As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Columnists

A Little Magic and Some Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. “Three Left Turns to Nowhere” reviewed.—–Jeff Baker, Boogieman in Lavender

by
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

by
Ghosts

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

Truman Capote’s (Queer?) Tales of Fantasy. Jeff Baker, Boogieman in Lavender

by

Truman Capote’s (Queer?) Tales Of the Fantastic by Jeff baker Hard to believe that a generation has gone by without knowing Truman Capote from their TV or movie screens as well as being parodied by comedians, all making him talked-about as not only one of the best-known American authors of the 20th Century but a master of self-promotion, gleefully eating it up every public chance he got. He was, of course, Gay (“Homosexual” was the term in his day) although he didn’t make a big deal of it, he certainly didn’t hide it. Sometime in his Twenties. Capote met the … Read more

Sources of Inspiration: Food

by

Such a turbulent, torrid passion I’ve had with food over the years.  No, not always. Sometimes it’s been comforting. Sometimes it’s been all about comfort, distracting myself from fear or frustration. Those are the most dangerous moments when I eat, not really thinking about the food. I’m eating to avoid thinking about something else.  I’m picky, too. There’s a lot of food I dislike while I overindulge in others. Cheese, chocolate, wine; many a time and often during 2020, I hid behind my favorite DVDs and BluRays with these.  At other times, I forget to eat. When I’m so wrapped … Read more

Zenna Henderson: Quiet Rebel – Boogieman in Lavender

by

For this fifth installment of this column’s occasional “On Beyond Cisgender” feature (a feature suggested by A. M. Leibowitz) about recommendations of books or stories for High School by authors outside the white, male, cisgender paradigm that has so often been the norm, the focus is on just one author, one who may not be so well-known as she was even twenty-five years ago. The lines between science fiction and fantasy are blurred. The definition of science fiction is even sort of blurred. Sometimes the better term is “Science Fantasy.” Zenna Henderson, very definitely wrote science fantasy. While spaceships and … Read more

Are We There Yet? (December, 2021)—-Jeff Baker, Boogieman in Lavender

by
Alien Sunset - Deposit Photos

Are We There Yet? By Jeff Baker The year is zipping to a close. Are we better off now than we were a year ago? Are things less hectic or at least horrifying than they were in December Twenty-Twenty? Plague? Check. Political unrest? Check. Genial acceptance of medical misinformation? Check. Yeah, there’s a lot of pessimism in this darkest time of the year, but there is room for optimism too. If you want symbolism, look no further than the sky. This is being written in Kansas in the second week of December. The Winter Solstice is a couple of weeks … Read more

Sources of Inspiration: A Purpose

by

I find I write faster, stay focused, and stayed inspired in general if I have a purpose.  What am I trying to accomplish with this particular project? If I have characters, what are their purposes? How are those purposes aligned or at odds? Reminding myself of this helps me keep writing. It inspires my characters to do things. Sometimes they act in ways that surprise me, but they remain true to their purposes.  This doesn’t mean their purposes can’t change. Sometimes the actions my characters take over the course of a plot can lead to a change of purpose. It … Read more