my family.  For the future, I have an idea to do portraits in different countries and am particularly inspired by gay activists making history in Africa and transgender activists around the world. 


TCB: I know you lived in Thailand for quite a while before relocating to the DC area again. What do you miss most about Bangkok?
CW: The amazingly delicious and inexpensive Thai food; $12 two-hour Thai massages; and the charming and lovely people. Thailand is a place that really values beauty and creativity.

TCB: Thanks again for your time, Cameron. Feel free to stop by the Cafe any time. 

CW: Thank you!
I'm hoping to post more about Cameron and his work with SWING as time goes on. I'll absolutely let you guys know if he's going to be doing any gallery shows/exhibits around the US. All photos in this post are copyrighted by Cameron Wolf, and you can stalk him on FaceBook at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000896020443#!/cameronwolfphotography. Photos are used with permission from the artist.And that's it for today, peeps! Hope you've enjoyed meeting my friend! :)
~Tis (who seriously STILL can't believe she knows someone who went to Harvard AND Johns Hopkins! LOL)

Welcome to Spicy Wednesday withScotty Cade at Café Risque...

Welcome to Spicy Wednesday withScotty Cade at Café Risque!

Good Morning and a very happy Wednesday to you all. This morning you might want to skip the latte and go right for the Venti Caramel Macchiato because we have, now wait for it…wait for it. YES! Joel Skelton, author of “Dress Up” and his newest release “Beneath the Palisade: Reliance.” Check out the cover and blurb:
 Rising star attorney Harper Callahan hires Ian Burke to landscape his backyard, but it’s his heart that gets the real makeover. Cautious at first, Ian is soon won over by Harper’s good looks and charm, and before they know it they’re on the fast track to romance.
Then a brush with death makes Harper and Ian reassess their plans for the future… and offers them an opportunity for adventure. What starts out as a casual fantasy of owning and operating a B&B on Lake Superior soon explodes into reality as Harper and Ian realize that when they rely on each other, they can accomplish great things.

