Not an epiphany….

I never contemplated the idea I was small. Standing over 6 foot and a whopping 275 lbs, I’m built like a tank and tend to command attention. So when I entered the realm of M/M writing, I was sure I’d be one of the big fish swimming in the pond immediately. Being one of the few male writers, I was sure readers would flock to my work and ignore other writers. To say I had a shock is putting it mildly. I confidently believed in that being a gay man, my work would soar above other writers. Idiotic, huh? So many of the writers I read before even attempting to put my pen to paper, so to speak, are female. Wonderful, articulate female writers and since eating a heaping plateful of humble pie, I’ve learned so much from these women.

There has been some very contentious blogging lately over catfishing authors and authors who are female passing as male. Oh and let’s not forget the ongoing opinion of some people saying women shouldn’t be writing M/M romance. To this I say foo! Yeah I know, silly but I’m working on my language. I have a three and half year old grandnephew, who is a walking mina bird!

Anyhow, to the first issue, does it matter if a female author poses as male? Not really. People have penned books under pseudonyms for centuries to protect themselves and be able to be published in less than enlightened times. It’s their right to run their life as they please. Let their work stand for itself. And to whether woman can write M/M romance, remember that Mary Shelly wrote Frankenstein, a classic, anonymously. Back then people didn’t think women could conceive such horror. It doesn’t matter what sex you are, a creative mind knows no gender limitations.

I count many female and male authors as friends. Each is unique in their own way. Diversity makes life all the sweeter!

Cheers,

Matt