Two Boys in Love

by Lawrence Schimel

The stories in Lawrence Schimel's latest collection show the full spectrum of romance between men, from the piercing joys of love at first sight to the tempered passions of men who have been together in a relationship for many years. From the sunny beaches of Barcelona to Christmastime in New York City, from couples who experiment with a threesome to a Cinderella fairy tale about a gay teen who finally finds love at the prom, these funny, quirky, sexy, and romantic stories are always original. And regardless of their setting, they give an honest depiction of gay lives and romance--a mix of insecurities, apprehensions, and, yes, blissful interludes--which show that love is more than just sex and that commitment doesn't always have to be only about monogamy. Two Boys in Love is further proof that nobody understands gay hearts (and bodies) better than Lawrence Schimel.

Genres: Gay, Erotica, Gay Fiction, Short Stories, Romance

170 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 2005

About the author

I'm a full-time author, anthologist, and translator (Spanish->English) living in Madrid, Spain.

Writing in both Spanish and English, I've published over 90 books in a wide range of genres, including poetry (DESAYUNO EN LA CAMA and FAIRY TALES FOR WRITERS), children's books (LA AVENTURA DE CECILIA Y EL DRAGÓN, COSAS QUE PUEDO HACER YO SOLO, LITTLE PIRATE GOES TO SCHOOL, etc.), short stories (TWO BOYS IN LOVE, HIS TONGUE, THE DRAG QUEEN OF ELFLAND), graphic novels (VACATION IN IBIZA), and many anthologies (STREETS OF BLOOD: VAMPIRE STORIES FROM THE AMERICAN SOUTH, SWITCH HITTERS: LESBIANS WRITE GAY MALE EROTICA AND GAY MEN WRITE LESBIAN EROTICA, KOSHER MEAT, FOUND TRIBE: JEWISH COMING OUT STORIES, CAMELOT FANTASTIC, etc.)

I've twice won a Lambda Literary Award, for FIRST PERSON QUEER and PoMoSEXUALS: CHALLENGING ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT GENDER AND SEXUALITY.

My picture book ¿LEES UN LIBRO CONMIGO? was selected by the International Board of Books for Young People for Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities 2007 and my picture book NO HAY NADA COMO EL ORIGINAL was selected by the International Youth Library in Munich for the White Ravens 2005.

My poem "How to Make a Human" won the Rhysling Award for Best Science Fiction Poem.

I am also the publisher of A Midsummer Night's Press, a small poetry publisher, which has published THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED IN OUR OTHER LIFE by Achy Obejas, THE GOOD-NEIGHBOR POLICY: A DOUBLE CROSS IN DOUBLE DACTLYS by Charles Ardai, BANALITIES by Brane Mozetic, translated by Elizabeti Zargi, and FORTUNE'S LOVER: A BOOK OF TAROT POEMS by Rachel Pollack, as well as the annual series BEST GAY POETRY and BEST LESBIAN POETRY.

Reviews

[Adrian Santiago · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un 2.5

Aquí las historias tiene eso... un poquito más de historia. No es tanto un pretexto para una escena de sexo exactamente igual a las anteriores.

La última historia, wow. Necesitó 40 páginas para contar eso, una verdadera historia. Que te deja con dudas, donde conoces personajes pero quieres saber más, como abrir o espiar por una ventana. Fue muy, pero muy buena.

Las demás, meh. Ya entendimos que "los gays" son más liberales. Meh.
Supongo que en cierta forma de ambos libros es bueno recordar la importancia de la protección ante el sexo casual.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This baker's dozen of short stories are well written and make for quick reads. Those with a fantasy/fairy tale motif are better than most of their type. Also the writer is a good enough craftsman to include well observed details that draws the reader in and enough fresh perspectives to give the thoughtful reader plenty to ponder.

I'm not a great fan of short stories as I generally like to know more about characters and require more of a connection than can be forged in most short stories. However these are quite good as far as they go.

I was a bit disappointed with the final novella/group of five short stories, in that I was hoping to find my taste for a longer exposure gratified. While I did learn a bit more about the common characters I didn't feel that my understanding of them was that much deeper.

I like this author's work I just wish he'd write more conventional full length novels.