Featured Author & Giveaway: Madison Parker

Madison Parker grew up in Germany where she feasted on Gummibärchen, wandered through the woods on many a Volksmarch, and dreamed of one day living in a castle on a mountain with a boy who knew how to rock a pair of lederhosen. The Fates had other plans for her, but she’s not complaining.

Madison began writing LGBTQ fiction to help address issues of bullying and low self-esteem among young adults. Her short story, SOCK IT TO ME, SANTA!, explores one boy’s struggle to come out in a hostile school environment. Her debut novel, PLAY ME, I’M YOURS, takes the reader on an emotional journey in search of love and self-acceptance.

Q&A with Author Madison Parker:

1. If you could swap places with one of your fictional characters for 24 hours, who would you choose to be? Why? And what would you do that day?
   
   Now that I think about it, all of my major characters tend to have the talents and skills I wish I had. Lucas is a piano prodigy, Zach is a swimming champion, Trish sings like a diva, Donovan has killer looks and a quick wit, Ryan is a serious gamer, and Jamie is a skilled knitter with a funky sense of fashion. Can I have all of that, please? No? Well if I had to choose, I would walk in Lucas’s shoes for the day. He and I share a heart and soul. I love him dearly. I would find a street piano on display in a scenic park and play the heck outta that thing all day long while my beautiful boyfriend sat beside me on the piano bench and gave me sweet boy kisses in between songs.


2. What can you tell us about your newest release, Play Me, I’m Yours?
   
   There are a lot of themes I wanted to explore in this story from a fresh perspective. For example, how does bullying affect the family members of the victim? How does the stigma surrounding being gay affect sibling relationships? How does a father who loves his effeminate son overcome the social embarrassment that stems from masculine/feminine stereotypes? How do gay youth deal with bullying and discrimination within the LGBT community? The story also explores the difference between sex for the sake of sex and sex as an expression of love. The main character, Lucas, has more than a few insecurities to overcome as he forges new relationships and faces several obstacles that come his way.


3. Inquiring minds want to know. In Sock it to Me, Santa, the main character Ryan created a sock monkey, or rather, a hoobajoob. If you were to make a sock monkey, what would yours look like? And would it be a hoobajoob?
   
   
   My family makes fun of me all the time for wanting to be crafty. I see pictures in magazines and think “Oh! How cute. That looks easy enough. I could do that.” And inevitably, my attempts at reproducing said items leave much to be desired. I must be missing the crafty gene. It takes a special something something to pull these things off. So part of my motivation for writing the story was to poke fun at myself a bit. But to answer your question, I have not yet made a real sock monkey. A real sock monkey is made from a pair of socks. It requires sewing. Me and sewing machines? Bahahahaha! No. I’d end up with a hoobajoob for sure.
   
   I’m considering buying a small sewing machine and making a sock monkey to bring with me to GayRomLit in Atlanta this fall. You see, despite my lack of talent, I still long to be crafty.


4. What would you like young readers to take away from your novels?
   
   I hope to remind readers that people come in all shapes and sizes. I hope to help them view our differences with an open heart and open mind. Love should be celebrated, not hidden away. More than anything, I hope to reach those young readers whose confidence and self-esteem have been shaken by ugly prejudice, and I hope to help them realize that they are beautiful and worthy of love, just the way they are.


5. You are the web master here at True Colorz. What has True Colorz meant to you?
   
   My primary goal in helping to create True Colorz has always been to connect readers with inspirational stories about LGBTQ youth that offer hope, celebrate love, and stimulate imagination. Many LGBTQ youth feel lost and lonely. While reading stories about fictional characters may not be the same as having a real life shoulder to lean on, I hope it helps them realize that there are many people out there like them, and that there are many people out there who care.

Play Me, I'm Yours by Madison Parker
Published by Harmony Ink Press

Fairy Tate. Twinklefingers. Lucy Liu. Will the taunting ever end? Lucas Tate suffers ridicule because of his appearance and sensitive nature. When he’s not teased, he’s ignored, and he doesn’t know which is worse. He feels unloved by everyone, but the one comfort in life is his music. What he wants more than anything is to find a friend.

Much to his dismay, both his mom and a schoolmate are determined to find him a boyfriend, despite the fact Lucas hasn’t come out to them. His mom chooses a football player who redefines the term “heartthrob,” while Trish pushes him toward the only openly gay boy at Providence High. But Lucas is harboring a crush on another boy, one who writes such romantic poetry to his girlfriend that hearing it melts Lucas into a puddle of goo. All three prospects seem so far out of his league. Lucas is sure he doesn’t stand a chance with any of them—until sharing his gift for music brings him the courage to let people into his heart.
Click here to read the first chapter.

