How Can You Fight Homophobia and Transphobia?

How can you fight homophobia and transphobia? 

That’s what this blog hop is all about! The lovely group of writers: Erica Pike, K-lee Klein, NJ Nielsen, Cherie Noel, Embry Carlysle, Zathyn Priest and Sasha L Miller want us to come together as a group to promote equality.

Pretties:

In honor of May 17th (International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia) I wanted to share with you an experience I had at my PFLAG group. A mother came to our meeting last month completely overwhelmed. “Yesterday my daughter told me she’s transgender. What does that mean?”

I spoke with her a little after the meeting to let her know I thought she was great for reaching out to find answers. When we parted company, she was still mourning the loss of her daughter but she knew people had her back. She left the meeting with more questions than answers but said she’d try to return.

At our next meeting, she joined us with her teenaged child. She no longer lamented the loss of her daughter but was beginning to celebrate her son.

Her son was stunned when Eden Winters told him about the romances we have in our PFLAG library. (I want to take the opportunity to give a huge HUG and thank you to all the writers and publishers who were generous enough to donate books). The kid was shocked. “There are books about people like ME?”

More than once I’ve sung your praises my Pretty ones. I brag to everyone about the amazing community of readers, writers, reviewers and publishers of LGBTQIA romances.  People who believe love is love and advocate for everyone to have a happily ever after. I wax poetic about all the incredible individuals who promote equality through writing, reading and publishing LGBTQIA romances. People who teach children to love and accept instead of hate. Your words and actions influence and change the world around you. You fight, vote and march for equality.

So how can you fight homophobia and transphobia?

*Continue doing what you’re doing (& do more of the same)

*Vote for candidates who support LGBTQIA issues

*Vote with your dollars for LGBTQIA friendly businesses

*Speak up if someone says something offensive to the LGBTQIA community

*Stay aware of the news it affects all of us

*Educate through your own actions, words and social media

*Wear a supportive LGBTQIA items (rainbow bracelet, T-shirt, etc.)

*Join a PFLAG or Rainbow Support group

* Be there for someone who is confused & reassure him or her

Your turn Pretties! How can we fight homophobia and transphobia? What are your suggestions? Leave a comment and I will put your name in to win an e-book copy of Made in China: The Great Wall or Club Zombie 2: Zombies Suck.  Together we are changing the world one page at a time.

Hugs, Z. Allora

Here's a link to the Hop Against Homophobia and Transphobia check it out  after you leave your suggestions:    https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fhopagainsthomophobia.blogspot.com%2F&h=zAQEXIYSf

 

Flash Slash Fiction Captain America/Winter Soldier

Pretties:
When I'm bored I have a habit of slashing (putting two males in a movie/tv show together and everything that's they say shuffles through the love filter). I was recently at the movies and I simply couldn't help myself. Here's a little slash fiction for Captain America.
Enjoy. Remember I don't owe these characters or this story... this is just for fun...  (Nor do I owe this lovely pic if anyone knows the artists PLEASE tell me so I can give credit & love & beg for permission to use) 
Hugs, Z.

Slash Fiction Captain America/Winter Soldier

"Bucky... don't you remember? I was your best friend..." Captain America took another punch in the mouth. Ow.

"You're my mission." Anger tried to overwhelm the doubt but it failed to block out the confusion. No...

"I'm Steve and we were more than friends..."

The Winter Soldier's fist froze, stopping before he connected again. "What? No... we... no..." Hot visions of passionate nights spend with Steve's arms flashed through his mind. Urgent need to recapture those emotions and memories flooded him.

"Yes. Don't you remember?" Steve turned him so Bucky was under him. "Mmmm, that's right. You might not remember but your body does."

Breathing became a luxury Bucky could no longer afford. He used his energy to push back to entice Steve into take things further. Steve always gave him what he wanted...

The Winter Soldier sweetly surrendered himself to Steve's skilled hands as his memories returned. He was Bucky and they would always be more than friends...

Hugs, Z.

Zombies Suck.... but mine SWALLOW

How are my zombies different from other zombies?

1) Mine SWALLOW…
2)They're hot and sexy.
3)They don't need brains to survive they need ejaculate.
4) They’re seeking a mate which they can tell by their reaction to their male essence.
5) They begin their transition at nineteen and it continues until they are twenty-three.
6) They stop aging at twenty-three.
7) If they don't find their mate by twenty-three they lose the ability to orgasm. (Although they continue to need male essence).

What is Club Zombie?

Club Zombie was set up so the zombies could get what they need in a safe environment… the patrons of Club Zombie don’t question how “lucky” they get when finding such orally fixated men. There are various ways in which to indulge in the pleasing young men of Club Zombie:
The Shoe Shine Room (depicted on the cover of Zombies Ahead) 
Extraction Room  (depicted on the cover of Zombies Suck)
BJ alley  (do you need a description?)
BDSM Behind the Red Door  (ditto)
These rooms and cozy spaces allow the zombies to survive.

http://www.stiffrainpress.com/m8/23-978-1-62344-024-4--zombies-suck-club-zombie-series-book-two-by-z-allora.html

Afraid To Orgasm

Afraid To Orgasm

Usually I chase fluffy HAPPY plot bunnies. In Club Zombie 2 a virgin dominant afraid to orgasm wouldn't leave me. You can’t imagine my distress when Alex Waterman shared with me his full story and how he detached from his own sexuality to such an unthinkable degree.

