All posts by Vance

03Jul/26

Garrett Hutson

Featured Guest, Newsreel, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

July 3, 2026

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 11, Episode 24: Garrett Hutson!

Garrett Hutson returns to announce the kickstarter for his M/M/M adventure-romance, Into the Wild, and drop the news of Book 5 in the Death in Shanghai series: Murder Among Friends. We discuss moving between death and mayhem and adventure and happy romance, how love is not constrained, and why history is a great backdrop for novels… And we manage it all without spoiling the endings!.

Follow and support:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
Garrett Hutson writes upmarket historical fiction driven by flawed characters who are moving and unforgettable. Whether it’s a murder mystery, a thrilling spy novel, or an adventurous and swoon-worthy gay romance, his books will make you feel something. Garrett writes about ordinary people in different times and places who struggle with faith, family dysfunction, and all of the moral gray areas of life. He writes realistic fiction, so his work is always diverse and LGBT-inclusive.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyTuneIn

Or Listen/Watch Right Here:

November 8, 2024

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 9, Episode 43: Garrett Hutson!

Garrett Hutson returns to share his upcoming LGBTQ Buccaneer Adventure kickstarter: Friends, Mates, and Scoundrels. We discuss facing writers block, imposter syndrome, finding inspiration, and the adventure of writing!

Follow and support Garrett:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
Garrett Hutson writes upmarket historical mysteries and spy fiction, driven by flawed characters who are moving and unforgettable. His books are about ordinary people in different times and places who struggle with faith, family dysfunction, and all of the moral gray areas of life. He writes realistic fiction, so his work is always diverse and LGBT-inclusive. He lives in Indianapolis with his husband, three adorable dogs, an odd-ball cat, and too many fish to count.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyTuneIn

Or Listen/Watch Right Here:

January 5, 2024

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 9, Episode 01: Garrett Hutson!

Garrett Hutson returns to share his most recent two books – The Pink Lotus and Of Wild and Merry Men. We discuss the Shanghai nightlife of the 20s, 30s, and early 40s AND the Merrymount Colony experiment in colonial America.

Follow and support Garrett:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
Garrett Hutson writes upmarket mysteries and historical spy fiction, driven by flawed characters who are moving and unforgettable. He writes about ordinary people in different times and places who struggle with faith, family dysfunction, and all of the moral gray areas of life. It’s realistic fiction, so Garrett’s work is always diverse and LGBT-inclusive.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyTuneIn

Or Listen/Watch Right Here:

Or Watch on YouTube:

October 28, 2022

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 7, Episode 43: Garrett Hutson + Our Review of Hocus Pocus 2!

Garrett Hutson unveils his latest historic novels, filled with espionage, intrigue, and a bit of cabaret. Then horror author Michael G. Williams joins our review of Hocus Pocus 2. Followed by Baz and Vance sharing who won their weeks.

Follow and support Garrett:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
Garrett Hutson writes upmarket mysteries and historical spy fiction, driven by flawed characters who are moving and unforgettable. He writes about ordinary people in different times and places who struggle with faith, family dysfunction, and all of the moral gray areas of life. It’s realistic fiction, so Garrett’s work is always diverse and LGBT-inclusive.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyTuneIn

Or Listen/Watch Right Here:

OR Watch on YouTube:

September 17, 2021

It gives us great pleasure to welcome Garrett Hutson as the guest on Season 6, Episode 37 – Two Paragraphs Before the Detective!

Garrett Hutson shares his latest release, No Accidental Death. We then discuss queer characters in historical fiction.

Follow Garrett and support his work:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:

Garrett Hutson writes upmarket mysteries and historical spy fiction, driven by characters who are moving and unforgettable. He lives in Indianapolis with his husband, four adorable dogs, two odd-ball cats, and more fish than you can count. You can usually find him reading about history, and day-dreaming about being there. This is where his stories are born, and he hopes they transport you the way his imagination transports him.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyTuneIn

Or Listen/Watch Right Here:

OR Watch on YouTube:

26Jun/26

Chris Holcombe

Featured Guest, Newsreel, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

June 26, 2026

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 11, Episode 23: Chris Holcombe!