To celebrate the release of Play Me, I'm Yours, Madison Parker is hosting a giveaway. Enter to win your choice of a free copy of Play Me, I'm Yours or a $10 gift certificate from Rainbow eBooks by leaving a comment below along with your email address. For multiple chances to win, comment at each stop along the tour. Click here for the complete tour schedule. Winners will be chosen randomly on April 23.

Play Me, I'm Yours by Madison Parker

Play Me, I'm Yours by Madison Parker

Published by Harmony Ink Press
Pages 244

Blurb: Fairy Tate. Twinklefingers. Lucy Liu. Will the taunting ever end? Lucas Tate suffers ridicule because of his appearance and sensitive nature. When he’s not teased, he’s ignored, and he doesn’t know which is worse. He feels unloved by everyone, but the one comfort in life is his music. What he wants more than anything is to find a friend.

Much to his dismay, both his mom and a schoolmate are determined to find him a boyfriend, despite the fact Lucas hasn’t come out to them. His mom chooses a football player who redefines the term “heartthrob,” while Trish pushes him toward the only openly gay boy at Providence High. But Lucas is harboring a crush on another boy, one who writes such romantic poetry to his girlfriend that hearing it melts Lucas into a puddle of goo. All three prospects seem so far out of his league. Lucas is sure he doesn’t stand a chance with any of them—until sharing his gift for music brings him the courage to let people into his heart.

Review: If you had a chance to read Madison Parker's debut short story, "Sock It to Me, Santa," you already have an inkling of this burgeoning author's talent. Play Me, I'm Yours is her first full-length novel, and it is sure to be immensely successful.

Parker has a gift, not only when it comes to word crafting, but also with characterization. She's able to bring her characters to life in a realistic, memorable way that peels back layer after layer of their complex personalities. She avoids the pitfalls so many authors fall into of over dramatizing her villains and lionizing her protagonists. Instead, they are real people--flawed and complicated. You love them and hate them and sometimes want to smack them upside the head. But when it comes to her main character Lucas, you're going to want to pull him into an embrace and squeeze him so tightly you'll never let go.

Lucas is a doll. His tender heart and sensitivity make him the most sympathetic of characters, but he is also funny and talented. On every page he makes me smile and laugh and (several times) cry. I wanted him to have a protector, a hero, a knight in shining armor--not because Lucas appeared pathetic and weak, but because I loved him so very much.

And the love interest Zach...what can I say? Magnificently flawed. Every bit a man but 100% boy. Irritatingly sexy. Ridiculously romantic. I could go on, but the point is that he was absolutely perfect for Lucas.

Setting aside the dynamic of the romantic relationship, I think this young adult story is so amazing because of the realistic portrayal of Lucas's family life. There were times I really wanted to grab hold of his mother's shoulders and shake her. She did things that were utterly stupid, but don't all parents? Don't parents do things like this when they love their children...sometimes too much?

And I cringed every time Lucas's brother Mason made an appearance. He was so embarrassed by his sensitive, effeminate older brother. This was SO real to me. Seriously, siblings are embarrassed of each other all the time, even when there's nothing to be embarrassed about, and I totally get why Mason was such a jerk about having a gay brother. But the arc of this character was just beautiful. We saw Mason mature right before our eyes.

The cornerstone of this plot, though, in my humble opinion, is the relationship that Lucas has with his father. Finally a true-to-life YA GLBT novel that portrays a loving father/son relationship! I'm so thrilled that Parker did not succumb to the distant-father/dominant-mother stereotype. It was beautiful the way Lucas and his father connected, especially at the end of the story.

I share a connection with this author, so perhaps some will question my objectivity here. But I want to stress that every word of this review is sincere, and my feelings about the story are in no way related to my feelings for Madison Parker. The writing was spectacular, but more than that, the story struck a chord in my heart.

I honestly think this is THE book of the year--award worthy. Five stars PLUS.

Review by Jeff

Madison Parker: Introduction and Giveaway

When Jeff first approached me with his idea of starting a website devoted exclusively to promoting Young Adult LGBT literature, I instantly wanted to be involved. I love reading stories about young adults, and I love writing stories about young adults. I’ve spent most of my life in a school environment. After graduating college, I became a high school teacher, and between that and raising my own son, I’ve spent a great deal of time around young adults.

I also have a lot of sympathy for victims of bullying. My son was bullied in school for years, both verbally and physically, and it breaks my heart to know that he suffered even for a day. And I’m sure I don’t know the half of it. I know he was called a fag on a daily basis. I know kids typed nasty messages about him into their graphing calculators and passed them around class. I know he was shoved into lockers and soda machines, and that he was hit in the head with a field hockey stick during gym. And it pains me that I couldn’t stop it.

