Where are you in the world?

[♫✯Em loves Hollenstein✯♫❤the summertime and butterflies all belong to your creation❤]

yeah. I really want to live in spain- im thinking of teaching English there, as I am good at spanish

[Luke]

After I left Wellington, it snowed (I saw the pictures from my sister still down there), and later on, an earthquake.

[Kaje]

Spain seems like it would be cool - another country I've never been to (although I've seen France and Switzerland).

And we get more than enough snow here in Minnesota - I can send you a bit if you need some ;) But one earthquake is too many. Eeek.

[Luke]

Someday, I would love to visit a place that snows.

[Luke]

I would accept the snow, but by the time it reaches me, it won't be snow.

[Luke]

And, yes, I would love to go to Spain; America, as well.

[Kaje]

Yeah, unless your mail is a lot faster than ours, that won't work.

[Jessica]

Sounds like Minnesota and Wisconsin have a lot in common! :)

[Kaje]

Including a border ;) We send our weather your way.

[Vee]

OMG, Kaje, you live in MN?? I do too!

[Kaje]

Vee wrote: "OMG, Kaje, you live in MN?? I do too!"

Yes, a northern suburb of the Twin Cities. Which is why 90% of my adult books are set in MN, LOL - I'm lazy :)

[Jay]

Kaje wrote: "Vee wrote: "OMG, Kaje, you live in MN?? I do too!"

Yes, a northern suburb of the Twin Cities. Which is why 90% of my adult books are set in MN, LOL - I'm lazy :)"

Knowing the geography for the setting frees you to focus on the human element of the story. World Building can consume a lot of creative energy, even if it amounts to researching some part of our own planet.

At a recent swim coaches clinic, a nationally recognized swim coach bombed his presentation because all or most high school swimming pools where he lives are indoor pools inside large buildings. Here in California, most competition swimming pools are outdoors, surrounded only by a chain-link fence. (Heated water and pool covers are vital details to know.) If I were to write an LGBT YA story about teens swimming in Texas, for example, I would need to include that most competition pools are indoors and that swim season straddles the middle of the school year, when Texas is the coldest. I would bet similar circumstances occur in Wisconsin, but I couldn't be sure without research or "World Building" for the real world.

[Kaje]

Aw, Jay, you always are kind. And yes, when realism is a goal it helps to minimize some of the research areas so I can maximize time on others. :)

I do have a NY city story coming. And Chicago :)

[Jay]

Kaje wrote: "Aw, Jay, you always are kind. And yes, when realism is a goal it helps to minimize some of the research areas so I can maximize time on others. :)

I do have a NY city story coming. And Chicago :)"

Sounds like good reasons to visit both cities, and write off the visits as "research" for your upcoming stories.

[Kaje]

Well, I went to school in Chicago for 3 years, and visited it often since. But I've never been to New York... My non-family travel dollars are reserved though, for GRL in San Diego and maybe the Euro Pride in Munich. So it will be down to research. I have a volunteer New Yorker or two to beta read.

[Jay]

Kaje wrote: "Well, I went to school in Chicago for 3 years, and visited it often since. But I've never been to New York... My non-family travel dollars are reserved though, for GRL in San Diego and maybe the Eu..."

That's a cool idea to have someone local to your locale beta read. Although, saying so, is akin to admitting to being oblivious to the obvious.

[Adam]

I have lived in a lot of u.s. cities, from L.A. to N.Y. currently I reside in Seattle with my husband. Seattle is great and full of literary things to do. My husband is actually a published Y.A. author. Living in Manhattan was definitely a blast but Seattle has a very nice mix of southern California "go with the flow" attitude and east coast artistic community living. I would love to live in Copenhagen but I've only managed a visit thus far. As for L.G.B.t. living, it's generally very accepting and open minded.

[Kaje]

Adam wrote: "I have lived in a lot of u.s. cities, from L.A. to N.Y. currently I reside in Seattle with my husband. Seattle is great and full of literary things to do. My husband is actually a published Y.A...."

Hi Adam, I love that area. It's worth noting that The Evergreen State College, an hour south, is a public state (quirky) college that has about 25% of its undergrads identifying as LGBTQ.

[Adam]

Kaje, yes Evergreen is a school like no other I'd say. I've known a few people who came from there.

[Nischal]

I come from Pokhara, Nepal.

[Kaje]

Nischal wrote: "I come from Pokhara, Nepal."

Very cool, what's it like there? I admit to not knowing half of what I should about that part of the world.

