I’ve joined the Rainbow Snippets group on Facebook. From their description: “Rainbow Snippets is a group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week to share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation (no spoilers please!).” Pretty cool, eh? Don’t forget to “Like” my Facebook page and/or my Facebook profile while you’re over there checking out this fantastic group!
Yesterday was its one-year bookversary, so this week I’m snipping from Closets Are for Clothes.
For context, in this snippet Mike has flown home to come out to his family. His mother has just asked about his new roommate, Wes, and it looks like the “natural opening” Mike has been hoping for is happening…
From Mike’s 1st-person POV:
Dad’s face was an unreadable mask. Mom’s broke out in a huge smile, followed quickly by a thoughtful expression.
“Marie’s brother…” She paused, clearly thinking aloud. “One’s married and lives nearby, right?” she asked Greg.
“Right, that’s Brian,” Greg replied.
“And the other one—Wes—just graduated from medical school. And he’s…” She looked contemplatively at me. Her head tilted to the side and she stared for a solid five seconds. “…gay.”
The blood drained from my face. “Right.” It was only one word, but I managed to crack my voice on it.
About the Story
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Mike’s life is carefully compartmentalized. He’s deep in the closet to his family in Kansas, but lives life honestly and openly in Austin. He’s unnerved when Wes, his old university crush, turns up at his door in answer to a roommate advertisement, but quickly sees the potential…benefits of the arrangement. Wes has never doubted nor denied his sexuality. With the support of his family he’s an out and proud LGBT activist.
On the scale balancing his self-esteem on one side, and the love of his family on the other, Mike has to decide which weighs more. Is Mike being fair to his parents by not giving them the chance to know his real self? When the delicate balance of his life is disrupted, he decides he’s tired of living a lie. Will Wes understand his concerns, or will their fledgling relationship crumble under the strain of Mike’s uncertainty?
NOTE: Closets Are for Clothes is a from-the-ground-up comprehensively rewritten and reedited version of A Dream Come True (published by Addison at Torquere Press in February, 2009). While the theme of the original story is the same, and many important scenes will be recognizable, the way the characters deal with important events is handled differently than in the original story and much of the story’s backdrop and side characters have changed. Beyond converting the story from an alternating 3rd-person POV to being told entirely from Mike’s 1st-person POV, this is a significantly changed retelling of the story.
#RainbowSnippets
‘And the other one—Wes—just graduated from medical school. And he’s…” She looked contemplatively at me. Her head tilted to the side and she stared for a solid five seconds. “…gay.”
The blood drained from my face. “Right.” It was only one word, but I managed to crack my voice on it.’
😁
Perfect 💞
I started it last night and am already 75% in. It’s wonderful. I loved this scene…I was fretting almost as much as Mike. The whole party plays out brilliantly. I wanted to empty a punch bowl over Alan’s head…and was bestest pleased that everyone else seemed to feel much the same. 😁
Thank you so much! 💕
I picked up your hangover books a few days ago. They look like fun stories! I’m starting the first one tomorrow as a treadmill read. 😁
You’re welcome 💞 Aw…thank you. How lovely of you, I do so hope you enjoy it while pounding away.😁
I’m sure I will. They look fabulous! <3
Thank you!🌹❤🌹
Oh dear, sounds like the parents might have an issue with Wes. I need to read this – not sure how it managed to escape my notice last year 🙂
Thank you! 🌺 I hope you enjoy it!
I’m trembling right along with him…marvelous job of building the tension!
Thank you! 💖
Oh… this could go so many ways… I so need to catch up my tbr list.
😄 Thank you!
Sometimes that lead-in isn’t quite what you hoped!
Sometimes it seems plans are meant to go astray. 🙂
hopefully their reaction wont’ be as bad as he fears.
Gee, I hope not either. 😉
I need to know what happens next!
Ah ❤️ Sadly I’m giving a random snippet from another story next, not continuing this thread. 😉