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Month: December 2016

For Writers: Writing Well Rounded Queer Characters

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diversity hands

FOR WRITERS Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer Denise Dechene: “Not really a question but LGBTQI+ encompasses a wide range of sexual identities. Reading gives us some of them but what about a day or days identifying them and explaining and discussing ways to incorporate them into books.” If you were to write about a gender or sexuality other than your own and you wanted the character to be well-rounded and respectful of X-person’s experience, where and how would you gather information? Share your favorite sources of information and methods for getting into your characters’ heads when they are not … Read more

Guest Post: Five Minutes Longer, by Victoria Sue

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Five Minutes Longer

QSFer Victoria Sue has a new MM superhero romance out, and she’s stopping by with a guest Post: Because this one was all about the science. I wanted superheroes, but I didn’t just want a man in tights (not that a lot of people would object to that) but I needed a reason. According to the fountain of all knowledge – Google – some babies are being born without their little toe. Some scientists say this is ridiculous, but others are more specific. The plantaris muscle in the foot is used by animals for gripping and manipulating objects with their … Read more

FOR READERS: They Hate My Favorite Book

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book review

FOR READERS Today’s reader topic comes from QSFer Ryane Chatman: “If you read reviews, how do you feel about blatant negative reviews of books you love or even liked OK?” Writers: This is a reader chat – you are welcome to join it, but please do not reference your own works directly. Thanks! Join the chat

“Fantastic Beasts” Flirts With Gay Allegory

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Fantastic Beasts

It’s been a strange year to be gay in a Hollywood blockbuster—the strangest part being that you can now actually be gay in a Hollywood blockbuster. Well, sort of gay. Big-budget movies in 2016 have taken to assigning sexuality to previously neutered supporting characters, like Sulu in Star Trek and the raving scientist in Independence Day, both of whom in this year’s sequels pointedly embraced husbands we never knew they had. (No kissing allowed, of course.) They’re barely better than the status quo of coded gay characters, like Kate McKinnon’s eccentric ghostbuster or maybe those two women pushing a stroller … Read more

Release Day Review: “All in Fear” by Open Ink Press

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Title: All in Fear Authors: Steve Berman, K.J. Charles, Avon Gale, Roan Parrish, Kris Ripper, J.A. Rock Genre: Queer Horror Anthology Publisher: Open Ink Press Pages: 245 Anthology Blurb: Horror wears many faces, and its masks can be tantalizing. Some of the top names in queer fiction come together to spin their own versions of horror. Worlds rife with dark beauty and mystery, the familiar becoming terrible, creatures ethereal and alluring—and all bearing the gleam of love. Does hope lie along these grim passages or only doom? It will become clear. All in time—and all in fear. Review (story blurb–then … Read more

Announcement: Stone and Shell, by Lloyd Meeker

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Stone and Shell

QSFer Lloyd Meeker has a new MM holiday romance out: Eight-year-old Howie Evinger is convinced that his dad would be happier if he found a new husband. Howie would be happier, too. And somewhere out there in the city of Vancouver, there’s the right man for his dad to love. But how to find him? That’s a problem, especially if you’re just a kid and your dad says he doesn’t want another husband. With the help of his quirky aunt who calls herself a Buddhist Wiccan, Howie builds his very own solstice altar with cool symbols to support his search. … Read more

New Discoveries Day!

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New Discoveries Day

Hey all, Welcome to New Discoveries Day – a day once a month (usually on the last day of the month) when we discuss recent discoveries that fascinate us and that could spawn plot bunnies (or plot squirrels or plot mongeese – your plot animal of choice). So chime in and let us know about any new discoveries you ran across in the last month – links are always appreciated. Thanks to Freddy MacKay for the great idea! –Scott Come Join the Chat!

Tech: GPS Pizza Reindeer

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GPS Pizza Reindeer

What if Santa brought pizza instead of toys? Domino’s seems to be trying to find out, at least in Japan, as a video released online shows the company training reindeer to deliver fresh, hot pizzas in snowy Hokkaido. The reindeer are equipped with GPS units so customers can track their pizzas ― but the footage indicates the system still needs a little more work. By Ed Mazza – Full Story at The Huffington Post