Comments for Author's Notes

Comment on Trivia questions for giveaways by Alan

Alan — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:38:04 +0000

Thanks Trey. Your name will be put into the hat!

Comment on Trivia questions for giveaways by Trey Knepper

Trey Knepper — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:09:56 +0000

Question 1:
The Sixth

Question 2:
Zoe

Comment on Alan McCluskey’s books by Alan

Alan — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 21:14:41 +0000

Thanks Ben. Your comments are useful.
The message I was seeking to give was about gender ambiguity. I mentioned male homosexuality in the short text as a way of pointing to the climate at the time (1960). While there were male comedians that dressed up as women, like Benny Hill, a boy dressing as a girl in daily life was probably as taboo if not more so than homosexuality at the time.
I could well have chosen other themes to highlight, there are several of them: finding a place where people accept you as you are; exploring a completely different approach to healing; learning by exploring without school; becoming a leader but in an unconventional way;… But I thought the question of gender ambiguity would touch a wider audience even if it might leave some younger readers feeling uncomfortable.

Comment on Alan McCluskey’s books by Ben Baxter

Ben Baxter — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 18:34:35 +0000

Hi Alan,

I hope you are well and have had a good Sunday.

I recall from yesterday that you wanted some feedback to the blurb on the back of “Boy & Girl”.

Based solely on a reading of the back cover, I think this book is about a young pre-pubescent boy coming to terms with what gender means to him. Combining the blurb and the quote at the top of the book, I’m given the sense that there may be a homosexual theme. Peter’s sister has a girlfriend and Peter is behaving in a punishable “gay” manner. The suggestion is homosexuality, but it isn’t explicit. What is explicit for me is that this book is about gender ambiguity.

Best and thanks again for your feedback yesterday,
Ben

Comment on Ambiguity on Pinterest by Alan

Alan — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 18:47:23 +0000

Hi Andi. What are the “those” you refer to?
My book, Boy & Girl, which is fiction, explores how a twelve year old boy handles people’s extreme reactions to him dressing as a girl. Not that people actually see him doing so. There was no question of him exploring such tendencies in public in 1960. But a few people instinctively felt something was “different”.

Comment on Ambiguity on Pinterest by Andie

Andie — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 16:41:12 +0000

http://pinterest.com/andieburk/my-own-androgynous-outfits/

Do those help? I am just coming to terms with my androgynous gender identity and starting to explore it and how to express it visually.

Comment on Editing, editing … by Alan

Alan — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 18:03:49 +0000

Hi Karen. The red pen is a vestige of my (long gone) days as an English teacher. The corrections are mine not those of another editor. I generally edit as I go along and then come back and edit again several times, each time looking at a different aspect of the work.

Comment on Editing, editing … by Karen Robiscoe

Karen Robiscoe — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 15:11:48 +0000

Hi Alan…

Coupla’ things–first. Is that a real sample of what an editor’s marks looks like after the fact? because–woo’eee!–that’s a whole lotta red pen. Must be something to confront, I’m thinking.

Also. I completely agree with you about reading your work aloud to yourself as you go. If it doesn’t roll off the tongue, it won’t roll easily into a reader’s brain, either. It’s just that simple.

Comment on Back to the origin by Alan

Alan — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:17:17 +0000

Note that almost all the photos here and elsewhere on Secret Paths were taken with my iPhone. Its ease of use and lightness are extremely handy. I appreciate the possibility of snapping pictures in difficult conditions and from unexpected angles.