Sounds great doesn’t it? This interview came about because of my BFF, Jo Peterson’s continued ranting and raving about Joel and her constant whining about when was I was going to interview him. So for Jo and everyone else, please help me bring to the boards Mr. Joel Skelton. Oops. I almost forgot, this week, I as well as Joel are a little short of time, so the interview might be a bit shorter than usual, but we’ll make up for it when his next novel comes out and we talk again. So without further adieu…
Scotty:  Good morning Joel and thanks for being with us this morning. I know you’re working and on a tight schedule and lord knows its August here on Martha’s Vineyard and at the peak of our summer season, so I’ll be very sensitive of both of our schedules.  Tell me, your bio says you grew up in Minnesota, do you still live there?
Joel:  And a very pleasant good morning to you, Mr. Scotty Cade. BTW, nice socks. Are those pastel… wait, (leans over for a closer look) pastel anteaters? Hmm… interesting.
Yes! My partner and I live in a western suburb of Minneapolis. I was raised 70 miles north of the Twin Cities. We take a good share of abuse, us Midwesterners, but I love it here and unless I develop some strange respiratory disease that would require a climate change or face sudden death, I’m here to stay.
Scotty: LOL! I’ve worn my share of pastels, especially in the summer when I have a tan. And I got to say, you queer Midwesterners deserve qll the ribbing you get. I’ve seen what you people wear! JI also see that in addition to your writing, you work 9 to 5. Owning our own business as my partner and I do, it’s always so difficult to find the time to write. How do you do it? I mean manage a social life, a full time job and a writing career, which is usually a second full time job?
Joel:   The social life takes the first hit and I’m fine with that for now. I’ve had many enjoyably reckless years getting here so I don’t feel as if I’m missing out on that much. Streaming Netflix helps too.
Here’s how I get it done – I bus in and out of the city each work day. We’re talkin’ a motor-coach style bus here with your own reading light and drink holder. Without the burden of keeping an eye on the road, I use this time to edit or critique newly created scenes. But without a doubt, the most valuable time for me during the day is the walk I take over lunch. I’ve gotten in the habit of assigning myself writing tasks with the goal of coming up with a solution by the end of the walk. Back at my desk, I fire off an e-mail home that hopefully captures my effort. That evening I have something to work with as opposed to staring at a blank page. I should add that I’m very much a dot to dot writer. The more dots I can get down, the less filler is needed to connect them. The writing process is so individual—this is what works for me. 
Scotty: Isn’t it funny how we all have our processes to spit out a novel. So let’s talk about the book. And by the way folks, you can get excited now because there’s a great excerpt following the interview. So…Joel, tell us how you came up with the idea for this novel.  Was it based on a relationship or people you know?
Joel:   Scotty, I’m not sure you’ll remember this, but when I was first signed by Dreamspinner Press and popped up on their author loop, you gave me a very warm welcome. I soon discovered that we had sailing in common. My partner and I owned a small sailboat at the time that we kept in Bayfield, Wisconsin on Lake Superior. I love the lake and it just seemed like the perfect setting for the type of characters and plot that was starting to gain momentum in my noodle. Also, I wanted to write a series and I knew I’d have no shortage of people and images from over the years to call upon.
Scotty: Now that you mention it, I do remember that. I’m just a welcome wagon to everyone, GOD I’m nice. J And boating is in my blood, but since Kell lost his eyesight, we had to jump ship, so to speak, from sailing to motor boating. Now instead of hoisting a sail, I push a throttle and I must admit, I love the power.
Oh, enough about me, I always seem to digress. Let’s get back to your story. I really enjoyed the premise and without spoiling anything, I admire the way you blend two different guys from two very different worlds, one a landscaper just starting out with his own business and one a high-powered attorney about to make partner. Was it difficult to make them fit into each others world?
Joel:   The grass often looks greener on the other side, right? Each of these characters has their own set of strengths and weaknesses. One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received is that it doesn’t matter what you make, what you do for a living, everyone puts their pants on the same way. Damn, that’s kind of hot! Both Ian and Harper, the two main characters in this story are forced to depend on the other. Hence, the tag word “Reliance” in the title. Is it how those pants come off that sets us all apart? (That’s even hotter)
Scotty: I love how you dive right in and put the spicy in “Spicy Wednesday.”
Oh, oh, I also loved the way you add wonderfully supportive straight friends, men and women into the mix. My partner and I have quite a few of them and it’s so wonderful to have straight guy friends that aren’t uncomfortable or insecure about their manhood to joke and have fun with. We’re they based on friends of yours?
Joel:   My partner and I have many more straight friends than we do gay. Not sure why. It’s certainly nothing we set out to do, but I guess when I give it some serious thought, we were blessed with a really strong, loving set of core friends who have been a part of our lives for a very long time. One in particular, who is definitely represented in this book, is an amazing straight cat who I love dearly. Man love. Real man love is honest and powerful and it involves a certain amount of trust and respect to offset the barrage of abuse therapy we throw at each other on almost a daily basis. There are no limits. Wait, I once initiated a discussion about the style in which his parents enjoyed sex and quickly realized my mistake.
Scotty: ROTFL! I can almost hear that conversation.  Every time I make a personal appearance, people always ask about the process of writing and especially the sex scenes. They always ask how I make them new and exciting each time? Give us your take on that and your process.
Joel:   I’m comfortable talking about this now, but for a long time I was plagued with shame. Until I met Jo Peterson, that is. (I’m going to pay dearly for that but it was soooo worth it.) Before writing books, I started out penning erotic short stories filled with oodles of graphic sex, posting them on various websites who champion that genre. What’s kind of funny to me is the fact I got ripped a new one from a few readers for my soft approach to the sex scenes in Dress Up. (I’ve since evened things out for those who look forward to the sex component in romance). This is a tough question to answer but I guess it boils down to honesty. If I follow my character’s heart, and allow the passion and love to develop organically, or honestly, the sex scenes come without too much effort. And because I’ve allowed the character and their personality to determine the intensity and flavor if you will, then it’s simply like I mentioned before, filling in the spaces between the dicks…er dots.
Scotty: Good play on words. So, I know you have to go and so do I, but one last question before I release the excerpt, what do you have planned next? Are you currently working on the next in the series and can you give us a hint what it will be about?
Joel:   I’ve recently submitted the second book, Beneath the Palisade: Courage to Dreamspinner Press. After Labor Day, I’m going to start work on the third and I think final of the Palisade series.
Scotty, this was a blast. Thank you!! Your blog is wonderful and I wish you continued success with your own amazing writing career. You rock! Also, we’ve both mentioned her here, but I want to take a moment to thank Jo Peterson. She has done more for my own writing experience than she’ll ever know. Not only has she coaxed this marketing nightmare out of his cave, but she’s given me the opportunity to grow and like this morning, pointed me in the right direction. It’s not just me—she’s helped so many authors. I can see without a doubt why she’s your BFF. She’s a gem. I had the pleasure of meeting her last month when she visited Minnesota. Man -- can that woman ever talk!!!! I was covered with spittle when we finally said our goodbyes.
Scotty:  I know right, she can talk and we’ve been BFF’s for almost a year and we’re going to meet for the first time at GayRomLit. I’m looking so forward to it.
Joel, it’s been a pleasure and I look forward to a much longer chat next time and thanks again for taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk with us.
Ok folks, here you go. “Beneath the Palisade: Reliance.”


