Lewis DeSimone's Blog, page 3

Always a Bridesmaid

My story "Quality Time" has been given Honorable Mention in the Bloom Chapbook Contest. It's not quite the same as winning, but second place is pretty good, particularly when it comes from a magazine of the calibre of Bloom.
"Quality Time" (still unpublished) features several of the same characters you'll soon meet in The Heart's History. It didn't quite fit into the final scheme of the novel, but I hope to publish it somewhere soon.

Peter Dubé on The Heart’s History

Here’s the latest advance review of The Heart’s History, by the brilliant Peter Dubé, author of Subtle Bodies and Hovering World. This one really touches my heart:

In The Heart’s History Lewis DeSimone gives us a profoundly moving story about reaching out and pulling back, about intimacy and mystery, written in shapely and nuanced prose. Even better, it also reminds us of important truths about life, gay and otherwise: that time changes everything, that love changes shape, and that friendship can change a world, if we let it. That makes it a book to read closely, with tenderness … and repeatedly.

Peter Dubé on The Heart's History

Here's the latest advance review of The Heart's History, by the brilliant Peter Dubé, author of Subtle Bodies and Hovering World. This one really touches my heart:

In The Heart's History Lewis DeSimone gives us a profoundly moving story about reaching out and pulling back, about intimacy and mystery, written in shapely and nuanced prose. Even better, it also reminds us of important truths about life, gay and otherwise: that time changes everything, that love changes shape, and that friendship can change a world, if we let it. That makes it a book to read closely, with tenderness … and repeatedly.

New Story in "Chelsea Station"

I am thrilled to announce that my story "Natural Selection" is included in issue 2 of Chelsea Station , now available.
"Natural Selection" is one of my favorite stories, and I've been working on it for quite some time. Chelsea Station's wonderful editor, Jameson Currier, 0ffered excellent ideas for shaping the final version, and I hope you all like the result. It's a fun piece about friendship, love, and envy. If you've ever had a friendship marked by power struggles and the alpha-dog strut, you'll know exactly what I mean. Enjoy!!

Jeff Mann on The Heart’s History

From the talented Jeff Mann (author of Fog: A Novel of Desire and Reprisal and Purgatory: A Novel of the Civil War), who knows a thing or two about love stories, here’s the latest advance review of The Heart’s History:

"Lewis DeSimone’s beautiful novel captures the many facets of contemporary gay life, from sharp humor, long-lasting friendships, and the urban club scene to the insecurities of aging, the uncertainties of romance, and the agonies of a loved one’s loss. It also illuminates a difficult and inescapable truth: we mortals are all elusive mysteries, all in the end unknowable, but that mystery is the very fuel of love."

Jeff Mann on The Heart's History

From the talented Jeff Mann (author of Fog: A Novel of Desire and Reprisal and Purgatory: A Novel of the Civil War), who knows a thing or two about love stories, here's the latest advance review of The Heart's History:

"Lewis DeSimone's beautiful novel captures the many facets of contemporary gay life, from sharp humor, long-lasting friendships, and the urban club scene to the insecurities of aging, the uncertainties of romance, and the agonies of a loved one's loss. It also illuminates a difficult and inescapable truth: we mortals are all elusive mysteries, all in the end unknowable, but that mystery is the very fuel of love."

Paul Lisicky on The Heart’s History

I’m quite flattered by the reception The Heart’s History continues to receive. The latest word is from the wonderful Paul Lisicky, author of Lawnboy and last year’s brilliant The Burning House:

Lewis DeSimone's Heart’s History is a novel of trouble and wonder. It moves in unexpected directions and looks into the complicated, real-life struggles that lesser writers tend to simplify or avoid. It is adult in its scope, and generous in its understanding of how loss changes us as both groups and individuals. As soon as I finished, I wanted to start reading all over again.

Paul Lisicky on The Heart's History

I'm quite flattered by the reception The Heart's History continues to receive. The latest word is from the wonderful Paul Lisicky, author of Lawnboy and last year's brilliant The Burning House:

Lewis DeSimone's Heart's History is a novel of trouble and wonder. It moves in unexpected directions and looks into the complicated, real-life struggles that lesser writers tend to simplify or avoid. It is adult in its scope, and generous in its understanding of how loss changes us as both groups and individuals. As soon as I finished, I wanted to start reading all over again.

Writing Is Easy

As probably any artist will tell you, creating the work is easy compared to the arduous process of selling and promoting it. It took dozens of queries to agents and editors before I found a publisher for my first novel, Chemistry. And from that experience, I learned that, even when your book is in print, there's a lot of work left to do.
The whole process, of course, is somewhat terrifying. Self-promotion has never been my strong suit. But if you're not willing to expose yourself, then I guess there isn't much point in being a writer. I suppose I could do like Emily Dickinson did and hide every scrap of paper in the attic and pray for posthumous recognition. But what fun is that?
With some experience under my belt now, I feel a little better prepared for the upcoming publication of my second book, The Heart's History. Fortunately, my day job has afforded me certain skills in project management, and I'm making use of all of them now, in service to something far less lucrative but far more personally meaningful.
First comes lining up the blurbs (so far, so good; the book has already received lovely endorsements from Michelle Tea and Rigoberto González—see previous blogs). In addition, I've written a press release, which will soon be sent to a long list of publications for review and another list of bookstores (endangered species, so that list is less intimidating) to schedule readings. And, of course, I'm calling in every favor I've ever offered to people in the media who might help with other means of promotion. (Are you listening, Hollywood?)
Frankly, when I'm not quaking in my boots as I hit the "send" button, it's all rather exciting. Every day, there's another task to add to the to-do list, another email to send, another opportunity to repeat my elevator speech.
The real problem, of course, is that novel #3 remains on the back burner until I'm done promoting novel #2. And let me tell you, those new characters are clamoring to be heard. … Never fear, my darlings: your time is coming. Perhaps this time next year, you'll be getting all my attention and the next generation (yes, I already know the general outline of novel #4) will be whining for attention.
A novelist's work is never done.

Rigoberto González on The Heart’s History

I’m excited to pass along more praise for The Heart’s History, from another award-winning writer.

Rigoberto González, author of The Mariposa Club and Butterfly Boy, winner of the American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation, states:

“With admirable sensitivity, Lewis DeSimone reaches deep into a close community of friends to explore the textured lives of gay men, their urgencies haunted by the traumas and anxieties of the past, illuminated by their current (sometimes troubled) affinities and relationships. At the center of this circle is the endearing couple, Robert and Edward, their touching story a catalyst that allows those near them (including the reader) to consider the power of commitment, the grace of forgiveness. The Heart’s History is a stunning portrait of love.”

That last phrase is the new tag line for the novel. Thanks, Rigoberto!