Gay novelist, Michael Holloway Perronne, shipped a copy of his novel, A Time Before Me, along with a miniature shovel, to controversial Alabama lawmaker Rep. Gerald Allen. Allen recently made headlines by proposing a state law that would ban gay books, plays, and films at public institutions, including libraries and college campuses. The uproar over the proposed law has managed to divide the state. Allen said regarding gay books, I guess we dig a big hole and dump them in and bury them."
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) February 12, 2005 -- Perronne said in regards to shipping his novel to Allen, If Mr. Allen is determined to bury such great works as The Color Purple, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and Brideshead Revisited, then I would be honored to have my own work buried with such classics. Mr. Allen can use the shovel I sent him to start digging his hole."
The idea of telling the story of Southern gays and lesbians was exactly what inspired Perronne to write the novel in the first place. Coming out in the South, I think, is a very different experience than it is coming out in the rest of the country- both positive and negative. When I tell people I came out at 17 and in the Deep South (Mississippi), people often assume it must have been a horrible time in my life. I actually experienced the opposite. Sure, there is homophobia there, but theres also a large percentage of the population thats a lot more open minded that the media presents Southerners as a whole. Its important to me that people see that not everyone in the South has the same mindset as Mr. Allen."
Michael Holloway Perronnes debut novel, A Time Before Me, published by iUniverse, explores a gay teens search for his identity in the contrasting worlds of small town Mississippi and the Big Easy, New Orleans.
Perronne is an adult education instructor and writer living in Los Angeles. He has a BA from the University of Southern Mississippi and a MFA from the Creative Writing Workshop at the University of New Orleans. Despite living in California, he will always call the Deep South home.
A Time Before Me
ISBN: 0-595-33756-2
Publication Date: Dec. 2004
Retail Price: $13.95
Publisher: iUniverse
Wholesale- Available from Ingram Book Group, Baker & Taylor, and iUniverse. To order from the publisher call: 1-877-823-9235
Retail- Available from major on-line book retailers, on order at any bookstore, or visit www.michaelhperronne.com for more information.
Media Contact- including to request review copies:
Michael Holloway Perronne
(323)-993-5716
press@michaelhperronne.com
www.michaelhperronne.com
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