Before 'Brokeback': All-American Boys Find Love in Each Other in Small-Town Montana in New Book

Friday January 12, 8:15 am ET

LOOGOOTEE, Ind., Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Before there was "Brokeback Mountain," two All-American country boys fell in love in S. Bryan Gonzales' book, "Under the Big Sky: What Heaven Hath Joined Together ... Let No Man Cut Asunder" (now available through AuthorHouse).

Cash McCollum is a high school rodeo cowboy with aspirations of winning the rodeo crown title, All-Around Cowboy. When the football jock Travis Hunter breezes into town, Cash's life is flipped upside down. Immediately attracted to the handsome, arrogant athlete, Cash cannot deny his feelings, and a secret liaison begins.

Secrets don't last long in small towns, and it isn't long before their affair hits the rumor mill of their tiny Montana town. Everyone from Cash's brother Clayton to the school principal is asking questions about their relationship - and refusing to accept it.

To complicate matters, the two begin to realize that their deep feelings and attraction may not be enough to keep them together as they grapple with the differences between Travis's wealthy world of privilege and Cash's simple, country upbringing. They also struggle to live their lives normally as Travis strives to take the football team to the state championship and win Most Valuable Player while Cash continues his rodeo ambitions.

When Cash finds himself attracted to his rodeo rival, Lee, Travis gives him an ultimatum: stop seeing Lee or lose their relationship forever. But Cash becomes involved in an emotional family crisis involving Lee's dying mother and his illegitimate daughter, Elena. Can Cash do the right thing and achieve his dreams without losing the love of his life? The moving conclusion to this heartfelt story proves that it's possible to be gay and normal in small-town America. "'Under the Big Sky' bears testimony that a guy can be gay, yet live a good, simple, ordinary life - apart from crime, sexual promiscuity, substance abuse or mental illness," Gonzales says.

Born and raised in Montana, Gonzales developed a strong sense of commitment to his loved ones. He hopes this book will send a message that there is nothing that can't be worked through with patience and love. He holds a bachelor's degree in psychology of counseling/ministries from Northwestern College in Minneapolis. He has worked as a program coordinator for first and second year medical students at the University of Louisville in Kentucky. He currently lives in Indiana and works as a coordinator for distance and alternative education programs for Indiana State University. "Under the Big Sky" is his first book.

AuthorHouse is the premier publishing house for emerging authors and new voices in literature. For more information, please visit http://www.authorhouse.com.