Sticking to My Principles

[J.T.]

In my book Twilight Tales there is a poem entitled The Lads From Blaithmoor, which tells the tale of two boys with extraordinary abilities who come down from the north to do battle with a powerful Nordic warrior known as the Dark-Water Prince.

I've probably received more questions from readers over this one poem than all the other poems I've written combined. I admit that the poem by itself is a bit esoteric, and my answer to those with questions has always been, 'Patience. I'm working on a novel that this poem factors into, and when I'm done writing it, all of your questions will be answered.'

Well, that novel, entitled The Boys From Manchester, is now complete and soon to be released. It had its problems getting to print — while many editors felt the story was exceptional, they thought I should 'turn the gay characters straight' to make the book 'more salable' to the general public. But I'm proud to say that I stuck by my principles and did not cave. The titular characters remain as originally conceived and written — heroic gay characters that both gay and straight teens can look to as role models.

[Note: Though the poem The Lads from Blaithmoor is set in a time long ago, the main plot of The Boys From Manchester takes place in the present (2006), where the poem represents an eerie foreshadowing of an epic battle yet to come...when the lads from the north will once again face off with the Dark-Water Prince.]

The Boys From Manchester is scheduled for release this summer. I will keep you posted on any updates. In the meantime, if you haven't already, check out Twilight Tales, which, in addition to The Lads from Blaithmoor, also contains some really cool spooky poems — and awesome artwork by Andrew Johnson, who did the illustrations for my first book, Alice in Verse: The Lost Rhymes of Wonderland.

[Macky]

Congrats JT for sticking to your guns and not letting the editors get their way.It really angers me that any LGBTQ literature is not classed as mainstream and therefore ' not saleable'. Just another way of alienating a lifestyle that is perfectly normal and right for many guys and girls. I hope with all my heart that one day sooner than later it won't even be an issue to be discussed and LGBTQ lit is sitting where it belongs, side by side with the so called mainstream 'saleable' het stuff. Well done you! :)

[J.T.]

Thanks, Macky. You actually hit the points better than I did — I look forward to that day as well.

[Macky]

J.T. wrote: "Thanks, Macky. You actually hit the points better than I did — I look forward to that day as well."

One day, JT.... One day! :))

[C.]

My hat's off to you, J.T.! We need more authors like you!

[J.T.]

Thanks, C.