As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

romance

Announcement: His Faithful Sword, by C.K. Gold

by
His Faithful Sword

QSFer C.K. Gold has a new MM fantasy romance out: Gigantic beasts shaped by a mysterious curse are all that remain of a peaceful civilization. The beasts have razed entire nations, leaving only isolated settlements of refugees behind. Iskan, a former soldier, and Terebin, a former monk, have left the shelter of a fortress on a quest to find a solution. There’s just one catch… Terebin is accursed too, and can barely rein in his monstrous side. Iskan wrestles with his conscience as they travel together. He has sworn himself to Terebin’s service, which includes a promise not to kill … Read more

Announcement: Stowaway, by Elliot Cooper

by
Stowaway

QSFer Elliot Cooper has a new book out –  a sci fi erotic romance menage featuring two bi heroes and one heroine who won’t stop until she has what she wants: Thalia dreams of being rescued and claimed by handsome Alphan warriors. But her Xyran captor sets terrible traps for her potential saviors. When she takes matters into her own hands by stowing away on an Alphan ship, Thalia doesn’t expect her welcome on Alpha to be contested by anti-human Purists or come with a deadline. Despite the help of her new friends, if she can’t secure a bond in … Read more

Announcement: Staged, by Kim Fielding

by
Staged

QSFer Kim Fielding has a new MM sci fi romance book out: Once the second-prize winner on My Slave’s Got Talent, Sky Blue has spent the past few years singing at a failing New York nightclub. While Sky has never had control over his fate, his life seems to take a turn for the worse when he’s torn from the familiar comfort of performing and sold to a rich and enigmatic man. Morgan Wallace takes his newly purchased slave to San Francisco, his intentions unclear. On the one hand, he treats Sky with more kindness than Sky has ever known—treats … Read more

For Writers: Alpha Males and Other Character Stereotypes

by
diversity hands

Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer Aidee Ladnier: Why so many alpha males? Where is the diversity of main characters? I’d extend this out past the subject as stated. Yes, we have a glut of alpha male characters – especially on the romance side of speculative fiction (and maybe especially in shifter books?). But we also have a preponderance of cute young white male characters. But I’d also argue that a lot of our fiction, romance, and otherwise, lacks diversity. Diversity of orientation, of gender, of color, and of ability. Are readers ready for more? As a reader, are there … Read more

How to Promote Diversity in Adult Fiction

by
diversity hands

Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer Kellie Doherty: Maybe having a discussion to figure out how we could promote diversity in adult fiction, too. Starting a hashtag to promote it maybe? To gain some more attention to it. It’s a great idea to take specific actions like this to try to increase diversity in adutl fiction. I’d love to see more stories across the LGBTIQA spectrum. More characters iolder than 25. More people of color and people who don’t connect with the usual categorizations. OTOH, diversity is also something you have to work on every day, in both big and … Read more

Announcement: Stray Pup, by Xander Blythe

by
Stray Pup

QSFer Xander Blythe has a new shifter/paranormal book out: One bad lust fueled decision leaves Jamie Finch the victim of a bite-and-run. Now faced with turning into a werewolf–a state there is no shifting back from–he chooses to embrace his new nature and leaves the human world behind. When he finds the Wildwood pack, one wolf’s scent drives Jamie to the brink of rationality. He learns forming an empathic bond with a mate will cool his desires, and he can’t deny the longing to finally find a place in the world where he’s wanted. But the power of the mating … Read more

The Farmer and the Prince

by
Promised Land

When we’re young, we’re introduced to the idea of a ‘classic’ romance: a woman meets a man; they’re from opposite backgrounds (one rich, the other poor, for example) and, despite obstacles, get together. This fairytale may in fact be alienating for LGBTI people who don’t see themselves reflected in that narrative. Chaz Harris and Adam Reynolds of Wellington, New Zealand want to change that. They have co-authored a fairytale called Promised Land in which a farmer and a prince fall in love, both of them young men. By Jack Flanagan – Full Story at Gay Star News

For Writers: Why Do Aliens Find Humans Attractive?

by

Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer Aidee Ladnier: I’ve always wondered why aliens would find humans attractive. This trope has even invaded LGBTQ fic. I’ve always wondered about this. I think when we’re more on the romance side of things, it’s a “suspension of belief” thing. We want to believe in stories of love with a handsome alien, so we do. :) On the sci fi side, though, things get a bit more dicey, as the story requires a rationale for why this would be so. It would make for a fascinating story if a human and an alien were … Read more

Announcement: Day of Enlightenment, by Damian Bloodstone

by
Day of Enlightenment

QSFer Damian Bloodstone has a new sci fi book out: Ciar, conflicted and troubled, lost everything to the mega city and is hunted by a stalker for things written of the past. To survive, he must first retrieve something in a place forbidden to travel. Alone and tortured by his own code, he wishes to find what’s lacking in his life. Can he accept the very thing he is truly running from? Edyn tried to escape her past from the courtesan houses in the mega city. The Holy Light Church guided her once and wishes for her return… but with … Read more

For Readers: When is it Romance, and When is it Speculative Fiction?

by

Here at QSF, we are inclusive of both works that are romancey but have a sci fi, fantasy, paranormal or horror backdrop, and works that are sci fi, fantasy, paranormal or horror, but include an LGBTIQA character or relationship. And of course, there’s a big fuzzy middle, too. So we thought we’d ask our readers – where do you draw the line between speculative fiction and romance? And what mix do you prefer and why? Writers: This is a reader chat – you are welcome to join it, but please do not reference your own works directly. Thanks! Join the … Read more