Texas Short Stories Featured at Reader & Writer Resource

Read about The Acorn Stories at Snickslist, a site that helps readers find low-priced or free eBooks.

“A lush tangle of small-town life.” –Kirkus Reviews. #SmallTownLife #TexasTales

Read an eBook Week

Sites like Smashwords are celebrating Read an eBook Week by offering deep discounts on many ebooks, including the following gay read.

Sons of Taldra: A Science Fiction Adventure.

“A major voice not only in American literature but also in the LGBTQ genre.”

We thought the aliens wouldn’t find us. We thought we could trust the Maintainers. We were wrong.

The Iroquois scientist Taldra became Leader of our world a year before the alien shapeshifters attacked. Her twin gay sons, Telius and Argen, will rally to her side.

Telius, a former time traveler, wants to marry his boyfriend, a former spy. Argen, a prodigy with a troubled past, modifies a handsome captain’s vessel for the battle.

Our world’s other protectors hold dark secrets that might pose an even greater threat than the invaders.

Spotlight on Gay SciFi Adventure

Sons of Taldra: A Science Fiction Adventure is a featured book at BookWeek.

We thought the aliens wouldn’t find us. We thought we could trust the Maintainers. We were wrong.

Get to know this small fictional town

From a new book review of The Acorn Stories at Goodreads: “I found myself not wanting to put this book down because I quickly felt like I belonged in this town.” #Texas #ShortStories

Gay People of Color Kissing in Image Based on SciFi Adventure

Jase-Dawn (left) with his boyfriend Telius. Artwork by Anadelaossa, based on characters from Degranon and Sons of Taldra. #QueerSciFi #QueerPOC Taldra: Science Fiction Adventures.

New Manga-Style SciFi Artwork

Argen (left) and his twin brother Telius, the #SonsOfTaldra. Artwork by Penguinlove. #WeWantDiverseBooks #NativeAmerican #SciFi Taldra: Science Fiction Adventures

Artwork Needed for Gay SciFi Project

Please visit the tweet below and tag suggested artists (maybe yourself) to create commissioned artwork for online posts about my novel Sons of Taldra: A Science Fiction Adventure 🏳️‍🌈. Character gifs or jpgs.

Sons of Taldra features gay characters in major roles, so I don’t want anyone who would object to drawing a same-gender couple. On the other hand, the book contains no sex scenes, and the pictures should be strictly SFW (Safe For Work).

I’d like to commission at least one work, but might order more, from a few different artists. The characters should look human, but the realism might vary. They should not look like puppets, talking cats, etc., but it’s fine if they look cartoonish.

The artist(s) will, of course, receive acknowledgment wherever I post the picture(s).

The main setting for Sons of Taldra is Valchondria, which is simply Earth in an alternate reality. Technology had advanced more quickly there, but stagnated when the Valchondrians abandoned space travel and banned contact with anyone outside their atmosphere. A cyberpunk look, or something similar, would be ideal if we see it, but we’re focusing on the people. (This book is a stand-alone spinoff from my earlier book Degranon.)

>>Possible images (mostly close-up or waist-up):

1. Argen or Telius alone. Or both of them, back-to-back, waist up, Telius in a black T-shirt and Argen in a bright green one. They’re identical twins, 19, with black hair, but Argen has a buzz cut, while Telius has shoulder-length hair. Native American. Flat nose bridges and high cheekbones.

2. Central to the book. Telius and his fiancé Jase-Dawn. (Remember that Telius is Argen’s long-haired twin.) Jase-Dawn is black, twenty, with dark brown eyes. He’s slender but well-toned. They could be cuddling, holding hands, leaning against each other, embracing, or just looking at each other, as long as the viewer is likely to see them as a couple. This excerpt at Queeromance (near the bottom of that page) can provide inspiration.

3. General Sydra, one of the Maintainers, the group that serves as the military, police, and judges of Valchondria. Gray military uniform with black arms. No headband, earrings, or hat. African American, late thirties, just over six feet tall. A look of confidence and strength in her dark brown eyes. Short hair.

4. Taldra, the mother of the twins. Native American. A year ago, she became Leader of Valchondria’s one-world government, after working two decades as one of Valchondria’s leading (but most controversial) scientists. She’s short, a little over five feet. Long black hair, usually pulled to the left side and discretely fastened behind her head. She likes colorful dresses or other outfits—maybe a 1970s look. Light brown eyes. Hoop earrings in right ear. Stunningly beautiful.

Please tag suggested artists to create commissioned #ArtWork for posts about Sons of Taldra: A #ScienceFiction Adventure 🏳️‍🌈. Character gifs or jpgs of some of the characters, mostly Native American. More at my blog: https://t.co/zSqAusO1AS pic.twitter.com/Sbat3bsmbN

— AcornTexas 🏳️‍🌈 (@DuaneSimolke) January 8, 2020

HALLELUJAH - A Circus/Queer Film [Gay Love, Hate & Religion.]

A film by Matthew Richardson, @circusspinner. I've watched more of his films on YouTube, and they feature amazing dancers exploring themes that affect the queer community. This one also features a powerful cover of Leonard Cohen's classic. Click through the video to watch it on YouTube and read Matthew's comments.

Please also visit Reactions to Homophobia, here at this blog.

Gay SciFi Special Opportunity

Readers can save 30% off the eBook Sons of Taldra: A Science Fiction Adventure at Smashwords until Jan. 8, 2020, using the coupon code DQ23C. That novel features a diverse cast in an alternate reality, protecting the human home world from alien shapeshifters.

#QueerSciFi #LGBTQbooks #WeWantDiverseBooks #SciFiTrailer

Now That We're Grown: Gay Romance: Teaser 3