Bridge Across the Ocean

A friendship between a black gay man and two straight, white teenage brothers changes all of their lives forever.

Derek Mayfield is having the best year of his life and the hardest year of his life.

He’s just gone from overweight and closeted to a lean, loving, out and proud black gay man. But he also just found out he’s HIV positive (in 1988).

For a break from life, Derek takes off for Cancun, where he meets the Velardes, a white family from Arizona that resembles “a Norman Rockwell painting.”

The oldest brother, Rob — sixteen and straight-identified — reminds Derek of the white jocks he worshipped in his youth. But Rob is also naïve beyond belief. He worships Derek as the hip, athletic, black guy who knows so much about life.

Rob’s younger brother, Skeeter also looks up to Derek, as does their single mother, who thinks of Derek as a good role model for her restless boys.

Derek, Rob and Skeeter embark on a series of youthful adventures, hanging out at the beach, wading in the ocean, telling jokes, faking shark attacks, playing sports, sailing, looking for aliens in the tropical night sky — like something out of Derek’s boyhood dreams, three kids in search of innocent fun during one magical summer.

But Derek is no kid. And he’s also in a very vulnerable place.

The more time he spends with the family, the more inseparable they become, which means Derek must tell the family he is gay, and tell Rob that he is attracted to him.

When the truth is revealed, the true adventure begins.

And none of their lives will ever be the same.

Bridge Across the Ocean
by Randy Boyd

A Lambda Literary Award Finalist for Best Small Press Title

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Reviews for “Bridge Across the Ocean”

“A delicious ode to summer boyhood adventures.” Stonewall News Northwest

“A funny, sexy and very poignant summertime novel.” Gay & Lesbian Times

“Sincere and suspenseful, Bridge Across the Ocean is a great escape and a very important piece of writing.” XY Magazine

“The sexual attraction and the conflict it poses are beautifully handled.” Lambda Book Report

“Not your typical gay fiction fare. The subject matter is fresh and seriously stimulating. Boyd has a knack for the controversial.” Between The Lines

“Racism, homophobia, attraction to younger men, dealing with HIV are all handled without preaching and without excess moralizing.” Gay and Lesbian Review

“Reading Bridge Across the Ocean was, on some level, a growth experience. This is an incredible piece of work that tears down stereotypes.” Friends and Family Magazine

“Groundbreaking … Boyd not only crosses race, social and gender boundaries, but touches on the much-needed-to-be-openly-discussed subject of men mentoring boys in all ways in society and the world.” Wisconsin IN Step