Chris Holcombe shares his latest Hidden Gothem novels: The Naughty List (standalone short) and The Big Timer (book 4). We discuss the evolution of his novels, more queer Harlem history, the Rainbow Readers Cruise, and Chris’s park walks.

Follow and support:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
Chris Holcombe is the author of the Hidden Gotham series, LGBTQ+ noir that readers call “Honest-to-goodness pulp fiction at its gayest and most glamorous!”

Set in the Queer clubs of 1920s NYC, Hidden Gotham exposes and explores that fabulous yet gritty life during The Decade That Roared.

Chris’s work features engaging characters, whip-smart dialogue, and page-turning plots. He also infuses real Queer history and at least one “seriously, WTF?!” Prohibition factoid into every book. All written in an immersive, atmospheric writing style.

He is currently hard at work on his next book, and he asks that you send gin and chocolate for encouragement.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyTuneIn

Or Listen/Watch Right Here:

June 14, 2024

It gives us great pleasure to present a Season 9, Episode 23 Interview – Chris Holcombe

Chris Holcombe returns to share his Hidden Gotham series. He then teases the upcoming book 4, and shares his Pride Month Short Story!

Follow and support:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:

Chris Holcombe is the author of LGBTQ+ historical crime fiction called The Hidden Gotham Series, which showcases New York’s lively but criminally under-represented queer world of the 1920s. His first novel The Double Vice was released in 2021 to great acclaim, with Queer Writers of Crime calling it “one of the best I’ve read all year! I can’t recommend it highly enough!” His second novel The Blind Tiger was released in 2022, and it continues the story of gay speakeasy owner Dash Parker and his Queer friends in Greenwich Village and in Harlem. Readers heralded it as “honest-to-goodness pulp fiction at its gayest and most glamorous!” The third novel in the series The Devil Card was released in 2023, with readers saying it was Holcombe’s best one yet. He is currently hard at work plotting and planning the next Hidden Gotham novel. He asks that you send gin and chocolate for encouragement.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyTuneIn

Or Listen/Watch Right Here:

June 16, 2023

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 8, Episode 25: Chris Holcombe + Our Review of ABC’s “Soul of a Nation: The Freedom to Exist!”

Chris Holcombe brings his fun energy as we talk about The Devil Card, the third in his Hidden Gotham series. We discuss his diverse cast and the real-world WTF facts from queer and prohibition history that shaped his setting. Then Baz and Vance rate and review ABC’s important “Soul of a Nation: The Freedom to Exist” and close by sharing who won their weeks!

Follow and support Chris:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
Chris Holcombe is the author of LGBTQ+ historical crime fiction called The Hidden Gotham Series, which showcases New York’s lively but criminally under-represented queer world of the 1920s.

He asks that you send gin and chocolate for encouragement.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyTuneIn

Or Listen/Watch Right Here:

OR Watch on YouTube:

 

19Jun/26

Douglas Bell

Featured Guest, Newsreel, , , , , , , , , ,

June 19, 2026

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 11, Episode 22: Douglas Bell!

Douglas Bell joins us to share his novels: Cake Walk, Love Cake, and Threads of Purpose. We discuss identity crisis, black identity vs expectations, community, loving a trans woman openly, giving trans women the spotlight, spirituality & meditation, and the journey to discovering one’s true self.

Follow and support:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
Douglas Bell, a dynamic fiction author based in Houston, Texas, inspires readers to embrace authenticity and transformation. Writing under the pen name Douglas Bell, Troy Porter found the freedom to tell bold, groundbreaking stories that elevate overlooked perspectives, particularly the pain and passion of Black male voices. Grounded in the culture, food, architecture, and sports of Houston, Bell’s stories offer a rich, immersive backdrop that reflects the heart of the city. With a background in Architectural Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from Texas A&M’s Mays School of Business, Bell blends analytical precision with creative vision in his storytelling.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyTuneIn

Or Listen/Watch Right Here:

12Jun/26

Donna Minkowitz

Featured Guest, Newsreel, , , , , , , ,

June 12, 2026

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 11, Episode 21: Donna Minkowitz!

Donna Minkowitz returns with the new edition of her memoir, Growing Up Golem. We discuss her journey from feeling “constructed” toward feeling like a person. Donna’s style introduces dark topics and growing pains with intellect and fierce fantasy.

