A memorable and historically-accurate tale of religious extremism and the struggle for acceptance. Fully entrenched in Jehovah’s Witness belief in the fast-approaching end of the world, Butch Blackwell discovers the wonders of the world around him with an endlessly patient and kindhearted rancher, he embraces the cowboy culture and struggles to live as his authentic self. In the late 20th Century, rural communities in America were often hostile to the rising-awareness of LGBT people, and Butch is soon cast aside by his church for homosexuality.
Paperback ISBN: 9781611535914
eBook ISBN: 9781611535921
Large Print ISBN: 9781611536508
Endorsements and Reviews:
“Engaging … The Gift‘s portraits of rural gay life and fatherhood are particularly refreshing.” –Kirkus Reviews
With “smooth and immersive” prose … “The Gift is a fantastic multigenerational novel about a family’s experiences with religious predation and abuse.” —Foreword Reviews
“Masterful. Scott Terry’s narrative voice is almost poetic in its hard-hitting atmospheric descriptions … very highly recommended to book club discussion groups interested in LGBTQ+ lives, history, and conflicts with faith. Its captivating exploration of how a gay boy finds a path towards acceptance, family, and a form of faith that allows him freedom as he reconsiders the Witnesses and forms different relationships over the course of his life proves hard to put down.” – Midwest Book Review
“An unforgettable tale of faith, sexuality, and how different people struggle to find acceptance.” – Independent Book Review
“A bold, uncompromising narrative recalling Dreiser and Zola and Gissing.” – Vincent Virga, author of The Gaywyck Quartet and A Comfortable Corner
“[A story] of survival, self-discovery, and acceptance … relevant today and an excellent choice for LGBTQ+ readers struggling to find their way and accept who they are.” – Literary Titan Book Review
Awards and Coverage
IPPY Gold Winner, 2025, LGBT Fiction
IPPY Gold Winner, 2025, Best Regional Fiction (West-Mountain)
