The Meat of the Issue

What's at the heart of All Gays Go to Heaven?  The title itself comes from a line of dialog between Anthony and myself while in the Timberlawn Trauma Unit:

"What makes you so sure we go to heaven?  How do you know all gays go to heaven," he asked, simply, like a child.

"Anthony, it's not just all gays, it's everyone.  There really was everyone on the other side.  There were some who were not a part of the light, but everyone crosses to the same love, acceptance and peace."  

That's where the title came from but it is also where the core message comes from.  Regardless of anything you have done, God loves you with a strength and passion beyond human understanding.

Reece

All Gays Go to Heaven Shaking Things Up

Okay, let's see what the pre-release grassroots following idea will bear out.  It's an experiment that every writer has to take.  I've got www.allgaysgotoheaven.info up and going!  I've got a Facebook page.  I've got PR kicking in.  So, if you are a fan, possible fan, would like to be a fan of All Gays Go to Heaven, then I certainly need you.

Yes, you might have noticed that Overcome title was sank, while I still feel it's a good title, All Gays Go to Heaven fits the book better and it's just a line out of the dialog in the memoir.

I'm writing from Dallas again today, but oh the writing I have to do!  So, back to work and here's hoping you'll take a moment to visit All Gays Go to Heaven!  And, if anyone knows the perfect agent for this, let me know!

Writing in Vegas - It's Good to Be Poor

Ah, Las Vegas.  To most its a city but to me it's a duty.  My Dad loves to come out and he loves to have more family with him.  I haven't been out there since I've been writing and the city does offer avenues to fiction, non-fiction and genres yet to be defined!  For me, it's a nice little break from the Dallas groove and I get to have room service.  And catch up on movies I haven't been to lately.  That's right.  Now gambling.  I just don't see the point.  You are going to loose.  I mean, yes, you may win a bit but they have these huge casinos for a reason and I think there is a profit angle to it somehow.  They play, I relax.

Today, morning started with a continental breakfast.  You can't beat a good Creme Brulee either.  The two together are magical.  I've got to shower and make it in time for my 11 A massage.  After that, back to the room for Avatar.  Then social family time. and repeat one more day.  A nice little break.

Today I've focused on rounding out the characters in Overcome.  The mss is having my hand take it and make it as complete as possible.    I realize I began some journeys that I did not complete.  I know what happened to everyone, but my job as an author is to leave you the reader understanding things completely as I do.  The challenge is to do so and not add more words to the total mss.  It's a journey to bring the first draft to final, but a powerful short journey.

Thanks for reading  From Vegas,
Reece

April 14, 2010 - An editor is a gift from God!

I have confirmed a talented and wonderful editor willing to work for potential earnings.  Well, that's not true, she insists she will do it for free but that's not very ethical, so I look forward to having her accept the 5% offer.

It will be hard to see any part of Overcome! taken out.  It will be akin to watching a toe cut off my baby!  I have worked very hard to include only what I thought important and appropriate.

There has been considerable attention to the incest and the incest recovery in the book.  Much of the framework for the incest recovery happened in my life before the beginning of Overcome! however I do address it in my time in the loony bin after my return.  (Never tell a doctor who resuscitates you that you want to go back.  It'll get you a psych consult in a half of a second!)  Incest recovery is a long, hard process.  Especially, if you are a victim of same-sex incest and you happen to be same-sex oriented.  I look forward to discussing this with Renee Baker, a freelance writer from the Dallas Voice.  I talk to Ivory today at noon.  Hopefully, she'll love it as much as I do.

Blessing,
Reece

Dr. Reece Manley is an established progressive Christian writer and spirituality expert.  His books include Crossing Twice and Spirit Thinking which can be purchased on Amazon, BN.com or asked for at your favoriate bookstore.  Reece also sees clients for counseling at www.pridecoach.net.  Reece is seeking literary agent who picks up on how special the book, Overcome!, will be!

Author Reece Manley Reviews Connection Between Incest and Sexual Orientation in Interview

Apr 12, 2010 12:46 CEST

Recently, Dr. Reece Manley, DD, M.Ed., MPM,  sat down with Rick Setter of Advocate USA Publishing to talk about his departure from sanitized versions of his memoir to talk about the new book Overcome! During the interview, Dr. Manley was asked about the connection between the incest he faced and the connection that had to his sexual orientation.

“I’m not gay because my Uncle Tom raped me,” said Reece Manley, “but I’m sure it had influences.  I believe our sexual or affectional orientations are caused by a nature-nurture connection.  We are born GLBT, yes.  They are going to find the gene soon.  However, that isn’t the end of the story.”

Dr. Manley continued, “That gene, that flipped switch, lays down the orientation.  However, it becomes very complicated when same-sex incest is added to the mix.  I learned things in a horrible, terrifying fashion that would later be used to express intimacy and love.  This made it very difficult for me to experience intimate relationships of any kind.  Much less trying to meaningfully date.”

The themes run through Reece’s new work, Overcome!, which is being released this year.  “InOvercome!, I gave myself the freedom to explore without constraint.  There was no reason to ‘play it safe’ because I know I’m reaching a reader base who has faced these issues themselves.  I don’t know of many gay and lesbian people who have fully ‘normal’ childhoods,” adds Reece.

Overcome!, the latest work by the progressive Christian writer and spirituality expert Reece Manley is scheduled for final edit this month and the manuscript will be ready for immediate release.  Dr. Manley has chosen not to use Advocate USA Publishing for the work instead offering Advocate USA Publishing his next spirituality work, Needles and Haystacks: The Gift of Discernment.

