BONUS EPISODE! Jason and Brett talk to Rasheed Newson (My Government Means to Kill Me) about his firsthand experience on the WGA picket line and get the inside scoop on what the writers are fighting for. They also chat about gay history and the exciting project that Rasheed is keeping himself busy with in the meantime. 

Rasheed Newson is a writer and producer of Bel-Air, The Chi, and Narcos. He currently resides in Pasadena, California with his husband and two children. My Government Means to Kill Me is his debut novel.

SUBSTACK!
https://gaysreading.substack.com/

BOOK CLUB!
Use code GAYSREADING at checkout to get first book for only $4 + free shipping! Restrictions apply.
http://aardvarkbookclub.com

WATCH!
https://youtube.com/@gaysreading

FOLLOW!
Instagram: @gaysreading | @jasonblitman
Bluesky: @gaysreading | @jasonblitman

CONTACT!
[email protected]

Jason and Brett talk to Alice Winn (In Memoriam) about the lack of iced coffee in Europe, the books that inspired her WWI journey, and how she created intimate sex scenes for her gay characters. In Memoriam is shortlisted for the 2023 Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize.

Alice Winn grew up in Paris and was educated in the UK. She has a degree in English literature from Oxford University. She lives in Brooklyn.

SUBSTACK!
https://gaysreading.substack.com/

BOOK CLUB!
Use code GAYSREADING at checkout to get first book for only $4 + free shipping! Restrictions apply.
http://aardvarkbookclub.com

WATCH!
https://youtube.com/@gaysreading

FOLLOW!
Instagram: @gaysreading | @jasonblitman
Bluesky: @gaysreading | @jasonblitman

CONTACT!
[email protected]

Jason and Brett talk to R. Eric Thomas (Congratulations, the Best is Over!) about Ann Patchett, The Dutch House by Ann Patchett, Parnassus Books owned by Ann Patchett, and some other things entirely unrelated to Ann Patchett such as the sequel to the best pickleball movie, what Charles Dickens might've talked about over brunch, and so much more. This episode also features special guest Hunter McLendon (aka shelfbyshelf on Instagram) who joins Jason and Brett to discuss some of his favorite essay collections.

R. Eric Thomas is the bestselling author of Here for It: Or, How to Save Your Soul in America, a Lambda Literary Award finalist; and the YA novel Kings of B’more, a Stonewall Honor book. Both books were also featured as Read with Jenna book club picks on Today. He is also a television writer (Apple TV+’s Dickinson, FX’s Better Things), a Lambda Literary Award–winning playwright, and the long-running host of the Moth in Philadelphia. For four years, Thomas was a senior staff writer at Elle online, where he wrote the popular “Eric Reads the News” column. @oureric

SUBSTACK!
https://gaysreading.substack.com/

BOOK CLUB!
Use code GAYSREADING at checkout to get first book for only $4 + free shipping! Restrictions apply.
http://aardvarkbookclub.com

WATCH!
https://youtube.com/@gaysreading

FOLLOW!
Instagram: @gaysreading | @jasonblitman
Bluesky: @gaysreading | @jasonblitman

CONTACT!
[email protected]

CW: This episode includes sexually explicit content as well as conversations about sexual abuse and trauma. If you or anyone you know needs resources for sexual violence, please visit rainn.org.

Jason and Brett talk to Kyle Dillon Hertz (The Lookback Window) about seeking justice, the nuance of fact vs. fiction in writing, and the queerness of the video game Fortnite.

Queer-Owned Bookstore Shout Out: A SEAT AT THE TABLE BOOKS (Elk Grove, CA)
At Elk Grove’s bookstore, café, and community hub, everyone deserves a seat at the table! Our family-owned, inclusive business will be your new favorite place to shop for books and gifts, meet up with friends, get work done, relax, and connect with the community. Learn more about A Seat at the Table HERE and make sure to listen to the episode for a discount code!

Additional reading:
Check out Kyle's Esquire article
Check out Kyle's interview in Interview magazine

SUBSTACK!
https://gaysreading.substack.com/

BOOK CLUB!
Use code GAYSREADING at checkout to get first book for only $4 + free shipping! Restrictions apply.
http://aardvarkbookclub.com

WATCH!
https://youtube.com/@gaysreading

FOLLOW!
Instagram: @gaysreading | @jasonblitman
Bluesky: @gaysreading | @jasonblitman

CONTACT!
[email protected]

Jason and Brett chat with author Tim Murphy (Speech Team) and they recount shared teenage experiences, what it means to be a bully, the search for like-minded peers, and kvell over the brilliance of one 80s soap opera.

Tim Murphy is the author of Correspondents and Christodora, which was long-listed for the 2017 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and named a Best Book of the Year by The Guardian. He has also been a journalist for the past twenty-five years.

Queer-Owned Bookstore Shout Out: BETTIE'S PAGES!
Bettie’s Pages is a queer-owned independent bookstore in Lowell, MI. Their mission is to cultivate community, empower readers, and maintain a welcoming space that is diverse, inclusive, and affirming. You can learn more about them HERE. 

