Author Proposes Marriage By Publishing Book

Chicago author and artist Philip D. Luing is making a public proposal of marriage to singer/songwriter Charles Stephen Hughes, his domestic companion of nearly fourteen years, by publishing a collection of poetry and prose he’s written for Mr. Hughes from 1998 to the present. The book is illustrated with Mr. Luing’s paintings. Published by BookBaby.com as an e-book, the collection is entitled Bliss: A Marriage Proposal for Charles Stephen Hughes .

Chicago, IL – June 25, 2012 – On July 15, 2012 BookBaby.com officially releases  Bliss: A Marriage Proposal for Charles Stephen Hughes by Chicago author Philip D. Luing.  Advance copies will be available at some e-bookstores in early July.  The author began writing the contents of this book for Mr. Hughes, his domestic companion, immediately following their first meeting in 1998.  The book’s inscription reads “a collection of poetry, prose and paintings that culminates in a marriage proposal, private in nature, but made public here for all to read because the personal is still political.”

Says the author, “I’m inviting the public to read my marriage proposal to Charles Stephen because I want my declaration of love for this man to be entered into the realm of public knowledge, to be on the record, to be a publication.  My hope is that by making a public declaration of what I believe a marriage would mean to us as a couple I will accomplish two ends.  First and foremost, of course, I hope and trust that Charles Stephen will find me and my vision for our life together worthy of a marriage commitment. At the same time, I hope that others who read these words will understand that commitment to be worthy of the word marriage.  In this book are words I’ve written to Charles Stephen over the nearly fourteen years of our knowing each other.  I offer them as evidence that we, along with all same-sex couples who wish to commit their lives to each other, are meant and deserve to be together in a state of lawfully wedded bliss, that the trust we give to someone to share and protect the most basic aspects of our being is what renders these relationships worthy of fundamental legal protection and societal recognition.”

The book will be available at all major e-bookstores and will sell for $2.99 per download.

About the Author

Philip Luing was an active member of NewTown Writers, Chicago’s oldest LGBT writing group, for almost twenty years.  Although his concentration is currently on his visual art, he still occasionally writes poetry or prose for his domestic companion, singer/songwriter Charles Stephen Hughes.  He is also the author of the recently published memoir of love and AIDS entitled From Particles and Disputations: Writings for Jeff – a book of hours.   More information about that book as well as Bliss: A Marriage Proposal for Charles Stephen Hughes can be found on the author’s literary website, www.philipdluing.com.
 
Contact:
hughes-luing@msn.com
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Philip D. Luing

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Philip D. Luing, author & artist

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