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The Gift
A turbulent telling of one woman’s immersion in her faith, and one man’s journey to acceptance.
Seeking comfort in the isolation of the western landscape, young single mother Pansy Blackwell brings her son Butch to the Siskiyou Mountains. Fully engulfed in the Jehovah’s Witnesses assurances for a soon-to-arrive end of the world, Pansy raises her son to conform to the constrictive requirements of their religion. But as Butch discovers the wonders of the world around him with an endlessly patient and kindhearted rancher, he embraces the cowboy culture and struggles to live as his authentic self.
In the late 20th Century, rural communities in America were often hostile to the rising-awareness of LGBT people, and Butch is soon cast aside by his church for homosexuality. In The Gift, Scott Terry crafts a memorable and historically-accurate tale of religious extremism and the struggle for acceptance, before the truth of those times are swept under the forgotten rug of history.
Seeking comfort in the isolation of the western landscape, young single mother Pansy Blackwell brings her son Butch to the Siskiyou Mountains. Fully engulfed in the Jehovah’s Witnesses assurances for a soon-to-arrive end of the world, Pansy raises her son to conform to the constrictive requirements of their religion. But as Butch discovers the wonders of the world around him with an endlessly patient and kindhearted rancher, he embraces the cowboy culture and struggles to live as his authentic self.
In the late 20th Century, rural communities in America were often hostile to the rising-awareness of LGBT people, and Butch is soon cast aside by his church for homosexuality. In The Gift, Scott Terry crafts a memorable and historically-accurate tale of religious extremism and the struggle for acceptance, before the truth of those times are swept under the forgotten rug of history.
284 pages, Paperback
First published February 25, 2025
3 people are currently reading
1038 people want to read
About the author
Scott M. Terry
2 books31 followersAs a gay kid in the 1970s, I spent my childhood praying for God and Armageddon to heal me of my homosexual thoughts. Raised as a Jehovah's Witness, I escaped from them when I was sixteen and ended up a gay cowboy, riding bulls and roping.
My first book, a memoir, (Cowboys, Armageddon, and The Truth) was named one of the Top 20 Must Read Books of 2013 by Advocate magazine. It was named one of the best LGBT releases of 2012 by Out In Print and Band of Thebes book lists, and was a double-award winner of the Rainbow Book Awards (Best Gay Debut, and Best LGBT Non-Fiction, 2013). My new novel, The Gift, is a work of fiction and was awarded the Gold Medal by the Independent Book Awards (IPPY Awards) for best LGBTQ Fiction of 2025. I have written often for the San Francisco Chronicle, and my essays have been featured in the Huffington Post and the Gay & Lesbian Review, amongst others. My husband and I operate an organic farm in the San Francisco Bay Area.
My rodeo gear, clothing, and championship buckles are in the permanent collection of the Autry Museum of the American West (Los Angeles), and are currently featured in the museum’s Imagined Wests exhibit.
My first book, a memoir, (Cowboys, Armageddon, and The Truth) was named one of the Top 20 Must Read Books of 2013 by Advocate magazine. It was named one of the best LGBT releases of 2012 by Out In Print and Band of Thebes book lists, and was a double-award winner of the Rainbow Book Awards (Best Gay Debut, and Best LGBT Non-Fiction, 2013). My new novel, The Gift, is a work of fiction and was awarded the Gold Medal by the Independent Book Awards (IPPY Awards) for best LGBTQ Fiction of 2025. I have written often for the San Francisco Chronicle, and my essays have been featured in the Huffington Post and the Gay & Lesbian Review, amongst others. My husband and I operate an organic farm in the San Francisco Bay Area.
My rodeo gear, clothing, and championship buckles are in the permanent collection of the Autry Museum of the American West (Los Angeles), and are currently featured in the museum’s Imagined Wests exhibit.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 15, 2025
4.5 stars.
The Gift by Scott Terry is a compelling coming of age historical novel.
