The Good, the Bad, and the Zealots

Try as I might I can never understand those who make it their mission in life to seek out other's lives and choose what they censor. There are things in life I do not like. I do not like horror films where women are mutilated and raped. I do not like violent films where the main purpose of a film is to scare by blood and gore. I do not like films that depict cops being shot in cold blood...So, because I am a free person with choices, I choose not to go to see those movies. I don't look up websites that may show horror film clips. I don't choose to go to places these horrible images are shown.
I have choices.
On social networks I also have choices. I do not choose to friend anyone who thinks the Bible is fact, or that Jesus is their best friend. That is my choice. I choose not to accept requests from authors who write books which I may find offensive. Yet I am not so pig-headed that I think my views and choices should violate their freedom to post what they please to like-minded individuals. With a click of the mouse I can delete them. Not their photos, their pages, their work. Just our connection.
Just as we can change a channel on the TV or not go to a movie, we can also choose to not associate with individuals we do not share ideology with. Common sense will show that if you do not associate with people who do not share your views, you may be less likely to be offended.
So it begs an answer.
Why do some individuals feel it is their job to censor others? It's simply not. If something offends you, don't seek it out.
There are some things that offend everyone, of course, but I know there are people who like to watch violent movies. I don't agree. I think they are a bane of humanity, since I have been a cop and seen the violence as reality, and not Hollywood make up. But there are many movies made where torture, rape and murder qualify as entertainment. Whatever.
But the human body? Male bodies being reported as obscene? I beg to differ, and I know many admirers of men will as well.
I have a suggestion. If photos of handsome men upset you, why do you seek them out? How about you go and get a life, watch your violence, and your Bible films, and leave hard working people the hell alone.
Be safe out there.

The Meaning of Life

Lately...oh, all right, always...
I ponder the meaning of life...why we are here, who we are, what do we have to do with anything anyway?
I know I'm not alone. The popularity of ghost hunter shows, paranormal groups, psychics...to name a few, lead me to believe people are looking for...something. What? The meaning of life? The comfort of another life? Another existence, another plane? Who were we?
Were we someone in a past life? Will we be someone in another life? Do You believe?
I think as a writer some of us lean to a particular theme. Historical? Vampire? Cowboy? Ever wonder why you're drawn to a certain thing? Do any of you female authors feel like men in women's bodies? Tendency to love the idea of men with men? Ever ask why? Were you a man in a previous life? A cowboy in a rodeo? A soldier in a past war?
Well, perhaps I was a Roman soldier in love with my fellow warrior. I don't know. But lately, thinking about women writing gay love stories, I do wonder. Why are we drawn to this genre? Why is our passion to write this kind of book so extreme?
Many people can't figure out why we do what we do. The number of times I am asked why on earth I write such...er...smut...is too numerous to count.
My answer?
Because I must. I must write this. I am now so passionate about this writing I couldn't survive without it. And I know! I know! My fellow woman authors could not either. It is their calling- their great yearning. And judging by the amount of new authors springing up like weeds all over gay male romance, my guess is we are not alone.
The meaning of life to me is to grow to be who I am in my best capacity. To show love to others, to teach tolerance and fight ignorance. Life to me is to let others who do not comprehend same sex attraction know that love is never wrong no matter the form. It's my credo.
In a day when hate is so thick we can barely see through its smog, authors who write about romance and love are the shining beacon.
We are not alone. We all are here for the same reason, to show love of two people is a wonderful, and yes, a sexy thing.
Were we men in a previous life? We can dream, can't we? I can go back to my past lives and see myself as a big strapping Roman soldier, making passionate love to his fellow man. Sure, why not? That's what fiction is all about.
Or...is it perhaps not fiction at all? You be the judge.
Be safe.

Facebook Now an Extreme Right Wing Supporter

Mark Zuckerberg, do you know what your employees are doing??

Dear Mr Zuckerberg,
Your Facebook censors have waged a war on homosexuals. Gay romance authors who use Facebook to connect to buyers, fans and other authors, are being targeted by the right wing conservative groups, and your employees are backing and empowering them. Did you know that? Perhaps you heard about the gay kiss being removed from your site for being obscene recently? Or perhaps you don't know. Covers with two men on them, never showing genitalia, are being reported by the religious right as obscene and your minions are deleting the covers, even though they do not qualify for removal according to your own Facebook rules. Your employees are removing gay romance book covers and other gay pictures, simply because of pressure exerted by the far right. Or worse, your employees are biased and gladly delete things they find 'offensive'. I find hate groups offensive, Mr. Zuckerberg, yet Facebook allows them to thrive. Though hundreds of people report them as hate propaganda, your censors do not remove them. Why not?
Do you know how they are making you look, sir? Ever wonder why Facebook is losing members? Dropping in popularity?
Hate groups thrive, and hard working authors who happen to write gay romance, are being censored and victimized. Are you aware of that? No, I didn't think so. But you will become aware. Sooner or later this will get out to the media and the gay rights organizations and you will be called upon to answer to why. Why you allowed this type of blatant homophobia thrive in the social network you created.
Our cover designs are simply of men. That's all. But showing a male torso in a picture with another man has become 'obscene' to your censors. Perhaps, Mr Zuckerberg, you should be more involved in your company. They are making you look like an ignorant homophone. Just thought you should know.