A few months back I bid in the Lit For Queer Liberation online auction, benefitting the important work of the Queer Liberation Network who “provide essential financial support, resources, and advocacy to queer and trans individuals facing economic hardship and lacking support systems.”
I discovered the auction because one of my favorite authors, Chip Pons, donated books that went for a couple hundred dollars over my budget. What I like about charity auctions, even if outbid, I bump up the price which is like generously donating someone else’s money. I did win a David Valdes bundle that included signed copies of “Spin Me Right Round” and “Finding My Elf.” I wasn’t familiar with David’s work but they sounded fun.
“Spin Me Right Round” is about a Cuban teenager (Luis) who is fighting for an inclusive prom at his religious high school and unexpectedly travels back in time to the 1980’s. It’s a sweet, funny and touching rainbow read showing how things were back then, how far we’ve come and how far we still need to go.
It’s geared towards a YA audience but it’s also enjoyable for folks from that generation and brought me right back, especially when Luis pretends to be a gay from Connecticut. To be honest, I’m not much of a time travel gay, however I couldn’t put it down and binged it in just a few days.
Also, I’m not a gay who celebrates Christmas but every December I’m all about getting a streaming service that provides my fill of cheesy holiday movies, however, it’s hard to find a good holiday book. Well, look no further. “Finding My Elf” is the perfect mix of romance and comedy, with a bunch of laughs and a few tears thrown in.
When gay NYU theater student Cam comes home for the holidays after a rough semester, he gets a job as one of Santa’s elves at the local mall to avoid his father and unexpectedly discovers love. In my gay opinion, the main characters are lovable but the side-kicks steal the show. Each chapter is a countdown to Elfmas, where Cam and four other elves (one is his love interest, Marco) compete for $5000 and title of Top Elf. It’s as if a Hallmark movie and reality show had a literary baby.
Thanks to the Queer Liberation Network, I proudly own two autographed books that fit perfectly into my collection and I have a new-to-me author whose previous books and future ones I’ll be reading…perhaps getting his next one at a book signing event. Add it to my Christmas list!
