I've got a brand-new fan, and I'm still hot and bothered!

Recently I had experienced one of the greatest pleasures in my writing life: a fan not just telling me how much s/he likes my work but explaining why s/he has enjoyed my work.

Bryan Borland, a young hearing poet in Arkansas whose debut book MY LIFE AS ADAM blew me away, blogged about me in terms that still embarrasses me (in a good way). This literally made my day because writing is such a solitary profession. Sometimes you wonder if it's worth the struggle to craft a better sentence, a better paragraph, and a better book. Then I get something like this. I think I'm more speechless than he is!

He went on to explain why he loved my book MUTE on Amazon in his five-star review: "... in the months since I've read it (several times now, in fact), that crush has blossomed into a full-on love affair, and I can say that Mute ranks as one of my all-time favorite contemporary books of poetry." Wow. How does one say "thank you" to something like that?!?

Yes, you could buy the book directly from Amazon, but my publisher, A Midsummer Night's Press, would be very happy to give you free prompt shipping within the US! Please order directly from A Midsummer Night's Press here.

One other note before I resume researching and rewriting my new novel's second draft (yes, I've been working on a brand-new novel that's very different from my previous works of fiction, which is yet another reason why I'm so excited about it): The CHAUTAUQUA literary journal has brought out a new poem of mine ("Recital") in their "Words & Music" issue (#7).

And there's a brand-new poem ("In Edinburgh Castle") in the latest issue of KISS-FIST! Check it out here.

Stay cool, all!

Two quick things before I vamoose!

Hello:

Hope everyone's staying cool. I certainly am! :)

Seriously, though, I do want to call your attention to the existence of two new poems in print ("Guesswork" and "Bessie Smith's Advice to a Young Lesbian") in OFF THE ROCKS 14. (The cover is below.) The new edition is not yet mentioned in their web site, but do check it out anyway.



Just as importantly, I got a really thoughtful review of my novel Men with Their Hands by Robb C. Sewell. Please read his review here. If you haven't read my novel, please check it out! (Hint, hint ...)

Thanks, and may you all have a most Happy 4th!

Best,

Raymond

Guess what? I got a *new* dog!

... er, no.

My dog Rocky got such a transformative haircut earlier today that I hadn't realized just how big his tongue was in relation to his own body. At least he can cool off for the next few months. Hard to believe it's the *same* dog!

May everyone stay cool all summer long!

A long interview with yours truly at Lambda Literary!

Hi everyone!

Hope y'all are staying cool and dry these summery days!

Just wanted to drop a quick note about the interview I did about my experiences as a Deaf gay writer.

Check it out!

Thanks again.