Time's Rainbow: Writing Ourselves Back into American History

by Lori L. Lake, Christopher Hawthorne Moss (Editor)

I started writing because I had a need inside
of me to create something that was not there.
Audre Lorde, poet, feminist, and warrior activist for civil rights

Through all but recent recorded history, queer people were omitted from historical records much as women and people of color have been. So many people unheard, so many stories lost...

In this exciting collection you will find unforgettable and brilliant stories that place lesbian and gay characters back into American history. Fourteen talented authors have represented events in the historical timeline from the 1600's Salem Witch Trials to 1970's hijacker DB Cooper because they had a "need to create something that was not there." Many tales are entertaining, heartwarming, and positive, but a few are dark and tragic.

The editors hope that these stories remind readers, especially today's youth, that we deserve to have our place in the narrative of humankind.

The most important fact is that gays have been here since
Day One. To say otherwise is a gross denial and stupidity.
We played an enormous part in the history of America.
Larry Kramer, author, AIDS activist, champion of human rights

***Authors in the Collection*** Christopher Hawthorne Moss E.J. Kindred Ethan Stone Jane Cuthbertson Jess Faraday Jon Michaelsen Judy M. Kerr Kate McLachlan Lee Lynch Lori L. Lake Nann Dunne Patty Schramm Sue Hardesty Victor J. Banis

Genres: LGBT

239 pages, Paperback

Published May 26, 2017

About the author

Lori L. Lake is the author of ten novels, two books of short stories, and editor of two anthologies. She'll soon have four books available in The Gun Series as well as the next book in The Public Eye Mystery Series. Her crime fiction stories have been featured in "Silence of the Loons," "Once Upon a Crime," and "Women of the Mean Streets. She's had romance stories anthologized in "Best Lesbian Romance" and "Women in Uniform." Lori lived in Minnesota for 26 years, but re-located to Portland, Oregon, in 2009. She presents seminars and workshops on writing topics such as character building, plot, the writing process, the writing life, mystery structure, and form and structure in the modern novel. When she's not working at her computer, you can find her either at the local movie house or curled up in a chair reading. She is currently at work on her next novel. Lori very much likes to hear from her readers. (from the publisher's website)

Reviews

[Molly Ringle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The authors of Time’s Rainbow have done a lovely job with a wonderful idea: write stories to illustrate the possible lives of LGBTQ people in all eras of American history. For the most part these aren’t romances (though a few might qualify as such), just stories of certain times in the past, with lead characters who happen to be lesbian or gay, and, due to the nature of social attitudes at the time, often have to hide it, or face terrible consequences.

The time settings and characters include an accused woman in the Salem witch trials, a slave joining the Underground Railroad, a criminal in Portland in the 1880s, an FBI agent working the D.B. Cooper case in 1971, teenagers in the 1950s in New York City, and pioneers and cowboys of the Old West, among others. I loved the variety, was impressed with the quality of writing, and most of all I appreciated how the book accomplished its aim in making me think about what it would really be like to be an LGBTQ person in each of these time periods. I admire them all—the real people whose lives are represented by these fictional protagonists—for their courage and endurance, and for paving the way to our much brighter present.

I hope to see other similar volumes with more historical settings! I think this is a fabulous idea for short story projects.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful. Stories written about gay men and Lesbians at various times in our nation's history with historical accuracy (even the one magic-realist story did that). More, please.

[Katie Pierson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting concept. Loved Kate McLachlan's chapter on the Salem witch trials. Naturally, I loved my sister-in-law Judy Kerr's chapter the best, though.

[Anne Barwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting collection of stories spanning different time periods. All were well written although I did find I enjoyed some more than others.

More detailed review to come.