Alexandra Caluen – författare

Neither Troy Nakamura nor Laszlo Jovanovic expect anything after their one-night stand. Troy is bound for college and Laszlo is heading to graduate school on the other side of the continent.They don’t see each other again for five years, when Troy’s former competition dance partner invites him to her wedding, where he can’t resist another encounter with Laszlo. Then he says more than he should. While Laszlo lets him down easy, the fact is Troy’s still in law school and the other man’s work is taking him to Europe. Their first parting wasn’t easy, but this one really hurts.As Laszlo winds up his final European contract seven years later, a traumatic incident disrupts his intention to stay with his parents for a while. Troy, now living near their families again, offers a place to live while Laszlo sorts himself out.Both of them had always thought what if. With privacy, peace, and the opportunity to learn just how they’ve both changed since that first momentous night, is the time finally right for love?

At going-on-fifty, patent filing specialist Santo is the recently divorced single dad to a sixteen-year-old with Broadway ambitions. He’s thrilled to learn his new coworker Martin is close to his age, also gay, and also a single dad. At the very least, they might turn into good work friends.Before many weeks pass, Santo and Martin are much more than work friends. Their teenagers, who go to the same high school, quickly bond. Having school and workplace in common takes a lot of the juggling out of trying to date in Los Angeles.Meanwhile, Santo’s support helps Martin cope as an adoptive father to a niece still grieving her parents. He’s creating a new version of himself for this role. Will his turbulent entry into parenthood open a door to a future full of love?

Benny Schneider has lived in Las Vegas for a lot of years, working in medical billing for the past fifteen. In February 2021, he runs into new friend Dorian Weathers at the supermarket and they start a conversation that goes in some unexpected directions.Dori’s seen a lot during his years of working as a hospital orderly, but hit the wall after eight months of coping with a pandemic. Now staying with a longtime friend, he’s been offered a free apartment in Los Angeles and help with tuition to level up his career. When Benny offers a room in his own house instead, Dori gets a vision of what might be possible.By the end of that first conversation, it’s clear they’ll be housemates with benefits. Over the months that follow, they grow closer. Benny’s twenty years older and he’s been through a change that even most of his friends don’t know about. Before long, Dori wants everything Benny is, was, and ever will be.With the support of their friends and the freedom of drag, they’re determined to embrace a new change. Can they carry it into the future along with everything else they are?

Darius Adams is at the pharmacy for his fall vaccines when he meets Rafael Balam. He’s instantly attracted to the cute, nonbinary costume designer. Over drinks at a nearby café, they discover a lot of things in common, from recently losing parents and moving house to people Rafael knows at Darius’ new teaching job.It doesn’t take long to decide they want to see a lot more of each other. Neither was on the hunt for a new relationship, but when it seems a good one has opened up in front of them, they walk right in.During the next few months, Darius and Rafael learn how to be boyfriends, then lovers. Then they open up the living-together conversation. At midlife, are they too set in their ways, or do they love each other enough to make it work?

Byron is out for what passes for a date with JoJo when choreographer Cole Black keeps him from toppling off the curb and into traffic. By the time he and Cole are properly introduced, JoJo is halfway down the block with his gang, heading to another club. Byron goes to dinner with Cole instead. The next morning, it’s clear something needs to change.Cole is fascinated by his new man’s not-quite-previous relationship and not at all averse to meeting the much-younger actor. Cole is new to LA but has a lot of connections in the industry. If JoJo needs a hand, why not offer one? Especially when it becomes clear Byron isn’t ready to pull the plug completely.Byron’s mild case of breakup guilt gets serious when he and Cole learn exactly how JoJo gets by. Between the two of them, they can make up for some of the ways Byron failed the younger man. Along the way, they discover JoJo is just what they need. The only question is does he need them the same way?

Bay Area Queer Writers Association's third anthology, "e;Queer Cheer!"e; Includes holiday-themed works from members: K.S. Trenten, Pat Henshaw, R.L. Merrill, Liz Faraim, Richard May, Vincent Traughber Meis, M.D. Neu, Kelliane Parker, Allison Fradkin, Wayne Goodman, Alexandra Caluen, Andrew Beierle, Sarah White

What happens when a figure-skating pairs partnership runs its course? For Jason Huang, it's a chance to consider the possibility of an open, honest life. For Laurent Fortin, it's a series of crushing losses. When friends suggest he leave the scandal and speculation behind in favor of graduate school, he seizes the opportunity. Jason calls his former rival to offer sympathy, but when he hears Laurent is coming to his own city, he offers a house-share. It's only natural they begin training together; they both still love to skate. A half-serious suggestion becomes a dedicated effort to take pairs skating far beyond its conventional limits. They master unique challenges in a quest to compete at championship level. Along the way, their friendship grows through flirtation and dating to something much deeper. Once they've taken their skating partnership as far as they can, will their unexpected love stand on its own?

After a couple of weeks at the Fire Island cabin, developing their second play together, writer Sam Herman thinks his star's flirting means he can finally risk a kiss. But maybe not: Tommy Hayes doesn't make a scene about it, but he leaves fast. Back in the city, Tommy spills the story to a friend who makes an unexpected suggestion: marriage. Much to Tommy's surprise, the solution works. His wife Roberta is underwriting their play. She and Sam's wife become friends. And Tommy has their blessing to find out why Sam's kiss didn't send him running to confession. Tommy and Sam find ways to fit their love affair into their marriages, careers, and military service. But they live on opposite coasts for decades, and Tommy finally has to ask: can they ever have a real life together?

Companion to Eternal SummerLeo Hayes has come to June Lake to finish the last job on his list as his father's executor: cleaning out the old cabin and putting it on the market. Then a stranger rolls into the yard, a schoolteacher named Orlando Ortiz who's up the mountain researching a story about Old Hollywood getaways. They bond over books, then over dinner. By the next morning, Leo realizes he doesn't want to sell the cabin. All the memories here are good ones -- and a night with the charming younger man might be the beginning of something even better. Orlando knew movie star Tommy Hayes had a son. Meeting the attractive older man turns his summer research trip into a summer fling. Except after their first night together, a fling isn't all he wants. Can their brief affair turn into something more?

Not long after moving to Los Angeles, trademark paralegal Alan Sommers helped coworker Donnie Tran, who needed to leave town fast. Ten years later, Alan comes face to face with Donnie while on vacation in the Sierra Nevada foothills. This time, instead of plotting an escape, they go on a date. Alan's weekend getaway opens a door to forever. Donnie had to cut ties with his friends in LA, but he's never forgotten the ones who helped when he needed it. Meeting Alan again is an unexpected thrill. They're both single, stable, and looking ahead. Is a future together in the cards?

Emrys Morgan is on his way from San Francisco to Los Angeles when the Palisades and Eaton fires break out. By the time his plane lands, the person he was coming to see -- his father, with a Craftsman house in Altadena -- is gone. But Emrys was coming to discuss his imminent relocation to the Craftsman. There's work to be done, and diving right into it helps him process his grief. Felix Paulo lives across the street from the Craftsman, and was on hand to help when Rhys Morgan went down. Now he wants to help Emrys. They'd only met once before, but Felix thought there was a vibe. Over the next few days, Felix, his siblings, and Emrys make some big changes in little time. The neighbors grow close so quickly, the vibe must go both ways. Can a giant disaster be the spark for a long-burning flame?