Gay Romance—What’s the fascination for heterosexual women?
A conversation with a reader on my Yahoo Group, Love Bytes, got me wondering about the origins of my fascination with man on man sex/romance. As a teenager, I used to spend as much of my free time as possible at my older sister’s house. Why? Because her home was sort of a haven for gay men.
I spent countless hours there after school each day talking to them and gawking at them. Some dressed as traditional males. Others dressed as women. Some called themselves Drag Queens.
Despite my preoccupation with gay men, as a young adult I found it difficult to accept that some of my own family members were gay. I couldn’t understand why they couldn’t be “straight.” It took years for me to realize how narrow minded I’d been for so many years.
So I went from not being able to accept homosexuality in my own relatives back to a total fascination. Once I accepted that other people’s sexual orientation was none of my business, I was back to being total fascination with all thins gay.
Erotic gay romance is hot. Although I’ve only written a few books with manlove themes, I’ve surfed the net for m/m love/sex stories. The editor of my latest m/m romance (Night Heat, published by Red Rose publishing), said that the largest market for such romances is largely heterosexual women.
So here’s my question. For those women who also enjoy reading m/m romances, why do you like it? What is it about two men in love with each other that gives such thrills to a number of us?
For those of you who’d like to see where my fascination as taken me, in addition to Night Heat, there’s a gay male relationship in my vampire books, Bloodlust III—Forbidden Desires and Bloodlust IV—Nocturnal Heat.
Marilyn Lee
A conversation with a reader on my Yahoo Group, Love Bytes, got me wondering about the origins of my fascination with man on man sex/romance. As a teenager, I used to spend as much of my free time as possible at my older sister’s house. Why? Because her home was sort of a haven for gay men.
I spent countless hours there after school each day talking to them and gawking at them. Some dressed as traditional males. Others dressed as women. Some called themselves Drag Queens.
Despite my preoccupation with gay men, as a young adult I found it difficult to accept that some of my own family members were gay. I couldn’t understand why they couldn’t be “straight.” It took years for me to realize how narrow minded I’d been for so many years.
So I went from not being able to accept homosexuality in my own relatives back to a total fascination. Once I accepted that other people’s sexual orientation was none of my business, I was back to being total fascination with all thins gay.
Erotic gay romance is hot. Although I’ve only written a few books with manlove themes, I’ve surfed the net for m/m love/sex stories. The editor of my latest m/m romance (Night Heat, published by Red Rose publishing), said that the largest market for such romances is largely heterosexual women.
So here’s my question. For those women who also enjoy reading m/m romances, why do you like it? What is it about two men in love with each other that gives such thrills to a number of us?
For those of you who’d like to see where my fascination as taken me, in addition to Night Heat, there’s a gay male relationship in my vampire books, Bloodlust III—Forbidden Desires and Bloodlust IV—Nocturnal Heat.
Marilyn Lee
27 comments:
two pieces of eye candy.
In the last six months, the best stories showing a loving relationship (not just sex) have been m/m stories.
Maybe that is the magic of man on man romances. Thanks for commenting.
In the beginning I did enjoy reading gay romance but if the story doesn't have some bondage in it. I don't care to read it. Your story NIGHT HEAT that was good. I enjoy reading it. But now if the story doesn't have a woman (black woman) I don't care to read it. Hey if you are into man on man love go for it...if you like it...you like it!!!!!
For me.. I say to each his own... I think I can read it.. actually I have..a small portion. I should say I think I can handle it.. I think.. i can read it.. getting turned on. or heated .. I dont know.. cause I like placing myself in the story.. when its m/m I dont know how ...
I'm not sure if you were saying you liked bondage in man on man or you didn't, Cinquetta, but thanks for taking the time to comment.
Thanks for reading the post and commenting Caylah. Man on man might be an acquired taste. It was for me.
In gay erotica/romance I want some degree of bondage in the plot. Also if a woman *hint* black woman in between the men. I would love...I do mean love to read interracial threesome BDSM story. Now that type of story is hard to find and I don't remember reading any story with that theme.*hint**hint*wink*wink* How about it Marilyn you think you can do it! Write about IR BDSM threesome story. Everyone help me get Marilyn mojo/muse to write that story.