[Carlos]

Hi there!

Where do you live?
So I live in the Mediterranean coast of Spain, in a town of the Valencian Country.

What do you like or not like about your home town/state/nation?
Well, my town isn't much big, but it isn't that far from some big cities such Alicante or Valencia, so I guess it's great to live in a calm place, but with the benefits of the city at a handy distance. And the weather here is great :D

If someone comes there, when and where should they go?
Well, I guess it should be in late spring or summer. You know, beaches, the Mediterranean sea, but not only that, the mountain areas are strongly recommended as well!

Any LGBTQ comments?
Well, it's a tourist area, so I like to think it's LGTB-friendly.
And well, it's almost been 10 years since the same-sex marriage and adoption law was passed! Something to be proud of as a country!

[Kaje]

Carlos wrote: "And well, it's almost been 10 years since the same-sex marriage and adoption law was passed! Something to be proud of as a country!
..."

Go Spain!! I didn't know that. Very cool :)

[Kaje]

Washington is lovely (and liberal) along the coast, although the eastern interior has it's moments of not so much. I actually love the spring there. Here in MN we're lucky to have 2 weeks of spring between freeze-your-butt and mosquito-season, but in Seattle it was two months of different blossom. I'd happily take a little rain in exchange.

[Bella]

new york!!!!!!

[J.S.]

My mother lived in New York from the late 1920's until the early 1950's, Bella. Great city. Visited there only once...must go again in the future!

[Kaje]

One of the major US cities that I have never visited, although I grew up in Montreal, not all that far away.

[Kaje]

Richele ♥'s Trip & Boone wrote: "It's all right, Kaje, I was in Boston for almost two years and never made it to New York. :D

Now I just view it as an excuse to travel back to the east coast someday."

Thanks - maybe there'll be a conference out that way sometime to give me an excuse. I do want to see it someday...

[Raymond]

I love New York I have been there over 30 times, I live 7n Cambridgeshire England.
I have travelled to lots of places in USA and Canada.

[Kaje]

Raymond wrote: "I love New York I have been there over 30 times, I live 7n Cambridgeshire England.
I have travelled to lots of places in USA and Canada."

Wow, you travel across the pond a lot, eh?

[Raymond]

I have been to Chicago , Detroit, Clevland, Duluth, Buffalo, Portland Maine , Boston, NewYork.Baltimore, Newark, Philadelphia, Virginia,Tampa, Miami, San Francisco, New Orleans, Los Angeles, and a few places I forgot, my favourite was a Cruise up the Hudson River, Past West Point, in the Autumn. (Fall to You)

[Kaje]

Raymond wrote: "I have been to Chicago , Detroit, Clevland, Duluth, Buffalo, Portland Maine , Boston, NewYork.Baltimore, Newark, Philadelphia, Virginia,Tampa, Miami, San Francisco, New Orleans, Los Angeles, and a ..."

Wow!

[Julia]

I was born in Chicago, then moved to London when I was 9.

Since then, I've lived in Maine, the Chicago west-suburbs again, and now have made a more permanent home in sunny Scotland!

[Kaje]

Julia wrote: "I was born in Chicago, then moved to London when I was 9.

Since then, I've lived in Maine, the Chicago west-suburbs again, and now have made a more permanent home in sunny Scotland!"

Cool. I went to school in Chicago for a few years. Scotland sounds more fun, though.

[Darren]

Where In The World Is Carmen San Diego?

Born in Southern California. Moved to Northern California on my 27th birthday. Around my 34th birthday I chased my ex to Xenia, Ohio (a small town near Dayton, Ohio), and moved in across the hall from my ex and their current boyfriend thinking I could win my ex back. By October of 2001 they had engineered my eviction and I ended up in Pittsburgh, PA.

Since then, I've bounced all over the county, including two bouts of homelessness. Currently living in Downtown Pittsburgh, PA, proper and "I get by with a little help from my friends." (Sorry Beatles, but in this case "my friends" are assorted government programs and safety netx.)

[Kaje]

Darren wrote: "Where In The World Is Carmen San Diego?

Born in Southern California. Moved to Northern California on my 27th birthday. Around my 34th birthday I chased my ex to Xenia, Ohio (a small town near Dayt..."

I'm so glad you found some safety nets that worked - we desperately need to do more to combat homelessness, for everyone although especially for teens on the streets.

And I hope you find someone better for you than your ex, someday.