Pansy Blackwell’s decision to move to Fresno proves to be life altering when she becomes a Jehovah’s Witness. A single mother to her young son William aka Butch, their life takes an unexpected turn when they move to the Siskiyou Mountains. Still extremely devout, Pansy works for another member of the Jehovah’s witness while Butch is taken under the wing of rancher Steve Bultemeyer.
Butch is quickly enamored of the cowboy culture and readily follow Steve’s directions and life lessons. Although he loves his mother, he begins to have doubts about the Jehovah’s Witness. He is also frustrated by the pressure put on him by his mother’s boss to take on more religious responsibilities. A friendship with a high school friend becomes a turning point as his sexuality becomes a cudgel against him.
The Gift is an engrossing novel set against the backdrop of the rigid confines of the Jehovah’s Witness. Butch is a wonderfully drawn character who struggles to be true to himself during a time and place where being gay is not at all acceptable. Steve is a wise man who wants nothing but the best for Butch. Pansy is a good mother but her devotion to the Jehovah’s Witness leads to harsh decisions. The storyline is engaging with a vividly drawn setting. Scott Terry brings this thought-provoking novel to a very heartfelt conclusion.
The Gift by Scott Terry is a compelling coming of age historical novel.
Pansy Blackwell’s decision to move to Fresno proves to be life altering when she becomes a Jehovah’s Witness. A single mother to her young son William aka Butch, their life takes an unexpected turn when they move to the Siskiyou Mountains. Still extremely devout, Pansy works for another member of the Jehovah’s witness while Butch is taken under the wing of rancher Steve Bultemeyer.
Butch is quickly enamored of the cowboy culture and readily follow Steve’s directions and life lessons. Although he loves his mother, he begins to have doubts about the Jehovah’s Witness. He is also frustrated by the pressure put on him by his mother’s boss to take on more religious responsibilities. A friendship with a high school friend becomes a turning point as his sexuality becomes a cudgel against him.
The Gift is an engrossing novel set against the backdrop of the rigid confines of the Jehovah’s Witness. Butch is a wonderfully drawn character who struggles to be true to himself during a time and place where being gay is not at all acceptable. Steve is a wise man who wants nothing but the best for Butch. Pansy is a good mother but her devotion to the Jehovah’s Witness leads to harsh decisions. The storyline is engaging with a vividly drawn setting. Scott Terry brings this thought-provoking novel to a very heartfelt conclusion.
March 1, 2025
The Gift is a quiet coming-of-age story of both mother and son.
I really liked starting the story with Pansy, Butch's mother, as the protagonist. When the lens refocused on Butch, I had a good sense of how Pansy's values and anxieties developed from her own lived experience.
Despite the looming shadow of religious prejudice, this book is more of a journey than a drama. Terry takes the time to paint a picture of a small family shaped by circumstance and the consequences of their own actions. While I usually choose more intense books, I enjoyed this change of pace. I found Terry's writing style comfortable and reflective.
I'm grateful for the chance to check out this book for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
I really liked starting the story with Pansy, Butch's mother, as the protagonist. When the lens refocused on Butch, I had a good sense of how Pansy's values and anxieties developed from her own lived experience.
Despite the looming shadow of religious prejudice, this book is more of a journey than a drama. Terry takes the time to paint a picture of a small family shaped by circumstance and the consequences of their own actions. While I usually choose more intense books, I enjoyed this change of pace. I found Terry's writing style comfortable and reflective.
I'm grateful for the chance to check out this book for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
January 9, 2025
Thoroughly enjoying story of boy coming of age starting in the 60's. Raised by his mother, who was Catholic till coming to California when she bought into the JW movement. Befriended by a cattleman who becomes a surrogate father figure, he lives a life of bare necessity but joy when out with the cattle?
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 4, 2025
Came across this in the middle of the Steinbeck binge for which I was preparing, and it was a great follow up/companion to what I’d read so far! Terry’s ‘The Gift’ is steeped in everything Steinbeck also captures perfectly: ranch country 🐂 farm life 🌾🐕🐎 and small villages where everyone is in everyone’s business.
