The single most asked question I get as a writer is “Why don’t you write mainstream fiction?” In other words, why don’t I write about straight people?  Let me begin by saying that most of the askers have good intentions. They are under the impression that mainstream fiction is somehow better than lesbian fiction. They think I would make more money, or that I would gain more recognition writing mainstream. Both of those assumptions are false.

The reason I write lesfic is because I am a lesbian. It has been said, “Write what you know.” It makes me wonder if a black person is ever asked “Why don’t you write about white people?” Did James Baldwin or Toni Morrison ever get asked that?

Was Amy Tan ever thought of as lesser because she wrote about her culture?

I am a lesbian. I write about lesbian lives, romances, dramas, and comedies because that is where my heart is. It’s what I know. I don’t understand straight people. I don’t understand a single freakin’ thing about their relationships. It’s like entering a foreign land where I don’t speak the language.

There’s just something about seeing myself on the page that excites me. It validates me. It makes me feel so not alone. I would rather read or write about lesbians any day over straight people.

Reason number two why I write lesfic: because that is where I am needed most. Mainstream fiction doesn’t need nor want me. I can make a mark in lesfic. I feel needed and appreciated there. I know with the advent of self-publishing we have a lot of lesfic writers. Some say too many. I say not enough. We need more lesbian writers. We need more lesbian readers. There is never too much of a good thing. Fifteen years ago, there was only Naiad. I’m ever glad they were there, but it was a monopoly. That meant whatever Naiad wanted, that’s all we got. Now that lesbians are self-publishing the stories are more varied than ever. Envelopes are being pushed. I love that! Homogenization is going away!

I love being the mirror that is held up before the eyes of lesbians. It makes me proud. I am so blessed that my work has a home. A home where I feel useful and wanted.

To all my readers out there—I don’t care if you’re lesbian, gay, straight, male or female, trans, genderqueer, bi, non-binaryr—thank you for making me proud to be a lesfic writer.

CHANGE OF HEART (The True Heart Series Book 3) by Saxon Bennett & Layce Gardner

E-book $4.99 Paperback $15.99
Also available in Kindle Unlimited
Release date: September 20, 2017
Romance

Dr. Susan Everett is living her dream. She has the perfect girlfriend, the perfect job, and lives in a perfect town. She is surrounded by wonderful friends and couldn’t be happier…until Carrie St. Clair, her ex-fiancee, comes back to town. Susan’s picture perfect life takes a wrong turn as Carrie tries to win her back.

Tess Donnelly has never believed in happily ever after – until she meets Susan. Tess opens her heart, her arms, and her home for the woman she loves. Then Carrie St. Clair threatens to destroy everything she loves.

Can Susan and Tess survive the storm that is Carrie? Will Susan have a change of heart? Or will Susan and Tess find out that only true love can keep them together?