Duane Simolke’s gay-themed scifi novel previously received a StoneWall Society Pride in the Arts Award. It has also garnered rave reviews from the blog HomoMojo, the magazine X-Factor, and the novelists Ronald L. Donaghe, William Maltese, and Mark Kendrick. Now Rainbow Reviews has given it a five-star review.

<a href="http://rainbow-reviews.com/?p=563">Read the review.</a>

Duane Simolke’s critically acclaimed book The Acorn Stories introduces readers to a deaf, gay teacher; a supposedly ex-gay mayor; a frustrated artist; and many other colorful characters. That irreverent fiction collection—initially published as an e-book but now also in paperback and hardcover—has been entertaining readers all over the world for a decade.

Kirkus Discoveries wrote that “A lush tangle of small-town life branches out in this engrossing collection of short stories.” Mark Kendrick, author of the gay novel Desert Sons, wrote that “It was a real pleasure to read about the fictional town of Acorn, Texas.”

StoneWall Society (http://www.stonewallsociety.com) gave the book a Pride in the Arts Award.

A fundraising spin-off, The Acorn Gathering: Writers Uniting Against Cancer, eventually followed. Simolke edited that collection and wrote four of its stories. He is now writing a sequel to his gay-themed novel Degranon: A Science Fiction Adventure. Visit http://DuaneSimolke.Com to read more about Simolke’s books.

<a href=http://tagreviews.blogspot.com/>The Acorn Gathering Book Reviews</A> covers reviews of a fiction anthology that raises money for the fight against cancer.

I've created a book trailer for my West Texas fiction collection The Acorn Stories. Written in the tradition of Winesburg, Ohio, these tales explore the humor, drama, secrets, and scandals of a small town.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=jWKVO93RvuI

Trailer Text:

In the West Texas town of Acorn, the sky is always falling!

“A lush tangle of small-town life branches out in this engrossing collection of short stories.” –Kirkus Discoveries

“It was a real pleasure to read about the fictional town of Acorn, Texas.” –Mark Kendrick, author of Desert Sons

 “Each of Simolke's stories lets us look into the lives…of some of the most interesting characters I have ever read about.” –Amos Lassen, Literary Pride

“A well-crafted collection of short stories” –L. L. Lee, author of Taxing Tallula

“Parallels are remarkably used to give the stories more life and credibility.” –Huda Orfali, author of Fisher Prince

“A group of residents whose lives…interconnect in fascinating and unexpected ways.” –E. Conley, Betty’s Books

The Acorn Stories.

Winner of a StoneWall Society Pride in the Arts Award.

Kirkus has just reviewed my West Texas fiction collection The Acorn Stories, saying that “A lush tangle of small-town life branches out in this engrossing collection of short stories.” The Acorn Stories previously received a Pride in the Arts Award, as well as numerous positive reviews at Amazon.Com and Barnes and Noble.

Lubbock, Texas: Saturday, March 24, 2-4 PM. I’ll sign copies of The Return of Innocence; The Acorn Gathering: Writers Uniting Against Cancer; and New Readings of Winesburg, Ohio at Barnes & Noble (6707 Slide Road).

The Return of Innocence is a comical fantasy novel about a young swordswoman who stumbles into bizarre adventures. That book received the 2007 AllBooks Reviewer's Choice Award, in the category SciFi/Fantasy.

The Acorn Gathering is a fiction anthology that raises money for the fight against cancer. I edited that book and wrote four of its stories.

New Readings of Winesburg, Ohio examines Sherwood Anderson's classic book.

Amos Lassen reviewed my book Stein, Gender, Isolation, and Industrialism: New Readings of Winesburg, Ohio for Amazon.Com and Eureka Pride. He called the book “refreshing, interesting and educating.”