In August 2024, I’m excited to combine two of the loves of my life: cruising and LGBTQ+ fiction and romance. I hope you’ll consider joining me on the first Rainbow Readers Cruise! Until then, I’d love to introduce you to one of the attending authors, S. Bolanos.
About S. Bolanos
Sam Bolanos (she/they) is a genderqueer author and the founder of Chaotic Neutral Press LLC. They believe in love, equality, and the Oxford comma. When not playing with her three dogs, who you can follow on Instagram @austendogs, or spending time with her incredible husband, she’s probably agonizing over edits or escaping into her latest queer romance.
Interview
If drinks by the pool are already a given, what are you most looking forward to about the Rainbow Readers Cruise?
Meeting people! More specifically, other readers and authors. Writing can feel like such an isolated pursuit. There’s something truly magical about getting to connect with people who like to read and write what I do.
Which of your books would you recommend as the best way for readers to get to know you before meeting you on the cruise?
I’d recommend reading the first book in my Oak Haven Romance series, One Brave Thing. It features a genderqueer main character struggling to embrace their true self and live their life to the fullest. I put a lot of myself into that story. Ironically, it’s the only novella I’ve written (to date) and it’s my only published book written in third person. But the humor that can be found in all my books is definitely there, as are the swoon-worthy moments we all live for.
Which of your characters (from any story) would you most like to go on a cruise with?
Hands down, it would have to be Jimmy from All the Hype. He’s a riot and a half all on his own and has a special talent for making everyone feel included.
Even if you don’t use this trip as fodder for a future project, most stories require a bit of research. Can you tell us the coolest thing you’ve learned while researching for your work, regardless of whether it made it into the text?
Oof, that’s a tough one, namely because I hate research (always have). Which is kind of weird considering how much I love learning new things in general. Probably the coolest thing I’ve discovered is that Freyja’s chariot was said to be pulled by a pair of Skogkatts. Which if you didn’t know, are massive forest cats (think Maine Coon). I wanted to have a wicked cool, slightly (read: majorly) intimidating familiar for my male witch character. The familiar may or may not steal every scene he’s in…
Hey, this is supposed to be a review blog! Recommend your favorite book that I should read and review by another author joining us on this high-seas adventure.
*rubs hands in malicious glee* *immediately starts to panic as there are too many*
Okay, but for real, if you’ve never read Annabeth Albert’s A-List Security series, you need to get on that ASAP. Each book does an amazing job portraying mental health struggles, working through past trauma, and our heroes coming together in the best ways possible. The second book in the series, Hard Job, opened me up to reading more rockstar/bodyguard romances and I about died waiting for the final book in the series.
Finally, what other projects are you working on currently?
I’m currently editing Courting Death, a paranormal romance about a (male) witch who can see the future attempting to subvert a prophecy about his untimely demise by seducing a demon of death (Dia de los Muertos style). My current writing project is finishing up the third installment of my Ulwich Preparatory Academy series, Our Epic Spring.
Connect With S. Bolanos
Website | Sign Up For S.’s Mailing List
Facebook | Reader Group | Instagram | Twitter/X
Amazon Author Page | Goodreads
About the Rainbow Readers Cruise
The Rainbow Readers Cruise celebrates the readers and creators of LGBTQ+ fiction and romance. The cruise departs from the Port of Fort Lauderdale on August 19, 2024, and returns August 23, 2024, with stops at Key West and Coco Cay (Celebrity’s private island). Along the way, meet and mingle with some of your favorite LGBTQ+ fiction and romance authors and creators, as well as attend panels, meet and greets, small group social activities, and the Signing at Sea. Plus, the cruise itself, with fabulous destinations, food and drinks, entertainment, and more. You can find all the details about the Rainbow Readers Cruise on our website: https://rainbowreaderscruise.com.