His abusive childhood taught him sex was evil. His mother beat into him ‘good boys’ don’t pleasure themselves and he desperately wanted her approval. He broke my heart.

Even though his mother is dead, it takes therapy, help from his friends and loved ones to help him overcome his painful past. His struggle is so invasive he only refers to his body parts in clinical terms because he can’t process slang words.

Many of us struggle daily with varying degrees of sexual dysfunction. The biggest help I found is giving yourself permission. So be good to you and give yourself permission.

                                                                    Zombies Suck

Zombies Suck... and mine SWALLOW

Zombies Suck... and mine SWALLOW. 

Zombies aren’t scary, undead corpses searching for brains. They are just sweet guys seeking male essence to survive. At twenty-three the transition completes, keeping them forever young—as long as they receive male ejaculate. Club Zombie offers a haven for zombies, providing sexy ways to extract what they need from the patrons, and opportunity to find their destined mate.

Alex Waterman learned from an early age to believe he was vile, and to feel ashamed of his “unnatural desires”. His life is a desolate place of suffering until he discovers… it’s not his life. Suddenly he’s swept away to Club Zombie, where he belongs. In this world, his desires aren’t evil, they’re a mark of the dominant he’s born to be, and instead of fear and loathing, he receives appreciative stares and aggressive flirting. But casual sex isn’t on the menu: Alex seeks “the one” to complete the piece of his soul he never knew he was missing until he looked for it.

Roommate Ulrich calls to Alex, a self-destructive Cutter who needs grounding, and an element of irresistible danger that clings to bad boy Storm. Alex must decide between three tempting possibilities, but which one will fill his void? Maybe he should keep them all… Only, how is a dominant, orgasm-fearing virgin going to manage three virile men?

http://www.stiffrainpress.com/m8/23-978-1-62344-024-4--zombies-suck-club-zombie-series-book-two-by-z-allora.html


 

Rainbow Book Reviews- Made in China Review

Hey Pretties!
Take a look at this lovely review. The reviewer seemed to get EVERYTHING I wanted to reader to understand about the story & the characters. I'm so happy!
Hugs, Z.

                                   

The Great Wall (Made In China 1) by Z. Allora at MLR Press

Genre	Contemporary / Yaoi / BDSM / Gay Erotic Romance
Reviewed by	Alex on 26-November-2013

Book Blurb

There's no gay in China so what's the drummer of Made in China supposed to do about loving his male best friend when his family thinks he's engaged to the girl next door?

Jun "Styx" Wong's heart and mind battle to determine his destiny. His mind tells him to be a good Chinese son and marry the girl his parents chose, but his heart longs for his best friend, Jin, and life with their new band. "Jun" means honesty, but he's not even honest with himself. A quest to eradicate his feelings for Jin nearly ends his life. Styx's near death serves as a wake-up call for Jin, whose blond hair--legacy of his German father--marks him as different. Jin harbors secrets of his own. His experiences prepare him to take the drastic measures needed to help Jun overcome the walls surrounding them. Because there is no gay in China...


WARNING: This story contains a scene of dangerous sexual practices.

Book Review

Fans of K-pop, J-pop, Jet Mykles’s Heaven Sent series fans, and anyone else with a predilection for hot rocker musicians of Asian descent are sure to love this captivating “taste of China” male/male romance story. The book brings to light the difficulties facing a young, gay Chinese drummer who is torn between obligation to his family and his love of his best friend. Amazing in delivery and scope, I loved this story. The author’s addition of information pertaining to the land of China is skillfully woven throughout the romance of its two leads, providing an exquisite breathe of fresh air to the gay rocker theme and adding to an enchanting tale.

Twenty-two year old Jun “Styx” Wong has a major problem. He’s scheduled to be married to a girl he doesn’t love, can’t have an orgasm without damn near strangling himself, and almost kills himself, all a result of his “oh so wrong” love of his best friend Jin. As the only son of his family, Styx is expected to marry and produce an heir, ensuring his parents' care in their golden years and the family’s future. All Styx truly desires is to run away with Jin to some imaginary world where his friend returns his feelings and the two can be together, forever. The gifted drummer knows he can never reveal his feelings to anyone, especially Jin, but when an opportunity comes up to escape his family, if only until his pending marriage arrives, Styx takes it.

Unlike Styx, Jin is something of an orphan; his only family is his gay uncle. As such Jin has more freedom than Styx, but his lack of family support also means he must fend for himself. He takes a job as a masseur, practices yoga to keep his mind and spirit clear, and practices his music determined to make music his future. When his uncle offers him an opportunity to work in a larger city, rent-free, Jin realizes this may be the only alone time he may get with his best friend before Styx marries. He convinces Styx to travel to Suzhou and stay with him to seek other musicians and form a band.  If it works, maybe they can exchange the bonds of Styx’s traditional family obligations with a life of musical fame. Maybe he can keep Styx at his side forever.

