I wrote a book.

I did it!

After I completed my first semester as a member of the Jiménez-Porter Writers’ House, I knew I wanted my graduation project to have something to do with queer mythology. I had just begun to dig into the Norse canon and fell in love with the inherent queerness of Loki, so I wrote a piece following Loki throughout many of their classic, mischievous myths. Only, I made sure to demonstrate Loki's gender-fluidity, ambiguous sexuality, and otherness. It felt good to have a character I could relate to, a character that deviated from the traditional mythological standards but still had a moral to their story, an element that was important to teach humanity.

Initially, I thought I would put together a comprehensive retelling of every myth involving Loki leading up to Ragnarok, but from a Loki-centric lens. While this project may one day happen, I then got sidetracked by other gay myths. Over the summer I learned about elements of the Egyptian canon that could be interpreted in a queer manner, namely the battle of Seth and Horus. I became hooked, hungry for more ancient queer stories, and now, here we are.

Stories from the Dark is a love letter to a lot of things; mythology, the LGBTQIA+ community, and in some ways, myself. I took the time to research six different mythological figures, one from each continent (except for Antarctica,) and then absorbed every retelling, reference, and smidge of content I could get my hands on. Then, after living in my research for a few weeks, I wrote each story as I envisioned it in my head. The result is 195 pages of "gay goodness."

Stories from the Dark will be available as a Kindle E-Book, paperback, and hardcover on Amazon beginning May 11, and will be presented as my graduation project at the JPWH graduation ceremony on May 12. I'm very excited to share this project with the world, and I hope, if you read it, it will make you feel something. I don't care if that feeling is rage, passion, hope, inspiration, or amusement, just as long as it isn't boredom. Or embarrassment...

As an exclusive treat, I'll share each chapter's cultures and myths below to thank you all for your support.

This is only the beginning.

Much love,

- Les

CHAPTER ONE: Africa, Egypt, Seth and Horus

CHAPTER TWO: Europe, Scandinavia, Loki and the Hammer

CHAPTER THREE: Oceania and the Pacific Islands, Hawai'i, Hopoe and Hi'iaka

CHAPTER FOUR: North America, Alaska and Canada, Sedna

CHAPTER FIVE: Asia, China, Tu'er Shen

CHAPTER SIX: South America, Chile, Florenzo