An Act of Devotion: An Interview and Giveaway with Author A.M. Leibowitz

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Lisa: We’re so pleased to welcome author A.M. Leibowitz to TNA today to chat about their new novel, An Act of Devotion.

Hi, A.M., thanks for being here with us today. Let’s start by having you tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book.

A.M.: I’m an author and editor by day, a spouse, parent, and activist by night. An Act of Devotion is my fourth novel. It was inspired by the work many of my fellow activists are doing. I usually write literary LGBTQ+ fiction with relational themes (love, friendship, family). This is my first genuine romance.

Lisa: When and why did you begin writing?

A.M.: I was about 8 or 9. I wrote a story about a space-traveling tarsier named Madeline. My cousin and I used to make up animal characters and role-play when we spent summers at our grandparents’ house. I wanted to remember the fun we had, so I wrote it down.

Lisa: Why did you choose to write M/M stories?

A.M.: I didn’t purposefully set out to write M/M. My first novel includes a straight couple as well, and the M/M was part of a larger picture (it wasn’t a romance—it was commentary on the sorry educational system in my state). But writing M/M helped me come to terms with my sexuality and gender identity. Now I write a variety of LGBTQ+ stories, not just M/M.

Lisa: What inspired you to write your first book?

A.M.: As I mentioned above, the novel was about education in my home state. My spouse was a public school teacher at the time, and there were a number of new laws which unfairly targeted both inner city and rural schools in impoverished communities. I wanted to write about a school district fighting back. It was also inspired by my ongoing obsession with the musical “The Music Man,” and there are a number of subtle references sprinkled in.

Lisa: What projects are you currently working on?

A.M.: I’m currently editing a prequel to my novel Passing on Faith, which was about a man coping with religious trauma and spiritual abuse in the wake of his father’s death. The prequel is about the MC’s partner before they got together. I was surprised by how many people fell in love with the character and wanted to know him better.

I’m also in the midst of writing a couple of short stories, reworking the end of a past project, and writing the sequel to Anthem, my bi-poly-coming-out novel.

Lisa: Off topic: what secret talents do you have?

A.M.: I don’t think it’s a particularly secret talent, but I’m a classically trained violinist, and I play with a community orchestra.

Lisa: Thanks again for dropping by, A.M. Will you tell us where we can find you on the Internet?

A.M.: Facebook || Facebook Author Page || Twitter || Pinterest || Website || Amazon Author Page || Goodreads

About the Book

Publisher: Supposed Crimes
Length: 215 Pages
Series: Companion book to the F/F novel Memoir in the Making by Adrian J. Smith
Categories: Bisexual Romance, Contemporary Romance, M/M Romance, New Adult Romance
Blurb: Adam Lansing has always relied on his charm to get by. Sure, he’s starting over—new school, new graduate assistant position—but he knows he won’t have any trouble working his magic on anyone he chooses.

Antonio “AJ” Mancuso is deep inside his own head. He’s cool, calm, and confident. But despite all the friends around him, he often feels like he straddles two worlds. Is there anyone who could love him for everything that defines him—past and present?

From the first time they meet, Adam is determined to get gorgeous AJ to notice him. But just as the heat is cranking up between them, Adam spots AJ with another man. Adam strikes back through a fling with an ex. But when he discovers the truth behind AJ’s behavior, he realizes that his magic won’t clean up for him this time.

Buy Links: Amazon | Amazon UK | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the Author

A. M. Leibowitz is a queer spouse, parent, feminist, and book-lover falling somewhere on the Geek-Nerd Spectrum. Ze keeps warm through the long, cold western New York winters by writing about life, relationships, hope, and happy-for-now endings. In between noveling and editing, ze blogs coffee-fueled, quirky commentary on faith, culture, writing, books, and hir family.