Dr. Manley can be reached at reece@manley.net and more information on the new work Overcome! can be found at http://manley.weebly.com/overcome.html.  The author’s main site iswww.reecemanley.info .  The author can be reached by phone at 214-206-1607

Apirl 13, 2010 - Sex sells? The "hot" side of Overcome!

I received a comment from a dear and trusted friend that Overcome! will be a winner because sex sales.  Well, that isn't my intention.  The sexual nature of a few of the passages are shown to display how naive I was in the world at the time.  I found fulfillment not in the act of the sex but in the act of standing before the Creator's face.

Of course, sex is good.  It is one of our gifts from the Creator in fulfilling intimacy between two people.  But, it's not the only way and I think we in the gay community forget that from time to time.  Intimacy comes from love, trust, communication and companionship.  And, that intimacy can be gloriously special - far above what a one night tryst can do.

I also received an offer of editing yesterday. I am blessed to have such a kind person out there.  As we begin editing, we'll begin to see what can and cannot be left out of the 180900 words that Overcome! currently is.

To any and all fans,
Blessings,
Reece Manley

April 12, 2009 - An Anniversary!

It has been one year since I first wrote the words, "Let me begin by saying I didn't know I was dying..." in Crossing Twice.  So, much can happen in a year, it's a robust one for sure.  Things are just now beginning to move with passion.

I've been so tempted to dive in and begin snipping Overcome! to little chapters and selections, but I talk to Ivory tomorrow.  Ivory is Ivory Madison who has been an inspiration and coach.  The strangest thing is it's been one year since I first talked to a "book developer" about writing Crossing Twice and Spirit Thinking.  That was with Sarah White, who happened to drop me an email.  I sent her to the new Overcome! page and I think it must have scared her!

The press release headed "Progressive Christian Author Shows GLBT Cocaine Addiction, Incest and Recovery" is making the rounds and I was pleased to see it make it Echelon Magazine and I hope Dallas Voice will pick up the story as well.  It may be early to be shooting to the media, but I'm planning on editing and flushing out the final mss as voraciously as I wrote the book.  From January 2 through March 24, I averaged 2000 words per day.  Another interesting anniversary by happenstance is the March 24th date.  It was the date I first earned money for my writing (a Suite 101 article) AND my mom's birthday.  That makes March 24 a pretty special day - mom's birthday, first dollar from writing and the completion of Overcome!
There are more things to work on this morning so I'll close.  Drop a line if you gave a read!  This is my mom, my "life assistant and friend" along with Roxie, my other "life assistant and official food taster".

Blessings today!

Reece

Waiting is the hardest part!

This blog will serve as part journal part newsletter as I begin the process to bringing Overcome! to the market.  First things first, though.  The first draft is finished and is waiting for Ivory's steady eye and opinion.  What will happen next is the high edit.  At 180,000 words, Overcome! needs to be tidied up a bit.  There was just so much to tell.

I hope that I haven't created a overly sensationalized camera on the GLBT aspects of the book.  But I AM Gay, damn it.  That's not something I was allowed to say in the Advocate USA Publishing published works.  Our aim was the progressive Christian niche, which, when you really come down to it, hasn't been as progressive or as Christian as I had wanted it to be.

Overcome! is not a Christian book.  It is a spiritual read.  I'm not saying Jesus was gay, but I am saying some radical things about what the after life is and isn't.  A lot of things about what our Creator is and isn't.  We'll see what happens next.  It is my hope that somewhere, somehow, someone finds this little blog.

Whoever you are,
Blessings

Reece Manley

See http://manley.weebly.com/overcome.html

Progressive Christian Author Shows GLBT, Cocaine Addiction and Incest in New Memoir

Progressive Christian Author Shows GLBT, Cocaine Addiction and Incest in New Memoir

Shockingly Detailed Content Runs Risk of Throwing Off Current Fans

Dr. Reece Manley has stripped off all of the shackles in his new memoir Overcome!  Overcome! contains the hard hitting gay life, cocaine addiction, incest recovery and more of the challenges that make Reece Manley’s memoir fascinating.  “My life was essentially a train crash, horribly fascinating.  You don’t want to watch but you’ve got to see what happens next,” says Reece.  “Add to this the horrible chronic pain from the surgery injury and the near death experience and you have a more complete picture of how big of a miracle my life is.”

Dr. Manley has begun to attract more readers in his progressive Christian works being featured on CBS Radio, Valder Beebe, Nancy Tursi, Joyce Keller and host of others.  “I’m very gratified that Crossing Twice and Spirit Thinking are beginning to find their niches.  I stand behind both of these books unequivocally.  However, I have to admit they have been written from my perspective as a progressive Christian author as well as rising spirituality expert,” says Reece.

Overcome! is a much different work.  “It is a much longer, much more complete look at my life.  My gay and lesbian brothers and sisters will see themselves in it.  The GLBT culture is still very much a part of my life now, however, I’m sober and spiritual versus addled and addicted.  My life has true joy that is not based on anything than the sheer greatness of God’s love and grace.  The Creator accepts me as perfect, just as the Creator loves accepts everyone – right here, right now, just as they are.  I didn’t write the memoir to preach but to reach.”

“Overcome! will not be carried by Advocate USA Publishing, however, Dr. Manley’s next spiritually focused book, Needles and Haystacks: The Gift of Discernment will be published if Dr. Manley chooses to go with us,” says Rick Setter of Advocate USA, LLC.  “We deeply respect the journey Reece needed to take with Overcome! and we know readers will be inspired and empowered.”

Overcome! has finished the first draft and soon will be sent to agents and publisher’s for consideration.  Those wishing to take an inside look at Ovecome! are invited to visit http://manley.weebly.com/overcome.html (Hidden on site www.reecemanley.info ) and Reece can be contacted at 214-206-1607 or reece@manley.net .