Elisa Rolle's Blog, page 387

E. Otis Charles & Felipe Sanchez-Paris

Edgar Otis Charles (called Otis; April 24, 1926 – December 26, 2013) was the eighth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah.

Charles was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, and first served as a priest in Connecticut. From 1968 until 1982 he was a member of the Standing Liturgical Commission, which developed the 1979 edition of the Book of Common Prayer. In 1971, he was elected Bishop of Utah. He was active in the peace movement, and opposed Nevada and Utah being launching sites for the MX missile. In the House of Bishops, Charles was chair of the Prayer Book Committee and a member of the Bishops' Committee on Racism. Charles became Dean of the Episcopal Divinity School in 1985. Charles also has significant academic achievements, including a Doctorate of Divinity, and a Doctorate of Sacred Theology. Bishop Charles died on December 26, 2013, in San Francisco, California.


Edgar Otis Charles was the eighth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah. Charles was married for 42 years and has five children. After his retirement in 1993, Charles publicly came out as gay, the first Christian bishop ever to take such a step. He married Dr. Felipe Sanchez-Paris on September 29, 2008. Dr. Sanchez-Paris was a graduate of Georgetown University and received his doctorate from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Bishop E. Otis Charles died less than 5 months after his partner, on December 26, 2013, in San Francisco, California.

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Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._Otis_Charles

Days of Love: Celebrating LGBT History One Story at a Time by Elisa Rolle
Paperback: 760 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (July 1, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1500563323
ISBN-13: 978-1500563325
CreateSpace Store: https://www.createspace.com/4910282
Amazon (Paperback): http://www.amazon.com/dp/1500563323/?tag=elimyrevandra-20
Amazon (Kindle): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MZG0VHY/?tag=elimyrevandra-20

Days of Love chronicles more than 700 LGBT couples throughout history, spanning 2000 years from Alexander the Great to the most recent winner of a Lambda Literary Award. Many of the contemporary couples share their stories on how they met and fell in love, as well as photos from when they married or of their families. Included are professional portraits by Robert Giard and Stathis Orphanos, paintings by John Singer Sargent and Giovanni Boldini, and photographs by Frances Benjamin Johnson, Arnold Genthe, and Carl Van Vechten among others. “It's wonderful. Laying it out chronologically is inspired, offering a solid GLBT history. I kept learning things. I love the decision to include couples broken by death. It makes clear how important love is, as well as showing what people have been through. The layout and photos look terrific.” Christopher Bram “I couldn’t resist clicking through every page. I never realized the scope of the book would cover centuries! I know that it will be hugely validating to young, newly-emerging LGBT kids and be reassured that they really can have a secure, respected place in the world as their futures unfold.” Howard Cruse “This international history-and-photo book, featuring 100s of detailed bios of some of the most forward-moving gay persons in history, is sure to be one of those bestsellers that gay folk will enjoy for years to come as reference and research that is filled with facts and fun.” Jack Fritscher

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2015 Rainbow Awards Submission: Making Time by C.J. Harte

Making Time by C.J. Harte
Lesbian Contemporary Romance
Paperback: 264 pages
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books (October 14, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1626392013
ISBN-13: 978-1626392014
Amazon: Making Time
Amazon Kindle: Making Time

Mia Daniels has never forgotten the night her first crush sent her running home, humiliated. She has spent the last fifteen years trying to forget Teri Stanton. Just as she thinks her life is moving forward, Mia loses her lover and then must become her parents’ caretaker. She is still determined to make a life without Teri’s ghost haunting her.

Teri Stanton has sold her soul to her family’s business. She’s tripled the net worth and made it a global company. One day she will be the CEO. That is all she cares about. Until Mia Daniels shows up and keeps telling her to go away. Mia is attractive and smart, and Teri is interested, but Mia has too many responsibilities for Teri to deal with.

Mia may be Teri’s one chance to regain her soul back, but first she has to make time to prove to Mia she is worth the effort. Teri’s not sure if she can.