Follow and support:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
Donna Minkowitz is a writer of fantasy, memoir, and journalism lauded by Lilith Magazine for her “fierce imagination and compelling prose.” Science fiction great Terry Bisson called her writing “rich and wild, dark and funny, as fearless as her legendary journalism and as scary as a fairy tale.” And she’s proud that Kirkus has praised the “defiant and playful energy” of her work.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyTuneIn

Or Listen/Watch Right Here:

March 14, 2025

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 10, Episode 9: Donna Minkowitz!

Donna Minkowitz joins us to share her first fiction novel: Donnaville. We discuss backdrops of the mind, growth of the self through the parts of self, character struggles, and yes… there are authoritarians who are trying to bring about a stricter society.

Follow and support:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
Donna Minkowitz is a writer of fantasy, memoir, and journalism lauded by Lilith Magazine for her “fierce imagination and compelling prose.” Science fiction great Terry Bisson called her writing “rich and wild, dark and funny, as fearless as her legendary journalism and as scary as a fairy tale.” And she’s proud that Kirkus has praised the “defiant and playful energy” of her work.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyTuneIn

Or Listen/Watch Right Here:

05Jun/26

Russ López

Featured Guest, Newsreel, , , , ,

June 5, 2026

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 11, Episode 20: Russ López!

Russ López shares his novel, Provincetown Stories. We discuss him finding a home in Boston/Provincetown, the inspiration for the amazing characters that inspire his work, and then writing a fun collection of short fiction stories as a love-letter to this amazing area.

Follow and support:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
Russ López is the author of Provincetown Stories, a collection set in the Portuguese fishing village/gay tourist mecca on the tip of Cape Cod. He’s written six nonfiction books including The Hub of the Gay Universe: An LGBTQ History of Boston, Provincetown, and Beyond. He is the editor of Latin eLit, an online magazine that publishes fiction by and about Latinx people, and his work has appeared in The Fictional Café, Somos en escrito, Northeast Atlantic, Discretionary Love, Night Picnic, The Gay and Lesbian Review, The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and many other places. López has also written numerous academic articles, book reviews, and works in many formats, and has presented at numerous book festivals, podcasts, and special programming on books and literature. Originally from California, Russ has degrees from Stanford, Harvard, and Boston University. He splits his time between Boston and Ptown year-round.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyTuneIn

Or Listen/Watch Right Here:

29May/26

Sven Davisson of Rebel Satori Press

Featured Guest, Newsreel, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

May 29, 2026

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 11, Episode 19: Sven Davisson of Rebel Satori Press!

Sven Davisson of Rebel Satori Press joins us to share his latest release, The United Rite. We also cover his upcoming oracle decks, the Press’s latest releases, and what you can do to help save the legendary Hampshire College.

Follow and support:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
Sven Davisson is the innovative force behind Rebel Satori Press, an independent publishing house dedicated to pushing boundaries and amplifying marginalized voices. With a keen eye for compelling narratives and a commitment to fostering diverse literary landscapes, Davisson curates a catalog that challenges conventions and sparks dialogue. Under his stewardship, Rebel Satori continues to be a beacon for groundbreaking literature that resonates with readers seeking fresh perspectives. His works include Breeding Devils in Chaos, The Rise & Fall of Rajneeshpuram, The Star Set Matrix, the story “Dim Star Descried” in Madder Love: Queer Men and the Precincts of Surrealism, and Puck You!

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyTuneIn

Or Listen/Watch Right Here:

July 4, 2025

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 10, Episode 23: Sven Davisson!

Sven Davisson returns to share his latest book, Puck You! We dive into reclaiming lost customs and engaging with transformative rituals as queer men to find solace in shared mythic histories & courage to embrace our path of queer resistance. We then look at some of Rebel Satori’s recent releases!

Follow and support:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
Sven Davisson is the innovative force behind Rebel Satori Press, an independent publishing house dedicated to pushing boundaries and amplifying marginalized voices. With a keen eye for compelling narratives and a commitment to fostering diverse literary landscapes, Davisson curates a catalog that challenges conventions and sparks dialogue. Under his stewardship, Rebel Satori continues to be a beacon for groundbreaking literature that resonates with readers seeking fresh perspectives. His latest book, Puck You!, reclaims folklore as a path for queer empowerment. His other works include Breeding Devils in Chaos, The Rise & Fall of Rajneeshpuram, The Star Set Matrix, and the story “Dim Star Descried” in Madder Love: Queer Men and the Precincts of Surrealism.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyTuneIn

Or Listen/Watch Right Here:

June 7, 2024

It gives us great pleasure to welcome Sven Davisson of Rebel Satori Press back as the guest on Season 9, Episode 22!

