Happy Hunk Day.



Hey everyone. How’s things? lol

Don’t have much to talk about. Did a little writing last night. Mostly on Angel’s Seduction, but I’m formulating another story in the back of my mind. (There’s a big shock, huh?) lol

I have a question though. Everyone feel free to answer it. If one of the heroes in a story of mine were to be HIV postive, would that be a turn-off for you? There would still be sex (though always w/ a condom). Would it be too depressing or still in the back of your mind while you read?

People are living longer than before because of medication and a few of those people actually have good/loving relationships with their partners.

That’s the question I’m posing to all of you. I haven’t started the story or anything, just began to think about it, so it’s not written in stone (or on the computer) yet. lol It can always be changed. 🙂

Hope everyone has a great day.

“What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?”

23 Responses “Happy Hunk Day.”

  1. T.A.Chase says:

    You’re right, Paige. How much ‘reality’ do I put in the story? Some people reading the het stories see the mention of birth control as a mood-killer. Then there are those who just accept it because it’s so much a part of our own society.

    It would have to be a central issue for the story..though I’m not sure I’d want it to be all the story is about. I’d have to find a balance between the reality of Paul’s life being HIV pos. and the relationship evolving between Paul and Sid.

    Thanks for the confidence in me. I’ll try my best.

  2. T.A.Chase says:

    Lily,

    you bring up some interesting points about Sid. The whole sex issue would be something I’d have to approach with a delicate touch I know. Because you’re right..no matter how protected they are, sex is still risky. I haven’t gotten far in my planning for the story. It was just an idea that popped up one day while I was watching tv.

    So I think there’ll be tons more planning and researching before I actually sit down to write the story. I don’t want to make light of the issue.

    Though the question I have in the back of my mind is Wouldn’t Sid’s willingness to be with Paul and have a relationsip with him be sort of like a person who finds out their boyfriend had cancer and choses to stay with them? (it’s not a true comparsion because-not to make light of either condition-there’s a different attitude towards those with HIV/AIDS and those with cancer)

    Thanks though, Lily. I hope when I do write this story, I do justice to your belief that I’d write it right.

  3. T.A.Chase says:

    David,

    Thanks. You have a very valid point about not making it a novelty thing. I would definitely have to take the time to show the trouble Paul would have living in our society with HIV. Not just the medical and legal issues, but the stigma that comes with it.

    And you’re right about expecting me to go into detail about what his life would be like and how he deals with it. The comparsion to a were/vamp is a good one. (because I’ve read some w/v stories where the author doesn’t really explain anything and it’s frustrating.)

    Thanks again for stopping by and voicing your opinion. You’ve helped straigten a few things out for me.

  4. Paige Burns says:

    Oh, I forgot this part, it was in the original post that blogger ate…

    You’re bound to get heat because it’s a social issue. You didn’t make HIV central…You made it too central…blah blah blah.

    Hell, we get it too in our hetero books. “Should I show them having safe sex or not? Do I need to write about birth control? How many drinks can the hero have before I have to cut him off so he can drive the heroine home from the bar?”

  5. Paige Burns says:

    F*#$! My whole post just went kaput!

    Love the quote.

    Yes I’d read it because you wrote it. Do I think you should write it? Good question. All I’ve got running though my head right now is Philedelphia Story, and I know that’s not what you’re going for.

    I do, however, agree with David and Lily, in that you run the risk alienating readers if you don’t make HIV central to the story, because for people who are HIV positive, it’s central to their lives and thier relationships. I don’t think you’d gloss over it in a demeaning or offhanded way, either, do you see what I’m saying though?

    I know you’d do the story and the couple and the issue justice, it’s a tough one to tackle and you’re the man to do it, but I don’t know if I can give you a firm yes, so put me down as a maybe.

  6. Lily Ashford says:

    I just read David’s post, and he’s right about outlining the legal and other not so pleasant issues of the disease.

    I guess a societal bias is common in most romance novels – from the Regency to contemp. But the everyday life rawness could detract from the romance part of it, or it could strengthen the bond between the lovers to unbelievably poignant measures.

    Regardless of either, it’ll be a very emotional and tear-filled book, but you’re very talented at pulling on the heartstrings 🙂 Like Jenna, I know I’ll cry.

  7. Lily Ashford says:

    Hmm. This is a very relevant topic and one that I think you’re brave to address in your work – it’s also one that doesn’t get enough approaches from a positive, loving relationship POV. But to be painfully honest, I’m not sure if I could read it. I know we never know if our loved ones are going to even live another day, but the *actual* knowledge that this man WILL die…and not at a ripe old age in his lover’s arms…I don’t know if I could handle that.

    There is also…even if there is always a condom, with HIV more than anything else, it’s *extremely* risky, obviously. I’m not sure how that kind of sex would work…I mean, one slip up and Sid could end up with HIV, himself. Love is wonderful, and of course both characters deserve to be happy, but a) Would it be fair to Sid, and Sid’s future partners, if he should have any after Paul’s death, if he did become infected? Or is their love so deep, he could never love again? Still, he’d be left knowing his beloved marked him for death, and wouldn’t he come to resent it, in time? Human nature.

