As most people close to me know by now, I came out a little over a year ago. That statement right there has a world of history and background. Maybe for another post, but not this one. Because I spent so long struggling against myself and looking for avenues of "fixing" myself, I also spent a very long time denying an aspect of my voice that was struggling to be heard, not just by readers, but by me.
A few of the characters in The Six are members of the LGBTQIA+ family, but two stand out as being in very different places from each other and neither of them have fully embraced that piece of their identity. The most open of the two is Spencer, constantly flirting with Charlie and his past trysts are the target of many of his sister's brutal barbs. But Spencer is deeply conflicted, not by his sexuality, but by the honesty of it and the deeper confusion of the things he feels, or rather, doesn't feel. I've had readers ask why I didn't include a POV from Spencer in the book since he is, after all, one of the Six, but I felt like his story and heart was something I wanted to explore more deeply later on. And I am, as the next book is currently underway.
Ben, on the other hand, did get explored in the first book through his own POV. I loved discovering Ben's background and secrets and as someone who was struggling in my own identity, I found Ben's conflict oddly comforting. Quarterback, rising leader of the Pack, and someone with whom Charlie feels at odds with and intimidated by, Ben finds himself playing a part he's frustrated with and doesn't fully believe in. Those of us who have found ourselves in a similar situation know the pain and frustration of feeling like we have to hide and play a part. It often feels hopeless and never ending, as though that mask might be permanently stuck to our faces. Regardless of how long we wear it or how attached to the mask we are, we never forget what's underneath it.
Thankfully, because I'm surrounded by people who love me, especially my amazing ex-wife and two sons, I was finally able to remove the mask and toss it. It hasn't been easy. Growth that is good, healthy, and right, generally isn't easy, but it's been a world of relief and peace. I'm no expert on the topic, just someone walking down the road with a multitude of other people. I've found my voice in my writing and in turn, so have the characters who inhabit it.
Spencer's and Ben's stories, along with everyone else dwelling in the pages of the Six, are unfolding and I can't wait for you to experience them and see what's coming next.
Later.
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