NOW
AVAILABLE
As a special bonus, we revisit the series from Brad’s POV (Point of View). Find out how Brad felt when he first laid eyes on Kris, and other times when something happened during the series. Plus, he divulges other things that happened when Kris either wasn’t around or didn’t mention.
This is the Series Finalè for the “Shipwrecked/Climb to the Top” Collection Series.
Lady Cyrrh gave Blizzard
The 1997 Cyrrheal Awards -Best Gothic Mystery
Blizzard [A]
When posted: 8/22/97
Where posted: ASSG
Author: Mathis B. Rogers
This was a long one (pun intended)–more of a novelette than a short story–but it was very good, a sort of first-person gay gothic romance- mystery about a writer with amnesia. The story begins as the narrator is pulled from his crashed car by a handsome man. He doesn’t remember a thing and doesn’t know who he is, so the other guy takes him to his nearby cabin in the woods for shelter, as a blizzard is blowing up, and they soon become isolated from the world. The rest of the story is taken up with the writer’s efforts to rediscover his identity and understand the attraction he feels towards his rescuer and his repulsion towards another man who claims to be his lover.
There wasn’t much sex save for one scene is the middle (in which the police barge in on the gay couple as they ejaculate), but this was more of a mainstream story than porn anyway. The writer was quite skilled in setting up the situation–Is the rescuer all he seems to be? Can anyone he knows be trusted?–and I was eager to resolve the mystery. The denouement was a little bit of a letdown–by the time the final revelations came, I was expecting something really scandalous–but overall the story was entertaining, and excellently written as well.
Shipwrecked [A+]
Author: Mathis B. Rogers
… this story dealt with romance and the familial repercussions of being gay in contemporary society…more of a domestic fantasy than a sexual one, though there was a lot of sex (they say “I love you” over 50 times.) Kris, the young narrator, has been living with Brad, his lover, for two years, but Brad’s parents haven’t realized their son is gay and that Kris is not “just” a roomate. When Brad’s family invites the two to spend the weekend on their boat, they reluctantly, agree, knowing how hard it will be to keep it a secret. Complicating matters is Chad, Brad’s identical twin brother, who has also been asked along, and complicating things further is the freak storm that strikes, washing the boat ashore on a desert isle. (Stop singing the “Gilligan’s Island” theme.) The rest of the story deals with the aftermath, the “coming out” of the young couple, and how Brad’s parents and twin brother react to this.
It’s hard not to like this story even if you don’t like gay fiction, because the characters were simply so *nice.* I felt I knew them as neighbors. There was even a touch of sly familial sexual humor running throughout:
Mr. Peterson turned in his seat and looked Brad up and down as we climbed into the car. “No wonder those shorts had a hole in them, son,” he said. “They’re so tight that they’ll split if you get a boner. Couldn’t you find any decent clothes to wear?”
“Thanks, Mom,” Brad chided, before turning to his father.
“You shouldn’t talk like that in front of Mom, Dad.”
Mr. Peterson turned around and adjusted his seat belt. “Why not?” he asked. “She knows what a boner is. Hell, if she didn’t enjoy playing with mine, you wouldn’t be here.”
(No, there’s no incest!)
All in all, a feelgood story with roots in real life.
Wishing everyone a Blessed and Happy Easter and Passover!
No matter which you celebrate, remember what Jesus did for you!
Had a good time at the 41st Annual Lubbock Art’s Festival on Saturday, April 12th. It’s a two-day event, but I was only able to attend on Saturday.
Several of the Authors who belong to the Write Right Critique Group were selling our books at the event. Each year the group has a “Kid’s Stop” booth called “Write with the Writers” and also the “Meet the Authors” section. The authors get to meet and great readers and sell our autographed books. Even in this day and age, several people still prefer to hold a physical book in their hands.
Since my readers prefer eBooks, I only have ’The Mysterious Bed’ in print. I did give out several cards with my website on them and met some really neat people.
Click our picture to be taken to the group’s Bookshelf page.
I have a lot to be thankful for this year. My readers, especially. I hope that you each have a very Happy Thanksgiving. If you’re not in the United States, I hope you have a great weekend.
I’m still working on it. Now that I have a job, I don’t get to work on it as much as I’d like to. But I will let you know when I have it finished. Stay tuned and, if you’re not on my notification list, you should sign up so you’ll be notified when I do.
I began writing the Shipwrecked Series in 1996 while working the Night Audit (graveyard shift) at a motel.
My readers wanted more, so I continued the series.
In 2009, I decided it was time to write Family Reunion which is the finalé. And half way through it, I decided to re-write the entire series from Brad’s point of view, calling it The Chronicles of Brad. Due to work and other interferences, I didn’t get to work on it very often.
In December 2017, my job on the AppleCare Project with Kelly Services ended, so I decided I needed to get to work on it. While working on it, I planned that since there were 10 books in the collection, I would release one book a month and end on their anniversary with The Chronicles of Brad. Unfortunately, I had to clean all the books up and it wasn’t until August 8th that I was able to start releasing them.
I did mange to get the collection from Kris’s point of view out, but there is still so much to do from Brad’s point of view, I wasn’t able to make it by my deadline of October 14th for The Chronicles of Brad.
I did finally find a job working at AlticeUSA (Suddenlink) in the Call Center as a Technical Support Agent, and it is keeping from working on it as much as I want/need to.
Please make sure you are subscribed to my newsletter , so you will be notified when I publish it.
Thanks for your patience and for being a valued reader.
Mathis…
I have released Family Reunion.
The Petersons, and Kris, are joined by the Chestnuts as they take a plane to Miami, Florida for the Peterson Family Reunion. Upon returning to Jefferson, they help Garth move in with Dan and they celebrate Katherine Brown’s birthday.
You may get your copy of Family Reunion here.
I will be releasing The Chronicles of Brad the weekend of October 14, 2018.
Thanks for reading.
Mathis…
I have released Thunder in Paradise.
Jefferson Bank and Trust has a new accounts manager. Just what hold does she have over Brad? In a tearful rage, will Kris take the promotion that he’s offered with ICC, even though it requires him to go to Switzerland for three months?
You may get your copy of Thunder in Paradise here.
I will be releasing Family Reunion next week.
Thanks for reading.
Mathis…
