queer romance

It was such a catharsis that I took the book into the woods and acted out scenes from it.

Today we meet Leon Acord and we’re talking about the book that saved his  life: The Front Runner by Patricia Nell Warren.

Leon Acord is the author of the memoirs Expletives Not Deleted and Sub-Lebrity: The Queer Life of a Showbiz Footnote. Leon created, wrote, and starred in the TV series Old Dogs & New Tricks on Amazon Prime Video. On stage, he has performed in numerous West Coast premieres at the New Conservatory Theatre Center, including Last Sunday in June, Dreamboy, and Thief River.

The Front Runner by Patricia Nell Warren was published in 1974. With 10 million copies in 7 languages, this landmark classic is the most popular gay love story of all time.

Connect with Leon
website: leonacord.com
instagram: @leonacord
threads: @leonacord
facebook: facebook.com/leonacordactor

Content Warning
We have a conversation that references and has a general description of sexual assault. Support organizaitons: National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color network, Forge, and CenterLink. Lifelines: the GLBT National Help Center 1-888—246–7743. Trans Lifeline 1-877—565-8860. The Black Line, created with an LGBTQ+ Black Femme lens 1-800-604-5841. DeQH hotline for South Asian/DESI LGBTQ persons 908-367-3374.

Our Bookshop
Visit our Bookshop for  new releases, current bestsellers, banned books, critically acclaimed LGBTQ books, or peruse the books featured on our podcasts: bookshop.org/shop/thisqueerbook

To purchase The Front Runner visit your local bookstore!

To purchase Leon's memoir Expletives Not Deleted visit: https://bookshop.org/a/82376/9798449228505

To purchase Leon's memoir Sub-Lebrity: The Queer Life of a Showbiz Footnote visit: https://bookshop.org/a/82376/9798622243110

Become an Associate Producer!
Become an Associate Producer of our podcast through a $20/month sponsorship on Patreon! A professionally recognized credit, you can gain access to Associate Producer meetings to help guide our podcast into the future! Get started today: patreon.com/thisqueerbook

Credits
Host/Founder: J.P. Der Boghossian
Executive Producer: Jim Pounds
Associate Producers: Archie Arnold, Natalie Cruz, Jonathan Fried, Paul Kaefer, Nicole Olila, Joe Perazzo, Bill Shay, and Sean Smith
Patreon Subscribers: Stephen D., Stephen Flamm, Ida Göteburg, Thomas Michna, and Gary Nygaard.
Creative and Accounting support provided by: Gordy Erickson
Permission to use audio clips from the audio book Expletives Not Deleted provided by Leon Acord
Music and SFX credits: visit thiqueerbook.com/music

This week on the podcast we have USA bestselling author, Ashley Herring Blake to discuss her latest novel, Iris Kelly Doesn't Date. A book about a group of ride-or-die friends who have become family. “Found family” is available to everyone, but it’s a source of salvation for those within a marginalized community, particularly if you identify as queer.  This the third book in a heartwarming and inclusive series that proves there is a love out there for everyone.

Author Recommendations:
1. Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquaz Gilliland
2. Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner

What’s Good
Alonso - the existence of Hallmark’s Notes of Autumn
Drea - library card sign up month
Kahea - night walks/Rick Rubin’s book
Ify - football stuff, The Challenge, new paints for tiny boys…and oh, Beyonce

ITIDIC
Over 200 Filmmakers and Actors Signed a Letter Asking TIFF to Drop RBC Sponsor
NB: This story was updated after recording with even more actors signing on
- Kahea mentions Yea! Impact
The Writers Guild Says It’s Open to Making Deals with Individual Studios
Scarecrow Video Launches Updated Rent-By-Mail Website

Staff Picks
Alonso and Drea - Scrapper
Kahea - The Faculty (and High School Horror on Criterion Channel)
Ify - Stop Making Sense

Leave a message for the Hotline!

With:
Ify Nwadiwe
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde
Kahea Kiwaha

Producer Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

Follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram

With
Drea Clark
Alonso Duralde
Ify Nwadiwe

Produced by Marissa Flaxbart
Sr. Producer Laura Swisher

We had the pleasure of interviewing Taleen Voskuni about her debut novel Sorry, Bro. This story is deeply set in Taleen's own Armenian American community and features a bisexual MC who just wishes not every conversation revolved around her marrying, let alone marrying a man. 