Cinquetta
I'm not really into bondage that much. I've touched on it very lightly. Night of Sin had the heroine on a bondage cross (I think). I think the closet I've come to what you describe is in Primal Lusts. The two heroes are in a relationahip when they meet the heroine. At some point I believe she binds one of the heroes to a bondage rack.
I'm also working on menage with gay hintings that include a woman who both men want...while wanting her too. Greedy devils...all three of them. :-)
I wonder if the fascination is somewhat of an equivalent of heterosexual men's fascination with lesbian erotica, although I don't see straight women having the same level of crudeness for it.
For me, I find it arousing because I can see men shed down to their sexual vulnerabilities and enjoy the experience in a very open way that I just don't see in heterosexual erotica. Men and women seem to play such rigid gender sex roles. Men seem so sexually guarded and/or pathologically obsessed with control. I don't see the complete abandonment and losing control that I see with gay male erotica.
I got turned on to gay male erotica when I watched a very tasteful porn video. It was so hot. I was a bit sad that we rarely see that type of sexual heat between men and women.
Have a Happy New Year, Marilyn. I love your sexy stories. Looking forward to your works in 2009.
Hi Jazine
You've made some good points. Thanks for sharing them. And thanks so much for your support.
I did read PRIMAL LUST and I am still waiting for sequel to that story. Paul is missing and was turn into vampire. Jacoby and Venus are looking for him so what happen? The story do not have to have a bondage theme. I just like to read about threesome with black woman and two hunky males.
Instead of writing a sequel to Primal Lusts I've decided to rewrite and lengthen it, tying up all loose ends.
As for two hunks a woman, as I said, I'm working on a threesome with that theme.
THINK YOU!!! HAPPY HOLIDAY!!!! HAVE FUN TONIGHT!!!!
I can't put my finger on it, but there is something oh so sexy about two masculine men loving each other. I also likrd Primal Lust for that reason. Of course everything you've published I have TRULY enjoyed reading. I wish you could crank out 2 books a week, then I'd be over the moon. Know why? Because a Marilyn Lee book NEVER disapoints.
Hey Texazp
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and for letting me know you enjoyed Primal Lusts.
Your comment was a great message to wake up to in the New Year. Hope it's happy and prosperous for you.
Sorry I'm joining in here late. Just wanted to say that this is a very interesting post.
I've read all three of the books you've mentioned, Night Heat, Bloodlust III, and Bloodlust IV. Up until then I'd never read stories with gay relationships. I've enjoyed each story and I think that it's because your stories are so well written. The stories are more than sex. The characters are very compelling and the relationship between the characters are very strong. All of that makes the m/m romances a good and hot read.
Oh, by the way, wouldn't your two characters, Vlad (from Bloodlust) and Brian (from Night Heat) strongly say they are NOT gay? ;-)
Paz
LOL! Too truth, Paz. Both Vladimir and Brian deny being gay. Who am I to agrue with them?
Thanks for taking the time to comments, Paz.
HI MARILYN!
I'VE READ SOME OF YOUR BOOKS!
115
I saw this post and had to stop and read everyone's opinion. I have often wondered myself why I find Gay Romance so inticing. I actually read my first m/m story when a fanfiction writer I really loved wrote one. I had read everything else they ever wrote and read that story and really enjoyed it. I have since read many other "slash" fanfictions and many novels containing m/m and love reading them. Do I enjoy the sex scenes? Yes, I find them amazingly hot most times when done well; however, to really enjoy the story there must be real plots and storylines. Maybe I enjoy the m/m stories because when both main characters are men gender roles don't apply as strictly as in other formats...I can't seem to pinpoint why I like m/m, I just do!
Tour Member (Participant Number) #5002
Very nice post but now its too old.
Why do I read m/m? I still feel like there are things I haven't read. with traditional m/f novels I feel at times that I'm reading the same plots over and over. With m/m fiction there's a whole new set of conflicts and personalities and not even the hint of possible pregnancy or anything like that. tis beautiful.
My humorous answer as to why hetero women enjoy m/m stories? Prostate envy.
I'm #8331
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