Revisiting Past Stories and The Power of Grief

This week I’ve started to give one of my very early MM romance novels, The Hit List, a thorough overhaul - as it needs to be a lot sharper & shorter than it currently is. This one is a coming-out romance about second chances & the mistakes made out of fear. It has a good heart and I do really love screwed-up Jamie and his very on-off romance with older family friend Robert. They both deserve more than I was initially able to give them. When I first wrote it, I was told so many times by so many different people (yes, Romantic Novelists’ Association, I’m looking at you!…) that I shouldn’t be writing it at all and that no woman ever wrote about gay men, closeted or otherwise, that I basically lost what little confidence I had and the whole book became a series of compromises I (much like my MC Jamie) was too scared not to make. Back then, I hadn’t yet found my tribe of MM romance women writers and I felt very much alone in what I was trying to express. It was a very lonely writing place to be.

Well, now and much to both Jamie’s & Robert’s relief, and with twenty plus more years of writing experience since then, I’m back on their case, with just a little more hard-won courage, and focusing on their story. So they will (over the next few weeks as I thrash it out) have the book they both deserve. I hope.

I’m also writing more to my MM romance Jack’s Party. Nothing closeted about Ralph or Alec. Indeed, Ralph & Alec have finally worked out where THAT extra spice scene goes, & Ralph is facing a challenging question from Alec. Not only that but I’ve completed the chapter where Ralph revisits his grief when his partner dies, and have bravely added to that a couple of incidents that happened to my mother and me after my father died. Well, they say write what you know - and this week I have done just that. So that’s been a challenging week for sure, but I’m pleased with that chapter now.

In exciting news, I’ve received my editorial report from The Literary Consultancy, so here's what my editing consultant thought of my magical women's fiction novel The Music of Flowers. And, yes, I have work to do but, yes, I’m smiling. 🥰

This week's poem is called Painted Sky and is found in my poetry collection Learning to Swim. There is just something so magical about sunsets. 😍

Meanwhile, are you looking for your next favourite read? Here are some!

I’ve read The Two Roberts by Damian Barr: this is a tour-de-force of historical gay & artistic fiction, and excellently crafted. Based on truth, Barr takes us from the first meeting of young artists Robert and Bobby, right through to the very end and it's never less than gripping. The historical settings are superbly described and the developing and rocky relationship between the two lovers is quite simply brilliant. Barr is at his best in the scenes where powerful glimpses of carefully crafted emotion cut through the society in which the men live and make this reader for one take a startled breath. The 'double ending' is extremely moving. I loved the whole thing and can highly recommend it.

I’ve read Bone Deep by J P Joseph: his is a spicy and emotional journey through the lives of two damaged men who come to realise that they are far better together. I did love how different they were - Spencer with his controlled approach to life and determination never to fall in love contrasted well with open-hearted Ryan who's terrified to admit he's gay because of his father and his sporting career. I also enjoyed the strong cast of secondary characters, particularly Spencer's work colleagues and Ryan's care home ladies - the story arc of the 'three Bettys' there made me cry and smile at the same time. There are some moments of high drama and high comedy too and the ending is lovely.

I’ve also read Finding Amelia by Julie Edwards: this book has a really twisty plot and very strong characters. It's a walk on the semi-criminal side of life which is well described here. I loved Kelly and her determination to be reunited with the baby daughter she was forced to abandon. And I also enjoyed the twists and turns she encounters on the way. Felicity is also a great character - the woman we all love to hate and the reasons we later discover for how she behaves as she does are brilliant. The ending is also very moving and totally bitter-sweet. Good stuff!

Finally, happy August, everyone! My plan this month is to continue editing The Hit List & then start editing The Music of Flowers. Whatever you're up to, have a lovely month 😍

Have a great week, everyone.

Anne Brooke Books