I’ll never completely understand why he was a target, but I believe it had to do with the fact that 1) he’s very artistic--he excelled in drama, art, and music, and 2) he’s always had a certain air of superiority about him and has never been shy about expressing his opinions. He’ll argue with anyone about anything. He can charm the pants off of adults, but has always had trouble interacting with people his own age.

Many people at different times in his life have told me they thought he was gay. The first time someone said that to me, it came as a shock. I was angry that someone would jump to that conclusion based on stereotypes. So what if he hated sports? It didn’t mean he was gay. He was only six years old! But I decided right then and there, that if he did turn out to be gay, I wouldn’t want him to feel bad about it. Gay/straight/bi or anything else, it didn’t change who he was; he was the same person.

In middle school, he worked at a local dinner theater doing musical productions. After rehearsal one day, I saw two men hugging intimately, and that prompted me to finally have a talk with my son about it. I didn’t ask him if he was gay. I asked him if he knew so and so was, and told him that there was nothing wrong with it. Yes, he knew. He said there were a lot of gay guys who worked there. It was dinner theater, for God's sake! We joked around about it in a light-hearted way.

In high school, he continued in drama and went through a “phase” where he painted his nails and wore makeup. I even caught him shaving his legs once. He knew what I was thinking that day, but he insisted he wasn’t gay. After high school, he moved out of the house and rented a room from a gay friend and co-worker. That, out of everything, made me question his sexuality the most. It’s one thing to have gay friends; it’s another to live with them. I wouldn't have been surprised had he come out to me.

He’s twenty-four now, and as far as I know, he’s not gay. He’s only ever had girlfriends. He’s been living with his current girlfriend for almost two years now. He even asked me once if I was disappointed that he’s not gay!

I guess my point is that I’m sympathetic to the struggles and growing pains that young people face. Heck, parents face them, too! Coming out stories fascinate me. Stories that deal with stereotypes and people who break them fascinate me as well. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Young Adult fiction, and I’m incredibly thankful to have the opportunity to be involved with True Colorz. Helping young readers connect with stories that address their hopes/dreams/fears/struggles and most importantly, showing them their self-worth, showing them they are deserving of love and acceptance, is my ultimate goal.

To celebrate the launch of our website, I am offering a free copy of my book, Sock it to Me, Santa! to one lucky commenter. Please leave a comment and your email address below to enter the drawing. Winners will be announced January 8th!

Madison's Website: http://madisonparklove.com
Madison on Twitter: @madisonparklove

Sock it to Me, Santa!
Ryan is assigned to Jamie Peterson for his class's secret gift exchange. If word gets out that he has to make a handcrafted gift for flamboyant and openly gay Jamie, Ryan will be the laughing stock of the school. It's a good thing no self-respecting boy would be caught dead in a craft store, because otherwise he'd be at risk of being spotted when his mom drags him to her weekly craft workshops. He hopes Jamie will appreciate all the trouble he's going to for this assignment. Finding the perfect gift is gonna be tricky. Jamie deserves something good, though, after all the crap he has to put up with at school. At least, Ryan tells himself that's the reason he's putting so much thought into the gift. It couldn't be that he has feelings for Jamie, could it?

New Releases for December 2012

Featured New Releases:

See by Jackie Nacht

Published by Divine Destinies

When love allows you to see in your darkest hour. Drew has had a tough couple of months. Coming out to his parents wasn’t too bad except it hasn’t been brought up since. However, coming out to his friends his freshman year in high school is a whole different story.

His friends turn their backs on him and have become leaders in the daily tortures he has since had to endure. When a humiliation page pops up on the internet showing pictures of Drew being bullied, he decides to end it all.

Just before he takes his life, the fourteen-year-old Mason appears telling him that he will be Drew’s husband in the future and spirits are guiding him to help stop Drew from making an irreversible mistake. Mason will be advised to take Drew on a journey to see what his future would be like if he didn’t end his life. When Drew is still unconvinced, Mason will show Drew the impact his life will have on the others around him if he does end it all. Will Mason be able to show him that Drew has a future to live for and give him the guidance to help him get through his darkest hour?

The 7th of London by Beau Schemery

Published by Harmony Ink Press

After his parents and family die, Seven escapes his factory job. By wits and will alone, he survives in a London divided into the affluent Fairside and the squalor of London’s industrial Blackside, where many struggle to eke their existence out of despair. But Seven has to fight for more than just food and shelter.

All over Blackside, a secret cabal of prominent citizens and the mysterious Mr. Kettlebent are snatching children. Rumor has it a wizard is controlling the queen, and the country’s most notorious villain is the only one who wants to stop him. Seven is determined to find out why.

Hired by the criminal Jack Midnight to steal the evil wizard’s spellbook, Seven soon discovers the mystery runs deeper than he suspected. But events spiral out of control, and it isn’t long before the intrigue sweeps Seven into its deadly current.