 “ACTION!”Why the hell did I ever let myself get talked into this?Looking into the warm spring morning sunlight, Ian Burke sucked in a deep breath and pushed the flatbed cart down the narrow asphalt path toward his mark, a small square of silver duct tape.“Cut!”“Are you kiddin’ me? Whattaya mean, cut? I was just startin’ out.” Frustrated, he looked over to Andy, his director, for an explanation. “I mean, come on, give me a break.”“You have to be aware of your body language at all times, Ian.”Andy took his directing responsibility seriously. “You look like you’re just going through the motions. Smile, look enthused, and don’t be afraid to shake your booty as you head toward your mark. Remember, women and gay dudes are your audience. They garden.”Andy, his best friend dating back to grade school, owned the South Minneapolis garden center Jungle Gems providing the backdrop for the commercial they were shooting. Ian was, for all practical purposes, Andy’s business partner. While Andy concentrated on the day-to-day operations, Ian focused on the landscaping end of the business. Over the last few years, Ian’s workload had steadily grown, to the point where it was now possible for him to branch out and form his own company, Burke Landscaping.“You want to generate business, right?” Andy paused, forcing Ian to cough up his “you’re right” look. “Trust me, the perfect arborvitae ain’t gonna do it. You have a hot ass, so use it. Doesn’t he have a hot ass, Spencer?” “Your ass is so hot it makes me want to be gay, dude. I mean, if I could go there, your ass would be the reason. Totally, I wouldn’t just say it if it wasn’t the truth. Allison commented on your ass the other day when she was helping me pick out jeans. I think these make your butt look hot like Ian’s. That’s exactly what she said to me.”Ian rolled his eyes and shook his head. Spencer, a friend he and Andy had both known for years playing baseball together, was their official, highly enthusiastic straight ambassador for all things related to, as Spencer loved to refer to gays, “your people.” An ex-film school student, Spencer eagerly offered his retired camera skills.What a couple of tools.Joking aside, he felt blessed. Andy and Spencer wanted nothing more than for his newly launched landscaping business to succeed.“Action!” Andy shouted after he had returned to his mark.“Lookin’ good. Good… good… don’t rush. Remember you’re looking for the perfect one,” he instructed. “Hey, I caught that little butt wiggle. Sweet. Did you catch that, Spencer?”“Took my breath away, dude. Seriously.”Ian glanced to the right as he inched forward, shaking his head, careful to show what he hoped would be the right amount of disappointment on his face.Oh no, that one won’t do at all. Nope.“That’s perfect, Ian. Yes! Look forward now, you’re almost there. There it is! You see it, the perfect one. Show us you see the perfect one.”Well looky there, it’s the perfect one.This was a good take. He felt confident and in control. An element of frustration along with a strong desire to get this whole thing over with fueled his need to nail this. As he approached his mark, he looked to the left, pushed the cart slightly past the mark, and stopped.“Perfect. Remember, hands on hips and then flash that smile,” Andy encouraged.As instructed, he planted his hands on his hips, smiled, reached down, and hauled up a flawless three-foot spiral arborvitae, placing it on the center of the cart. Displaying the required look of satisfaction he’d struggled with in earlier takes, he pushed his prize shrub past the mark to the end of the row.“Cut! That’s a keeper,” Andy chimed.
SEATED in a plush embroidered club chair, Harper Callahan, fresh from his workout at the Y, looked over the low cocktail table and listened. Careful not to display any sign of distaste, he reached for his wineglass and sipped. Confident his face displayed both interest and approval and certain it would be some time before he’d be required to respond, he allowed himself to step out of the conversation.He was being set up. Before he’d ever sat down in the bar of this ridiculously expensive steakhouse, he had seen the writing on the wall. Along with named partners Duncan Price and Arthur Wabash of McPherson, Price & Wabash, he had worked diligently over the last year to defend Jasper Flynn, the mastermind of one of the most extensive and ugly Ponzi schemes to ever rock the state. Despite their efforts, Jasper had been convicted, and due to the severity of his crime, he was refused bail and jailed on the spot. We did what we could for you, Jasper.With plenty of loose ends to clean up on the case, including an appeal likely to go nowhere, he surveyed the room while he waited for Arthur and Duncan to get around to the point of today’s impromptu meeting.            A few tables down, he recognized a guy he’d gone to law school with. The man was surrounded by other men his age. They were laughing and enjoying themselves. He needed to start enjoying himself. How effortlessly he’d cast aside one of his grandfather’s most important lessons—there’s more to life than work. With his thirtieth birthday now history, it was time to reevaluate his priorities. He had to admit, for the most part, he enjoyed his work. He found the Jasper case fascinating in its scope. The son of a soda distributer had parlayed a business degree from a small local college into arguably the region’s most prestigious brokerage. Caught in the make-it-up-as-you-go investment environment of the last couple of years that had almost brought the entire nation to its knees, fearless in his desire to both please his clients and pad his wealth, Jasper had falsified his investment prowess to a level that garnered national attention. He admitted that during a period of roughly two years, he’d schemed to defraud people by purportedly selling investments in a foreign currency-trading program. Harper glanced back to the table where his classmate sat. The guy’s name escaped him. He was handsome. The years had been kind. Harper looked over long enough to spot the wedding ring on his hand.You’ve found the balance, my friend, haven’t you? He probably worked at a vibrant, progressive firm where he felt appreciated and, at the end of the day, came home to a loving spouse and maybe a few adoring kids to keep life lively. Love—the concept of loving and being loved—had inched up the ladder of priorities recently. He vowed then and there to start hunting for his own special someone.