Three Novels - One Dramatic Story
This Place of Men Series: A story about love, sexuality and religion
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After twenty years a gay man returns home to confront the minister and the ex-lover who destroyed his life. During his return he uncovers many secrets, including one that will change him forever. Follow the journey of these men and the people ar
ound them over the course of twenty years, told in three novels to the story’s explosive end. Read excerpts and chapters from the three books at this site. You can also, read other writings - essays and short stories - by Doug Cooper Spencer here.
ound them over the course of twenty years, told in three novels to the story’s explosive end. Read excerpts and chapters from the three books at this site. You can also, read other writings - essays and short stories - by Doug Cooper Spencer here.
'This Place of Men', Book 1 of the 'This Place of Men Series'
After twenty years a gay man returns home to confront the minister and the ex-lover who destroyed his life. During his return he uncovers many secrets, including one that will change him forever.
As teens, Otis and Terrell were lovers. But their relationship was torn apart by Terrell's father and his pastor causing the two young men to travel disparate roads in their lives.
Now, as they near their fortieth birthdays, each seeks to confront the pains and truths that have shaped his journey: Otis returns home, having endured years of hardship in search of the peace that has eluded him for so long. During his stay he finds he must confront his father who had turned his back on him; the lover who denied him and the minister who brought about his downfall, and most of all a surprise that awaits him.
Then there is Terrell who finds that in spite of the 'perfect' life he chose to live, his marriage to Karen and his dedication to his two kids, there can be no peace without reconciling the differences that determines his sexual identity.
'This Place of Men' begins a journey over the course of three books covering twenty years in the lives of Otis and Terrell. The complete 'This Place of Men Trilogy' explores the lives of not only these two men, but others who struggle with truth and sexual identity.
'This Place of Men' is the first book of the This Place of Men Series.
(Read Chapters 1-5 at this site)
As teens, Otis and Terrell were lovers. But their relationship was torn apart by Terrell's father and his pastor causing the two young men to travel disparate roads in their lives.
Now, as they near their fortieth birthdays, each seeks to confront the pains and truths that have shaped his journey: Otis returns home, having endured years of hardship in search of the peace that has eluded him for so long. During his stay he finds he must confront his father who had turned his back on him; the lover who denied him and the minister who brought about his downfall, and most of all a surprise that awaits him.
Then there is Terrell who finds that in spite of the 'perfect' life he chose to live, his marriage to Karen and his dedication to his two kids, there can be no peace without reconciling the differences that determines his sexual identity.
'This Place of Men' begins a journey over the course of three books covering twenty years in the lives of Otis and Terrell. The complete 'This Place of Men Trilogy' explores the lives of not only these two men, but others who struggle with truth and sexual identity.
'This Place of Men' is the first book of the This Place of Men Series.
(Read Chapters 1-5 at this site)
'People Like Us', Book 2 of the 'This Place of Men Series' (Spoiler Alert!)
A married man comes to terms with his sexuality, forcing him to come out of the closet. Now the ex-couple must confront their new lives: She as a woman scorned by her gay husband and who suddenly finds herself facing the world as a single woman; and he as a man who must find a way to hold his family together while navigating his new life as an out gay man-- And what about the kids?
Terrell and Otis's saga continues. In 'People Like Us', Terrell finds he must end his marriage to Karen, so he decides to come out of the closet.
Now the 'ex-couple' must struggle with the love and respect they once had for each other as well as with their new identities: she, as a single woman scorned by her gay husband and he, as a man who has come to identify himself as gay... And what about their children?
'People Like Us' is the second book of the This Place of Men Series.
(Read Chapters 1-9 at this site)
Terrell and Otis's saga continues. In 'People Like Us', Terrell finds he must end his marriage to Karen, so he decides to come out of the closet.
Now the 'ex-couple' must struggle with the love and respect they once had for each other as well as with their new identities: she, as a single woman scorned by her gay husband and he, as a man who has come to identify himself as gay... And what about their children?
'People Like Us' is the second book of the This Place of Men Series.
(Read Chapters 1-9 at this site)
'Leaving Gomorrah', Book 3 of the 'This Place of Men Series' (Spoiler Alert!)
A gay father fights to save the son he never knew from a life in the streets and from the darkness that haunts him. However, the father has his own demons and finds that he must not only save his son's life, but his own life as well. Leaving Gomorrah brings together all the main characters from the first two books - 'This Place of Men' and 'People Like Us' - and is the final book in the 'This Place of Men Series'.
Otis is a gay man who discovers he has a son from a one night affair many years ago. Now his son, Antonio, a young man in his twenties, has come to live with him. Everything is fine until Otis realizes that Antonio is living a secret life hustling his body. It's a trade Otis is well aware of because he once lived that same life.
Antonio, Otis’s son, feels he has been blessed with great sexual prowess, just like his father. He doesn’t consider himself gay or bi-sexual, but he has used his ‘gift’ to dominate both men and women to get what he wants. But there is one thing he can’t get from sex, and that is peace of mind from the darkness that haunts him, the same darkness that haunted, and later destroyed his mother.
Now Otis must fight to save Antonio from a life in the streets and from the darkness that haunts him. However, Otis has his own demons, and he finds that he must not only save his son's life, but his own life as well. Eventually, the battle between these men and the streets as well as their pasts comes to an explosive end.
Leaving Gomorrah brings all the main characters from the first two books, 'This Place of Men' and 'People Like Us' together and is the third and final book in the This Place of Men Series.
(Read Chapters 1-11 at this site)
Otis is a gay man who discovers he has a son from a one night affair many years ago. Now his son, Antonio, a young man in his twenties, has come to live with him. Everything is fine until Otis realizes that Antonio is living a secret life hustling his body. It's a trade Otis is well aware of because he once lived that same life.
Antonio, Otis’s son, feels he has been blessed with great sexual prowess, just like his father. He doesn’t consider himself gay or bi-sexual, but he has used his ‘gift’ to dominate both men and women to get what he wants. But there is one thing he can’t get from sex, and that is peace of mind from the darkness that haunts him, the same darkness that haunted, and later destroyed his mother.
Now Otis must fight to save Antonio from a life in the streets and from the darkness that haunts him. However, Otis has his own demons, and he finds that he must not only save his son's life, but his own life as well. Eventually, the battle between these men and the streets as well as their pasts comes to an explosive end.
Leaving Gomorrah brings all the main characters from the first two books, 'This Place of Men' and 'People Like Us' together and is the third and final book in the This Place of Men Series.
(Read Chapters 1-11 at this site)
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Mighty Real: An Anthology of African-American Same Gender Loving Writing
(I had the great honor of being asked to be a part of this collection)
At over 700 pages, 'Mighty Real' is a collection of African-American Same Gender Loving Literature featuring both new and established writers. Grounded in a poignant and truthful sensibility, imbued with the realities of sex and love, Smith and Williams present a culmination of poems, short stories, radical essays, sermons, plays and interviews honoring notable figures within the SGLBT community. Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.
At over 700 pages, 'Mighty Real' is a collection of African-American Same Gender Loving Literature featuring both new and established writers. Grounded in a poignant and truthful sensibility, imbued with the realities of sex and love, Smith and Williams present a culmination of poems, short stories, radical essays, sermons, plays and interviews honoring notable figures within the SGLBT community. Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.