Sven Davisson returns to share his upcoming book, Breeding Devils in Chaos, a re-queering of the male mysteries. We then move on to highlight the titles Rebel Satori Press will be releasing this summer.

Follow and support:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
Sven Davisson is the innovative force behind Rebel Satori Press, an independent publishing house dedicated to pushing boundaries and amplifying marginalized voices. With a keen eye for compelling narratives and a commitment to fostering diverse literary landscapes, Davisson curates a catalog that challenges conventions and sparks dialogue. Under his stewardship, Rebel Satori continues to be a beacon for groundbreaking literature that resonates with readers seeking fresh perspectives. His other works include The Starry Dynamo, The Star Set Matrix, and the story “Dim Star Descried” in Madder Love: Queer Men and the Precincts of Surrealism.

Since 2002, Rebel Satori Press has been committed to releasing cutting edge fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction, with an emphasis on amplifying LGBTQIA+ voices and promoting diversity through the press and its imprints Queer Mojo, Queer Space, Arabi Manor, and the Library of Homosexual Congress. We are dedicated to safeguarding the voices of our heritage.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyTuneIn

Or Listen Right Here:

OR Watch on YouTube:

June 9, 2023

It gives us great pleasure to welcome Sven Davisson of Rebel Satori Press back as the guest on Season 8, Episode 24 – Rebel Satori + Our Review of Wanda Sykes – I’m An Entertainer!

Sven Davisson returns to highlight Rebel Satori Press’s recent and Pride Month Releases. We follow that up with news of their imprints – Queer Mojo, Queer Space, Arabi Manor, and The Library of Homosexual Congress. Then Baz and Vance rate and review Wanda Sykes’ special “I’m An Entertainer,” and close by sharing who won their weeks!

Follow and support:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
Rebel Satori is celebrating their 20th year in publishing (though it actually started with a zine back around 1989). In addition to the main press, Rebel has three imprints Queer Mojo, Queer Space (edited by Joseph Campbell) and Arabi Manor. They recently announced their fourth imprint—The Library of Homosexual Congress curated by Tom Cardamone—that will focus on bringing out of print queer books back in to print before they are lost to history. First LOHC title will appear this fall.

Sven Davisson is a writer, photographer and editor based in New Orleans. He is the Owner/Publisher of Rebel Satori.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyTuneIn

Or Listen Right Here:

OR Watch on YouTube:

June 24, 2022

It gives us great pleasure to welcome Sven Davisson of Rebel Satori Press as the guest on Season 7, Episode 25 – Rebel Satori + Our Review of Queer as Folk!

Sven Davisson introduces us to Rebel Satori Press and its imprints: Queer Mojo, Queer Space, Arabi Manor, and The Library of Homosexual Congress. We then discuss their most recent release, Fever Spores: The Queer Reclamation of William S. Burroughs. Then Baz and Vance review Peacock’s Queer as Folk and share who won the week for them!

Follow and support:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
Rebel Satori is celebrating their 20th year in publishing (though it actually started with a zine back around 1989). In addition to the main press, Rebel has three imprints Queer Mojo, Queer Space (edited by Joseph Campbell) and Arabi Manor. They recently announced their fourth imprint—The Library of Homosexual Congress curated by Tom Cardamone—that will focus on bringing out of print queer books back in to print before they are lost to history. First LOHC title will appear this fall.

Sven Davisson is a writer, photographer and editor based in New Orleans. He is the Owner/Publisher of Rebel Satori.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyTuneIn

Or Listen Right Here:

OR Watch on YouTube:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14BR9zOl93g[/embedyt]

22May/26

Frank Spinelli

Featured Guest, Newsreel, , , , , ,

May 22, 2026

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 11, Episode 18: Frank Spinelli!