“Let’s cut to the chase, Harp, my boy.”He was brought back to the moment upon hearing his name. He hated that both Duncan and Arthur had gotten in the habit of calling him “Harp.” He took it as a sign of disrespect, which it probably was.“Neither Arthur nor I are ones to beat around the bush.” Duncan leaned forward in his chair. “If you’ve learned one thing in the six years you’ve been with us, it has to be that.”“What’s on your mind, Duncan?” He could see the bus a mile away.“We put up a strong fight on Jasper’s behalf. Despite the outcome, we should be proud of our efforts. But unfortunately, we’re not done with this mess. I promised Jasper, and I’m a man of my word, that we would do everything in our power to make sure Phyllis stays on the good side of the law.”We’d like you to stay focused on Phyllis. Come on, say it. I’m waiting.“We’d like you to stay focused on Phyllis. Arthur and I will continue to work up the appeal. Harp, she’s going to be a handful no matter how she’s approached, but we think someone with your talent would stand the best chance of keeping her in check. She’s walking a fine line, and I have absolutely no confidence we’re going to be able to keep her out of prison. And that’s fine as long as we can demonstrate to Jasper that we tried. You tried,” Duncan corrected himself, shifting in his chair.“It’s what we think is best.” Arthur had a habit of adding an unnecessary comment to, if nothing else, prove to the group he was paying attention.Well, if it’s best for you, then as the rule goes, it’s gotta suck for me. It’s gotta suck for me because you creeps have me by the balls with my partnership so close. I’ll make partner, and when I do, I won’t be doing this dog and pony shit anymore.Harper sipped his wine and smiled. “Gentlemen, don’t you think I already knew what you were going to tell me? Come on now, what kind of lawyer would I be if I was blindsided by my own teammates?”Arthur and Duncan reached for their wine at the same time, nodding their heads and chuckling at his frankness.“I get the situation you’re in. I got it from the start. I’m surprised it’s taken you this long to bring it up.” He held his gaze on the partners, forcing them to look away. “Of course I’ll do it. I’ll be the face of the firm, take a hit for the team.” Arthur and Duncan laughed with relief, winking back and forth to acknowledge the fact that they’d hired on a winner. They’d signed on a star, a yes man, a dutiful slave to the partnership who would wipe their asses if called upon, or so they thought. It took every ounce of concentration he had not to laugh. Keeping the ball in their court, he took another sip of the seventy-five-buck chuck they served up in this stuffy monument to corporate excess, and smiled.“Harp, you make this so easy for us.” Arthur nodded with relief.“Arthur, look. I can’t imagine the partners publically going to bat for this… bitch.” Jasper was bad enough, but his wife had a zero balance in the old sympathy bank. “I’m young, I have, knock on wood, a long career ahead of me. It only makes sense that I go in there and fight a losing battle. Did you honestly think I would have a problem with that? Arthur, I mean come on.Duncan, my God, you didn’t think that, did you?”“Well….” Duncan visibly struggled to find the right response. “Well…,” Arthur echoed, finding himself in a similar situation.“I… we… knew you were the best man for this job. We’ve always been able to rely on you.”“Arthur, you know I love you both. You took a babe here and turned him into a lawyer. Wait, not just any lawyer, but a pretty good lawyer, eh?”The partners were giddy with relief. “This is a temporary speed bump in your career, Harp.” Duncan raised his glass for emphasis. “A year from now or sooner, it will all be forgotten, and poor Phyllis….” Arthur and Duncan both shook their heads in unison.“… will be pushing the library cart down the prison cell block.”There was no soft spot in Duncan’s heart for Phyllis Flynn.“Oh for Christ’s sake, Harp, I wish I’d had your intuition and drive when I was your age.” Arthur came to life now that he and Duncan had achieved their goal. “We were impressed with your work from day one. Listen, there’s something else we need to talk about here.”Harper smiled, sipped his wine, and leaned back in his chair.You’re smiling and happy because you’ve pulled the strings and made your puppet dance. Here comes that faux-father face you probably perfected on your own kids.“Harp, to show our appreciation for… well, for being a team player, Duncan and I would like you to know that we’ve begun the process to make you a partner. Once Jasper is sentenced and we’re free and clear of Phyllis, the three of us will regroup and carry on. There’s plenty of profitable law out there for the taking.”
