Today we are welcoming author Ann Gallagher to our blog to talk about her new “first” release “Lead Me Not”
Welcome Ann 🙂
Welcome to the Riptide Publishing/Ann Gallagher blog tour for Lead Me Not!
Every comment on this blog tour enters you in a drawing for a choice for a choice of two eBooks off my backlist (including books written as L.A. Witt and Lauren Gallagher, excluding Lead Me Not) and a $10 Riptide Publishing store credit. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on August 29. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. Entries. Don’t forget to leave your email so we can contact you if you win!
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A bisexual atheist woman walks into a gay male Christian romance…
From the beginning of my career as L.A. Witt, my choice to write gay male romance has raised a few eyebrows among my friends, family, etc. After all, I’m neither gay nor male. Up until a few years ago, it was largely assumed that I was straight, too, but I eventually came out as bisexual. Still, it’s one of the most frequent questions when someone finds out what I write: “Why? You’re not a gay dude.”
No, I’m not. Nor am I straight, lesbian, asexual, or genderqueer, but I write those stories too. (In fact, it occurs to be now that I’ve written a lot of bisexual men, but no bisexual women. Gotta do something about that. Anyway.) I’m also not a cop, a vampire, a soldier, a bartender, a parent, a rock star, a fighter pilot, a porn star…
You get the idea. The point is, we all write things we’re not. Otherwise every book would be about authors. Trust me, y’all do not want to read endless chapters of me staring at the wall and trying to find the right word.
With Lead Me Not, the eyebrows collectively rose a little higher. And I can understand why some readers might be guarded about approaching a Christian book written by someone who isn’t. Religious differences can get people heated, and no one wants to read something that paints their beliefs in a negative light.
So I want to put it out there that Lead Me Not is not an atheist’s commentary on Christianity. It’s not meant to convert anyone toward or away from Christianity, nor is it an analysis of the validity of one set of beliefs over another. Simply put, it was the only way to tell Isaac and Colton’s story – two devout believers trying to reconcile their spiritual and sexual identities. It’s their story, not mine.
At its core, Lead Me Not is still a romance. It’s a story about two men finding themselves and love in a world that is determined to prevent them from doing so, which I think we can all—regardless of gender, sexuality, or religion—relate to on some level.
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Blurb
Isaac Morris has devoted his life to preaching against the sin of homosexuality. But when his sister proposes a documentary to demonstrate once and for all that it’s a choice—with Isaac choosing to be gay as proof—he balks. Until he learns his nephew is headed down that perverted path. Isaac will do anything to convince the teenager he can choose to be straight . . . including his sister’s film.
When Isaac’s first foray into the gay lifestyle ends with a homophobic beating, he’s saved and cared for by Colton Roberts, a gentle, compassionate bartender with a cross around his neck. Colton challenges every one of Isaac’s deeply held beliefs about gay men. He was kicked out by homophobic parents, saved from the streets by a kind pastor, and is now a devout Christian. Colton’s sexuality has cost him dearly, but it also brought him to God.
As the two grow closer, everything Isaac knows about homosexuality, his faith, and himself is called into question. And if he’s been wrong all along, what does that mean for his ministry, his soul, his struggling nephew—and the man he never meant to love?
Lead Me Not is available August 24th from Riptide Publishing.
Ann Gallagher is the slightly more civilized alter ego of L.A. Witt, Lauren Gallagher, and Lori A. Witt. So she tells herself, anyway. When she isn’t wreaking havoc on Spain with her husband and trusty two-headed Brahma bull, she writes romances just like her wilder counterparts, but without all the heat. She is also far too mature to get involved in the petty battle between L.A. and Lauren, but she’s seriously going to get even with Lori for a certain incident that shall not be discussed publicly.
Connect with Ann:
Website: http://loriawitt.com Author Blog: http://gallagherwitt.blogspot.com Personal Blog: http://navywifeadventures.blogspot. Twitter: @GallagherWitt Facebook: http://facebook.com//L-A-Witt-MM-Fiction
Another excellent post. Thanks so much for sharing.
debby236 at gmail dot com
Ok. I already read it in the night between Monday and Tuesday. And it was a lovely book. I am not a very religious person (even if I have been raised as a Protestant) but I appreciated the book (you don’t need to be religious to get the feeling of the two main characters). The story is different from what I am used to read, and that is very enjoyable.
So, thanks Lori.
Gaelle (ladymorgwenn at gmail )
It sounds so thought-provoking!
vitajex@aol dot com
What a great premise! Can’t wait to read this.
I am looking forward to reading this book. I have enjoyed everything by L.A. Witt that I’ve read.
ree.dee.2014 (at) gmail (dot) com
Sounds interesting! amaquilante(at)gmail(dot)com
Great post. Thank you for sharing!
humhumbum AT yahoo DOT com
I don’t read them often, but I have really enjoyed stories with religious characters or with the theme of religion at its center. I can set aside what organized religion has done as a whole and focus on what religion means for the characters. I always find it interesting what they get from it and how it shapes them. I don’t really spend a lot of time with people who have religion as the centerpoint of their lives, so I get that in some small way with books. Looking forward to seeing how things unfold in this one.
caroaz [at] ymail [dot] com
Sounds interesting. Please, count me in and thanks for the chance.
agalegogen(at)gmail(dot)com
Great post! Congratulations on the new release! Looking forward to reading it!
juliesmall2016(at)gmail(dot)com
Who you are has nothing to do with how well your imagination can flourish. 🙂
ashley.vanburen[at]gmail[dot]com