Andrew Q. Gordon

Blog

  • Review – What Binds Us – By Larry Benjamin

    What Binds Us – By Larry Benjamin

    Reviews – to me at least – are a tricky thing. On the one hand, when you like a book, you want to talk about all the things that make you like it. Balancing this desire is the need to not spoil things for others.  Hiding things in spoilers is always an option, but how many of us don’t peek?  So with that in mind, I’ll set out to do this justice without any spoilers.

    I wish I could give this more than 5 stars and rate it more than once. There were times when I really felt Thomas-Edward, the narrator, was a real person sitting next to me and telling his story. The depth of the character and the bitter sweet undercurrent throughout the book left me feeling this could almost be an autobiography, the emotions were so vivid.  Maybe it is, I don’t know the author other than exchanging a few emails, so it’s possible, but I don’t think it’s autobiographical, just damn good writing. (more…)

  • I Caved and Joined Twitter

    So on advice of an author acquaintance – thank you Larry – I decided it was a good idea to at least open a Twitter account and slowly figure out how to use it. I don’t think I’ll be a tweet monster, but I suppose it won’t hurt to drop a few every now and then.

    For anyone interested, the account is – originally enough – andrewqgordon.

    Now to find something else to write about. 😯

  • New Year – New Focus

    2013 will mark a few changes for my ‘life’ as an author.  First, I’m on my own. In 2011 and last year, Anyta and I collaborated on two books, one of which – Bettor To Lose – won a contest and the other – (Un)Masked – was published by Dreamspinner Press.  This year, The Last Grand Master and Purpose will be published by Dreamspinner Press and they are all mine.  No more riding Anyta’s coattails.

    Second, I’m going to try something new on my blog. I’ve met a bunch of new, not so new and establish authors who work with Dreamspinner Press. As a whole, they a very welcoming community. Ask questions, get an answer. Augusta Li – “Gus” – helped me out with my upcoming book by drawing the map of the world to help make things clearer. And by helping me out I mean taking a rough sketch, a short deadline and a general lack of precise information from and creating something I think is really goood.  Oh yeah I was not charged a cent the work. (more…)

  • My Coffee Pot Broke – and other tales from the struggle called life.

    So Sunday morning, I woke, looking forward to the start of a glorious day of shopping, shopping, more shopping and cooking.  I kinda hate to shop, but morning coffee can do wonders to put me in a good mood.  So I cleaned the tank, measured the water, scooped out the coffee, turned it on and went to take care of my baby daddy duty. [Stop snickering I said duty, not doodie.] When I came down to get my supposedly made coffee I got nothing. Nada. Not a drop.  Ever want to scream, but couldn’t because you have a sleeping baby?  The rule in our house is, “you wake her, you bought her.” Making matters worse, the machine, a Cuisinart DCC 3000 is only seven months old.  It was a replacement from the manufacturer for another one that was only a year old.  Very annoying.  Fortunately the Starbucks is only a ten minute walk.  Oh well – good thing Christmas is coming. I see a new coffee machine from Santa on my list. (more…)

  • Book updates.

    It’s hard to believe it’s been a month since I last posted. Much has happened, mostly all good too.

    Chosen Of Honorus has a tentative release date of February, 2013.  I’m just starting the editing process with Dreamspinner Press and their art department is working on a cover. I’m excited and interested to see what they come up with.  More details when they become available.

    In other news, Dreamspinner Press informed me this week they are buying my third novel – Purpose, with a release date of May or June 2013. Purpose is perhaps my favorite story of all my writing – though I suspect each ‘new’ story will be my ‘new’ favorite. This is very different from anything else I’ve written. It’s darker, more introspective, less angsty, more gritty.  It’s set in contemporary Washington, D.C.  Like most of my writing, there is very little sex, but I think that’s what worked for the story.  I asked a few people who review m/m fiction on Goodreads for feedback before I submitted it, and based on the positive comments, I sent it to the publisher. They, along with everyone else who helped me, will get a shout out in the acknowledgement section.

    With three books in a year, I’m about tapped out. I’ll be glad to get one a year out after this, with two being a banner year. Not much help for it while the baby is still young. I wouldn’t trade my time with her for anything, not even a new novel.

    Next post will be more of a personal update, so stay tuned.

  • Rainbow Book reviews did a review of (Un)Masked. Scroll down to find the link.

  • I Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Lives With Another Selfless Request For Support:

    In less than three weeks the people of Maryland are going to vote on my civil rights. For anyone reading from another country, yes this happens all the time in the United States – seems like every year some religious group manages to put on the ballot a referendum question asking the citizens of one state or another to vote to limit the civil rights of gays and lesbians. For a country that touts the separation of church and state, it is astounding how much of our civil rights are control by religion.

    But in 2012, the Maryland legislators voted to pass civil equality on the issue of marriage.  Contrary to the scare tactics of the religious right and the republican party, Maryland’s marriage equality does not adversely affect any religious community. Yet their ads on TV continue to try to scare folks into believing their religious freedom is at stake. (more…)

  • Updates and Ramblings

    It’s been a bit since my lost post – having a baby turn one can tie up your time like no one’s business.  And it’s been even longer since an update on what’s next writing wise.  So here we go –

    First a few more shameless plugs: (more…)

  • Marriage Equality Maryland – Part II

    Sunday I said this would be a two part post, but didn’t quite get to it last night.  What started this was an article in the Washington Post Editorial section I read on Sunday.

    Why I Oppose Gay Marriage.

    The author claims to be a gay man, but is also a co-founder of the local Tea Party chapter. Among other things, he says he was for gay marriage before, but after reading up on the topic he found he could not defend his position and is opposed to it now.  He concludes by saying he is all for equal rights for same sex couples, but wants them to be called something different. (more…)

  • Gay Marriage In Maryland – Part One

    This is going to be a two part post. Today, in Part One, a more positive post.  Tomorrow’s will deal with an editorial in the Washington Post by someone who made – in my opinion – some ridiculous arguments. But today will be non-confrontational.

    Today there was a fund raiser for Equality Maryland – the lobbying group trying to get the referendum on the gay marriage bill to pass.  Originally it was supposed to be a screening of a movie with some comments by the State Attorney General, Doug Gansler.  Attorney General Gansler was one the first high profile elected official to support same sex marriage in Maryland. His office took the position that Maryland HAD to recognize same sex marriages from other states under the state constitution.  That position was recently upheld by the courts in Maryland. By the time we arrived, the Governor, the Lt. Governor and the Congressman from that district all agreed to speak.  The event raised a fair bit of money, though probably not enough given how much money is being spent by opponents. (more…)