“ALLISON, you want another chardonnay, sugar?” Ian asked, racing around his tiny kitchen.“Yes, please.”“How’s everyone else doin’ in there? The popcorn is almost ready.”“We’re good. Get in here, Ian. Three minutes and counting,” Andy shouted.He hustled, emptying the popcorn maker into a large purple plastic bowl. He grabbed the half-empty bottle of chardonnay from the fridge and snagged a bottle of beer for himself.“Okay.” He plopped down on the couch between Andy and Allison. “This is so exciting. I can’t believe we get to see the commercial in prime time. I thought the only time slots I could afford on my budget would be in the middle of the night.”“My friend Stewart at the station pulled a few strings. You probably won’t get too many of these, but I know he’s doing what he can.” Spencer, who elected to sit on the floor inches from the television, was obviously proud he could make something happen for Ian. Spencer and his wife, Allison, were the kind of friends that, over time, became family. Ian felt blessed to have such a caring and fun inner circle to call his own.“Back to Mobile Home Makeovers after a word from our sponsors.”“What?” Spencer asked defensively to a room full of giggles before scooping a mountain of popcorn into his hand. “I never said we had a spot on 60 Minutes.”“It’s cool.” Ian leaned back, using Andy as a pillow.“It’s show time!” Andy shoved him back to the center of the sofa.“Shut up and listen!” Allison ordered.The group gathered in his small living room sat glued to the thirty-six-inch flatscreen, barely able to breathe in anticipation. The television blinked, blinked again, and then the lofty strains of Copland’s “Appalachian Spring” filled the room.“Spring is just around the corner. Now’s the time to make those plans to finally have the backyard paradise you’ve been dreaming about. Burke Landscaping can make all of your lawn and garden dreams come true.”“Oh my God!” Ian squealed. “I love it. It’s me. It’s me. It’s—”Andy silenced him with a slap on the head.Ian, along with his posse, watched with silly grins as he pushed his cart toward that perfect shrub.“Cute butt, hon.”“Thanks, Allison.”“Here’s my favorite part.” Andy struggled to suppress giggles. “Look at Ian’s face when he sets that frickin’ shrub down on the cart. The satisfaction, it kills me every time I see it.”“You’re vile,” Ian said, unable to mask his delight at being ribbed for something that really was funny.“Buddy, I’m sorry. It’s just so funny to see—”“Shut up!” Spencer inched even closer to the screen.“Here at Burke Landscaping, we treat each project, each yard as if it were our own. Burke Landscaping—Professionals who care.”“Woohoo! That was awesome!” Spencer jumped to his feet and went right into his self-proclaimed happy dance, a strange mix of agitated body movements he did whenever he was feeling happy.“Yeehaw!” Ian leaped to his feet, clapping wildly. “That was totally awesome! Wow! I can’t thank you guys enough for making this happen for me.”High fives were exchanged all around.“Allison, the voiceover text, it was perfect. Classy and professional.” He planted a kiss on her cheek.“You’re welcome, honey.”“Andy, and this is serious, that’s the first time I’ve heard your voice and didn’t think to myself, who’s the broad with the stuffy nose?”“Shut up, you bitch!” Andy pulled him down on the couch and smothered him with tickles and sloppy smooches. When he was able to free himself, he scurried over to Spencer, giving him a hug. “If this ends up making me serious money, I’m sending you back to film school. Thank you!”“Ian, have you mentioned to Spencer what we were talking about?” Andy raised an eyebrow for emphasis.“Ummm… not yet.” “What? What are you two homos up to?” Spencer displayed genuine concern. “It’s never good. I can’t believe you’re both so mean to me, and after all the good I do for your people.”“It’s nothing bad, Straight Cat,” Ian said, patting Spencer on the shoulder to reassure him they were on the level. “Andy and I think you should be the team captain this season. I know you’ll have the support if you throw your hat into the ring. Dude, before you say no, consider another entire season of having to listen to Snotty Scotty.”“Oh man, I don’t know. Allison, what do you think?”Ian held his breath. Spencer wouldn’t dream of making this decision without consulting his wife.“I’m Switzerland, honey. I’m not getting involved in this one.Besides, captain or not, I’ll still lose you two nights a week.”“Dude, I had no idea your wife was so bitter about baseball,” Andy whispered, with no intention of keeping his comment a secret.“Careful, you never want to come between a bitch and her man.” Allison showed her claws. “I know that’s the truth.” Andy batted away a French-manicured claw.“Come on, dude,” Ian pleaded. “Andy and I will help you with the paperwork and the organizing. We can’t go another season of ball with Snotty Scotty bitching at us. Free blow jobs for a year… huh…huh… whattaya say?”“Hey, I like that offer,” Allison said with an exaggerated sigh of relief. “My jaw gets really tired, and if push comes to shove, I’d have to admit, it’s not my favorite thing in the world.”“Thanks for sharing that little tidbit, honey.” The forlorn look on Spencer’s face sent everyone into hysterics. “Listen up, you two… I’ll do it.”“Yes!” Andy shouted.“I’ll do it because I can’t listen to Snotty Scotty for another season either. But the blow job offer, thanks but no thanks. Neither of your lips are getting anywhere close to Elvis, got it?” Spencer took a step behind Allison for protection.“Got it!” Ian and Andy cheered, bumping knuckles. “My jaw gets tired too.” Andy looked over to Allison.“Not mine,” Ian said proudly. “I could go all night.”“On that note—” Spencer chugged down the last of his beer. “— time to hit the road, my dear. We have twenty minutes to get home before blowjob time. You can limber up in the car.”