‘The Gift’ is a coming-of-age narrative of a boy although the novel takes you well into his mid-life. The questions, doubts, and curiosities with which Butch grapples as he struggles to see ‘the truth’ of Jehovah’s Withesses and the rules by which one must live to belong to the religion is captured very well - from believing in it blindly and whole-heartedly as a child and tween, to the alienation he feels as he becomes gradually excluded from the group as he becomes aware of his individuality and sexuality. But this struggle runs parallel to the more dominant story of his discovery of love for ranch life. 🐎 I enjoyed this much more than his struggles with his faith.
What I liked best was that the novel began with Butch’s mother Pansy’s story. So, even as the people who come across her in later life, through Butch mostly, believe her to be a bit neurotic/extremist/aggressive, we the readers can understand where she’s coming from and why she is the way she is. This was a nice touch and I thought it gave the story a lot more depth.
This was a quiet, relaxing read, and I really enjoyed it. I was transported to the ranch/farm life depicted and really didn’t want the story to end. Can’t wait to read more from Scott M. Terry!
🙏🏽
Thank you to the author and Book Sirens for the ARC!
🙏🏽
‘The Gift’ is a coming-of-age narrative of a boy although the novel takes you well into his mid-life. The questions, doubts, and curiosities with which Butch grapples as he struggles to see ‘the truth’ of Jehovah’s Withesses and the rules by which one must live to belong to the religion is captured very well - from believing in it blindly and whole-heartedly as a child and tween, to the alienation he feels as he becomes gradually excluded from the group as he becomes aware of his individuality and sexuality. But this struggle runs parallel to the more dominant story of his discovery of love for ranch life. 🐎 I enjoyed this much more than his struggles with his faith.
What I liked best was that the novel began with Butch’s mother Pansy’s story. So, even as the people who come across her in later life, through Butch mostly, believe her to be a bit neurotic/extremist/aggressive, we the readers can understand where she’s coming from and why she is the way she is. This was a nice touch and I thought it gave the story a lot more depth.
This was a quiet, relaxing read, and I really enjoyed it. I was transported to the ranch/farm life depicted and really didn’t want the story to end. Can’t wait to read more from Scott M. Terry!
🙏🏽
Thank you to the author and Book Sirens for the ARC!
🙏🏽
November 28, 2025
Loved this! Finally, a story about a gay bear that isn’t pornographic!
This is one of the rare gay stories which doesn’t focus on the pornographic depiction of sex acts between its characters. There are hints of it, but it is never waved in the reader’s face. Instead, the author very deftly paints rich portraits of his characters through their dialog, internal, and external, and their actions. I could hardly put it down.
This is one of the rare gay stories which doesn’t focus on the pornographic depiction of sex acts between its characters. There are hints of it, but it is never waved in the reader’s face. Instead, the author very deftly paints rich portraits of his characters through their dialog, internal, and external, and their actions. I could hardly put it down.
November 15, 2025
Very well written and engrossing. The summary seems to focus more on the latter half, but very worth waiting for. A beautiful book.
November 4, 2025
I was ‘gifted’ this book through Goodreads. While it not my usual genre, I am glad I read it. While slow to develop, I believe it needed to be that way. To be immersed in the religion he was born into, then , becoming a man, struggling with his sexual identity.
February 19, 2025
The Gift, by Scott Terry, introduces us to a single mother, Pansy Blackwell, who has brought her son with her to the Siskiyou Mountains, where she is sucked into the local Jehovah’s Witnesses group. Without much going for her other than her son, William, she’s quickly beguiled by their promises of the end of the world and their places as saved in the new world to come.
For William, who has never had a father as a role model, meeting Steve, a genuine rancher, changes not only his life but his name as well when Steve renames him Butch.
‘The Gift’ is more than a coming-of-age story — it’s a tale of a queer boy coming to terms with his sexuality and the struggle he has to reconcile his nature to the religion he’s followed for much of his life.
This novel would be the most satisfying writing I’ve read in a long time. Scott Terry’s intimate knowledge gained through his own experiences as a Jehovah’s Witness lends the novel an authenticity that makes ‘The Gift’ a joy to read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
For William, who has never had a father as a role model, meeting Steve, a genuine rancher, changes not only his life but his name as well when Steve renames him Butch.
