17 December 2009

Tidbits and some WHISPERS OF A SAVAGE SORT ...

Hello:

When I first learned that the LGBT bookstore Lambda Rising, my "home away from home" when I lived in DC during the 1980s and always merited a visit each time I visited DC ever since, was closing, I actually cried. That place had truly meant so much to me, providing "voices" I wouldn't have "heard" otherwise in all their books I'd consumed so hungrily as a young deaf gay man, so I was glad to have given a reading there last month. I suppose it's a sign of progress when LGBT titles such as my novel MEN WITH THEIR HANDS can be easily had at bn.com and Amazon. Of course, I'd prefer that you support independent bookstores whenever possible!

It might interest you to read this thoughtful--and very first--review of my play collection WHISPERS OF A SAVAGE SORT AND OTHER PLAYS at Wordgathering, a disability-oriented web site that features poetry and book reviews.

Later this month, when I have time, I will collate *all* the reviews of my book ASSEMBLY REQUIRED: NOTES FROM A DEAF GAY LIFE (currently available only from RID.org) and update my web site. They are among truly the best raves of my career; that the book is now nominated for a Lambda Literary Award is a nice bonus. (Winners will be announced in late May.)

These days I'm in the middle of going through the poems in my next book MUTE (which A Midsummer Night's Press will bring out in April 2010) and writing the first draft of a new novel. My life may be a bit quiet at the moment, but that's totally fine by me. 2009 was a head-spinning year: three new books, three world premiere productions, and lots of readings and reviews. And of course, I have many more irons in the fire for 2010, so we'll see what transpires in the new year!

May everyone have a most Happy Holiday season!

*jingles bells*

Raymond

03 December 2009

On ordering MEN WITH THEIR HANDS on Amazon ...

Hey ...

A few of you have asked me about why it seems so hard to find my new deaf gay novel on Amazon.

Simply put, Suspect Thoughts Press had planned to publish it, and that listing hasn't been removed from Amazon's database. (No hard feelings between Suspect Thoughts Press and me; they just didn't have the money to publish it, which was why I went with a new publisher.) Now that Rebel Satori Press (under their Queer Mojo imprint) is publishing the book, you'll need to search Amazon using the ISBN number for my new novel (978-1-60864-024-9). The correct edition will pop up. Or you can click on this link and order a copy! The Amazon situation should be resolved in a few days, so I thank you for your patience.

Better yet, save a few bucks by ordering it directly from Rebel Satori! (The sale price is in effect until 12/31/09.)

For more information about the book, scroll down to the post below. :-)

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Hugs,

Raymond