The Re-Release of a Classic Mystery Series With John Morgan Wilson – BGFP episode 258
Jeff reviews The Summer of Everything by Julian Winters and I review Second Helpings by Brandon Witt.
J. Scott Coatsworth talks about the re-release of his Liminal Sky sci-fi series as well as the new Innovation flash fiction anthology. He also discusses what he’s currently working on.
We celebrate the 25th anniversary of John Morgan Wilson’s Simple Justice. John speaks with Jeff about bringing this book, and the rest of the Benjamin Justice Mystery Series, back into print with ReQueered Tales. John also shares Justice’s origin story as well as what it was like to revise the book and the similarities between 1994 (when the book is set) and now.
Remember, you can listen and subscribe to the podcast anytime at BigGayFictionPodcast.com.
Quick Review: Second Helpings by Brandon Witt
Second Helpings, the novella by Brandon Witt, packs a novels amount of real emotional punch in just a few pages.
Isaac returns to his small Missouri hometown for his 20th High School reunion. He’s about to ditch the pot-luck get together (yup, it’s that downhome) when in walks the reason he came, Grant.
Isaac and Grant were inseparable growing up, but the day after graduation, Isaac left for New York. Grant stayed behind.
They drive around town together, getting a cherry limeade at the drive-in. All the years away from each other slip away and they head back to Grant’s place.
The next morning, Grant treats Isaac to breakfast in bed and convinces him to stay just one more day. They hang out, eating at the diner Grant runs with his sister. Their time together is nice, but Isaac can’t help but be haunted by the reasons he left town decades earlier.
Grant tries to cheer him up by cooking for him and it does the trick, but Isaac can’t resist teasing Grant just a little about his homestyle way of cooking (cream of mushroom soup and mayo et al). There’s a lot of food in this story (which I’ll get back to in a minute).
It comes out that Grant was married to a woman for many years (he’s now divorced), which causes a minor rift between our heroes since it was Grant’s insistence that they both come out as teenagers that partially pushed Isaac away. They spend one last night in each other’s arms before Isaac drives away the next day.
It’s in flashback that we learn the heartbreaking full story of his difficult family history and why he left Grant behind then, and why he can’t stay now. Like I said earlier, it’s an emotional gut punch, like seriously.
Back in New York a few months later, Isaac is hanging with his bestie trying to recreate the food he experienced in his brief time with Grant. His bestie serves up a reality check. Why is he spending so much time trying to re-create something, when the real thing (the food and the man) is just a phone call away.
Isaac invites him to come for a visit, taking Grant on an admittedly sappy carriage ride through Central Park, where they work out the issues of the past while dreaming up a new future together. Grant has already sold all his stuff in Missouri and is looking to take a culinary leap in the big city.
They’re happy. They’re together. Just like it should have been all along.
God, I can’t even begin to go into how much I just love everything about this story. The heroes are both remarkable, and kind, and interesting.
Second chances is one of my all-time favorite tropes and the way Brandon Witt expertly addresses issues of the past, while showing us that Isaac and Grant are both capable adults able to work through the difficult stuff to get to their HEA, made all warm and fuzzy.
When it comes to the food, Brandon Witt has you covered. All of Grants simple, but tasty, recipes are featured in the back of the book. Yum.
Also, if you happen to be a fan of audiobooks, check out the narration provided by Drew Bacca. Brandon Witt provides the narrative and emotional foundation of the story, but the way Drew handles the alternating narrative viewpoint is really special. He takes the emotion to the next level.
I highly recommend Second Helpings, a wonderful trope-driven romance, that doesn’t skip on the feels.
This review originally appeared as part of the Big Gay Fiction Podcast.
On Writing and Reading With Authors Andy Gallo and LaQuette – BGFP episode 256
Jeff and I announce that the September Big Gay Fiction Book Club selection will be St. Nacho’s by Z.A. Maxfield. We also talk about Jeff’s appearance on the Best Book Ever Podcast and our enthusiastic love of Schitt’s Creek.
I review the workplace romance Andre by Jayce Ellis and Jeff reviews Wrangled by Daryl Banner.
Jeff introduces part of a conversation he had with author LaQuette about reading and writing marginalized characters in romance as a result of a workshop he took with her.
Andy Gallo talks about the Harrison Campus series he writes with Anyta Sunday. He shares how he and Anyta got together and have evolved the series over the past decade. Andy also discusses collaborations he’s working on with BA Tortuga and Meghan Maslow as well as the fantasy books he writes as Andrew Q. Gordon.
Remember, you can listen and subscribe to the podcast anytime at BigGayFictionPodcast.com.
What I’ve Been Reading: August 2020
Author Questions with Daniel Willcocks and Sacha Black – Big Gay Author Podcast episode 58
After Jeff gives everyone an update on his Christmas novel, and says farewell to The Writer’s Well Podcast, we welcome Daniel Willcocks and Sacha Black for a round of Q&A. We find out why they write, steps they took to become full time authors and they also share a mistake and a success that they’ve learned from.
Remember, you can listen and subscribe to the podcast anytime at BigGayAuthorPodcast.com.
Big Gay Fiction Book Club: Troubled Waters by HJ Welch
Jeff and I visit Pine Cove for the August edition of Book Club as we discuss HJ Welch’s Troubled Waters.
What do you get when a social media influencer (who’s life is being threatened) has a scorching hot one night stand, only to discover that the hook-up hottie is in charge of his safety? Troubled Waters is a fun, sexy, action-filled bodyguard romance that you’re sure to love.
As always, in this deep dive discussion there are spoilers ahead. If you’ve read the book, we’d love to hear what you think as well, so please do leave some comments if you’d like.
You can also check out the interview we did with the author in episode 254.
Remember, you can listen and subscribe to the podcast anytime at BigGayFictionPodcast.com.