Dr. Frank Spinelli on the cover of Frontiers Magazine.

The Q Guide to Designing Women

Just because it's a Monday morning and we need some sunshine. And what better way to kick off the day than to muse at Glen Hanson’s cover art to The Q Guide to Designing Women.

Following the story of four southern women, The Q Guide to Designing Women gets the inside scoop and behind the scenes information to one of America's most beloved shows. You can almost hear the strains of "Georgia on my Mind" as one of television's best ensemble comedies is about to begin.

AVAILABLE NOW

 

The New Lesbian Sex Book Review

From the Edge Boston:

The New Lesbian Sex Book
by Adela M. Brito
EDGE Contributor

Saturday Feb 23, 2008

Wendy Casters’ third edition of The New Lesbian Sex Book is a helpful guide for lesbians, especially new ones. It explores the lesbian world with honesty and without limits.

What makes this book helpful and relatable is the inclusion of interviews and tips from women of all ages and experiences and their bios, as well as contributions from professionals in various fields. Over forty women were interviewed for this book. And it’s the variety of these women that allows the reader to relate her own feelings and experiences to someone else’s. Nice black and white photographs by Shilo McCabe add a nice touch.

"The New Lesbian Sex Book" discusses all subjects -arranged alphabetically- that might be of interest to the lesbian community. It explores health issues, cunnilingus, vibrators, masturbation, penetration, female ejaculation, as well as intimacy and other relationship concerns. A resource section is also included for further information on these subjects. Magazine, Web sites, organizations, and books - erotica and nonfiction - are listed in this section.

This volume is not the be-all of lesbians’ guides, but it certainly is a great enticing start and highly recommended.

The 7-Day Dating And Relationship Plan For Gay Men REVIEW

From Edge Boston:

If you’ve perused the popular gay dating book "Boyfriend 101," then you’ll enjoy Grant Wheaton’s new book, The 7-Day Dating and Relationship Plan for Gay Men. This book proclaims to have you WAKE UP AND GET REAL thanks to the advice of one of the dating gurus and professional gay matchmakers and his partner Dennis Courtney.

While I won’t reveal the seven steps to becoming an ideal gay mate, no matter your age or creed, the chapters themselves are fun to read, easy to understand, and do provide some terrific self-insight. I loved the way each chapter had funny references to Wheaton’s real-life clients who highlight pros and cons, like his own personal Goofus and Gallant. I found it very easy to compare myself to some of the more unsavory examples in the book, and this made me pay attention even more to the advice and activities found in each of the seven steps.

The advice itself is fairly insightful and straight-forward. The seven individual topics aren’t anything new or fairly mind-blowing, but they are presented in a way that’s more akin to gay me of all ages. Each chapter contains various activities to help you further experience the advice, such as taking a simple quiz or making a list. The final chapters of the book contain general advice for a variety of dating situations that are quite amuzing.

If you need to revamp your dating persona, check out the "7-Day Dating and Relationship Plan for Gay Men." You won’t be disappointed, and you will finish this book in a week ... or less!

Aron is a contributor to Edge, focusing on critiques and local events. He is an attorney in Philadelphia.

Paws & Effect

Author Sharon Sakson speaking about Paws & Effect, on February 11th at NBC.

The 7-day Dating and Relationship Plan for Gay Men EVENT

Come spend Valentine's Day with us and maybe you'll find that special guy...or atleast a way to find him! 

Alyson Books invites you to:

Barnes and Nobel Booksellers- 82nd and Broadway

Grant Wheaton and Dennis Courtney signing and reading!

February 14th, 2008 at 7pm 

2289 Broadway

New York, NY 10028

212-362-8835       

                                             

Excerpt from "The 7-Day Dating and Relationship Plan for Gay Men"

From Gay.com:

The 7-Day Dating and Relationship Plan for Gay Men:
Practical Advice from the Gay Matchmaker

The ultimate guidebook for gay men looking for a fresh angle on the dating scene.

How does a single gay guy find his way to a right, lasting relationship? Our dating expert shares authentic sagas straight (so to speak) from his clients' experiences to illuminate his seven principles, developed to help navigate today's dating challenges.

From numerous tips and amazing but true anecdotes to fun-filled facts about where the boys are, readers will escape the dating minefields and find relationship success.

Grant Wheaton is the founder and owner of ManMate, Inc., New York's largest dating and relationship service for gay men.

Dennis Courtney is a writer whose critically acclaimed revues have been produced across the United States.

Get real and be honest

Do you really want a relationship? If so, are you clear about who you are, what you are willing to give and what you expect from a partner?

Have you thought about what type of relationship may be right for you?

Are you simply following the mating trends we've been taught by our straight community and pop culture, or have you begun to identify your own unique path?

Take some time to consider the questions above. Are you able to answer them readily and with certainty? If you were to be asked some very basic questions about your career (method of work, goals, priorities, etc.), you'd probably be able to answer them confidently and in detail. It's really the only way to be successful at your job. So why is it that similar questions about relationships and dating puzzle so many?

Some men may not want to be in a love relationship. There is certainly nothing wrong with that choice. Before we go any further, take the time now to determine whether or not you want a relationship. If you are really just looking for the hottest sex around or want to play the field, then by all means be honest and go for it -- get your freak on and have a great time! (Safely, of course.) But, don't pretend you're willing to focus on a potential, full-fledged relationship beyond the physical. It's the dishonest, game-playing, cowardly, misleading men out there who cause a lot of emotional pain and give the rest of us a bad name. (There -- I've said it!)

Since you're reading this plan, I'm assuming you're interested in finding the type of relationship that's right for you. To be successful in finding that relationship, isn't it important to first get real about yourself and what you're looking for?

Gay men have varying definitions of a relationship, which makes finding the ideal date or partner more challenging. Because our views about dating and relationships can be so different, it's probably safe to say there is no model.

Getting real about your own desires is the first and most essential step. What do I mean by that? Getting real means discovering or rediscovering your authentic self and having the integrity to present that true self to those with whom you interact.

In this world obsessed with physical beauty, youth, image, façade, popularity, celebrity and political correctness, it may often seem that just being your unique self is not enough or even unacceptable. Nothing could be further from the truth. Success in relationships and other areas of our lives comes only when we have the courage to embrace our uniqueness.

If you get only one point from this book, let it be the following:
You must get real and honest about yourself -- the best and the worst -- and accept yourself as the complete package that you are. "Complete" does not mean perfect. We are all works in progress. "Complete" is the acknowledgment of the authentic you -- all aspects. If you are looking for someone else to complete you, you will not find yourself in a healthy, fulfilling relationship.

I'm sure you've heard that before and already understand it intellectually, but it is imperative that you really get it on a deeper, more visceral level. It takes a real commitment to examine our lives and the patterns we've developed in dating and relationships and then to make a conscious effort to change and improve.

My past 20-plus years of work have shown me that if you are not being real about yourself, you are not ready for a relationship. It is as simple as that. The rest of this book will be of little use unless you are willing to grasp this concept. It is what you bring of you authentic self to a date or relationship that makes it exciting.