I just got back from Montreal yesterday and I can definitely say that there's nothing like a week away from your home to make you feel relaxed. It also pointed out to me how complacent I've become with my blog so I thought that it was time to put a new one up.

 The Heart's Filthy Lesson is right now sitting at the editors and before I had left to Montreal I had decided this summer I would begin to attempt to write a gay romantic/comedy that would revolve around one thirty-something gay boy and 4 other men that would add some humor to what would appear to be a story about one person's self acceptance and quest for love. (Okay yes admittedly I'd read Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love). The good news is that work is moving slowly but surely on the first draft which upon writing has actually made me sit back and reflect on my dating life, especially when it comes to one of the characters in the novel called Knockoff (and that's all you get in the meantime…)

Drowned World has still gotten a lot of positive attention as my debut novel. And that still means worlds to me as I prepare yet another novel for publication. I've been asked by some people why I haven't put this one together as Drowned World's sequel. Part of the reason is after looking at the first draft of the manuscript for the first time last summer, changes in the storyline as well as more character development was needed, especially because this would be an indirect link to the third book. Drowned World's sequel also needs some geographic research, so hoping that I make it back to Toronto for more than just thirty minutes or three hours at a time (merci, Air Canada). When this is complete the second draft will be worked on and finally Drowned World's sequel will see the light of day…

(However I can also tell you that the third book in the series is two-thirds finished in a first draft format, so once the sequel is done the plans are to get this out as soon as possible…don't tell me you've been wondering about how Scott and Ryan have been doing all this time…)

The time in Montreal also made me think on some recent events that's been going on in the States as of late. Tyler Clementi jumped off a bridge because his roommate had the bright idea to webcam him having sex with another man in his dorm. Not only this was an invasion of privacy, but also had outed Tyler to the world as gay. It was heartbreaking because within the time stretch of that week there was a whole rash of suicides by kids who had been bullied or harassed for being gay or labeled as gay. I know there are tons of kids/teen suicides that always go unreported or unheard. But this has to stop. There's much more work needed to be done when it comes to letting people know that it's okay to be gay. God loves you and created you and he does not create throwaways…

 I'm especially thankful for the love and support my friends and family gave me when at nineteen I had made the decision to come out. It was not easy, but in the end it was the best thing I could do for myself…

  At this point I do have to give credit where credit is due. If you've been following my blog you know how much disdain I have for Perez Hilton. However in media reports he has stated that he will be giving up his bullying ways…and that in itself means something.

 "An Easier Affair " is a song that was released by George Michael on his Twenty- Five compilation in 2006. The song itself is a snpshot of his complete musical career  to date. More importantly the song focuses on being yourself and not taking shit from anyone. The most important part of the song includes the lyric that I think everybody should, and I personally identify with located at the end and is my closing piece of encouragement to anyone who is reading this.

"…don't let them tell you who you are is not enough…."