Ask Andrew - The Lady Readers

Dear Andrew

Why do you think women like gay novels so much?  I am in a Facebook group and there is a woman that posts photos of men who love each other. I'm not offended, of course, but I wonder....  As a writer, do you find this a little disconcerting? 

Thank you
Agnese

Dear Agnese

I am asked this type of questions a lot.  I go to various conventions, even gay romance conventions, and I am one of the few men there, either as an author or a reader.  I have talked to many readers and I have to say that I have the answer to your question.  There isn't one answer.  Readers are fans of gay romance for a wide variety of reasons.  Some ladies read gay romance for the heat and the passion of two men together.  Some read because they see the relationship between men as a sort of forbidden fruit.  There is the 'ones good, two's better' answer I get quite often as well, sort of along the line of why straight men like two women together. The answer I like most is that many women feel that love is love, period.  That answer warms my heart no end. 

As for the second part of your question.  I don't find this fascination with men loving each other disconcerting at all.  I thank all the wonderful women and the powers that be for each and every one of my lady readers.  Without them I wouldn't be able to do what I love to do so much.   And I see the effects of this openness and acceptance in many facets of life from the death of DOMA to the rising acceptance of marriage equality.  The attitudes of society are changing and those changes are driven by women.  I further believe that some of the main drivers of that change are romance readers.  They are open minded, vocal, and I love them all.  My lady gay romance readers are amazing and they have helped change the world, or at least my world for the better. 

Hugs and love
Andrew

Ask Andrew is your chance to ask questions of a gay romance author.  The questions can be about the writing process in general, writing sex scenes, gay men, sex, characters in romance, characters having sex... okay you probably get the picture.    I promise to answer your questions as frankly and with as much humor as I possibly can.

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