The Backlot Gay Book Forum discussion

I read Michael's book a couple of years ago and from my recollection, the narrative was quite brutal and horrifying in parts (there's a psychopathic killer on the rampage).

John, our MC, discovers that people are not who they seem to be fairly early on, as he struggles to survive in Pennsylvanian wilderness. He discovers the wonders of gay sex (which Jensen does not hold back on in the writing).

The action is gripping, several scenes were truly scary/spooky and whilst there are elements of romance this book is primarily an action-western-survival tale with several gay characters and one amazing female native one. Most characters were well developed as is the sense of place and time. I should re-read my copy again after all this time ... I know the ending sequence is literally a cliff-hanger!

I originally picked this up because I know Michael Jensen through the late AfterElton site. But I was really impressed by the way he offers a gay-themed period frontiersman novel that works as literature. I wish Michael was a more prolific writer. Now that he's retired from AE, maybe he'll get that chance.

Okay, I swear I wasn't looking to see if Frontiers was here! I was looking to see if there was a City of Devi thread to see if anyone finished it. But then I found this. LOL.

PaperMoon, you should have seen the original draft of Frontiers if you want brutal. Brent convinced me to tone it down. Weirdly, I don't like watching violence on TV and not even that much when I read. But when it comes to my own writing .... apparently I need a shrink!

Ulysses, I wish I could be more prolific as well. Unfortunately, life hasn't worked out that way. I did write a new novel last year with one of the three main threads being a gay storyline. Alas, I can't find an agent. I've had seven or eight say how much they like it but that historical isn't selling very well these days. I'm pondering what to do next...

Michael, I do hope that you'll get your new book published; I'm sure there are plenty of us here who'd like to read it.

Michael wrote: "Okay, I swear I wasn't looking to see if Frontiers was here! I was looking to see if there was a City of Devi thread to see if anyone finished it. But then I found this. LOL.

PaperMoon, you should..."

I hate to hear of any book going unpublished (I assume they're all masterpieces and I'd love them.)

Now I need to look into a small purchase of Frontiers. After the saccharine-ity (Hey, new word!) of Slam, a bit of the old ultra-violence will go nicely. ;-)

Michael wrote: "PaperMoon, you should have seen the original draft of Frontiers if you want brutal. Brent convinced me to tone it down. Weirdly, I don't like watching violence on TV and not even that much when I read. But when it comes to my own writing .... apparently I need a shrink!..."

Oh I was successfully scared. And then when Firelands I got very scared just reading the advertising blurb (wuss that I am) and so did not explore it much further than that.

Is your new book in the horror/historical genre as well - featuring John Chapman as a character? I too wish you all the very best in getting the book out.

PaperMoon wrote: "Michael wrote: "PaperMoon, you should have seen the original draft of Frontiers if you want brutal. Brent convinced me to tone it down. Weirdly, I don't like watching violence on TV and not even th..."

Dude! You are a wuss! (But I still loves you muchly.)