Ryan and Chris were high school best friends in Prairie Village, Kansas. During the summer after their junior year (2007), they came out to each other and became boyfriends. But when Ryan’s father, a conservative evangelical pastor, discovered Ryan was
Here is a chapter from Maybe Now that I reluctantly deleted during the editing process. It’s not that I didn’t like the chapter – I do! But the book was too long and I needed to find sections to cut.
The question-and-answer period is the most interesting and interactive part of my book release parties. Here are some of the questions I was asked at my most recent event celebrating the release of Maybe Now. I gave similar answers in
My sixth novel Maybe Now was released on Friday, September 27. The book release party drew an enthusiastic audience. Here’s the video of my author talk from that event. I briefly introduced this book and the previous books in the
When I began my journey as a fiction author, the first book I conceived was If I Seem Quiet…, which ultimately became the fourth book in the “Gay Tales for the New Millennium” series. As I was developing the characters
What I’ve Learned After Self-Publishing 8 Books Have you ever entertained the idea that someday you’ll write a book? But does the process of taking your writing from thoughts scribbled in a notebook or typed into your computer to an
The book release party for my fifth novel, Karma Train from Kansas, was held on Friday, May 10, 2024, at Exposed Studio & Gallery in Phoenix – the same place my previous book signing parties were held. It’s a charming
“Mom… Dad… I’d like you to meet my partner.” Most of us have had at least one of these awkward, anxious moments in our lives. And the stakes are even higher when the first meeting occurs during the holidays. In
The book release party for my fourth novel, If I Seem Quiet…, was held on Friday, November 17, at Exposed Studio & Gallery in Phoenix – the same place my previous book signing parties were held. It’s a charming LGBT-owned
Occasionally, people ask who my characters are based upon and where I get the inspiration for my stories. Sometimes, it’s completely random and spontaneous – like when I’m people-watching in a fast-food restaurant. One day in late 2017, I was
This weekend (July 14-16, 2023) was Gay Pride weekend in San Diego. If you’ve never been, it’s one of the more festive Gay Pride weekends in the country. The combination of Hillcrest, one of the country’s most vibrant gayborhoods, San
In honor of Gay Pride Month, here’s a chapter from my first novel, Maybe Next Year. You can read it below or download a PDF here. Bryan and Chris are high school juniors who have been inseparable best friends for
In my next novel, If I Seem Quiet…, there’s a scene in which the main character, Aaron, is preparing for his potential boyfriend Ryan’s first visit to his apartment for dinner. It’s Wednesday, and Aaron has a tradition of eating
The book release party for my third novel, Open Books, Closed Sets, was held on Friday, March 24, at Exposed Studio & Gallery in Phoenix – the same place my previous book signing party was held. It’s a charming LGBT-owned
My heart is still full of joy from my book signing party on Friday, November 11. 30 people attended, including part of my family from Anaheim, California (a total surprise!). My friend Scott Thomas helped set up and sell books,
If you’re curious about my second novel, Instant Adult, but you’re not sure what it’s about or whether you would enjoy it, perhaps my answers to these ten questions will fill in the blanks. You can download and read a
Mark McNease is an accomplished author of gay-themed murder/mystery novels and more. Visit markmcnease.com to discover his work. Mark also did a great job as editor of my first two retirement books. Mark is a good friend who has been
If you’re curious about my first novel, Maybe Next Year, but you’re not sure what it’s about or whether you would enjoy it, perhaps my answers to these ten questions will fill in the blanks. What kind of book is
In the front matter of most novels, there’s a statement such as the following: This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any
When I finished writing Maybe Next Year, I had a decision to make: What would be the best way to bring this book to market? Generally speaking, there are three options for publishing a book: traditional or mainstream publishers (for
The story in Maybe Next Year takes place in 2007. There are two reasons why I chose to place the story in this timeframe. First, I have six more novels in various stages of development. These books will follow some
This is Room 264 at the Downtown branch of the Chandler Public Library. It’s just three miles from my home and I can usually get here in less than ten minutes. Every day, I spend two hours in this room