Bullied by Jeff Erno

Published by Harmony Ink Press

Every day, all over the country, teenagers struggle with the realities of bullying. Tormented, ridiculed, and beaten—simply for being who they are—these teens face alienation, humiliation, and even the explicit assertion that they have somehow brought this upon themselves, that they should just blend in. Bullied is a series of short stories exploring the world of these teens from several different viewpoints: the victim, the bully, the gay bystander, the straight friend, the concerned parent.

Closeted Bryan wonders why Christian Michaelson doesn’t just try to blend in if he hates being bullied so much. Star athlete David isn’t a homophobe—after all, he’s not afraid of anything. Jonathan, a Christian fundamentalist, must weigh the Bible against peer pressure and what he knows is right when he discovers his childhood friend is gay. Bully victim Chase Devereaux finds an unexpected ally in a brave fellow student. A single mom struggles to accept the reality that her only son is gay. Two tough gay teens are forced to confront their own inner demons when tragedy befalls a classmate they failed to help. And overweight Kirby finds the strength of character to make a friend, which leads to a lifestyle change and a chance at love. Each character grows as an individual as he or she comes to terms with what it means to be a gay teenager in America.

Dreams of Fire and Gods: Book One by James Erich

Published by Harmony Ink Press

A thousand years ago, two factions of gods, the Stronni and the Taaweh, nearly destroyed the Kingdom of Dasak by warring for the land and the frightened humans who lived there. Then suddenly the Taaweh vanished and the Stronni declared victory.

Now, as tensions escalate between the emperor and his regent, Vek Worlen, the vek’s son, apprentice mage Sael dönz Menaük, finds himself allied with a homeless vagabond named Koreh. Together they flee the capital city and make their way across a hostile wilderness to the vek’s keep, mere steps ahead of the emperor’s assassins.

But Koreh has dreams—dreams of the ancient Taaweh—and he knows the looming war between the emperor and the vek will be nothing compared to the war that is about to begin. The Taaweh are returning, and the war between the gods may destroy the kingdom once and for all.

Sock It to Me, Santa! by Madison Parker

Published by Madison Parker

Ryan is assigned to Jamie Peterson for his class's secret gift exchange. If word gets out that he has to make a handcrafted gift for flamboyant and openly gay Jamie, Ryan will be the laughing stock of the school. It's a good thing no self-respecting boy would be caught dead in a craft store, because otherwise he'd be at risk of being spotted when his mom drags him to her weekly craft workshops. He hopes Jamie will appreciate all the trouble he's going to for this assignment. Finding the perfect gift is gonna be tricky. Jamie deserves something good, though, after all the crap he has to put up with at school. At least, Ryan tells himself that's the reason he's putting so much thought into the gift. It couldn't be that he has feelings for Jamie, could it?

Sock it to Me, Santa! by Madison Parker

Sock it to Me, Santa! by Madison Parker

Published by Madison Parker
55 Pages

Blurb: Ryan is assigned to Jamie Peterson for his class's secret gift exchange. If word gets out that he has to make a handcrafted gift for flamboyant and openly gay Jamie, Ryan will be the laughing stock of the school. It's a good thing no self-respecting boy would be caught
dead in a craft store, because otherwise he'd be at risk of being spotted when his mom drags him to her weekly craft workshops. He hopes Jamie will appreciate all the trouble he's going to for this assignment. Finding the perfect gift is gonna be tricky. Jamie deserves something good, though, after all the crap he has to put up with at school. At least, Ryan tells himself that's the reason he's putting so much thought into the gift. It couldn't be that he has feelings for Jamie, could it?


Review: Ryan is a closeted gay teenager who faces a dilemma when he participates in his class's secret Santa gift exchange. As bad luck would have it, Ryan is assigned to the most outrageously flamboyant and obviously gay kid in school. Jaimie is the type of teenager that is so gay he even is a member of the school's knitting club.

The thing that really sucks about the whole secret Santa program is that the gift givers are required to make the gifts. They can't just go out and buy something, and each participant must provide three gifts. Ryan has absolutely no idea what he will make for Jaimie.

As the story progresses and the students begin to exchange their gifts, Ryan starts to learn about Jaimie. He sees a very sweet side of Jaimie he never noticed before, and before long, he really likes him.

What Ryan didn't expect, though, was the reality that being friends with the queerest kid in school has certain consequences. Ryan's not sure he is a big enough person to endure the ridicule and bullying that is likely to ensue if he is open about his friendship.

This story is short and sweet, and it warmed my heart. It also had a tiny hint of foot fetishism which I absolutely loved! And both the main characters were totally adorable. The ending is heartwarming and even brought a tear to my eye.

Definitely a five-star read!

Review by Jeff