Giving Back - Nashville and eBook

Whitlock-Masen recently wrote an original short story for the eBook benefit organized by DefinatelyStaying to benefit the victims of hate and violence through causes like the Matthew Shepard Foundation, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Rainbow World Fund. Over 25 authors have contributed stories to the eBook, which promises to be a fantastic read for an amazing cause. If you'd like to help out and receive a copy of the eBook, please visit the website to find out how. Copies of the eBook will be sent out on Memorial Day weekend, so act quickly - and thank you SO much for your support!

Just to whet your appetite, here's a little teaser from our contribution:

I turned the pages, watching as we grew up right before my eyes. We put on weight and lost it. Our hair grew and was cropped short before growing long again. There were even pictures of Jeff with that terrible mustache he’d sported for about a year before I’d finally convinced him to shave it. Despite the many different looks and changing fashions, though, the one thing that had stayed the same over the last eighteen years was the way we looked at each other.

I smiled reflexively as I saw us gazing into each others’ eyes. Jeff’s hand was often on my knee, or mine was reaching out to brush his hair from his forehead. We were nearly always touching, some small contact to remind each other of the love we shared. We’d been only twenty when we went on our first date, but we’d known from the start that we were meant to be together. We were just a perfect fit – in every way.

Jeff had been the first man I’d ever brought home – the only man – and it had taken some time for my parents to come to terms with my being gay. Jeff’s family had known for much longer, as he’d had boyfriends as early as high school, but in the end, both sides of our family supported us. There were pictures of them sprinkled throughout, opening presents at Christmas and shooting off fireworks on the Fourth of July. We were blessed to have them; I knew too many men who were not nearly so lucky, and I was thankful every day of our lives that our families were so involved.

Come on...you know you want to know more about Tim and Jeff, right? And it's for a great cause!


In addition to the eBook, we have also signed up to take part in the Fics for Nashville compilation to help raise money for the victims of flooding in Tennessee. Dozens of authors are contributing stories and poems to this effort, which will be compiled and sent out to those who donate. Please see the website for a wealth of information, including how to donate, where to send your receipt, how to sign up if you'd like to contribute a story, and even some pictures and videos of the flood damage. Many authors have even posted teasers of what they will be writing! If you have the means, please considering donating to this worthy cause - and perhaps contribute your own writing as well!