Olympic Withdrawal
I’m going to pop the cork on a crisp Riesling on this hump
day! My whine today is about Olympic withdrawal. I love the Summer Games as
well, but the Winter Olympics are my very favourite. Probably the Canadian in
me! All that ice and snow gets me excited! :D
At times over the past few weeks I felt guilty for my
excitement for a sporting event considering Russia’s appalling human rights
violations, particularly in regards to its LGBT community. The Russian government’s policies make
me sad and angry, and I feel helpless to do anything about the situation. I can
sign petitions,
and I can rant at my TV when I see defacto dictator Putin spewing his garbage
on the news. But what I can really do? Especially now that the
Olympics are over, I hope the attention on the plight of LGBT Russians will not
be forgotten.
I also think the Sochi organizers did a terrible job of
selling tickets. There should never be empty seats at figure skating events in
Russia! Russians love their skating, believe me. It was a sign of poor planning
that there were empty seats at most venues. Why not just give tickets away the
day of the events to fill the seats? I don’t get it.
But despite my issues with these Games, this week I really miss
plopping down on the couch for far too many hours and watching sports I’d never
normally watch—and some I’d never even heard of! There’s just something about
the Olympic spirit and pursuit of personal achievement and patriotic pride that
pushes my buttons. At least we only have two years to wait for the next Summer
Games!
How about you? Are you in Olympic withdrawal too?
Enemies on the
ice—lovers in the locker room
It was a real pleasure to write about figure skating—my
favourite Olympic sport by a mile—in my new book. In Cold
War I tell the story of two gay male pairs skaters who are rivals on
the ice—and forbidden lovers in the locker room. It all starts with angry hate
sex after a competition, and before Dev and Misha know it, they’re falling in
love.
Cold War
After an explosive locker room confrontation with his
Russian rival ends in the most surprising and intense sex of his life, American
pairs skater Dev Avira needs to refocus. He’s worked for years to win Olympic
gold, and he can’t let himself—or his partner—down. Distraction in the form of
steely and smoldering Mikhail Reznikov is the last thing he needs as he
prepares for the biggest competition of his life.
But with the Games only days away, they can’t keep their hands off each other. Dev soon learns that beneath Mikhail’s arrogant and aloof exterior is Misha, a passionate man who warms Dev’s heart and scorches his bed. They're both determined to win, but for Misha his freedom could be on the line. Can Dev put his deepening feelings on ice as he goes for gold?
(p.s. Come back Friday
for your chance to win a free copy of Cold
War!)
Oh that just sounds delicious! Personally, I boycotted the games (not that anyone but me noticed) due to the LGBT issues, the stray dog killing, and the rumor of capturing Orcas to put on display. Yes, I think the Russians really outdid themselves this year... unfortunately, it was not in a positive way.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely not a fan of the Russian government, to say the least.
DeleteOh that just sounds delicious!
Thank you! :)
I didn't watch any of the Olympics this year. Normally, I like the winter Olympics but with the way Russia is, I just couldn't bring myself to watch any of it (not that the athletes were responsible or anything, I just couldn't get excited about watching it)
ReplyDeleteI totally understand, June. It did cast a pall over the event. For me, I love the athletes so much -- especially my skaters -- that I wanted to support them and their hard work, while also condemning Putin and his policies.
DeleteI watched evey event I could catch and I saw most of them. I'm a total sports addict, though, as well as a former ice skater, so I can't resist the Winter Olympics. I'm no fan of Putin, and I've been actively working for LGBTQ rights for many years, but the Games are about the athletes first and foremost. I'll have to look into the book a bit closer, I like the entire concept :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm no fan of Putin, and I've been actively working for LGBTQ rights for many years, but the Games are about the athletes first and foremost.
DeleteThat was my feeling as well, engarian. If I'd thought for a moment that not watching could actually help change Putin's policies, I would have boycotted. But I wanted to support the athletes, and I love winter sports. My country (Canada) also did very well.
Hope you're able to check out the book! Thanks for commenting. :)