‘The Gift’ is more than a coming-of-age story — it’s a tale of a queer boy coming to terms with his sexuality and the struggle he has to reconcile his nature to the religion he’s followed for much of his life.
This novel would be the most satisfying writing I’ve read in a long time. Scott Terry’s intimate knowledge gained through his own experiences as a Jehovah’s Witness lends the novel an authenticity that makes ‘The Gift’ a joy to read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 28, 2025
Scott Terry's novel The Gift is a heart-wrenching coming-of-age story that takes readers to Farnsworth, California, in the late 1960s—early 1970s. Pansy is a little girl who has seen more abuse and trauma than one should. When her father murders her mother, she goes to live with her Uncle in Salt Lake. At eighteen, she is looking for something more in life and meets Ace, a young man struggling against his identity and beliefs. Pansy is determined to marry Ace and move to Fresno, California, where they can start a new life together. When things do not go as planned, she ends up pregnant in Fresno alone. She is taken in hand by the Jehovah's Witnesses where she finds a new sense of purpose and dedicates her life to the service of the Truth.
Seven years later, Pansy makes a decision that will forever alter the course of her life and that of her son, William. They move to the Siskiyou Mountains, and it is here that William meets the man who will become a surrogate father to him. The first cracks that appear in Pansy's well planned and laid out life is when her son changes his name to Butch, a real cowboy name. This is the turning point for Butch, where he starts to struggle with his mother's views on the world and Religion, the conservative view the mountain country, and his own self-identy.
The Gift is Butch's story of trying balance the expectations of his church and mother with discovering and accepting his true authentic self. Butch tries to follow the teachings of his church but when he is caught kissing a boy, the church and his own mom turn on him, casting him out untill he repents for his sins and returns to a Godly way of living. Living in a place that shuns anyone different, especially those that identify as LGBT causes him to isolate himself and push aside the one man that he falls in love with. Butch's life is one of secrecy in the mountains, meeting men in secret, while those in the city embrace the roaring 70s and live authentically in the public. He claims he is just a simple cowboy and is happy living alone, and that he doesn't need the world to know about his business. But underneath it all, readers can see the struggle, the frustrations, and how his own pride keeps him from finding the happiness others keep telling him he deserves. There is a touching moment near the end after his mother calls him and tells him his father is dead and that he is "just like his father" that we get to see how the isolation of being gay in this time and place has hit him.
Scott Terry has given readers a story that accurately portrays the bigotry of the late 60s and early 70s, especially from the perspective of small town communities. He also sheds light on religious extremism that uses fear and isolation to get members to conform to their way of life. Butch's story is one of survival, self-discovery, and acceptance. While written about a period in the past, The Gift is still relevant today and is an excellent choice for LGBTQ+ readers struggling to find their way and accept who they are, or anyone who enjoys family dramas.
Seven years later, Pansy makes a decision that will forever alter the course of her life and that of her son, William. They move to the Siskiyou Mountains, and it is here that William meets the man who will become a surrogate father to him. The first cracks that appear in Pansy's well planned and laid out life is when her son changes his name to Butch, a real cowboy name. This is the turning point for Butch, where he starts to struggle with his mother's views on the world and Religion, the conservative view the mountain country, and his own self-identy.
The Gift is Butch's story of trying balance the expectations of his church and mother with discovering and accepting his true authentic self. Butch tries to follow the teachings of his church but when he is caught kissing a boy, the church and his own mom turn on him, casting him out untill he repents for his sins and returns to a Godly way of living. Living in a place that shuns anyone different, especially those that identify as LGBT causes him to isolate himself and push aside the one man that he falls in love with. Butch's life is one of secrecy in the mountains, meeting men in secret, while those in the city embrace the roaring 70s and live authentically in the public. He claims he is just a simple cowboy and is happy living alone, and that he doesn't need the world to know about his business. But underneath it all, readers can see the struggle, the frustrations, and how his own pride keeps him from finding the happiness others keep telling him he deserves. There is a touching moment near the end after his mother calls him and tells him his father is dead and that he is "just like his father" that we get to see how the isolation of being gay in this time and place has hit him.
