(Black PR Wire) Monika M. Pickett is a relatively new voice in a literary category that is often overlooked, African-American lesbian romance. Now her latest release, Pretty Boy Blue, 2nd Edition, has become the number one best-seller on Amazon.com in the U.S. and Canada across multiple categories including lesbian romance and LGBTQ fiction among others.

“Not enough stories about lesbians, much less African-American lesbians, are told. Although our presence in literature is evolving, the scales of opportunity and access remain unbalanced. I wanted to tell my story as well as the story of many who struggle with their sexuality and coming out,” said Pickett.

Pickett said she also was inspired by Toni Morrison who once said, “If there is a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”

Loosely based on the author’s life story, Pretty Boy Blue is the coming-of-age tale of Nikki Blue, who always knew she liked girls and wanted to be married – to a wife. However, given the 1990s setting of the story, such a desire seemed unlikely. That did not stop Nikki Blue from dreaming and exploring her deepest same-sex desires.

After the loss of her childhood innocence and being uprooted over and over again, Nikki stumbles through adolescence, endures school bullying, and ultimately finds herself in the middle of the local gay and lesbian club scene. She meets older women who teach her about her body, but they don’t understand her heart. Through it all, she remains determined to find her truest self.

Pretty Boy Blue also includes the rarely-depicted journey of a lesbian in the U.S. Army. It is a lesson in courage and resilience. Pretty Boy Blue is available on Amazon.com.

In addition to being an award-winning author, Pickett is a single mother, grandmother and service veteran of the Iraq War who also suffers from Neurosarcoidosis, an auto-immune disease. Pickett wrote Pretty Boy Blue while recovering from a stroke caused by the disease.

Pickett is a LGBTQ rights advocate and a cultural commentator who shares her thoughts, experiences and advice on multiple media platforms, including EURWEB.com, Medium.com, The Unleashed Voice Magazine and The Huffington Post. Visit MonikaMPickett.com, Facebook.com/Monika Pickett, @MonikaPickett on Twitter and _prettymonikapickett on Instagram.

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