When good speling and grammer is a must...

Good spelling and grammar aren't just necessary when writing books. Books, especially ebooks, can be changed in future editions to correct any spelling mistakes. Plus, when you're talking about between 50 and 100 thousand words, a mistake or two are generally bound to slip past the author, editor, and proofreader's eyes.

Not so much with tattoos. They're a forever kind of thing. Sure, you can have them lasered off, but that's a bit more painful and expensive than just hitting the delete key, right? I mean, wouldn't you want to be absolutely sure how something is spelled before you start permanently etching it into my skin?

I am continually amazed at how many people have mispelled or grammatically incorrect tats. Seriously dude, do these tat artists not own dictionaries? Maybe tattoo guns should come with  built-in spell-check. I can almost understand it in prison tattoos. After all, one can't be fussy about spelling and grammar when it's necessary to keep only one eye on the tattoo because the other is looking out for anyone trying to shove a shiv in your back.

But if I'm paying you a couple hundred dollars for a tattoo, I would like to think you know how to spell the word "tomorrow."












 Or the word, "tragedy."



Yeah, not so much.

Oh, and the words "your" and "you're" are NOT interchangeable. Neither are "to," "too," and "two," or "there," "their," and "they're." Just sayin'.

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And who in the blue hell is "Noone" and why can't we trust him?

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And is this supposed to be a tribute to diabetes?


