An Imitation of Life

Karma Eastwick LGBT+

In New York City, Broadway actor Mars Manchester faces two dilemmas, one professional, the other personal ...

Although the handsome and talented thespian is discreet yet openly gay when it comes to his family, friends, and agent, he knows his s****l orientation could have a negative impact on landing roles in other mediums. Now that he's starting to branch off into movie and television work, he worries some producers might hesitate to hire a gay man as a romantic lead if word ever got out. So when Mars lands the role of Wave Benson, a new gay character on the long-running daytime soap opera Destiny's Storm, a controversial role that could prove challenging and rewarding and shift his career into high gear, he remains fearful that he could get typecast like so many other actors in the business.

And when it comes to his personal life, Mars battles to hold his feelings in check when he falls hopelessly in love with his roommate, another actor by the name of Reed Keeting. Unfortunately, there's one major stumbling block...Reed is straight. And to make matters even worse, the man has an annoying girlfriend who not only senses Mars's secret crush on her lover, but delights in making his life miserable at every opportunity. Yet when conversations lead Mars to believe his sexy roommate is perhaps not as straight as he appears, he can't help recalling his last relationship, one with another "straight man," that ended in utter disaster.

Will Mars ever find the courage to follow his heart and explore the possibilities of a fulfilling relationship with Reed, or will he remain miserable, allowing one bad love affair to dictate his future? Or will his storyline on Destiny's Storm, which often seems an imitation of his personal life, give him added encouragement to seek happiness once and for all, especially when Reed also snags a coveted role on the soap ... to play his gay lover?

Daytime soaps will never be the same!

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