Gay little pigeons

You thought I forgot about this substack? You’re absolutely right, I did! Luckily, I’m avoiding a plot hole I don’t know how to solve yet, so I’ve found my way here to procrastinate until it solves itself.

Pride Pigeons

It’s pride month, and that always makes me think of the Vinny Thomas sketch about the pigeon at the pride parade going, “Throw some breaddddd!” I guess this is relevant because I’ve been thinking about pigeons a lot lately for this book I’m writing. But in my mind, pigeons are the gay icon.

Anyway, every year I’m always like, surprised? to see my books in Pride stacks? Not because of any weird internalized shit about bisexuality (we’re queer as hell! we’re actually gayer than gay because we’re gay in two ways?? IAMJOKING we’re just regular queer). It’s because I’ve always made a deliberate choice to write my books as if being bisexual is so normal that it’s boring, so my books rarely examine the fine art of being queer nor do they delve into the angst of being queer in our very real and oftentimes cruel world.

Two main reasons for this:

1. My books take place in an exaggerated, near-fantasy contemporary setting “based on” our reality but clearly not, or half the things in my books wouldn’t actually happen, but they happen because I think it would be fun if they did—so why can’t I just write as if being bisexual is the norm in this world? Oh that’s right, I can, because I’m the author, and I am GOD

2. There are already so many brilliant romance authors exploring queerness in their books in thoughtful, nuanced, sexy ways! If that’s what a reader is looking for, they’re far better finding it with those authors who excel in that field—I excel in writing bonkers plots and highly unrealistic sex scenes! We are each contributing in our own way!

There was actually a particular moment during developmental edits for The Astronaut and the Star when I got an edit that said, (paraphrased) “Reggie’s bisexuality should be a bigger part of her life” and I remember thinking… but why tho? Reggie’s “life” begins and ends at her desire to go to the moon. She sleeps with men and women, but beyond that she doesn’t think about her bisexuality as anything besides a fact, like thinking, “I have brown eyes.” This book is about her falling in love with Jon, an action movie star. It’s not “about” her being bisexual. Of course, Reggie lives in Texas, where the Johnson Space Center is located. In the real world, her bisexuality would be a thing she’d have to think about often, and thinking about how queer people are treated in most parts of Texas makes me sad and angry, and I do not write romance to feel sad and angry! I write romance to feel sad and HORNY.

So I made an executive decision—my books don’t take place in a world with homophobia. I think bigotry is stupid and I refuse to acknowledge its existence in my writing. Theeee end.

But! If you would like to read some EXCELLENT (and I do mean top-tier) books about bisexual characters being bisexual as all fucking get-out in our real world, might I recommend two forthcoming releases from my genius author friends?

• Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson (out June 10th): look, you know I love everything Alicia has written, most of all her newsletter, but THIS book is truly a bisexual fuckfest and I’m not joking. There’s a scene involving a stage that I would have been too cowardly to put in Midnight Duet. Anyway, 12/10 stars! There’s kind of a plot about getting the band back together, which is tightly constructed and well-executed, but so much so that I didn’t even pay attention to it because I was on this ride for the characters, since that is what Alicia does best—writes characters who feel so real that when they’re getting down, you’re like, “omg am I interrupting??? should I… leave?" // PS. If you click that link and order through Tombolo Books, you can get pre-order art and stuff!!

• Isn’t it Obvious by Rachel Runya Katz (out Oct 21): You know how their first two books were rom-com-traums in that you laughed and then you cried and then you fell in love with these beautifully written characters who are all a little broken in their hearts in some ways and then they meet this other chipped-heart person and they’re like, “what if we’re not broken or chipped at all and also I might be in love with you but I’m standing in my own way so lets be star-crossed by our foibles but down bad as fuck” [you know I love a complex overthinking FMC]… anyway that’s what this book is about, but it’s slightly less about Big Trauma and more about Quiet Trauma Masquerading as Snark and it’s my favorite yet! If you like Kate Clayborn and Kennedy Ryan but long for more on-page queerness, Katz’ books are for you.

Other Pride Recs

Mountainhead is ostensibly about four tech bro billionaires spending a weekend at an isolated mountain snow chateau and confronting their own mortality for 0.2 seconds, but it’s also the most homoerotic movie currently available on streaming services. These little twinks spend the entire time talking about each other, trying to impress each other with their girthy bank accounts, and fantasizing about what countries’ entire governments they can buy together for an extended vacation. Honestly, they are so real for this! Hostile government takeover kings!

Ginuwine...The Bachelor (1996) - my partner and I have nearly everything in common except for one major difference: our taste in music. He is nearly polar opposite on the musical taste wheel in every major way. I like sad songs, he likes happy songs. I don’t really listen to the lyrics, he memorizes entire stanzas for no reason other than he appreciates the cleverness of the construction. But the other night I asked him what music he wanted to listen to, and he said, “Play that guy who did ‘Pony’” and without missing a beat I was like, “Ginuwine,” because obviously, Pony is a romance novelist canon song. You put Pony on at a romance book signing, minimum 40% of the room starts dancing. Turns out, Ginuwine also has other songs—who knew? Also, why is this under Pride Recs? Trick question! It’s because even back in 1996, a lot of Ginuwine’s songs were about wanting to genuinely please a partner in bed, and that’s the queerest thing there is.

Progress Report

I promise I’m writing a new book! Please see below for proof!

I’m trying something novel and just not talking about what I’m writing until I’m done. Not for any logical reason, but because I want to try being superstitious and see if it works. Also, I’ll feel silly if I don’t sell this book. Then everyone will be like, “Whatever happened to that book about such-and-such,” and I’d have to sheepishly tell everyone I’m a loser. Just kidding! Selling a book doesn’t reflect on my value as a person! Ha ha ha who would have such a ridiculous inner thought.

Anyway, I won’t tell you anything other than there is an adorable pigeon sidekick named Tinsel. Actually, Tinsel might end up on the cutting room floor. You know what, forget I said anything about Tinsel! We don’t talk about Tinsel!

Also, huge shout-out to everyone in my life who has helped talk me through my writing challenges with this book. You know who your real homies are when they remind you of your true purpose, the Reason You Write:

With that, I bid you adieu (for now).

XO, Jen