Gaybash is a character-driven, contemporary LGBTQ+ psychological drama exploring courage, identity, and the cost of self-reinvention.

Matt Tompkins, a reserved gay man, has always played by the rules and has created a comfortable but unfulfilling life for himself. When his bold best friend Greg reaps unexpected rewards for standing up for himself in a very public display, Matt's jealousy leads him to risk everything when he's confronted by two attackers. Determined to be more like Greg, a split-second reaction brings astonishing changes to Matt's life—for better and for worse.

Set in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood, Gaybash explores the boundaries of love and friendship and the unintended consequences of wanting to be somebody else.
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David Jay Collins writes LGBTQ fiction that spans psychological drama, supernatural horror, and gentle romance. His novels are character-driven, rooted in specific communities and locations, and explore identity, power, love, and transformation across different emotional intensities.