Gay Audiences Embrace Novel That Has No Preference

Author is pleasantly surprised that in her story of love on a human, not anatomical, level, gays get it; straights ... not so much.

(PRWEB) May 28, 2004 -- "She's the Girl: Part Roadtrip, Part Headtrip, A Gender-Bending Journey on the Road to Ruune," by Susan M. Brooks has found a growing and enthusiastic audience among gay readers, even though the book was not written specifically for a gay audience, and according to the author, labelling the book as primarily gay or straight negates the whole idea behind the story.

"'She's the Girl'" is a story not so much about finding 'true love' but about making a connection on a human level, connecting to another soul regardless of the package it came in," says Brooks. "This is a storyline that seems to resound with gay audiences, especially women."

Indeed, while the straight press have largely ignored the debut novel, the gay press has been more open to reviewing the book. In fact, "She's the Girl" has just scored a Top Pick designation in The Advocate's (the nation's largest gay newspaper) Summer Book Issue (June 8, 2004).

"I am kind of surprised," says Brooks, "but when you think about it, it makes perfect sense. This is a story that a lot of gay men and women can relate to, that struggle to be allowed to love someone regardless of the parts they came with."

Brooks' story of a lifelong search for love (only to find that it is never what it appears to be) has struck a chord with women -- and some men -- of all ages. In "She's the Girl," Natalie, having just passed her 35th birthday and fed up with one disastrous relationship after another, heads out on the road to drive 3,000 miles from Los Angeles to the fictional town of Ruune, North Dakota, to surprise her high-school sweetheart. Without giving away too much of the story, (especially the ending), Brooks goes on to say that "it's really about expectataions, thinking that love should look or be a certain way. I liken it to hailing a cab. You know taxis are yellow, right? So you're standing out in the rain, waiting for a yellow cab. So a blue one goes by. Then a red one goes by. But you don't see them, you only know yellow. And what do you get? Soaked...and there goes your ride."

The struggle to battle preconceived notions about love, and what it should look like, is a theme that resonates with gay readers. But, says Brooks, it's a theme that anyone who has ever searched for love can relate to.

"I would like to see more straight magazines take a look at the book and not be intimidated by the title (she was warned early on that the subtitle: "A Gender-Bending Journey on the Road to Ruune" would scare off a lot of straight press and potential readers, but she felt it fit the story perfectly and those who got it, would). Those who don't, she says, "probably never will."

"Unfortunately," Brooks says, "everyone wants to put a label on everything. Is this book for gay or straight readers? The problem is, once that question is answered, a bunch of people feel alienated and reluctant to give it a read."

Ironically, says Brooks, that's the whole point of the story. Being played out now, she says, in the publisher's marketing and sales efforts.

"She's the Girl" is the first offering from new publishing company Small Dogs Press, based in Southern California. This is Brooks' second book. Her first, "Any Girl Can Rule the World (Fairview Press, 1998) is a nonfiction how-to manual for teen girls bent on ruling the world, and is available at several online retailers.

For author interviews or more information, please contact the publisher.