Regarding the pix: #1 is what I looked like when I started writing, sixty years ago, during college: 1950-58. #2 is when I stopped writing, in '73. #3 is when I started again, in 1995, then stopped again! #4 is how I looked when I started writing ALL OF ME & #5 is me now, having finished my...
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Regarding the pix: #1 is what I looked like when I started writing, sixty years ago, during college: 1950-58. #2 is when I stopped writing, in '73. #3 is when I started again, in 1995, then stopped again! #4 is how I looked when I started writing ALL OF ME & #5 is me now, having finished my magnum opus - age 77, 9-23-2010. I'm at it again! Making trouble! Read ALL OF ME (Can You Take All of Me?)and see what I mean. >#6 is Gabriel Horny, from ALL OF ME. ;)I was born on May 7, 1933, in Roosevelt, Utah, but grew up in a small neighboring town called Vernal, high in the Rocky Mountains, near the Colorado border, on old Highway 40. I grew up as "The Best Little Mormon Boy In The Whole Wide World," but defected at age 16 when I discovered I was "Queer," and my Bishop told me I was an "Abomination in the sight of God" and would burn in Hell forever if I didn't repent. Obviously I didn't repent. Eventually - when ALL IS WELL was published, in 1973 - I asked out of the LDS church because I was Gay, & sent them a copy of ALL IS WELL - & my wish was granted without protest. I am now,officially, NOT a Latter Day Saint! During college at the University of Utah, I wrote my first "Gay Novel," "TO THEMSELVES UNKNOWN," & dared to submit it to a creative writing seminar, the summer I graduated. "One of the best first-novels I've ever read," said Albert Guerrard, a then-famous novelist & teacher of the seminar. "Unfortunately, its subject matter is homosexuality, which severely limits its publication possibilities. You could try one of the porno-houses, but I hope you won't have to do that. It would spoil a good book." That was 1958.A professional agent at Curtis Brown spent a frustratiing year, trying unsuccessfully to find a publisher. Finally, in desperation, I sent TO THEMSELVES UNKNOWN to Greenleaf Classics in San Diego, and it ended up being published as a "Fag-Hot" called "WHO KILLED QUEEN TOM?" GL's addition of "hot fag-sex" to my sensative self-examination definitely ruined it, for me, at least. The rest of my story is on my personal website. Please first visit DirkVanden Dot-net, not DirkVanden dot-com. Three of my books are still available at the dot-com address. All of my titles are listed here on Amazon. Some are listed as "Not Available." I'm in the process of converting all my books to Kindle and am searching for a copy of WHO KILLED QUEEN TOM? From Greenleaf Classics Pleasure Readers, 1969. From time to time the originals are listed for sale on Amazon. Two here now have 5-star reviews. I WANT IT ALL & ALL IS WELL.My new novel: "ALL OF ME (Can You Take All Of Me?)A Gay Mystery," has just been published by Rosedog Books, in POD Paperback, or various e-formats on RoseDog's Yahoo bookstore. It is also now available on Kindle and as a cheaper paperback on the Amazon-Prime program -- free shipping!
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