Hi Maicey,
I’d like to pitch a first-person piece for Metro: I’m a gay man who writes romantic fiction, mostly read by women. That’s less strange than it sounds.
Growing up gay, I learned to read myself into stories that weren’t written for me. Straight romcoms, women’s fiction, workplace crushes, messy friendships, weddings, terrible men, women holding their lives together by force of personality and a decent lipstick. I wasn’t the target reader, but I understood the emotional mechanics. Longing. Performance. Shame. Hope. The fear of being found out.
My new novel, Lisa Doyle Is Absolutely Fine, is a Manchester-set romantic comedy about a woman who invents a fiancé called Brian after too much (not great) wine, then has to deal with the consequences. It’s funny and chaotic, but it’s also about the pressure to act ‘sorted’ when you’re anything but. As a gay author, I’m interested in what happens when you write mainstream romance from a slightly odd angle, after years of watching the genre from the margins.
The piece would be personal, funny and culture-led rather than a straight book plug, tied to Pride Month and the current romance boom.
Confirmed Pride-month coverage and appearances for the book include BookBrunch, QX, The Bookseller, Writing.ie, Book DNA, PinkNews, Queer the Streets Festival and Hertford Literary Festival.
I can supply 700–900 words quickly, plus images, cover and preorder link.
Best,
Mo Fanning