It’s my collegiate epistolary music-themed bi-4-bi MM romance (with a dash of forced proximity, natch) and this (finally) is the cover, and it’s out (finally) October first!
When Jay moves into his freshman college dorm, he’s uncomfortable when he thinks his new roommate is gay—and he’s only more confused when he learns Derek isn’t gay. Will these goofs find happiness with the help of two of 2014’s best albums? It’s a romance, so “yes.” Sweet ‘n spicy bi-awakening, with some discussion of bi/homophobia, a bite-sized novelette at about 12,500 words.
a:when they need to write a nazi-punchin’ story! this flash piece was originally in anthology that’s no longer published. It’s available directly from me for a buck at itch.io, and I’m still donating all proceeds to The Trevor Project
“A. Lee Welles” (they/them) is a pseudonym, and the name (and branding) was deliberately chosen to not strongly suggest a gender identity. In a perfect world, I’d like readers to engage with my text without any particular expectations of what my gender is or isn’t.
But, right around the time I was beginning to think I might want to try writing romance, there was a bit of a brouhaha when a writer who identified as a mid-20s lesbian was outed as a middle-aged cis man. A lot of people thought that was creepy.
And I don’t want to be deceptive, let alone creepy. And I know “own voices” is a thing.
So, for the record, I’m assigned-male-at-birth. I present as male, and don’t plan to change that. But I’ve never really felt comfortable with the words “boy” or “man.” In my real-name day-job life I use both “they” and “he” pronouns depending on circumstances.
I do not use generative AI in any aspect of creating text or visual assets related to my work.
I do not license any of my work for use in training AI systems, except as may be legally required by a distribution agreement or other contract document over which I do not have control.
I make best effort to verify that any visual assets licensed for use in cover art or promotional materials also do not use generative AI.
