The Majestic Leo Marble by R. J. Lee

Cover of "The Majestic Leo Marble," R.J. Lee's 17th novel, praised as a richly textured saga of personal transformation and pride.

Leo Marble quickens in the womb during a Broadway show, but his life is lived in the Deep South in conservative Mississippi and laid-back New Orleans. He eventually emerges from the closet to become a journalist and advocate for gay rights and visibility. Along the way, he experiences heartache on an international scale, but keeps his indomitable spirit alive with show tune concerts at his spinet, eventually falling in love with a dedicated meteorologist with higher math skills.