Sunday, January 27, 2013

My first gay couple

I've never told anyone this before.

You're the first, dear blog reader.  Or possibly not, depending on how many people have read this already.  Also, does that sound strange, 'dear blog reader?'  It's not 1953.

And that's where I'm going with this, sort of.

The Great Race - 1965

These guys were my first.  I didn't really know what sex was at the time, except that it was icky.  I certainly didn't think of them in those terms.  I just knew it made me feel warm and glad inside whenever they did things together.  I loved Max's loyalty more than anything else about this movie.

I couldn't understand what anyone saw in Natalie Wood's character.  She wanted to be seen as equal to the men but always used her body to get her own way.  I found it disgusting.  On the other hand, no one else seemed to notice how loyal and sweet Max was towards Professor Fate.  Fate was a villain, right?  But Max gave him such loyalty, it was incredible.  He played the bumbling buffoon, but to me, he was the ideal of loyal love.  I could never see Max as evil.  He went along with Fate's plans because he cared about him so deeply, he never questioned their validity.  He loved perhaps not wisely but well.  I still have a fond spot for him.

I never told anyone how I felt about it; I knew even at that young age that no one else seemed to focus on the same thing as me regarding these characters.  It was all about how pretty Natalie Woods was, or how handsome Leslie, or how funny the slapstick elements.

But I held close the relationship between Fate and Max and cherished it in my blushing breast.  (Well.  You know what I mean.)  But I never told anyone before.

As I said, you, dear reader, are the first.

To Max.

Good With Dragons


Good With Dragons
by Hollis Shiloh


Lyle races dragons for a living—if you can call it living, being a slave. Then he meets Saul. A slave has no rights, but that can't stop him from falling in love. Even though maybe it should.

A fantasy-themed gay romance or m/m romance.
Length: approx. 9,000 words
Heat level: low
Tearjerker or angst level: medium
Happy ending: Yes





Falling for Archie



sweet gay romance by Hollis Shiloh





Harris writes instruction manuals for a living and is self-conscious at the best of times. He's not pleased when he manages to break a leg—but he's even less pleased when a pushy friend sends someone to help him around the house while it heals. 

When the young man in question rides up on a motorcycle, Harris expects the worst. 

He certainly never plans to fall in love. But Archie—short, clumsy, and utterly gorgeous—doesn't make it easy.



A contemporary sweet gay romance or m/m romance.

Length: approx. 76 pages or 19,000 words

Heat level: Low




Excerpt:

"Harris," called Archie at the door to the bathroom. "Could you bring out a bandage?"

"For your burn?" asked Harris, blinking.

"No, I've cut myself." He sounded embarrassed.

"You have? How? You just finished burning yourself." 

"I know, I know. Could you just bring the bandage? When you come out. I mean, when you're done." 

Harris smirked. "Of course, Arch."

"Oh, thanks," said Archie, sounding witless and breathless.

How badly did he cut himself. Also, how?

Harris didn't bother with socks and shoes, but left the room still barefoot, bringing the first aid kit. "Let me see?"

Archie stood in the middle of the kitchen, looking lost. He held up a red-slicked hand, gripped tightly in his other. 

Harris made a sound in his throat and reached for it. "Did you wash?"

"No. I'm trying to get the bleeding to stop first." Archie sounded rather faint.

"Right." Harris looked around blindly. He grabbed a clean kitchen towel and began to wrap Archie's hand tightly. Their hands bumped each other in the fumbled hurry. "Hold this up high and squeeze, best you can. Do you need to go to the hospital?"

"No, no, no. I'm fine." 

Harris steered him towards a kitchen chair and guided him to sit. Archie looked pale. 

"How did it happen? How do you possibly cut yourself making tea?"

He nodded to the table. Harris glanced over and saw the partly open packet of cookies sitting there, a sharp knife next to it.

"I always have trouble getting that stupid packaging open, so I thought, why not a knife?" Archie laughed a little breathlessly.

"Not your smartest decision." Harris brushed the hair back from Archie's forehead, holding a hand against the soft, warm skin a moment. His other hand gripped Archie's shoulder. 

Archie leaned against him like one surrendering tension now that he knew he was safe.

Harris closed his eyes, carding fingers tenderly through Archie's hair, wishing he could make this moment last forever.



Winton's Strays


sweet gay romance by Hollis Shiloh



Two young men meet on a train in 1917.

Miles is out of the hospital in time for Christmas, traveling to relatives he doesn't want to see. He was lucky to survive the Great War. But he doesn't feel very lucky right now. Until blue-eyed Winton trips on a scarf and into his life. Winton, with his quirky smile, gentle nature, and rescued pets. 

Miles could love this man, he really could. But how the hell can he burden this kind, bright young man with his wounded, limping self?


A sweet, historical M/M romance / gay romance.

Length: approx. 50 pages or 13,000 words

Heat level: low



Excerpt:



“Isn't it the most beautiful snow?” asked Win. “I could just eat it.”

“You’d get cold.”

“Yes, but--” He cast Miles a startled look. “Cold. You are cold, aren't you? And you just got out of the hospital.” He made an annoyed sound in his throat and halted. “I’m sorry. Here.” He put down his suitcase and retrieved the gigantic blue scarf from his bulging coat pocket.

“You’ll choke me,” warned Miles, grinning.

“I won't.” Winton wound the long, thick scarf around Miles’s neck, his fingers gentle, his slender face close.

Close enough to kiss, if things were just a bit different: if this place were less exposed, if they’d known each other longer, if he was sure. Miles's mouth tingled, but he kept his hands firmly by his side, his mouth to himself.

Win's fingers were careful and light as he fixed the scarf. At length, he drew away with almost a caress, and smiled, his gaze warm and full. “It looks better on you.”  He took Miles's arm again, and they fell into step.



About the Author



Hollis Shiloh writes love stories about men, also referred to as m/m romance or gay romance.  Hollis's stories tends towards the sweet rather than the spicy or erotic.   That's not to say they don't sometimes have physical relationships and angst.  Hollis's preferred genres to write are contemporary, historical, and fantasy.  Hollis writes short as well as long stories, and likes heroes of various sizes and shapes.  When not writing, Hollis enjoys reading, retro music, and being around animals.