Frank Spinelli shares the third Angelo Perrotta Mystery: Precious Friends – Murder in Sag Harbor. We talk about how he uses his career to write a physician solving crimes, his experience to craft psychological suspense, and his location to understand economic class struggles.

Follow and support:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
Frank Spinelli is a physician from New York. His writing credits include: The Advocate Guide to Gay Men’s Health and Wellness, Pee-Shy: A Memoir, Perfect Flaw: Angelo Perrotta Mysteries Book 1, No Angels Wept: Angelo Perrotta Mysteries Book 2, contributing author to Our Naked Lives and Understanding the Sexual Betrayal of Boys and Men.

He has made appearances on Sirius Radio and co-hosted Speak Out: Real Talk About AIDS. His documentary credits include 30 Years from Here (Emmy nominated) and Positive Youth. His television credits include ABC News, NBC Nightly News, MTV, and Sesame Street – as well as hosting a season of Dueling Doctors.

He lives in Sag Harbor with his incredibly patient husband and their four-legged adopted son.

Frank Spinelli is an advocate for child sexual abuse survivors and has given frequent interviews about his experience as a victim of child sexual abuse while in the Boy Scouts.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyTuneIn

Or Listen/Watch Right Here:

15May/26

Ron Naples

Featured Guest, Newsreel, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

May 15, 2026

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 11, Episode 17: Ron Naples!

Ron Naples joins us to share his memoirs: My Last Dance With Auntie Brie 1 & 2. We talk about his coming out in the 70s, his life in the early 80s club scene and as a house boy in Ptown, up through finally settling down in San Francisco – most of which was guided by the drag queen Auntie Brie. We discuss the importance of memory, as well as archiving these unique gay experiences.

Follow and support:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
Ron Naples, a native of Connecticut, has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area with his partner Joe, for the last 40 years. In the ’70s, he was a percussion major at Berklee College of Music in Boston. In the ’80s, he earned a degree in Interior Design from CCC in San Pablo, CA. In later years, he became certified in massage therapy from NHI in Emeryville, CA, which he continues to practice today.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyTuneIn

Or Listen/Watch Right Here:

08May/26

Mickie Kennedy

Featured Guest, Newsreel, , ,

May 8, 2026

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 11, Episode 16: Mickie Kennedy!

Mickie Kennedy joins us to share his poetry memoir Worth Burning. We talk about his life’s story and the themes of family, illness, and what it means to rebuild after trauma and tragedy.

Follow and support:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
Born and raised in rural North Carolina, Mickie Kennedy is a gay poet who explores queerness, family, illness, and what it means to rebuild after trauma and tragedy. His work is a window to an integral time in gay history, when AIDS was its zenith and sex was synonymous with death. His debut poetry collection, Worth Burning, was published by Black Lawrence Press in February 2026, and his chapbook, Glandscapes, won Button Poetry’s 2025 Chapbook Prize. Recent poems have appeared in Prairie Schooner, POETRY, The Threepenny Review, The Southern Review, The Sun, Copper Nickel, Nimrod, and Black Warrior Review.

Kennedy earned an MFA in creative writing from George Mason University, where he studied with Carolyn Forché. When he’s not writing, he runs eReleases, a national press release distribution company that helps small businesses earn real media coverage. He lives with his husband and grown children, splitting time between Baltimore County, Maryland and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyTuneIn

Or Listen/Watch Right Here:

01May/26

O’labumi Brown

Featured Guest, Newsreel, , , , ,

May 1, 2026

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 11, Episode 15: O’labumi Brown!

O’labumi Brown joins us to share her memoir Hairalujah. We discuss the art of moving between hardship and joy in memoirs. O’labumi shares some of her anecdotes and how the evolution of her hair marks the different points of her life.

Follow and support:

Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:
O’labumi Brown was born and raised in New York City, where she studied with Michel Marriott, whose memoir workshops were legendary. Brown, a memoirist, loves using metaphor to set a mood. Her short story “Romance on the Iron Horse” was published in Between the Covers: An Adult Romance Anthology, and her short story “Dragon Della” was published in ThereAfter Magazine. Her debut memoir Hairalujah traces the author’s journey of queer identity in the 80s and steps through allegory’s shadow to tell a story about the lessons she’s learned and how she rose from the rubble. O’labumi currently resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyTuneIn

Or Listen/Watch Right Here: