Where Harlequin meets Homo
By Elizebeth Cutler
Scott Whittier hugs Scott Pomfret
March 2005 - The champagne and chocolate that they exchanged gave
it away — Scott&Scott are in love. Boyfriends and co-workers,
Scott Pomfret and Scott Whittier are selling the idea of gay love and
romance through their novels. They have released three books under their
selftitled label Romentics. Their fourth, Hot Sauce, will debut later
this year alongside Pride 2005.
Launched in November 2003, Romentics was inspired by Whittier’s
mother and grandmother who loved Harlequin romance novels. Whittier, who
is in advertising, saw an untapped market for romance novels in the gay
community. “I wanted to show that gay men can fall in love, have
lasting monogamous relationships, and end up happily ever after together,”
he says. Whittier researched his concept, looked into the trends and genres
of the romance novel medium. However, the idea lay dormant until he met
his other half, Scott Pomfret, in January 2001. Pomfret, a writer and
lawyer, pushed Whittier to make his idea a reality. “I have to drag
him out of bed, put a cup of coffee in his hand and sit him down at the
computer,” says Pomfret.
Originally intended for gay men, their descriptive love scenes have found
an unexpected audience: straight women. “Women want to believe their
gay friend, siblings…” (“People they supposedly buy
the book for,” interjects Whittier.) “…can really fall
in love,” says Pomfret. “Another thing they like is, frankly,
the pornographic aspect, because it talks about male bodies in a way that
straight erotica tends to focus on the female body.”
Scott&Scott, having dabbled in harder erotica, are well-versed in
conveying the language of lust. However, the passion they write about
always encounters a roadblock, often a controversial one.
Encompassing everything from prostitution to green-card marriages of convenience
and even violence, Romentics novels keep the reader on the edge of his
(or her) seat. Yet, despite the obstacles, Scott&Scott never stray
from the conventional plot line of romance, keeping the focus on sexual
undercurrents and bedtime tenderness.
Cover by local artist Michael Breyette
Their novels, Scott&Scott say, work to combat stereotypes that “gay
men have to be a certain way… slutty and bitchy.” But at the
same time, the very nature of their work has formulaic quality. For example,
when asked their favorite character, Whittier flippantly replies, “The
flightly little club-trash sidekick, Nathan, in Spare Parts.” Scott&Scott
are embracing gay stereotypes while combating them. If anyone can pull
it off, it’s them.
With their commitment to their writing and their relationship, Scott&Scott
are building a fan base one book reading at time. Scott&Scott were
interviewed on February 11 at Vibes, 116 Water Street in Worcester.
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