Queer Fiction
Being gay isn’t always easy. Being gay in Ireland can be even more difficult. It’s also not always as hard as it feels. Irish Catholic guilt is stronger than you think.
Being gay was illegal in Ireland until 1993; in 2015, a huge majority passed a referendum to give gay marriage equal status with same-sex marriage.
What I write is fiction. But just because the actions, conversations and characters aren’t real, there are many events and people who have gone through similar.
Tackling The Issue
"Garrett O'Mahony would like to be your friend on Facebook."
One of the best rugby players Ireland has seen in years, a guy I happened to live with nearly a decade ago. But we were more than just roommates, weren't we Garrett?
Back then, Garrett was just another Irish guy pretending like he wasn't gay; back then, it was obvious that Garrett was just pretending.
I've changed since then. Ireland has changed since then.
Has Garrett changed since then too?
I guess there's only one way to find out?
~~~
Tackling The Issue is inspired by gay pornography, cinematography and magazines, especially those of the 90s and 00s. Part erotica and part M/M romance,the fictional novella features explicit gay sex, and also touches on the psychology, expectations and internalised homophobia of the LGBTQ community in Ireland, especially in the aftermath of the marriage referendum of 2015.
After The Tackle
A tackle on the rugby field has brought Garrett O'Mahony's promising career to an end, and left him dealing with some home-truths. Coming out in a national newspaper, Garrett's private life has become a public concern: and nobody is more concerned about his public and private lives than Garrett.
After an intimate night with his interviewer (and ex-roommate) Darren, Garrett finds himself lost reviewing the mistakes of his past. Convinced that Darren was a mistake, the time has come for Garrett to catch up on life, his relationships and his sexuality.
A simple breakfast introduces Garrett to Nate, the ridiculously hot and brutally sarcastic barman who can read him like a book and he's immediately smitten.
But how do you find and trust the people around you when you haven't been trusting yourself?
Tackling The Issue took a look at gay sex and relationships in modern Ireland. For After The Tackle, Ken Mooney tells Garrett's side of the story, revealing what happened next and wondering if there really is such thing as a 'happy ending.'
After The Tackle continues the gay and M/M romance as a direct sequel to Tackling The Issue and is a short novella that can also be read separately.
Why I Write Queer Fiction
Fictional relationships may contain scenes and acts you are not familiar with. That doesn’t mean everyone does it: it just means these characters are trying it out.
In the world of fictional fantasy, there are few risks; in the real-world, those risks are easy to forget. Use protection, know how it works, and never do something you are uncomfortable with.
Be honest with yourself: it’s easier and causes less stress and pain than a lie. When you are honest with yourself, it’s up to you to decide how honest you are with other people.
Other relationships always look different from the outside. That doesn’t mean they are better or worse than yours.
Fantasy is good. Being honest with yourself is good. Learning about your body is good. Don’t let anyone take that away from you.
Everyone hates parts of their body: trust the people who can see all of it and who appreciate every part of it. Don’t trust people who can’t see beyond one part of your body, whether the size or shape of your genitals your body hair or your scars. Love them or hate them, they are just a small part of you.