2015 Rainbow Awards Guidelines: http://www.elisarolle.com/rainbowawards/rainbow_awards_2015.html

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Cover Reveal: Secret by Kindle Alexander

Secret by Kindle Alexander
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Tristan Wilder, self-made millionaire and devastatingly handsome CEO of Wilder-Nation is on the verge of a very lucrative buyout. With tough negotiations ahead, he's armed with his acquisition pitch, ready to launch the deal of a lifetime. There’s just one glitch. The last thing he expects is to fall for the hot business owner he's trying to sway.

Dylan Reeves, computer science engineer and founder of the very successful social media site, Secret, is faced with a life-altering decision. A devoted family man with three kids and a wife, Dylan has been living a secret for years. Fiercely loyal to his convictions, his boundaries blur after meeting the striking owner of the corporation interested in acquiring his company. For the first time in his life, reckless desire consumes him when the gorgeous computer mogul makes an offer he can't refuse.

( Excerpt ) 



Author Bio: Best Selling Author Kindle Alexander is an innovative writer, and a genre-crosser who writes classic fantasy, romance, suspense, and erotica in both the male/male and male/female genres. It's always a surprise to see what's coming next!
I live in the suburbs of Dallas where it's true, the only thing bigger than an over active imagination, may be women's hair!
Usually, I try for funny. Humor is a major part of my life - I love to laugh, and it seems to be the thing I do in most situations - regardless of the situation, but jokes are a tricky deal... I don't want to offend anyone and jokes tend to offend. So instead I'm going to tell you about Kindle.
I tragically lost my sixteen year old daughter to a drunk driver. She had just been at home, it was early in the night and I heard the accident happen. I'll never forget that moment. The sirens were immediate and something inside me just knew. I left my house, drove straight to the accident on nothing more than instinct. I got to be there when my little girl died - weirdly, I consider that a true gift from above. She didn't have to be alone.
That time in my life was terrible. It's everything you think it would be times about a billion. I love that kid. I loved being her mother and I loved watching her grow into this incredibly beautiful person, both inside and out. She was such a gift to me. To have it all ripped away so suddenly broke me.
Her name was Kindle. Honest to goodness - it was her name and she died a few weeks before Amazon released their brand new Kindle ereader. She had no idea it was coming out and she would have finally gotten her name on something! Try finding a ruler with the name Kindle on it.. It never happened.
Through the course of that crippling event I was lucky enough to begin to write with a dear friend in the fan fiction world of Facebook. She got me through those dark days with her unwavering support and friendship. There wasn't a time she wasn't there for me. Sometimes together and sometimes by myself, we built a world where Kindle lives and stands for peace, love and harmony. It's its own kind of support group. I know without question I wouldn't be here today without her.
Find out more by visiting www.kindlealexander.com or email me at kindle@kindlealexander.com

Social Media Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Alexande...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author...
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Website: http://www.kindlealexander.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KindleAlexander

Giveaway:
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2015 Rainbow Awards Submission: A Pride of Poppies by Julie Bozza

A Pride of Poppies by Julie Bozza
LGBT Anthology / Collection / Historical Fiction
Publisher: Manifold Press (May 1, 2015)
Amazon Kindle: A Pride of Poppies

Ten authors – in thirteen stories – explore the experiences of GLBTQI people during World War I. In what ways were their lives the same as or different from those of other people?

A London pub, an English village, a shell-hole on the Front, the outskirts of Thai Nguyen city, a ship in heavy weather off Zeebrugge, a civilian internment camp … Loves and griefs that must remain unspoken, unexpected freedoms, the tensions between individuality and duty, and every now and then the relief of recognition. You’ll find both heartaches and joys in this astonishing range of thought-provoking stories.

2015 Rainbow Awards Guidelines: http://www.elisarolle.com/rainbowawards/rainbow_awards_2015.html

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New UK event: Queer Company

Reading, writing and publishing are fulfilling occupations in themselves, but we at Manifold Press also feel very lucky to be working in this particular genre – not least because of the wonderful sense of community. To celebrate our excellent friendships – and in the hope of making even more – Manifold Press is delighted to be hosting a new UK-based event.

Queer Company will be a small, friendly gathering designed to engage and inspire. This one-day event is planned for Saturday 9 May 2015 at The Jam Factory in Oxford.

Please be assured that everyone is welcome! Readers, authors, bloggers, publishers, reviewers … The only requirement is that you love this genre we share.