SUBSTACK!
https://gaysreading.substack.com/

BOOK CLUB!
Use code GAYSREADING at checkout to get first book for only $4 + free shipping! Restrictions apply.
http://aardvarkbookclub.com

WATCH!
https://youtube.com/@gaysreading

FOLLOW!
Instagram: @gaysreading | @jasonblitman
Bluesky: @gaysreading | @jasonblitman

CONTACT!
[email protected]

Brett and Jason share their recommendations for the perfect books to enjoy poolside, or wherever you may find yourself as summer ends. They’re joined by bestselling author Elissa Sussman (Funny You Should Ask), who not only shares her end-of-summer book picks but also talks about why romance novels make great vacation reads and the importance of the depiction of great sex.

Elissa Sussman is the bestselling author of Once More with Feeling, Funny You Should Ask, and three young adult novels. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their many pets. @elissa_sussman

SUBSTACK!
https://gaysreading.substack.com/

BOOK CLUB!
Use code GAYSREADING at checkout to get first book for only $4 + free shipping! Restrictions apply.
http://aardvarkbookclub.com

WATCH!
https://youtube.com/@gaysreading

FOLLOW!
Instagram: @gaysreading | @jasonblitman
Bluesky: @gaysreading | @jasonblitman

CONTACT!
[email protected]

Jason and Brett talk to author Javier Fuentes (Countries of Origin) about the fears surrounding immigration, mysteries of young love, joy in a perfect dessert, and the places we find home.

Gays Reading is excited to shout out queer-owned independent bookstore Libélula Books & Co in the Barrio Logan neighborhood in San Diego, CA.  “Libélula is a home for love of language and radical sh*t!” You can learn more about them HERE and purchase your copy of Countries of Origin from them HERE.

Javier Fuentes is a Spanish American writer, a 2018 Lambda Literary Fellow, who earned an MFA in Fiction from Columbia University where he was a teaching fellow. Born in Barcelona, he lives in New York.

SUBSTACK!
https://gaysreading.substack.com/

BOOK CLUB!
Use code GAYSREADING at checkout to get first book for only $4 + free shipping! Restrictions apply.
http://aardvarkbookclub.com

WATCH!
https://youtube.com/@gaysreading

FOLLOW!
Instagram: @gaysreading | @jasonblitman
Bluesky: @gaysreading | @jasonblitman

CONTACT!
[email protected]

Jason and Brett talk to New York Times bestselling author Caroline O'Donoghue about her new book, The Rachel Incident.  They talk about the unique relationship between straight women and gay men,  scabies and one-night stands, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and address big questions like: What does Sally Field do in her downtime?

Gays Reading is excited to partner with The King's English Bookshop in Salt Lake City, UT, a queer-owned independent bookstore matching books to readers since 1977. You can use the code GAYSREADING to get a discount on your entire order when you purchase HERE.

Caroline O’Donoghue is the New York Times bestselling author of All Our Hidden Gifts, her YA debut fantasy, which has been published in more than twenty territories around the world. She has written for The Times and The Guardian, and is the host of an award-winning podcast, Sentimental Garbage. She was born in Ireland and lives in London. The Rachel Incident is her first adult novel to be published in the U.S.

SUBSTACK!
https://gaysreading.substack.com/

BOOK CLUB!
Use code GAYSREADING at checkout to get first book for only $4 + free shipping! Restrictions apply.
http://aardvarkbookclub.com

WATCH!
https://youtube.com/@gaysreading

FOLLOW!
Instagram: @gaysreading | @jasonblitman
Bluesky: @gaysreading | @jasonblitman

CONTACT!
[email protected]

Jason & Brett discuss their top five best books so far in 2023. Between them, they only share one common title so there are nine other books to add to your TBR or brag to all your friends about because you're amazingly well-read! 

SUBSTACK!
https://gaysreading.substack.com/

BOOK CLUB!
Use code GAYSREADING at checkout to get first book for only $4 + free shipping! Restrictions apply.
http://aardvarkbookclub.com

WATCH!
https://youtube.com/@gaysreading

FOLLOW!
Instagram: @gaysreading | @jasonblitman
Bluesky: @gaysreading | @jasonblitman

CONTACT!
[email protected]

In celebration of Pride and the inaugural episode of Gays Reading, hosts Brett Benner and Jason Blitman talk about how this podcast came to be and highlight some LGBTQIA+ books that had an impact on them. If you like what you're hearing so far, be sure to like, follow, subscribe, review, etc. wherever you get your podcasts! 

SUBSTACK!
https://gaysreading.substack.com/

BOOK CLUB!
Use code GAYSREADING at checkout to get first book for only $4 + free shipping! Restrictions apply.
http://aardvarkbookclub.com

WATCH!
https://youtube.com/@gaysreading

FOLLOW!
Instagram: @gaysreading | @jasonblitman
Bluesky: @gaysreading | @jasonblitman

CONTACT!
[email protected]