I’ve noticed an increase in historical gay romances on the market lately. Especially those of pirate origin. The thought of gay pirates never really crossed my mind until recently. And when I started doing a little research concerning pirates for one of my paranormal plot bunnies, I found that there was a good possibility that homosexual activities was happening during this time.
Just think. From approximately the 1640’s to 1690’s, Buccaneers were all over the seas. The colonies they built consisted mostly of men and of course, the ships were packed with men. Hello. How else would all that testosterone find release? (Thoughts of yummy manluv floating through my head)
However, I found it interesting in my research that this was apparently acceptable behavior when women were hard to come by. It was usually when a man chose only to sleep with men did the possibility of scorn come about as men of the time were expected to marry, have kids, yada, yada. So I can see where the big conflict is in most of these stories.
This also reminds me of prison life. Having been around correctional officers for 14 years now, I know that it’s not unusual for one to find two men together, yet both deny being gay. Imagine being surrounded by 1,400 other male inmates and needing that release. This is acceptable behavior in this environment.
Other than Stephen King novels, I adored historical romance novels. Especially the pirate ones when I was younger. The heroine kidnapped for some plot of revenge only to fall in love with the handsome pirate captain. *sigh* The racier, the better. Personally, my attempt at historical romance was a big bomb, so I’ll stick to writing contemporary and fantasy.
What I’d like to know, as a reader, would you buy one of the gay historical romance books because it’s about manluv? Because it’s historical? Or both?
Here's some pirate eye-candy. :D
(This one is a little inspiration I found on the web - not sure where, but it's lovely :P by Kiriko Moth)
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12 comments:
I'd buy it because of the manlvoe!;)
There's a book I read many years ago about gay bucaneers who eventually found their own community on a small island. I wish I could remember the name. I think it might be as simple as Bucaneers. But it included some historical reference about the rules and societal expectations of relationships between the bucaneers. I'll try to find it.
In answer to your question, I'll buy any era if the excerpt hooks me. Love the picture.
We might be seeing some original fic crossover from the fans of the fairly thriving Pirates of the Caribbean slash fanfic community. Personally, I think it's great! I love historicals in both mainstream and m/m, and just like you can push boundaries and try different things in the epub world, maybe pirate romance can succeed here better than it seems to in mainstream het romance from the NY houses.
If you want to try some fun historical m/m, beautifully researched and written, check out Lee Rowan. Not pirates, per se, but Her Majesty's navy. Yum!
I've seen Rowan's books about, but haven't had a chance to get them. Guess I'll have to check them out :) Thanks
Here's me, odd man out again. I yearn for the manlove, but shy away from historicals, so I have to come clean and say gay historicals wouldn't be my first choice. Trapped on a desert island with only gay historicals? One has to do what one must to survive...
I'd be more inclined to read about gay pirates sequestered on a ship or stranded on a deserted island than any other type of gay historical.
Gay historicals are tough for me for two reasons: 1) I don't care much for historicals in general; 2) A happy ending just isn't possible in most gay historicals. Hell, "hopeful" isn't even in the realm of possibility when the couple is forced to hide their love and live in constant fear of discovery an death.
But a bunch of already condemned dudes humping like bunnies on the high seas? Hell yeah. :D
Oh my, the visual Jen LOL and if I were to ever try a historical again, that makes for a good plot bunny. Or maybe it can be used in scifi? Hmmm, food for thought :D
Yay, pirate love! ;)
I also have a slashy little illustrated book that's pirate-centric: The Call of the Sea
If the story were good and the characters interesting, it doesn't matter to me what time period or genre we're talking about. I'd read it. Nine times out of ten what kills a good m/m book for me is the lack of real plot and an abundance of two-dimensional characters. Bring on the pirates, I say, but make 'em good.
Um, both! Can you say hott!!!! LOL
Deidre
I would read m/m historical romance IF there's a happy/hopeful ending. I don't read any romance for the realism. I read it for escape. I have read and enjoyed completely implausible m/f regencies since I was a teenager; why on earth would implausible m/m regencies (or any other era) be a problem for me?
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