We hope this gathering will be the first of many, with annual events complementing the wonderful work done by UK Gay Romance and UK Meet.

The timing this year coincides with Manifold Press’s fifth anniversary – we’re proud and rather astonished to reflect that our first titles were released on 1 May 2010. We will also be taking the opportunity to formally launch our new anthology A Pride of Poppies, featuring modern GLBTQI fiction of the Great War, all the proceeds of which will be donated to charity.

If you’d like to join us, there is more detailed information available on the Manifold Events website.

Registrations are now open.

Please note that, due to the nature of the event, we can accommodate no more than 50 people attending. (We will maintain a waiting list if necessary.)

Thank you for your interest. We’re looking forward to enjoying your company!

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Amber Heard, Tasya Van Ree & Johnny Depp

Amber Laura Heard (born April 22, 1986) is an American actress and model. Heard made her film debut in acclaimed sports drama Friday Night Lights, starring Billy Bob Thornton. After small roles in North Country and Alpha Dog, Heard played her first leading role in All the Boys Love Mandy Lane and appeared in The CW television show Hidden Palms. (P: Heard at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival)

Her breakthrough came in 2008 with roles in Never Back Down and Pineapple Express. She was awarded with Breakthrough Award at Young Hollywood Awards. She got widespread attention after her appearance in films such as The Informers, The Stepfather, Zombieland and The Joneses. She next starred in John Carpenter's The Ward, alongside Nicolas Cage in Drive Angry, and alongside Johnny Depp in The Rum Diary, for which she won a Spotlight Award at Hollywood Film Festival. Her recent films include Paranoia, Machete Kills and 3 Days to Kill.

Regarded as a sex symbol, Heard often appears in magazines' Most Beautiful and Sexiest lists. She is also involved in social activism for causes such as LGBT rights and abolishing slavery, and is a supporter of Habitat for Humanity, Girl Up United Nations Foundation, The Art of Elysium and Amnesty International.

Heard came out in 2010, at GLAAD's 25th anniversary event, but has stated, "I don't label myself one way or another—I have had successful relationships with men and now a woman. I love who I love; it's the person that matters." At the aforementioned GLAAD event, she stated of her decision to come out: "I think when I became aware of my role in the media, I had to ask myself an important question 'Am I part of the problem?' And I think that when millions and millions of hard-working, tax paying Americans are denied their rights and denied their equality you have to ask yourself what are the factors that are an epidemic problem and that's what this is."


Amber Heard is an American actress and model. Heard made her film debut in acclaimed sports drama Friday Night Lights, starring Billy Bob Thornton. Heard dated photographer Tasya van Ree. Van Ree is known for her black and white photographs of celebrities, including Michelle Rodriguez, Katherine Moennig and Matt Dallas. Heard met fellow actor Johnny Depp while filming The Rum Diary, and they began dating in 2012. On February 3, 2015, Heard married Depp in a private civil ceremony at their home in Los Angeles.

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Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amber_Heard

[image error]Tasya van Ree (April 30, 1976) is an American artist and photographer based in Los Angeles.

Van Ree is known for her black and white photographs of celebrities, including Michelle Rodriguez, Katherine Moennig and Matt Dallas. In several interviews, she refers to actress Amber Heard as her main muse.

Her work has been exhibited in several cities and magazines.

In addition to photography, Van Ree makes short films and does painting jobs.

Van Ree dated actress Amber Heard, from 2008 until the couple broke up in 2011.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasya_van_Ree

( Further Readings )

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2015 Rainbow Awards Submission: Undercover Blues by Chris Quinton

Undercover Blues by Chris Quinton
Gay Historical Romance
Publisher: Manifold Press (November 1, 2014)
Amazon Kindle: Undercover Blues

London, the 1930s: With the cooperation of a top-ranking scientist and his son, Tom Langton and Robert Darnley are sent in as bait for a gang that uses blackmail to steal industrial secrets at a time when Hitler’s rise to power in Germany threatens Europe. The two men are friends, but they each have secrets of their own – and both are well aware that homosexuality is against the law. Living in close quarters, having to portray an illegal relationship, adds unexpected tensions to an already dangerous situation.