I think the next time I get a tat, I'm going to bring a dictionary with me. You know, just in case. I don't want to end up with "Gay Romance Arthur" tattooed on my butt. 

Two Sentence Movie Reviews by Cardeno C. (Part Two)

Some of these movies are incredible, some are blah, some are somewhere in between. There are movies on the list that could be the topic of a multi-hour coffee house hang session, some that could be the topic of a rambling post-drinking night, and some that might just get a shrug and a smile. What they all have in common is a gay theme. I’m going to do my best to narrow my thoughts about each movie to two sentences. Here’s part two of my two sentence movie reviews (in no particular order).
1.     Touch of Pink: Has a somewhat nostalgic feel to it, which I think is intentional. Not too heavy, liked the family drama.
2.     East Side Story: Some of the characters are over the top, same with some of the acting. Still, I enjoyed this movie and I’d recommend it.3.     The Curiosity of Chance: This is SUCH a great coming of age film. Love the main character, love his well-meaning father, love his precocious sister, don’t love the “it’s a gay film so we need a hunky character even if he can’t act and doesn’t add much but let’s have him take his shirt off and flex.” 4.     Trick: My friends liked this one more than me. Plus side: nobody dies.5.     Adam and Steve: Really liked the characters, good story, sweet and funny. But that one scene in the beginning, you know the one, we didn’t need to see that.6.     Burnt Money: A robber caper, through and through. Hot as hell, gritty, passionate, and though I didn’t like the ending, it made sense in context.7.     My Own Private Idaho: River Phoenix, Keanu Reeves – in 1991 that was reason enough to like a movie. I ached for Mike when I first saw this.8.     Shortbus: There’s a lot going on here, all of it interesting, but none of it as fleshed out as I’d have liked. And do these people know anybody who isn’t totally fucked up?9.     Testerostone: Let’s see, the acting is good, the writing is good, the plot is … interesting. But the characters are all unlikeable and somewhat despicable and I felt like I needed a shower when it was over. 10.  Holding Trevor: This could have been much better with a different ending. I’d have still wanted to slap Trevor’s friends around, but there are some great threads, the two leads are interesting, there’s some really good dialogue, and with a different ending the movie would have made sense.    11.  All Over the Guy: Fun, feel-good movie. It’s nice when you’re hoping it’ll work out and it actually does.12.  Broken Sky: This movie is very different, but I really enjoyed it. Almost no dialogue (yet the actors conveyed their passion/feelings perfectly), very heavy on the sex, and oddly edited (I’ve decided he beginning was actually the end because that makes more sense.)13.  Love of Siam. The award for "Why Was it So Long?" followed by the award for "Have you Never Heard of Independent Movies and the Fact that they have Questionable Editing?" (Two awards that also could have gone to Broken Sky but this one doesn't have the benefit of extraneous sex to make the length of the movie bearable). Honestly, what’s with the endings – do they think an unhappy ending adds depth?

A Rant ... And a Free Read (D.W. Marchwell)

