Larry Benjamin. Wordsmith. Writer. Author.

Here at last is the cover for Unbroken , my September release from Beaten Track Publishing.   After a few versions and much discussion we think this really captures the spirit of the book.   I love it. What about you?   Leave a comment telling me what you think, and you’ll automatically be entered into a drawing to win one of three copies of Unbroken (either eBook or autographed paperback, your choice). The   drawing will be open now through Sunday at Midnight.   Winners will be announced next Tuesday, August 26. Unbroken   My parents, unable to change me, had instead, silenced me. When they’d stilled my hands, they’d taken my words, made me lower my voice to a whisper. Later I remained silent in defense, refusing to acknowledge the hateful words: Brainiac. Sissy. Antiman. Faggot. Lincoln de Chabert’s life is pretty unremarkable until he comes home from kindergarten and announces he will marry his best friend, Orlando, when he grows u...

Photo from LGBT News My newest book, Unbroken will be released on the last day of summer, September 20, 2013.   I am excited. I am terrified. I am excited to share a story of one courageous boy and the boy he loved. And I am terrified.   I am terrified the book is terrible. I am terrified the book is brilliant.   I am terrified that no one will read it. And also that everyone will read it and…see…me .   Unbroken is my most personal work to date. In the story, which is fictional, as well as in life, the line between the real and the imagined often blurs. I am terrified the boy I fell in love with at twelve, a man now, will read it and know finally that I loved him at twelve, that, at twelve, I dreamed of a life with him. That said I am happy I wrote Unbroken and I owe a big thank you to All Things Queer in South Africa (@AllThingsQueer.co.za) who, in June 2012, posed a question on Twitter: “How old were you when you first realised you're gay/lesbian/bi/tran...

I’m a Libra.   I try for balance in all areas of my life. But I’m a Libra—the scales often tip more one way than another. Anyone who knows me knows that I sometimes become obsessed by random things.   This week it appears it was the birth of the #RoyalBaby. To me, no matter what they name him, he will always be #RoyalBaby.   This is, after all, the age of Twitter.   From the moment I booted up my computer and saw the MSN breaking news was Kate was in labor, I was hooked.   My first tweet of the day read: Dear Boss: I can't come in today. Kate's in labor. She needs me. ‪ #‎RoyalBaby Of course I went to work. I may be obsessive but I also have a mortgage to pay. Still, like a cat, I was fascinated by all the bright shiny things that comprised news of the #RoyalBaby’s imminent arrival. Like a cat after a ball of string, all day, I chased news across Twitter and CNN. One cranky friend, apparently tired of my breathless Facebook updates wrote, “Dear God...

I am reading George Durrells’ , "My Family and other Animals.” His writing, his words , causes my breath to catch in my throat, my pulse to quicken. You see, for me, words are the thing.  I love words― words strung together to not only tell a story but to paint a picture, words that are beautiful in and of themselves: “The Turk, when he arrived turned out to be a tall, young man , with meticulously waved hair and a flashy smile that managed to convey the minimum of humour with the maximum of condescension.   He had all the smug self-possession of a cat in season.” “…and then Margo, trailing yards of muslin and scent. Mother looking like a tiny, harassed missionary in an uprising…” Thus, I’ve decided to dedicate this blog to quotes from some of my favorite books by some of my favorite authors. Erastes , author of gay historical fiction, writes prose that is clean and spare yet full of depth as with: “Warmth generated between them everywhere they touched, sk...

Generally I don’t mind Mondays. On Mondays I am rested, hopeful. By Wednesday, hope has died and I am left to drag its corpse behind me until Friday when, exhausted, I drop it and fall into the bottomless sleep of the failed, mourning another week passed during which I achieved neither “Powerball winner” nor “New York Times Bestseller” status. As I’ve said, I’m usually good with Mondays. This Monday was different though; I had a dentist appointment. Going to the dentist is among my dislikes, along with being wet, wet food (think soup) and men who wear shoes without socks. As I was about to walk out the door, I remembered the receptionist had asked me to bring my plan ID card with me.   Now my plan administrator, claiming to be green, but really just cheap, doesn’t provide ID cards but you can print one online.   I climbed to my office on the third floor and booted up my computer.   I had to register online to actually print an ID card. The registration site aske...

Welcome! I am migrating my blog from Goodreads to here.  I'll be posting soon. In the meantime, you can read my most recent blog posts by following the links below: In Praise of Editors Part 1 --It seems like I’ve been reading a lot of posts about editors and the editing process lately. Having just wrapped up edits on my new book, Unbroken , I thought I’d share my thoughts on the editorial process and share some of my more memorable exchanges with my editors. To date I’ve worked with three, make of that what you will... Read In Praise of Editors Part 1 now Read in Praise of Editors Part 2 now Don't forget to like my Facebook page and connect with me on Twitter , too. www.larrybenjamin.com