    And b) If Sid contracted HIV, that might make Paul feel horribly guilty, and he shouldn’t have to feel that way – he should be purely loved for himself and not resented for something that might not have been entirely his own fault.

    So, I’m not sure how it would work and still be fair to both parties. But I believe in your abilities as a writer to pull it off, and I think if you feel compelled to write it, you should. Sorry this is so long.

  8. Anonymous says:

    If I read a blurb for a story that said one of its main characters was HIV+, I would be disinclined to read it, unless I knew that the HIV+ character did not die, or developed AIDS toward the end of the book. There have been so many AIDS novels, published in the 80’s/90’s, that all that reality can get pretty depressing.

    However, if you plan to have an HIV+ character, then you should be ready to explore in your novel the ins and outs of a person living with HIV. To simply have a character be poz, just for the novelty value, does not seem to be a good reason. Yes, HIV is becoming more of a chronic condition, but it cannot be compared with type-II diabetes. There are not only medical, but societal/legal issues that surround those with HIV.

    I would probably read a novel with an HIV+ character if it had a HEA ending. Please don’t take this as my view on HIV, but if an author has a werewolf/vampire character, he/she would take the time to explain to the reader about living as a werewolf/vampire. The same would be true if the character was poz.

    Hope this helps.

    David

  9. T.A.Chase says:

    oh good. I don’t want despair. I want emotional tears where you’ve been touched by the plight of the characters. 🙂

  10. T.A.Chase says:

    I’ll be writing it soon, Caye. Got a couple other stories to finish first, but I have a good plot done in my head so far.

  11. Jenna Howard says:

    T.A. – I cry over commercials. You’re doomed to make me teary-eyed. Happy scene. Sad scene. Touching scene. Emotional scene. I’m gonna cry. Deal with it. 🙂

    But they won’t be heaving sobs of utter despair that require a box of tissues. That reassure you?

  12. Celia Kyle says:

    I know that this is obviously a very serious topic, but you could make this the story with the mom and a baby. Babies are always make people happy…All right, it was worth a shot. I think this is a story that should be told (with or without the mom and baby). The amount of love that is present between partners when one is obviously going to outlive the other is uplifting enough and it will be the type of story that stays with the reader. Go write it already!!

  13. T.A.Chase says:

    Jenna…I’m not sure how much it’ll make you cry. I’m hoping it’ll make you laugh and cheer more than cry. 🙂 I don’t want it to be a sad story.

  14. T.A.Chase says:

    LOL…Emma, that’s the other thing that makes me wonder. If the reader knows from the very beginning that Paul has HIV, would they even want to read further? I’ll have to figure out how to pull them into the story farther enough that they’ll want to see how it ends w/o throwing the book away because it’s about a man who made a few mistakes in his life and is paying for them.

    But I’ll put you down as a yes.

  15. T.A.Chase says:

    Caye,

    That’s what I thought. Devotion is a beautiful thing and for Sid to fall in love with Paul, knowing that at some point he would die is enough to make anyone teary-eyed, I think.

    So that’s another yes.

  16. Jenna Howard says:

    This story is SO going to make me cry. I just know it.

    The thought’ll still trickle through my brain but I’ll get all teary smiley because he has Sid. So…double yes.

  17. Emma Sinclair says:

    Count me in as another yes.

    BUT, I am wondering if it would automatically alianate people up front. Hmmm…interesting to think about really, I hope you write it!

  18. Celia Kyle says:

    Another Yes!!! It would show the devotion and love b/t the two men if they form a lasting relationship knowing that one of them has HIV. *tear**sniffle*

  19. T.A.Chase says:

    See Jenna..I think I want to make the story about Paul living..not about his dying. It’s not going to happen during the course of the story. This is about Sid and Paul getting together and having to learn about each other. Sid will have to deal with Paul’s illness, but not in the ‘He’s dying just when I fall in love’ way.

    Another yes.

    Peanut butter and jelly…comfort food. 🙂

  20. T.A.Chase says:

    Thanks, SW. Since I don’t think being HIV positive is going to be the main focus of the story. (As in I’m not going to hit people over the head with it.) It’s going to be something that comes up pretty early in the story, so Sid (the non-HIV hero) has time to decide if he really wants an relationship with Paul.

    I just want to tell a story about how people with HIV can still live active happy lives. It isn’t all sadness and lonliness. 🙂

    So marking you down as yes.

  21. Jenna Howard says:

    I don’t know. I know in the back of my head I’d be thinking “He’s going to die. He’s going to die!!!” when I get swept into the story – as I do but I think you’d write such an amazing story that now I want to read it.

    I’m with S.W. – go for it. You don’t know until you try, right? No boundaries, remember? *smooches*

    My verification – pjbduel: the duel between peanut butter and jam (jelly…whatevs)… Now it’s personal.

  22. S. W. Vaughn says:

    A story with a person who is HIV positive would not turn me off, because I have seen It’s My Party and it was one of the best damned movies ever.

    So that’s one vote for “go for it!” 🙂

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Website says:

    website

    Happy Hunk Day.

Let us talk about
Name and Mail are required
Join the discuss