Taleen's writing journey started at a young age writing commercial stories with princesses and fairytales. As an adult, she wrote two novels that she decided not to query while writing countless short stories and published essays. Sorry, Bro was the first time that she ever felt she could write about being Armenian and that helped set the story and bring the richness to life. 

She was part of the Author Mentor Match program which helped her refine the book and her editing process. Taleen's mentor was Jesse Q. Sutanto the author of Dial A For Aunties. Learn more about Author Mentor Match. 

Make sure you check out Taleen's excellent queer rom-com Sorry, Bro! 

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Check out our latest and greatest beautiful bookish merch for this holiday season! 

Beautiful Journal designed by Shani: https://amzn.to/3FJpgpq 

Chibi coloring book! Great for all ages, but made with inclusive love at the forefront: https://amzn.to/3uQ6ia9

Bookish stickers: https://www.romanceataglance.com/podcast-merch

***

Get 30 days free on Kindle Unlimited just for our listeners! 

Or listen on Audible like Shani and get up to two free ebooks when you try Audible Premium Plus. 

***

Leave us a rating and review on Itunes

A lot of additional listening on Patreon!

Welcome to Romance at a Glance, a podcast that uses romance novels to dive into candid conversations about life, relationship dynamics, and sexual desires. 

As hosts Bridget and Shani review books and interview some of romance's biggest authors, they explore the breadth of the genre, openly embracing the sex, diverse couplings, and taboo to create a safe space for listeners to be exposed to different lifestyles, fantasies, and to pique their naughty curiosity.

Expect 100% honest reviews, spontaneous singing, life lessons, indecent anecdotes, and bawdy humor.

Check out www.romanceataglance.com

Chat with us on Instagram at instagram.com/romanceataglance

Support us on Patreon at patreon.com/romanceataglance

Queerly Beloved is a queer rom-com where we meet a people-pleasing baker who tries to find her place as a bridesmaid-for-hire.  But will she finally find her happily ever after—and her own voice?

Today on the podcast, Victoria speaks with Susie Dumond about her debut novel, Queerly Beloved, her inspiration and hopes for the novel, her reading and writing life, play a fun game and lots more.

Download your copy of The BiblioLifestyle 2022 Summer Reading Guide!  I’ve rounded up some of the season’s best books, and this year’s guide has 30 new releases, organized across 8 categories.  We even have one dedicated to the minimalist reader, plus you'll find some fun recipes, things to do at home, and tips to help improve your reading life.  So download your free copy of the guide here.

Visit bibliolifestyle.com for more information and resources to help you in your reading journey.   

THE BIBLIOLIFESTYLE 2024 SPRING READING GUIDE
Spring into reading this season!  Download your free copy of The 2024 Spring Reading Guide when you visit springreadingguide.com.  This year's guide has twenty-one books organized across six categories, plus fun recipes, spring activities, lifestyle tips, and more.   So download your free copy and discover your next favorite book!

Marissa chats with TJ Alexander about their debut romance - CHEF'S KISS - as well as some suggestions for writing luscious food descriptions, including actually testing out some of the recipes you're trying to describe; the oft-told (but debatable?) advice that if you can do anything other than write, then you should do that; considering your story's built-in tension and need for emotional distance when deciding between a single or dual point of view format; two of our favorite romance tropes - the slow burn and the grumpy x cheerful pairing - and how the two can work together to make for an organic romance; and some excellent advice for writers about to start looking for a literary agent: don't write a query letter, write the jacket copy for your future book. (Your future editor will thank you!)

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

The Single Bells were ringing this week with our extra special return guest Brennen Malone.  While Taiwo is away, Adaeze and Brennen will play? Sing? Cry? We watched Netflixs' Single All The Way, and in this episode we discuss some very important things like
1. What gay Christmas means to us.
2. Which man will Adaeze **not** be looking at this week?
3. WHY DON'T WE HAVE A JENNIFER COOLIDGE ONE WOMAN NATIVITY?
Join us as we look **respectfully** and live vicariously through this Christmas special.

We’re well into our historical season and LOVING it. In this episode, we finally get into our first queer historical, with a vicar falling in love with a widowed sea captain as he helps care for his children - okay, yeah, this is gay Sound of Music. What could be better? Join us in this surprisingly accepting small English town (where more people are queer than you might think), more than one sexy sea captain, vicar drama, and effective communication! We loved our main characters’ backstories and personalities and will definitely be dipping into Cat Sebastian again.

***

Get your copy here: It Takes Two to Tumble by Cat Sebastian 

Get 30 days free on Kindle Unlimited just for our listeners! 

Or listen on Audible like Shani and get up to two free ebooks when you try Audible Premium Plus. 

***

Leave us a rating and review on Itunes

***

A lot of additional listening on Patreon!

Welcome to Romance at a Glance, a podcast that uses romance novels to dive into candid conversations about life, relationship dynamics, and sexual desires. 

As hosts Bridget and Shani review books and interview some of romance's biggest authors, they explore the breadth of the genre, openly embracing the sex, diverse couplings, and taboo to create a safe space for listeners to be exposed to different lifestyles, fantasies, and to pique their naughty curiosity.

Expect 100% honest reviews, spontaneous singing, life lessons, indecent anecdotes, and bawdy humor.

Check out www.romanceataglance.com

Chat with us on Instagram at instagram.com/romanceataglance

Support us on Patreon at patreon.com/romanceataglance

Time to wrap up strutting your stuff with Flaunt, the first book in E. Davies' F-Word Series!

Kyle and Nic passed 'no strings attached' about a mile ago and show no signs of stopping as the ambiguous threat of arson hangs over them. Before they can start planning the wedding, the hate crime subplot comes to a head.

Will the truth push them closer together or further apart? Will Nic throw a punch? Will Renee ever get real answers about why a fire was started at all!?

Citrus: Lemon
Sweetness: Sugar Cookie
Gore: NONE

Trigger Warnings: Trump presidency, open homophobia, transphobia, discussions of surgery and genitalia, HIV, unsupportive family, kicked out, homelessness, financial abuse, fire, fire-related trauma, hate crime, physical assault, and life or death situation, 

Mentions of food, alcohol, Pulse nightclub shooting, clowns, clown violence, nazis, fascism, post-surgery care, and IVF

Get ready to strut your stuff with Flaunt, the first book in E. Davies' F-Word Series!

It turns out that Kyle was not, in fact, ready to commit, but things change fast when a fire breaks out at the PLUS office and he needs a place to stay! Nic is more than happy to help, no strings attached.

But can Kyle really avoid getting attached this time?

Citrus: Lemon
Sweetness: Sugar Cookie
Gore: NONE

Trigger Warnings: PDA, random siren noises in background, open homophobia, transphobia, discussions of surgery and genitalia, HIV, unsupportive family, kicked out, homelessness, financial abuse, fire, fire-related trauma, hate crime, physical assault, life or death situation

Mentions of food, alcohol, financial D/s, mouth noises, and unusually crude humor

Get ready to strut your stuff with Flaunt, the first book in E. Davies' F-Word Series!

Nic is a trans man whose just moved to LA from Idaho and is having a difficult time fitting in and finding his people. Kyle is a flashy eccentric gay man with a heart of gold and a found family all his own, complete with job and kid. 

When they meet, sparks fly, but are they ready to commit?

Citrus: Lemon
Sweetness: Sugar Cookie
Gore: NONE

Trigger Warnings: open homophobia, transphobia, discussions of surgery and genitalia, HIV, adoption discrimination, mentions of infidelity

Welcome to the Situation Room! The situation is: we finished Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston!

Alex Claremont-Diaz, FSOTUS, unghosts himself through spectacular application of a private jet and yelling outside of Kensington Palace. He and HRH Prince Henry of Wales plan their lives together when the unthinkable happens!

Well - a lot of unthinkable things happen, in fact...

Citrus: Lemon Lime
Sweetness: Honey Lemon
Gore: NONE ABSOLUTELY NONE

Trigger Warnings: politics, intense family arguments, narcissistic family dynamics, betrayal, homophobia m, homelessness, sexual harassment m, blackmail, past drug abuse, cocaine m, past parent death, cancer m

Marissa chats with Ryan La Sala about his newest contemporary romance - BE DAZZLED - as well as structuring a novel in alternating Then and Now chapters, and how the Then chapters can be used to build tension in the Now; developing a romance that focuses on conflict and working through problems in order to reach that happy ending; writing what you love, regardless of what other people might think; and lots and lots of talk about the emboldening and transformative effect of cosplay.

Books discussed in this episode can be purchased from your local independent bookstore or buy them online from the Happy Writer bookshop.org store (that benefits indie bookstores) at https://bookshop.org/shop/marissameyer

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

The second episode in our minute by minute coverage of Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. 

Alex Claremont-Diaz, FSOTUS, has, regrettably, fallen head over heels for HRH Prince Henry of whatever don't make me learn your official title. Unfortunately, HRH Prince Henry has ghosted Alex. 

Fate brings them back together just to push them apart again - and in an election year!

Citrus: Lemon Lime
Sweetness: Honey Lemon
Gore: NONE ABSOLUTELY NONE

Trigger Warnings: politics, betrayal, homophobia m, past drug abuse, cocaine m, past parent death, cancer m

The inaugural episode in our coverage of Red, White, & Royal Blue y Casey McQuiston. 

Alex Claremont-Diaz, FSOTUS, has beef with HRH Prince Henry of Wales. When that beef ends up in the tabloids, the two are forced to fake a friendship in the interest of international relations. Piece of cake, right?

Citrus: Lemon Lime
Sweetness: Lemondrop
Gore: NONE

Trigger Warnings: politics, past parent death, cancer m, shouting matches at family holidays

Here's the finale of our holiday double feature of "Romancing the Werewolf" by Gail Carriger. Biffy and Lyall are drowning in babies, pine boughs, and plum-colored curtains, but still manage to thwart a mysterious cult. 

But it might take a Christmas miracle for them to actually discuss their feelings...

Citrus: Lime
Sweetness: Wassail/mulled cider
Gore: crunch

Trigger Warnings: mentions of past sexual assault, cults, werewolf typical violence

Werewolves and babies and wassail... oh my!

Join us today and tomorrow for a holiday double feature of "Romancing the Werewolf" by Gail Carriger. What's a brand new werewolf alpha and his recently returned beta meant to do when someone starts dropping off babies on their doorstep? And it's Christmas!?

Citrus: Lime
Sweetness: Wassail/mulled cider
Gore: crunch

Trigger Warnings: mentions of past sexual assault, cults, werewolf typical violence

Whelp... we finally did it. We picked a lemon.

Join us as we very maturely dive into "Tied Up With a Bow" by Maggie Blackbird, a delectable short story about love, revenge, and gift wrap bondage. Because what goes better with the holiday season than a little good old fashioned comeuppance.

Citrus: Lemon
Sweetness: Lemonade
Gore: None (finally)

Trigger Warnings: under-negotiated kink, revenge sex, past bullying

Excellent writing duo talks steamy mm romance, writing what you love, finding your niche, and crushing in on Amazon Unlimited. 

This interview with Lucy Lennox and May Archer was awesome! We happened to catch them on a writing retreat (all attendees got Covid tests & quarantined before) so we got the in-person fun and energy! They were completely forthright about how much money they are making as indie authors on Amazon Unlimited, as well as how their partnership came to be!

And of course, we talked Licking Thicket!

Book we talked about! 

NautiCal by Lucy Lennox

Off Plan by May Archer

Licking Thicket!

Fakers

Liars

Fools - Pre-order

***

Leave us a rating and review on Itunes

***

A lot of additional listening on Patreon!

Free 30 day Audible Trial to read like Shani

A diverse, inclusive podcast that explores romance novels and helps our listeners pique their naughty curiosity with 100% honest reviews, spontaneous singing, life lessons, indecent anecdotes, and bawdy humor.

Check out www.romanceataglance.com

Chat with us on Instagram at instagram.com/romanceataglance

Support us on Patreon at patreon.com/romanceataglance

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