I’m still here, I’m still queer (in several senses of the word), and I’m still believe in HEAs for everyone

So, you probably noticed the US had an election on Tuesday. (Let me cut in here and say I won’t be offended–or even know!– if you stop reading this post and wait for me to get back to my regularly scheduled cat pictures, travel tales, and sexy excerpts. One of the latter will be up tomorrow morning.) I don’t usually get political on here, and I’m not going to go into a long rant, but I’m worried for a number of reasons about what will happen next.

I don’t believe Trump is literally Satan Incarnate. Mind you, if it were possible to make deals with the Devil, I bet he’d try it. He seems to love gaming the system so he can win, and I don’t think he always considers long-term consequences.

However, it’s obvious the Republican party would like to see changes that will have a serious effect on women’s rights, LGBTQ-etc. rights, minority rights, healthcare, etc., and they’re now in a much better position to enact these changes. I also fear this rancorous campaign has given a sense of legitimacy to a lot of festering hatred–and that the inevitable reaction to these shows of hatred and violence will be more anger, more hate, and probably more violence, because people of all stripes are capable of awful things when they feel threatened or furious enough. I imagine a lot of people who supported the winning candidate have concerns of their own. Someone who voted for Trump because they hope he’ll address rural and working-class concerns better than “insiders” have–for what it’s worth, I think it’s legitimate to say both major parties have neglected those needs–may not like some of what tagged along with that vote. My old neighbors back in the Land of Apples, for instance, are a conservative lot in an economically troubled area, probably all for “making America great again” and reinvigorating the small town–but I’m confident most of them didn’t want to invite the KKK to the party.

So, a few things:

1) I’m pansexual and pagan. This will probably surprise no one.

2) I’m in a position of relative privilege. I’m white; I’m middle class; I’m married to a man; we have good insurance through the Cat-herder, and his law enforcement job is not likely to go anywhere even if a new “regime” brings on economic kerfuffle; we live in Massachusetts, which will be a safeish place to be if decisions about issues such as same-sex marriage are shunted back to the states; and for various reasons, I no longer have to worry about access to birth control or abortion for myself.

3) Far too many people don’t share these privileges. I’m worried for a lot of my friends, but I’m still figuring out the best ways to be useful, not just angry and scared.

4) And for the part that really fits here:  Stories matter more than ever in difficult times. I’ve had a hard time focusing on the flow of words lately between Election Madness and a minor but exhausting health problem. But I’ve been reading like crazy and it’s kept me relatively sane and calm. While my country is divided and factionalized in many ways–hell, the whole world is–most of us can agree that it’s fun to read about Happily Ever After. If you, or someone you love, needs a brain break, I recommend a romance or six. It won’t solve major social problems or even pay your gas bill, but it’ll give you a taste of love, adventure, and best of all, hope. A few hours with hope, happy endings (and sexy bits if you want them) may make it easier to cope when you get “back to reality”.

My HEA stories are edgier than some: explicit, often kinky sex; unconventional relationships, and queerness of various flavors abound, as do magic, science fiction elements, and struggles against oppressive governments. They’re not going to be for everyone. But Romancelandia is big and diverse, like my country–and unlike my country at the moment, it mostly gets along well. Whether you’re craving historical romance with African-American main characters, stories set in Bollywood, steampunk epics with a mix of straight and queer characters, or a series focusing on everyday life in a small town in the American heartland, you can find it. Heroes and heroines range from the guy/girl next door to cowboys, cyborgs, and shapeshifters, cops to mafiosos. Possible partnerships? The majority of romances are male/female love stories–that’s the biggest market–but with a simple Amazon or Goodreads search, you can find gay, lesbian and bisexual main characters, and increasingly, transpeople and nonbinary characters in various pairings. Heat levels range from sweet romances with nothing but kissing to books that make mine look tame. So whichever of your friends needs some literary stress relief, there’s probably a romance that will do the trick.

5) Be gentle with each other, at this time and always. Love one another if you can. That’s a lofty ideal that’s not always going to be possible, but when it’s not, don’t be hateful. The world’s hard enough.

What are your favorite “comfort reads”? Let me know in comments, or ask me for book recommendations. Speaking of comments, I’d prefer it if you take political arguments elsewhere, but since I brought up the subject in the first place, I won’t stop you. Just keep it polite, please.