Alan Lessik

With non-fiction works include news articles published in the Advocate, San Francisco Bay Guardian, and Frontiers, local author Alan Lessik shares his debut work of fiction, The Troubleseekers.

The Troubleseeker tells the contemporary odyssey of Antinio, a native-born Cuban who confronts his gay identity in post-revolution Cuba and as a refugee in America. Narrated by the ancient Roman Emperor and demigod Hadrian, The Troubleseeker weaves Cuban Santería traditions with classical Greek mythology to depict Antinio’s quest to achieve both freedom and love.

“Lessik’s prose is always sympathetic and eloquent.” —Kirkus Reviews

“An exceedingly rich novel, reminiscent of Gabriel Garcia Marquez.” —ALA GLBT Reviews

“This stunningly creative novel combines history and mythology from several cultures to tell the story of Antinio, a gay Cuban man, as he searches for freedom and love in the face of oppression and disease.” —Charles Green, The Gay and Lesbian Review Worldwide