Columnists
In Which Christopher Isherwood Signs In Twice. Jeff Baker, Boogieman in Lavender
In Which Christopher Isherwood Signs In Twice! By Jeff Baker I treated myself to a rather pricey early birthday present last month: a signed copy of Christopher Isherwood’s novel Prater Violet. The autograph from Isherwood (1904-1988) was what I paid an extra penny or two for. But I wound up getting more than I paid for. Not one, but two autographs, as well as something of a mystery. First, a little background. Christopher Isherwood was the well-traveled, openly Gay author of (among other works) “Mr. Norris Changes Trains” which inspired “Cabaret” and “A Solitary Man” which inspired the recent movie … Read more
Gay in the 1980s: Showtime’s Pioneering “Brothers” – Boogieman in Lavender
The Nineteen-Eighties. It was literally a different era. Cable television was just catching on. Home computers were almost prohibitively expensive. “Google” was a misspelling of a Ukrainian writer. There were hardly any openly gay regular characters on T. V. Steven Carrington on “Dynasty,” and Jodie Dallas on “Soap” in the early 80s and that was about it. The intervening decades brought us “Will and Grace,” “Tales of the City” and the real and fictional versions of “Ellen.” And somehow the Waters Brothers and their friends have gotten lost in the shuffle and in the dim and musty years. In the … Read more
Sources of Inspiration: What Is Magic?
I’ve always been fascinated by magic. A tent appearing out of nowhere with a table and plates covered with food at the wave of a wand. Only to disappear again with a wave of that same wand. People transforming (or being transformed) into pigs or ornaments. Being able to transform yourself into a beam of light which streaks across the landscape from one location to another. Or hurling beams of light at people to harm or heal them. I’ve fallen in love with all of these flashy moments, trying them out (or some variation) in my own stories. Other writers … Read more
The Ghosts of E. F. Benson—Jeff baker, Boogieman in Lavender
The Ghosts of E. F. Benson by Jeff Baker In that era of over a century ago there was a surfeit of novelists, intellectuals, humorists, archaeologists. As well as writers of otherwise “serious” literary literary fiction who dabbled in ghost stories. As well as families who produced more than one notable writer. British writer E. F. Benson (Edward Frederic Benson) fit all of those descriptions. Born in 1867 to an English cleric who later became Archbishop of Canterbury, Benson is best known today for his Mapp and Lucia novels, which have been adapted for radio, movies and Masterpiece Theater. His … Read more
Sources of Inspiration: Blogging
Every year I take part in the Blogging From AZ April project. It’s always about the same characters, only I use a slightly different theme. This year it’s Character Origins. When did these characters come to me? What inspired them? One year it was Character Conflicts. What is the main conflict for the character in the plot? Another year it was Character Snippets. As with Rainbow Snippets, I posted six sentences of story involving these particular characters. Every time I participate in this project, I’m reminded of these characters. I’m reminded of the stories I’ve written. Every time I learn … Read more
A Little Magic and Some Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. “Three Left Turns to Nowhere” reviewed.—–Jeff Baker, Boogieman in Lavender
A Little Magic and Some Grilled Cheese Sandwiches By Jeff Baker Sometimes the road less traveled gets blocked by a falling tree. “Three Left Turns to Nowhere” Bold Strokes Books new anthology of three interconnected M/M romance novellas features stories by Jeffrey Ricker, J. Marshall Freeman and ‘Nathan Burgoine. All three stories are set in a little Ontario town called Hopewell, a town the locals say may have a bit of magic to it, at least where it comes to bringing people together. The three protagonists (all on the LGBT spectrum) are all on their way elsewhere (separately) when circumstances … Read more
The Gay Ghost: Jeff Baker, Boogieman in Lavender
The Gay Ghost by Jeff Baker CBS’ supernatural comedy series “Ghosts” presents a twist on the haunted house story. A twist with a few gay turns. “Ghosts” presents us with Samantha and Jay, a couple who inherit a big Hudson Valley mansion, “Woodstone Manor” from a distant relative. Intending to convert the house into a bed-and-breakfast, Samantha (Rose McIver) has a near-death experience resulting in the ability to see and hear ghosts. After initial misgivings she and her husband Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar) accept her new ability and the presence of spirits in the house. And Woodstone Manor has a squabbling … Read more