First, the rant:Having friends on Facebook can be both a source of tremendous comfort and a source of unbearable frustration.  It was through FB that I came to learn about the whole Chick-fil-A debacle.  Now, in all fairness to me, I live in Canada and I’d never heard of this particular establishment until the whole brouhaha erupted over statements made by the CEO of that company.  As I look back now, I do remember two important thoughts hitting me at more or less the same time:
What kind of name is Chick-fil-A for crying out loud? Big deal, one more person who is wading into the already-overcrowded debate on the definition of “marriage”.  Who cares?
Apparently, quite a large number of people cared.  This CEO, whose name I couldn’t be bothered to look up right now, has supporters and detractors alike.  Shocking, I know!  But, honestly, why does it matter that there is one more “Christian” who thinks that marriage is defined as one man and one woman?
Is this CEO not entitled to his opinion?  Of course he is.
Does this opinion make him homophobic?  I’d bet that yes, it does.
Will this one opinion push back the struggle for my gay American cousins to be allowed to marry?  I doubt it.  Let’s face it, he may not agree with gays having the right to marry, but how many other CEOs have come out in support of this long-awaited equality?  CEOs, Mayors, Directors of major companies...the list of influential people who support gay marriage is endless.  
So, it would seem, then - for me at least - that there are two important issues:  The first issue is the one sentence I keep hearing over and over:  “Marriage is one man and one woman”.  Fair enough.  But let’s look closely at the words used in the Bible:
In Genesis 2:18, 21 to 24, we have the following:  “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make him a helper suitable for him’...etc.”  Eve is referred to, at various times, as a helper, a wife and a companion.  Three different words to describe the role of the woman in a marriage.
So, if the Bible is to be taken literally, why would any good, Christian woman object to the wedding vows being changed to “I now pronounce you husband and helper”.  I can think of quite a few who like to see themselves as being more than “just” a helper...or more than “just” a wife, for that matter.  They like to see themselves as equals.  In fact, I remember the days when women were upset because the vows used to read, “I now pronounce you MAN and wife.”  And while I’m sure there are many men who would like to return to those days, I doubt you’ll find too many women - Christian or otherwise - who will ever see themselves as anything but equal to their husbands.
There are endless debates over certain “issues” with the Bible being taken literally.  Where did Kane and Abel’s wives come from, and wouldn’t those wives have been their sisters, etc?  It would seem that some Christians interpret the story of Adam to refer to “First Adam” and “Last Adam” (no, really, look it up), but the key word here is “interpret”.  
And while we’re on the subject of interpretation...  The list of things that are “forbidden” or “unclean” or “abominations” in the Bible is extensive.  Leviticus 19:27 forbids shaving, Ephesians 5:4 forbids cursing, Leviticus 19:16 forbids gossip, Leviticus 11:10 forbids eating anything from the seas that does not have fins or scales - i.e. shellfish, and Leviticus 15:19 to 20 forbids associating with women who are menstruating (the exact words are “a discharge, and it consists of blood from her body, she will be unclean”...).
So, why do some Christians get to “interpret” where Kane and Abel’s wives came from or what is “really” meant by “shaving” or “cursing” or “shellfish”, but the rest of the general population, it would seem, are incapable of interpreting the Bible correctly?  The answer is simple:  As long as my interpretation is the same as yours, you will welcome me with open arms.
Okay, so rational people will agree that there seems to be this widespread belief on the part of some Christians that certain aspects of the Bible must be taken literally while others are nothing but mere suggestions that are so antiquated as to be ignorable in this day and age.  Therefore, quoting the Bible is only a reliable argument if you plan to follow EVERYTHING that the Bible states; otherwise, you seem like a hypocrite.
The second issue remaining at this point of my rant is:  “What ever happened to the separation of Church and State?”
Those of you who’ve read “Good to Know” and are familiar with the Bennett Brigade will know a little of what I once had to go through ten years into my teaching career - although without the support of a Jerry or a William.  There was one question I asked (we’ll call him) Bennett:  “You say you’re a Christian and I believe you.  But what if I don’t live my life as a Christian?  What if I’ve chosen to follow a different belief system?”  Of course, he called me another lengthy list of names, but he had no answer to my question.
So, let me ask the CEOs and the ministers and the every-person out there who keeps telling me that marriage is between one man and one woman:  Why should millions of gay Americans have to accept social and governmental policy based on this Christian definition that should no longer have any bearing?  Why should millions of self-proclaimed “Christian” Americans who neither practice nor preach ALL of the tenets of Jesus Christ be allowed to tell someone who is a non-Christian what his/her rights ought to be?
If someone can please finally answer that question for me - without resorting to rhetoric and nonsensical filibustering - I would really like to hear the answer.
Until then, take your Bible and your opinions, and use them to guide your own lives.  Please stop using them to tell me how to live mine.
And now ...  A FREE READ!Some of you will have undoubtedly already read this particular story.  But for those of you who’ve read it and emailed me asking about the reasons and the background, etc., I will say only that I wrote this story for a dear friend and fellow author, Andy Eisenberg.
I wrote this story so that I could share an experience with her.  My family had disowned me because they discovered my “abomination”, and the only Pastor I’d known throughout my life (up to that point) had somehow found out about it.  He pulled me aside one day and told me exactly, verbatim, what the Pastor in the story tells his congregation about love and acceptance and his duty to his flock, as he sees it, through the teachings of Jesus Christ.
This Pastor, whom I still respect and consider to be the wisest man I’ve ever met said, “No matter what anyone tells you, or calls you, or what they do to you, or how much they hate you, remember that your God is a God of love.  And he loves all of his children.”
I hope you enjoy the free read.  “With Gladness” by D.W. Marchwell.
http://marchwellbooks.ca/free-reads/