[Kaje]

I really love how international we are :)

[Dawn]

I'm from the North East of England. I live on the coast. It's a small town, but we have the best of both worlds here. Drive twenty minutes one way and you're in the heart of the city; twenty minutes the other direction and you're in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by hills and wild places.
I set my stories where I've been. I have been known to spend a lot of time on Google Street View though. It's a great resource for world building, plus a great tool for procrastination.

[Kaje]

Dawn wrote: "I'm from the North East of England. I live on the coast. It's a small town, but we have the best of both worlds here. Drive twenty minutes one way and you're in the heart of the city; twenty minu..."

:) I use street view too. It sounds like a lovely place.

[Shami]

Hi, I live in Bangalore which is in India. I love the old part of Bangalore where there are many historical buildings. I also like my college, but some parts of Bangalore are poor and not clean.

If you visit Bangalore, you should see all the historical buildings. Also the Hare Krishna temple. There is also a giant statue of Shiva at another temple. We also have very modern buildings.

For gay people, there is not very much. There is a place that sometimes has gay parties but I have never been there and I heard it is mainly old people.

If you want to meet people, I suggest using iPhone app like Planet Romeo. All young people here have smart phone.

[Kaje]

Shami wrote: "Hi, I live in Bangalore which is in India. I love the old part of Bangalore where there are many historical buildings. I also like my college, but some parts of Bangalore are poor and not clean.

I..."

Sounds really interesting - even here, with lots of venues in most cities for LGBT people, a lot of the guys meet up via online sites like Grindr.

[Justin]

Hello all. I'm from Carmel in rural New York about two hours from NYC. Despite how close it is to The City, it's a terribly conservative place. When I was young, it was mostly farms and open forest. Now the boundaries of the suburbs are pushing into my home town. I use to love hiking and getting lost in the endless miles of woods. There really isn't much to do there unless you love the great outdoors, but for all its faults I still miss it.

[Kaje]

Justin wrote: "Hello all. I'm from Carmel in rural New York about two hours from NYC. Despite how close it is to The City, it's a terribly conservative place. When I was young, it was mostly farms and open forest..."

It's funny how diverse places can be within just an hour or two of each other.

[Justin]

I know. I moved much closer to the City just to find more like minded people. I'm now only 45 minutes from where I grew up, but the area is so different.

[Kaje]

It's good you found a more friendly location - I hope the acceptance will spread out over time.

[Raven137]

California. :)

[Kaje]

Hi :D. I hope you get rain soon. I'll actually be in San Diego at an M/M Romance convention in a couple of weeks :)

[Meryem]

Hello everybody!

I live in Tunisia, it‘s a small country in north Africa. It’s really beautiful here, not that I’ve visited much of it (I’m not much of an outdoor person).
Tunisia is known for its rich history, the influences and monuments from the Carthagians, Phenicians, Byzantines, Romans, Ottamans, French and the Arabs are still visible to this date.

There are a lot of things that I don’t like (too many to count) but what first comes to mind is the lack of mental health awareness and other conditions like Dyslexia and ADHD. (They don’t care much about students who have trouble learning, they just assume they’re stupid and move on.)

As for LGBT rights in Tunisia, there are none. In fact individuals can face up to 3 years in prison for homosexuality. And lately there’s been controversy about this exam they’re making people take against their will to determine if they’re in fact homosexuals. I think it’s pretty clear we have a long way to go. It’s not just about the law but about society, people still think homosexuality is a sickness or just the devil making you stray from the right path. The problem is that they’re ignorant about the subject and refuse to get educated. I hope things will change in the future, more people are speaking up now and there are associations that aim to decriminalize homosexuality.

[Kaje]

Maryem wrote: "Hello everybody!

I live in Tunisia, it‘s a small country in north Africa. It’s really beautiful here, not that I’ve visited much of it (I’m not much of an outdoor person).
Tunisia is known for its..."

Hi Maryem, thanks for helping us learn a bit about your country. So sad that society there holds such a narrow view of what is "normal" whether in the mental health arena or the LGBTQ one. I hope things improve, while keeping the other beauties of the country. Welcome to the group.

[Raven137]

Kaje wrote: "Hi :D. I hope you get rain soon. I'll actually be in San Diego at an M/M Romance convention in a couple of weeks :)"

I'm DYING for rain...too bad it's always been my favorite weather... I end up singing this instead:

*sings in soft voice*:
rain rain,
dont go away,
*yells*:
DON'T LISTEN TO OTHER SONGS AND
*goes back to soft voice*:
come again some other day

... :) I hope we get rain too!