The Literary Party: Growing Up GAY and AMISH in America a collection of poetry by James Schwartz Synopsis: A provocative and eye-opening account of growing up gay and Amish in America. Poet James Schwartz combines a mixture of poetry and short stories to describe family troubles, lost love, religion, and what it's like to take a horse and buggy to a gay nightclub. The Literary Party is an emotional, touching book with implications that extend to any religion or culture where intolerance is prevalent. James Schwartz captures readers with his honest emotions and raw poetic truths. From heartbreak to comedy, with actual photos throughout the book, this touching collection portrays the struggles of ‘coming out’ in a close-minded environment. I especially enjoyed the humor AND thought it to be touching that Schwartz dedicated the book in memory of Matthew Shepard. An excerpt: “How can you tell if an Amish man is gay? He likes his men at night. Get it? Mennonite?” As featured in Connextions Magazine, Issue 5. Click here to subscribe to Connextions Magazine and get all the latest book reviews.
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TITLE: A Woman of Heart BY: Marcy Alancraig Both a surprising and delightful work of the heart bringing the unseen into light. When the family secrets are revealed to Shoshona by her Grandmother Rheabie, Alancraig goes right to the core of what is longed for...validation. Added intrigue with ghosts and guardians imtertwined with a complex family dynamic "A Woman of Heart" grasps your attention, pulls you in and does not let go. Within a world of chicken farmers that most of us know little to nothing about, the emotions are easily reflected, magnified and related to. Available at Amazon.com As featured in Connextions Magazine, Issue 5. Click here to subscribe to Connextions Magazine and get all the latest book reviews. TITLE: The Voting Booth After Dark: Despicable, Embarrasing, Repulsive BY: Vanessa Libertad Garcia Synopsis: a collection of poetry and short stories about a group of addicted gay & lesbian Latino club kids destroying themselves throughout the course of the 2008 elections. The book focuses on how they affect and are affected by the national politics happening around them. This ‘modern day’ work of art is a simple glance at the inner thoughts of the constantly turning wheels inside the brain. I was impressed by the honest tone and ‘today-society’ language used to portray the characters thoughts and emotions. At first glance, the underlying message I received was that of despair and darkness, but ultimately the collection is about living for today, not giving up on your dreams, and knowing that life’s possibilities are endless in this ever changing world. Available at Amazon.com As featured in Connextions Magazine, Issue 5. Click here to subscribe to Connextions Magazine and get all the latest book reviews. TITLE: Living the Difference BY: JC Knudson Synopsis: J.C. Knudson always knew he was different. But growing up in the a southern small-town during the 1960s and ’70s, he didn’t know what to make of his growing sense that he just wasn’t interested in the same thing as his friends—girls. Was something wrong with him? Could it change? And—most of all—were there others who felt the same as he did? Living the Difference is the first in a remarkable coming-of-age series that chronicles Knudson’s quest to understand himself and make his way in the world as a proud gay man. This raw, intensely personal book details his early efforts to inhibit his desires through marriage; seek out a community of like-minded people; start a career free from discrimination; come out to his family and friends; and find true love, once and for all. But more than just one individual’s unique story, Living the Difference is required reading for anyone trying to understand the twentieth-century American gay experience—in a time before widespread media acceptance and anti-discrimination laws. This heartening yet frankly realistic memoir will also give hope and understanding to those coming to terms with the sexuality of themselves or their loved ones. And its message—of acceptance, tolerance, and understanding—provides good counsel no matter the time or place. Available at Amazon. TITLE: Transformational Diversity Authors: Fiona Citkin, Ph.D., and Lynda Spielman, Ph.D., GPHR As institutions and companies struggle with global growth and cultural issues in the workplace, we have learned that our strategy for diversity and understanding needs to be changed. Transformational Diversity is both a strategy and an implementation road map of a new brand of diversity, on that is inclusive of employee populations and contributing to an organizations global preparedness. The book is not just a tool for Human Resources (HR) professionals, but should be a tool for all managers and senior managers. Management, as a whole, should have an understanding of working with an increasingly diverse workforce population and be able to use the road map, with the guidance of HR, to better manage their teams. Transformational Diversity is a must have for any company that does or wants to have a global workforce. Amazon: $26.56 paperback Released: June 1, 2009 Author: David Morse Multicultural Intelligence is a refreshingly simple start to considering race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation for marketing. The book gives some basic insight into several cultural and sociological demographics that make up American society and effectively helps the reader incorporate the similarities and differences into a marketing communications plan. I give the author credit for this book because he is one of the few authors that incorporate LGBT Americans as one of the cultural groups for marketing consideration. Amazon: $29.95 paperback TITLE: Sissy Sammy in the Land of WEHO 90069 a.k.a The Friendship Train BY: Dale Guy Madison Synopsis: This is a story of a feminine boy (Sissy Sammy)from the hood, who after a bullying incident wakes up in the fairytale land of ‘gay Oz.’ Dale states: “It was originally supposed to be a spoken word poem that played off double consonants, (Sissy Sammy, Bully Basheer, purple police car, etc) but once I started writing the story, it kept growing as a message about not only coming out the closet, but about name-calling, bullying and suicide. I wanted to show LGBT teens to be proud of where we came from, so I threw in some gay history too. I started writing Sissy Sammy in 2007 and even wrote my master’s thesis on how to use arts to help high-risk LGBT kids. I could have never predicted in 2010, the week my book came out, the newspapers would be full of stories about LGBT suicides.” Review: This book is so much more than a just a comic style fairytale. It offers symbolism based on true LGBT history. It clearly states and captures the wide realm of issues faced by the LGBT community. The story ties-in humor through the learning of self-discovery, with help from prominent people who have paved the way for equality. Kudos on a fantastic read! Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed a bill that will require public schools in the state of California to teach students about the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. I sincerely hope this is one of the first books in the school library. Available at Amazon. http://www.sissysammy.com/ TITLE: My Uncle's Wedding BY: Eric Ross Synopsis: There’s so much to do now that Uncle Mike and Steve are getting married. Follow Andy on this enjoyable journey as he talks about his uncle's wedding, how it affects him, and the things he gets to do in preparation for the ceremony. You’ll laugh and smile as you read this adorable story about marriage and family. Review: This well illustrated childrens book demonstrates perfectly the notion that marriage is marriage, gay or straight. The couple celebrates love and the joys of planning a wedding, through the eyes of a small child who embraces his family regardless of sexual preference. Available at Amazon http://www.myuncleswedding.com/ TITLE: Unnatural BY: Michael Griffo Synopsis: In the town of Eden in northwestern England stands the exclusive boarding school known as Archangel Academy. Ancient and imposing, it's a place filled with secrets. Just like its students . . . For Michael Howard, being plucked from his Nebraska hometown and sent thousands of miles away is as close as he's ever come to a miracle. In Weeping Water, he felt trapped, alone. At Archangel Academy, Michael belongs. And in Ciaran, Penry, and especially Ciaran's enigmatic half-brother Ronan, Michael finds friendship deeper than he's ever known.But Michael's only beginning to understand what makes the Academy so special. Ronan is a vampire-part of a hybrid clan who are outcasts even among other vampires. Within the Academy's confines exists a ruthless world of deadly rivalries and shifting alliances, of clandestine love and forbidden temptations. And soon Michael will confront the destiny that brought him here-and a danger more powerful than he can imagine. Review: This young adult vampire thriller has a twist! The main character is human... and GAY! A fiction story with an addictive romantic quality that intrigues you for the next book in this series! Available at Overstock.com TITLE: The Boy Behind the Gate BY: Larry Jacobson Synopsis: With his first mate and crew, amateur sailor Larry Jacobson embarked on a lifelong goal to circumnavigate the globe. The namesake boy behind the gate is a passionate romantic who, since childhood, yearned to discover what’s out there….How do some people overcome fears and insecurities to manifest their dreams? What are the characteristics that allow them to completely transform their lives from one of stability to one of uncertainty and adventure? Don’t we all entertain ideas of reinventing ourselves, of having a chance to do it differently and by our own rules? Willing to risk all, Jacobson spent six years sailing into the unknown where the unrelenting oceans served as a teacher of seamanship, personal strength, and perseverance. Embarking on December 7, 2001, Larry and Ken began an adventure filled with excitement, joy, learning, and fear--all while becoming the first openly gay couple to circumnavigate the globe. In The Boy Behind the Gate, the author reveals those crucial steps that will motivate you to make your dreams come true. We are each given one great opportunity at life. What are you going to do with yours? Review: This inspiring memoir of the first openly gay couple to cash in on corporate life and take a six year sailing adventure around the globe is a gripping tale of dreams come true! The emails, journal entries, and especially the photos create an engayging experience for the reader that makes this book difficult to put down! Available at Amazon. http://larryjacobsonauthor.com/ |
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Connextions Magazine, the award-winning LGBTQ Travel Magazine, is your trusted resource for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer travel destinations, vacation ideas, fun travel videos, LGBTQ travel guides and the latest news relevant to our entire rainbow community. Connextions Magazine focuses on celebrating the LGBTQ Traveler providing information on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer travel, our LGBTQ culture, the diverse style of our rainbow community, adventures, gay romance, tips for Lesbian Moms, Gay Dads, Bisexual, Transgender Parents and families.
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