This is a wonderful book, from its opening chapter, where I found myself inhabiting Styx in the throes of an erotic asphyxiation jerk two weeks in the making, to the stimulating details of some of China’s fabulous landmarks as the boys enjoy their travels, the book is a delight. Both characters were extremely lovable, Styx’s pent-up emotion making him a silent, mysterious Chinese Byron, with an enchanting aura of innocence, while blond, gray-eyed Jin is the heart-of-gold sensual masseur, who is saving himself for his one true love. Being inside Styx’s head was fantastic, the angst, the pain and the nobility of his need to keep everyone from the disappointment of his truths, made him a heroic, but passionate character whom I couldn’t help but cheer for. Jin’s virtue was his patience and maturity, which belied his exquisite fragile appearance. Futility created a shroud of melancholy about Jin, but the light of his hope and determination shone through showcasing his inner power. Him too, I cheered on.

With such depths to the lead characters, nothing prepared me for the pleasure of two additional characters, Chinese musician Li, and his partner, Indigo, a Chinese-American musician from Los Angeles. Their relationship appears to be in a trial period as Indigo is attempting to give up his promiscuity and prove to Li that he loves only him. Indigo in particular brings a lot of amusement to the story; Styx’s reactions to his American ways were a riot.

Part male/male romance, part shounen-ai/yaoi, all engrossing love story, I love a book with lots of happenings and angles and this one far exceeds the norm, retaining an aura of realism while delivering solid entertainment. I’ve barely scratched the surface of the surprises and fly-on-the-wall experiences the book holds and can only encourage you to purchase a copy. I immediately picked up additional books from the author and hope that she intends to pen a sequel to this charming “Made in China” tale.

Thank you, Z. Allora, for delivering this taut, lovely gem of a tale, which gives weight to the reality that through love and perseverance, the improbable can become possible. “Charming, Heartfelt, Steamy”




DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been purchased by the reviewer.

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 75000 words
Publication Date	26-July-2013
Price	$7.99 ebook, $14.99 paperback
Buy Link	http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=ZA_MDCHN

Romance=Happily Ever After

Greetings my Pretties!!!!!

I had several debates on “happily-ever-after” (HEA) at Gay Rom Lit. One might tag me as a troublemaker… Okay, fine you might be right but I was rather shocked and confused that the main characters in a romance novel walking off hand in hand into the sunset was even open for debate. Right there on my badge ‘romance’ is front and center in the title.

Romance has a specific definition. To quote the Romance Writers of America: “Two basic elements comprise every romance novel: a central love story and an emotionally-satisfying and optimistic ending.” (http://www.rwa.org/p/cm/Id/fid=578)  That’s only one definition but it is rather specific.

1+1 = awww (or 1+1+1= awww) Romance is a specific genre with expectations. To paraphrase ZA Maxfield & Ethan Day during their session in the writer’s track, romance is a warm bath. You just ease into it and you know you’re going to feel better when it’s done.

You can imagine my surprise when another author said he didn’t do HEA or even HFN (happy for now). It tapped right into my primitive brain and I denied the possibility. He was a lovely man but I thought this conversation had to be a fluke. How could a romance author not write HEA or HFN? But when the second and third discussion occurred my heart hurt.

What was happening? Had the world tilted and dropped me off in hell? No, no I was still at GRL (& the Heaven & Hell costume party wasn’t until Saturday night).

My reader self rebelled when one author said he wanted to educate the reader giving them a ‘richer more educated read’. I tried to explain as a reader I am drawn to romance for the unfolding of love and as a writer that’s what I want to provide my readers with a bit of happy brain candy that has the potential to make their world brighter.

After a number of discussions, I figured out these lovely authors were writing Gay Fiction, which is a different animal than romance. Gay fiction is fine and a wonderful genre but I’m not your reader base so don’t try to convert me to ‘meaningful’ non-HEA endings cause it’s only going to annoy all of us.

For the record, I don’t want anyone casting shadows over what we write or read by implying romance is ‘less’ intelligence, important, or meaningful because we have happily ever after’s. These romances help turn ‘ew’ into ‘aw’ with every single page. When a mommy/daddy finds out their child is gay, bi-sexual, transgender, intersex, questioning, queer, or differently oriented, the parent who has exposure to this genre would further along in the acceptance process then had they not.

And just to clarify I don’t fetishize about gay men (You truly are NOT my fantasy… I respect and wish you well… just putting that out there). I identify with gay men as a category more then I would with ‘straight’ females but that has nothing to do with ‘you’. Something not discussed much is gay romance is helping to re-associate some Q women back to their own sexuality. It is experienced differently than what is found in HET romance. So turn off your judgment off… cause we deserve better.

As for my characters and stories: I worship the edges and I write in the Yaoi style. I don’t expect gay men of a certain age to enjoy my work but to be honest I’m not writing for anyone but me. It’s my sanity, my air, and my world. If you enjoy it come play with me (Currently, I can serve you up hot dirty rockers and sexy zombies who need male essence to survive)… if not let me hug you on Facebook but don’t try to convince me to read non-HEAs.

Soooooo my Pretties tell me what you think?