Scott Terry has given readers a story that accurately portrays the bigotry of the late 60s and early 70s, especially from the perspective of small town communities. He also sheds light on religious extremism that uses fear and isolation to get members to conform to their way of life. Butch's story is one of survival, self-discovery, and acceptance. While written about a period in the past, The Gift is still relevant today and is an excellent choice for LGBTQ+ readers struggling to find their way and accept who they are, or anyone who enjoys family dramas.
February 7, 2025
The Gift
By: Scott Terry
Publisher: Torchflames Books
Release Date: February 25, 2025
Length: 294 pages
Triggers: Religious extremism, homophobia, family conflict
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Powerful and Heartfelt Coming-of-Age Story
Scott Terry’s The Gift is a deeply moving and historically accurate novel that explores the complexities of religious extremism and the struggle for self-acceptance. Set against the rugged isolation of the Siskiyou Mountains, this poignant tale follows Butch Blackwell, a boy raised by his devout Jehovah’s Witness mother, Pansy. Entrenched in the belief that the world is on the verge of ending, Pansy dedicates herself to raising Butch within the rigid confines of her faith.
But Butch’s world expands beyond the limits of his mother’s religion when he forms a life-changing bond with a kindhearted rancher. Through their friendship, Butch discovers the beauty of the Western lifestyle, developing a love for the cowboy way of life. As he grows, he begins to realize that his truth does not align with the expectations of his faith or community. In a time and place where LGBT acceptance was nearly nonexistent, Butch is ultimately cast aside by his church for his sexuality, forcing him to forge his own path to self-acceptance.
Mr. Terry crafts an immersive, thought-provoking narrative that not only highlights the struggle between personal identity and religious indoctrination but also sheds light on a piece of American history that is often overlooked. His portrayal of the late 20th-century rural landscape is both vivid and unflinching, capturing the tensions between deeply rooted traditions and the emergence of new social awareness.
The novel is a powerful coming-of-age story—gritty, emotional, and unforgettable. Butch’s journey is both heartbreaking and hopeful, and readers will find themselves fully invested in his fight for the freedom to live as his authentic self. The Gift is a must-read for those who appreciate historical fiction with deep emotional resonance and themes of resilience, identity, and courage.
By: Scott Terry
Publisher: Torchflames Books
Release Date: February 25, 2025
Length: 294 pages
Triggers: Religious extremism, homophobia, family conflict
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Powerful and Heartfelt Coming-of-Age Story
Scott Terry’s The Gift is a deeply moving and historically accurate novel that explores the complexities of religious extremism and the struggle for self-acceptance. Set against the rugged isolation of the Siskiyou Mountains, this poignant tale follows Butch Blackwell, a boy raised by his devout Jehovah’s Witness mother, Pansy. Entrenched in the belief that the world is on the verge of ending, Pansy dedicates herself to raising Butch within the rigid confines of her faith.
But Butch’s world expands beyond the limits of his mother’s religion when he forms a life-changing bond with a kindhearted rancher. Through their friendship, Butch discovers the beauty of the Western lifestyle, developing a love for the cowboy way of life. As he grows, he begins to realize that his truth does not align with the expectations of his faith or community. In a time and place where LGBT acceptance was nearly nonexistent, Butch is ultimately cast aside by his church for his sexuality, forcing him to forge his own path to self-acceptance.
Mr. Terry crafts an immersive, thought-provoking narrative that not only highlights the struggle between personal identity and religious indoctrination but also sheds light on a piece of American history that is often overlooked. His portrayal of the late 20th-century rural landscape is both vivid and unflinching, capturing the tensions between deeply rooted traditions and the emergence of new social awareness.
The novel is a powerful coming-of-age story—gritty, emotional, and unforgettable. Butch’s journey is both heartbreaking and hopeful, and readers will find themselves fully invested in his fight for the freedom to live as his authentic self. The Gift is a must-read for those who appreciate historical fiction with deep emotional resonance and themes of resilience, identity, and courage.
