Loving Artemis, an endearing tale of revolution, love and marriage by Janet Mason

A stunning novel about queer love, independence, self-realization, and personal and political revolution… 

Set against the historic backdrop of events that shaped the U.S. Supreme Court’s long overdue decision to legalize same sex marriage that is under attack today, award-winning novelist Mason vividly recounts a saga of revolution through love, resilience, and faith in her latest novel. 1970. Struggling with her sexual identity and her mother’s impossible expectation, eighteen-year-old Grace finds herself falling for the strong-willed and free-spirited Artemis after the latter saves her from a drug party. But Art lands herself on the other side of the law, and Grace’s aspirations come in her way of her relationship. She leaves Art and moves to another city. Now decades later, Grace is successful in her career and has a live-in-partner Thalia. When Grace spots Art in a pride parade, the old feelings come to surface, forcing Grace to question her relationship with Thalia. And Art has her own life, and she’s raising a daughter with Linda, her school-time flame. Mason’s skillfully crafted plot pulls the reader right from the beginning, and she expertly weaves historical events into the narrative to create a feeling of authenticity. Utilizing an extraordinary sense of place, a poignant love story, and the power of endurance, Mason beautifully weaves her two distinct story lines. The crisp prose pulls together past and present and the authentically rendered events humanize the horrors the LGBTQ community faces on a regular basis. The struggles here are real and wrenching: Mason skillfully delves into her protagonists’ yearning for freedom and acceptance while illustrating the trauma and stigma that followed the members of LGBTQ community during the era. The alternating first-person narration voices are relatable and sincere, and the vividly sketched characters are realistically flawed. Mason beautifully emphasizes the enduring qualities of her protagonists, allowing them the space to shine. With an intriguing supporting cast of friends, family, and a nemesis or two, the women experience heartbreak, loss, hope, and triumph. Readers are sure to be taken with the fortitude of Grace, and Art, who manage to find fulfillment and happiness amid all the bigotry and resistance of their time. With a focus on love and self-realization, this well-researched tale serves as a solid history lesson on the legalization of same sex marriage in America. Highly recommended.

Loving Artemis

an endearing tale of revolution, love and marriage

Janet Mason

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Thorned Heart Press

Pub date August 11, 2022

ISBN 979-8846111912

Price $19.99 (USD) Hardcover, $9.99 Paperback, $0.00 Kindle edition