2015 Rainbow Awards Guidelines: http://www.elisarolle.com/rainbowawards/rainbow_awards_2015.html

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Blog Tour: Freeing His Mercenary by Vanessa Sims

Freeing His Mercenary (Mercenary In Love Book 3) by Vanessa Sims
Amazon Kindle: Freeing His Mercenary (Mercenary In Love Book 3)

What would you do if the man you loved woke up and didn’t remember you? Christian Storm was your normal kick ass bad boy, until his best friend admitted to having feelings for him. One the heel of Rick’s confession, Christian gets his act together, and starts a relationship with Rick. The case they’re working on together goes sour at the end and Rick is taken. After a few days Rick is found broken and battered. When he wakes up in the hospital, Rick doesn’t know who he or anyone else is. Now Christian has to find the man responsible for Rick’s abduction and attack before he strikes again. With his mind preoccupied with finding Logan, will Christian be able to convince Rick that they are deeply in love with each other? Or will Christian lose everything he holds dear? Freeing His Mercenary is the continuation of Taming His Mercenary.

( Excerpt )



Author Bio: I live in Texas but originally I am from Trenton, NJ. When I graduated from high school, I joined the military. Yay me. I did three years with one tour to Iraq. I am happily married because seriously would put that they are unhappy. I have three kids. No pets, they scare me. I am currently a stay at home mom and I love to read! A lot.

Links
Website: http://vanessasimsbooks.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VanessaSims18
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vsims2014
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Vanessa-Sims/e/...
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Instagram: https://instagram.com/vanessa.sims/



Tour Schedule
4/15/2015 Man2mantastic, The Purple Rose Tea House, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents
4/16/2015 Molly Lolly, RJ Scott
4/17/2015 Hearts On Fire Reviews, Diverse Reader, Carly's Book Reviews
4/18/2015 Love Bytes reviews, Elisa - My reviews and Ramblings, Chicks After Dark
4/20/2015 MM Good Book Rviews, Divine Magazine, Inked Rainbow Reads
4/21/2015 Because Two Men Are Better Than One, Cate Ashwood
4/22/2015 The Novel Approach, Sue Brown's Stories, Gay.Guy.Reading and Friends
4/23/2015 Prism Book Alliance, Jill Prand
4/24/2015 Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words, BFD Book Blog
4/25/2015 Bayou Book Junkie, Drops of Ink, Rainbow Gold Reviews

Giveaway:
Rafflecopter: All three books in the Mercenary in Love series and a $10 GC Amazon/B&N
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Individual Blog Giveaway: One copy of Freeing His Mercenary



His Mercenary (Mercenary In Love Book 1) by Vanessa Sims
Amazon Kindle: His Mercenary (Mercenary In Love Book 1)

Chase Black and his team are Mercenaries who go after Human Traffickers. Working a case for the FBI, Chase meets special agent Cameron Allen. Special Agent Cameron Allen has been with the FBI for five years. Being an openly gay man in the agency is not easy, but he does his job well. Chase and Cameron team up to find Angelo Marini, who has escaped from FBI custody. Working close together, Chase and Cameron can't fight their attraction for each other, even if they wanted to. What happens when a Mercenary and FBI agent come together to find a wanted fugitive and fall in love in the process?

Taming His Mercenary (Mercenary In Love Book 2) by Vanessa Sims
Amazon Kindle: Taming His Mercenary (Mercenary In Love Book 2)

When a missing persons case turns into a race to save a woman from human traffickers, Christian Storm and Rick North must not only deal with the increasingly dangerous situation, but also the stormy emotions building between them. Coworkers and best friends, Rick and Christian have always worked together seamlessly, but that is beginning to change. Rick has been denying his true feelings for Christian for years, but has finally been pushed to his breaking point. He decides it’s time to either move forward with Christian or move on. Christian’s a one-night-stand kind of guy who lives for fun and has no interest in a serious relationship. When Rick lays his feelings on the line one night, Christian doesn’t know what to do. He’s never thought of Rick as anything more than a friend, and is terrified that no matter how he responds to Rick’s revelation their friendship will never be the same. When the criminals they are chasing bring the fight to their doorstep one of their own is captured. Christian and Rick must put aside their emotions and work together like never before in order to stay one step ahead of the danger that threatens their very lives. With so much on the line, will Rick and Christian be able to give love a chance, or are the odds against them stacked too high?





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Bret Shuford & Stephen Hanna

Stephen Robert Hanna (born 1980) is a dancer in “Billy Elliot” on Broadway. Until 2008, he was a principal dancer for the New York City Ballet. He married Bret McCole Shuford on April 18, 2011, at Greenwich Town Hall in Greenwich, Conn.

He is a son of Edward J. Hanna and Marcella F. Hanna of South Park, Pa. His father retired as a maintenance supervisor at a General Motors stamping plant in West Mifflin, Pa.

Bret Shuford (born 1980) is an actor. In 2011 he appeared in the revival of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, N.J. He has also appeared on Broadway in “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Little Mermaid.”

He is a son of Deanna L. Shuford and Preston N. Shuford of Orange, Tex. His mother retired as an emergency room nurse at Baptist Hospital in Orange. His father is a vice president of the barge line subsidiary of Higman Marine Services, a Houston shipping company.

The couple met on Christmas Eve in 2006. Shuford was hosting a party, and Hanna arrived with some friends. Hanna’s first impression of the host was: “Who is this guy? I couldn’t keep my eyes off him.” They were both dating other people at the time, so they became friends. A few months later they both found themselves unattached, and Shuford said he had an “aha” moment regarding Hanna.

Hanna said that he had always hoped they would be more than friends: “I was so attracted from the moment I saw him. I really cared for him.” He added, “The second we had the opportunity, it turned into something else.”


Photo Credit Laura Marie Duncan Photography
Stephen Hanna is a dancer in “Billy Elliot” on Broadway. Until 2008, he was a principal dancer for the New York City Ballet. He married Bret Shuford on April 18, 2011, at Greenwich Town Hall in Greenwich, Conn. Bret Shuford is an actor. He appeared on Broadway in “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” “Beauty and the Beast”, “The Little Mermaid" and “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.” The couple met on Christmas Eve in 2006. Shuford was hosting a party, and Hanna arrived with some friends.

( Read more... )

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/24/fashion/weddings/24Hanna.html (NYTimes, By PAULA SCHWARTZAPRIL 22, 2011)

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Aram Hosie & Louise Pratt

Louise Clare Pratt (born 18 April 1972) is a former Australian politician. She was a Labor member of the Australian Senate from July 2008 until June 2014, representing the state of Western Australia. She had been assured of election at the 2007 federal election after winning the first position on the Labor ticket, defeating incumbent Senator Ruth Webber in a preselection contest. Pratt previously served as a member of the Western Australian Legislative Council from 2001 to 2007. She was the youngest woman ever elected to the Legislative Council at the time of her election, the second open lesbian to be elected to an Australian parliament, and the first to have a transgender man as a partner. Senator Pratt has a partner, Aram Hosie, a trans man and activist in the Western Australian gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

Pratt was born in Kalgoorlie, and grew up in the outer hills suburbs of Perth, where she attended Eastern Hills Senior High School. She studied arts at the University of Western Australia, where she became involved in student politics. After taking on a number of positions at her campus, she was elected as the state education officer for the National Union of Students, as well as a member of its national executive, in 1994.

After university, Pratt became involved in gay rights activism, serving as a regular spokesperson for Gay and Lesbian Equality, a prominent advocacy group in the state. This saw her addressing issues such as discrimination, unequal age of consent laws, homophobia in schools and property rights, and frequently saw her clash with the conservative Liberal Party of Australia government of Richard Court. It also saw Pratt working in concert with fellow activist Brian Greig, who later went on to become an Australian Democrats Senator.


Senator Louise Pratt (right) with partner Aram Hosie.
Louise Clare Pratt (born 18 April 1972) is a former Australian politician. She was the youngest woman ever elected to the Legislative Council at the time of her election, the second open lesbian to be elected to an Australian parliament, and the first to have a transgender man as a partner. Senator Pratt has a partner, Aram Hosie, a trans man and activist in the Western Australian gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

( Read more... )

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Pratt


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