March 15, 2025
I got this book through Booksiren as an ARC copy for an exchange for my review. It really started slow due to language and a few changes in writing structure before it finally picked up. I really enjoyed the flow, and I will say I share a lot of similarities with Butch (Williams), from my perspective as a Nigerian gay man. I love the story’s progression. It began through a grandmother, then progressed to Pansy, and then his queer child. Though I feel the story was more of Pansy, so it’s really less of LGBTQ+ fiction than it was marketed in the “tag”. More of literary fiction.
While I loved its world-building, I hated the fact that I didn’t get a lot of glimpses of queer love and really hoped the book focused more on Butch (Williams) and coming to terms with his sexuality. I grew up in a Catholic family church and moved to a Protestant one while living with my Uncle, who didn’t adhere to the Catholic faith. While I was necessarily a Jehovah's Witness, I witnessed a lot of scaremongering tactics from Jehovah's Witnesses. I read their pamphlets and shivered on what they thought about the world and their prophecies, until recently.
The book perfectly captures what religion does in the minds of its adherents. In 2025, the world is still thriving, and no new world or whatsoever. If you are hoping for a good quick read for both its message and entertainment, this is a good read. I really loved how smooth it was to read, and despite the fact I time myself with daily maximum chapters, I always wanted to extend it, but the daily timers are perfect for my daily productivity.
While I loved its world-building, I hated the fact that I didn’t get a lot of glimpses of queer love and really hoped the book focused more on Butch (Williams) and coming to terms with his sexuality. I grew up in a Catholic family church and moved to a Protestant one while living with my Uncle, who didn’t adhere to the Catholic faith. While I was necessarily a Jehovah's Witness, I witnessed a lot of scaremongering tactics from Jehovah's Witnesses. I read their pamphlets and shivered on what they thought about the world and their prophecies, until recently.
The book perfectly captures what religion does in the minds of its adherents. In 2025, the world is still thriving, and no new world or whatsoever. If you are hoping for a good quick read for both its message and entertainment, this is a good read. I really loved how smooth it was to read, and despite the fact I time myself with daily maximum chapters, I always wanted to extend it, but the daily timers are perfect for my daily productivity.
March 2, 2025
Confronting beliefs and attitudes
Scott Terry writes an intriguing and thought-provoking story featuring the lives of Pansy and her son, William (aka Butch) in the less affluent aspects of small-town American life from the mid 1950’s to more current times.
I was especially impacted by the lack of any emotional response that Pansy and, to a slightly lesser extent, Butch manifested with regards to their experiences, whether positive or negative; and it was only later in the book that Butch began to acknowledge and discuss his feelings.
The lack of affection, the sometimes adversely dominant influence of religion, and the abhorrence of divergently sexual preferences are in stark contrast to the positive aspects of a young boy attracted to kind acceptance and learning to care for nature in this book populated by many diverse characters.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Scott Terry writes an intriguing and thought-provoking story featuring the lives of Pansy and her son, William (aka Butch) in the less affluent aspects of small-town American life from the mid 1950’s to more current times.
I was especially impacted by the lack of any emotional response that Pansy and, to a slightly lesser extent, Butch manifested with regards to their experiences, whether positive or negative; and it was only later in the book that Butch began to acknowledge and discuss his feelings.
The lack of affection, the sometimes adversely dominant influence of religion, and the abhorrence of divergently sexual preferences are in stark contrast to the positive aspects of a young boy attracted to kind acceptance and learning to care for nature in this book populated by many diverse characters.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 19, 2025
The majority of this book has nothing to do with the description as posted on 8/18/2025. Butch is not the main character for the majority of this book - his mother Pansy is. The book doesn't match the overview until about 70% in. Once it gets there? It is magic. I wanted to read a full book not 30% of one.
I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads (and only entered because of the description)
I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads (and only entered because of the description)
December 18, 2025
I really enjoyed the structure of this book. It covers a long stretch of time, giving you all the background information you need to really get the psychology behind the story. It made the whole thing feel grounded and real. Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews