Hello everyone! Today I am so pleased to welcome author Jessica Freely to the blog. Jessica is here as part of our GRL blog tour.  She is sharing more about her experiences at RT as well as offering up a great giveaway of her book, True Nature.  Please join me in giving Jessica a big welcome!
Jessica Straps It On
I was mulling over what to write for this blog post for a little while, hemming and hawing between a straightforward background tidbit, blurb and excerpt for my most recent release, or the post I really wanted to do, about how I strapped one of Anne Tenino‘s handcrafted penises on for the Saint’s and Sinners party at the Romantic Times Booklover’s Convention last month and had a ball (so to speak.)
And then I went over to the #YesAllWomen Twitter thread and that got me thinking about how women are systematically disenfranchised from our sexuality by a culture that prioritizes the heterosexual male gaze and uses violence to control our behavior.
So I decided to write about getting my cock on.
The funny thing is, I wasn’t even sure I’d go to the dance, and I definitely wasn’t going to wear a costume. I’d brought Humphrey (that’s my cock’s name; there was a contest in my newsletter) to RT because Anne was going to be there, and my roommate had left her horns in the room. The whole thing just kind of… happened. I was a little nervous about going out in that getup. It felt pretty transgressive. I worried about people being offended and of not being able to pull it off.
But I did it anyway, and thankfully, my big, fuzzy orange cock and I were greeted with enthusiasm and delight wherever we went. I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun at a dance in my life. My fellow RT attendees, mostly women, were grabbing it, dancing on it, and we were all laughing and having a good time.
The really interesting thing about the experience was how it affected my confidence. As you may have picked up, I tend to second-guess myself a fair amount. Sometimes I let concerns about people’s reactions silence me or push me to make the safer choice. But for that night, at that dance, in that outfit, I wasn’t worried. I danced with total strangers, started conversations with them, and generally felt free to go wherever I wanted and engage with whomever I wanted.
Without thinking about it, I had strapped on something else along with that hand-crocheted penis–male entitlement. Even though it was all play, an absurd pantomime of masculinity, there was still this sense, at least within the context of the event, that the world was at my disposal and I could move freely about without concern for permission.
And in a nutshell, that’s why I write m/m. I love picking up male sexual agency and playing with it. Adopting a point of view where pursuit of desire is the normative behavior frees me to express myself more fully as a woman without spending pages and pages justifying the character’s choices. I get to shed the pressures and expectations of the het male gaze. I’m the one doing the gazing, and I may do so, safely, to my heart’s content.
Jessica Freely writes male/male romance in a variety of sub-genres. Her most recent release, True Nature, is a paranormal romantic comedy about two park rangers who are also nature spirits in a tiny northern Michigan community where no one is quite what they seem. For all her latest news and more fun contests like the one that resulted in Humphrey’s name, sign up for her newsletter.
Giveaway
Jessica has brought a copy of True Nature to give away to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment at the end of the post to enter. The contest ends on Tuesday, June 10th at 11:59 pm EST.
- By entering the giveaway, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
- Winners will be selected by random number. No purchase necessary to win.  The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
- If you win, you must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner may be chosen. Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from Joyfully Jay.
- Winners may be announced on the blog following the contest. By entering the contest you are agreeing to allow your name to be posted and promoted as the contest winner by Joyfully Jay.
- Prizes will be distributed following the giveaway either by Joyfully Jay or the person/organization donating the prize.
- By entering you are agreeing to hold Joyfully Jay harmless if the prize or giveaway in some way negatively impacts the winner.
- Readers may only enter once for each contest. Â Duplicate entries for the same giveaway will be ignored. In the event of technical problems with the blog during the contest, every effort will be made to extend the contest deadline to allow for additional entries.
- Void where prohibited by law.
Funny story, Jessica! You are much braver than me! Thanks for the visit to Joyfully Jay, True Nature looks like fun and I will add it to my neverending list of books to read.
Thanks for stopping by, Jason! Good luck in the giveaway. I know what you mean about the tbr list–it just keeps growing!
Love the pictures!
Thx Kim. Good luck!
I loved your novel Amaranth & Ash very much (and a lot more of your other books) and I would like to read True Nature, too.
And you are 100% braver than me, LOL
Thank you so much Eve, that’s lovely to hear. You might be interested to know that I will be relaunching Amaranth & Ash as the first book in a series sometime this year or next. The sequel is already under submission and I’m drafting a third book. 🙂
Good luck on the giveaway!
Hi Jessica,
I’m so happy that there will be more! (Doing a happydance here, LOL) Is it about Amaranth & Ash again?
They’re in it a little bit, but the main character in the second book is Evanascar. 🙂 And in the third it’s Grail and Vine.
Thanks! I can’t wait =:))
Enjoyed your post, it sounds like you had a fabulous time at the RT convention, love your pics. Thanks for the giveaway.Â
I really did. It was my first RT and I was a bit nervous at first but I’ve been to big science fiction cons and it was a lot like that, only even better because people were so friendly. 🙂
Good luck in the contest!
Great post. Sounds like you had a lot of fun at RT. I’d love to get there myself one day. Thanks for the chance to win one of your books!
You should definitely check out RT, Jen. It’s wonderful being surrounded by other romance fans. People there were great!
I always enjoy your books and am looking forward to reading this one, so please include me in the draw. Â ThanksÂ
Thank you Dianna! Good luck in the draw.
Great story and pictures. It sounds like you had a wonderful time.
I really did, Allison. The con was great for networking and education too, not just running around with my c*ck out. LOL!
Good luck in the contest.
I’m a big fan of the books you write and would love to read True Nature. I love a good humour filled story. You are much braver than…. Well everybody on here it seems… Lol.Â
Thank you so much Elayne. That’s always so nice to hear. If you enjoy humor, I think you’ll like True Nature. Good luck in the contest!
Such an awesome post, and I’ve been wanting to read TRUE NATURE!
Thanks Trix. Great to see you here! Good luck in the giveaway. 🙂
Great post. Â I enjoyed reading it. Â Hope to read one of your book.
Thanks Debra!
It was a truly magnificent penis!
I really appreciate that, Laurie! Good luck in the draw!
Just finished Dharma Cafe and really enjoyed it. And I think Humphrey has taken permanent residence in my head!
Oh dear! Well, at least he’s nice and fuzzy. 🙂 So glad you liked DC. Good luck in the contest!
Great post! Thanks for sharing and for the chance to win! Amaranth and Ash is a favorite of mine and I would love to win True Nature.
Thanks so much, Antonia! As I mentioned earlier, I’ll be relaunching Amaranth & Ash some time in the next year or so, with sequels! Â Good luck in the contest.
Love the pictures. Hilarious!
😀 Thanks for stopping by, Emily. Good luck in the giveaway!
Great post & giveaway!
Thanks Rodney, good luck!
Please count me in. Thanks.
Thx Karl. Good luck with the contest!
Big thanks to Jay for hosting me today. This has been a lot of fun!
Lovely to have you Jessica!
Great pictures. Thank you for sharing them.
You’re welcome H.B. Good luck!
Funny story 🙂 Count me in please!
🙂 Good luck Penumbra!
Great story and pictures! Thanks for the chance to win!
Thanks for stopping by Alaina. Good luck in the giveaway!
This sounds like a really good story. It’s on my TBR 🙂
Thanks A.J., I hope you’ll like it!
I’m glad you had a good time at the convention! Thank you for the opportunity to win!
Thanks Marie. Good luck in the contest!
Ah i wish we had conventions like that where i live t_t *hope i win*
Well, RT was in New Orleans this year. That’s not where I live either. Great town, though! Thanks for stopping by Jessica. good luck in the draw!
lol! great story! count me in! vicki. dale.earnhardt03@yahoo.com
Well, RT was in New Orleans this year. That’s not where I live either. Great town, though! Thanks for stopping by Jessica. good luck in the draw!
I don’t think I would be brave enough to pull something like that off, but I would have loved seeing it in person. Can’t wait to read your book.
Thanks Celest, wish you could have been there. Good luck in the giveaway!
Thanks for this post & pictures it made me laugh. Some people take their dogs for a walk to break the ice with strangers, you had the novel idea of taking your Humphrey – now where can I find myself one of those? I won’t mention books, but I am glad a follow up book/s is coming out. Thank you for the chance to win one of your latest books. PS Dharma Cafe is one of my favourites
Hi Sula! LOL, good point about dogs. If you want a big fuzzy c*ck of your own, ask Anne Tenino, she makes them. 🙂 Don’t you just love our community? 😀 😀 😀
So nice to hear you liked Dharma Café I have plans to do more with that world too. Food magic is just too much fun.
Good luck in the draw!
I don’t think I’d ever be brave enough to do something like that! More power to ya, girl!
Thanks Ashley! Good luck in the draw!
OMG!! funny!!
I’m definitely not brave enough for that
Thanks Lee, LOL!Â
Too Funny! LOL
😀