Supporting ALSO Out Youth Through Storytelling
When fiction does more than entertain, it becomes a powerful force for change. That is exactly what happens with the November release of Touching Wood, a short erotic gem by the wonderfully talented Kim Dare. This compact, emotionally charged story isn’t just a treat for fans of steamy, character-driven romance; it is also a direct way to support ALSO Out Youth, an organization dedicated to empowering LGBTQ+ young people.
By purchasing a copy of Touching Wood, readers can indulge in a captivating story while knowing the author is sending all royalties from this release to ALSO Out Youth. It’s a simple, meaningful act: enjoy a book and help create safer, more affirming spaces for queer youth at the same time.
Who Is Kim Dare?
Kim Dare has long been known for writing intense, intimate, and emotionally rich erotica and romance. Her work frequently explores consent, trust, vulnerability, and the often-complicated dynamics between her characters. She has a gift for blending heat with heart, ensuring that eroticism is grounded in real emotional stakes and authentic connection.
In Touching Wood, she brings her signature style to a shorter format, delivering a concentrated dose of chemistry and tension that will resonate with existing fans and new readers alike. Anyone familiar with her backlist knows to expect layered characters, complex power exchanges, and a strong emphasis on care and communication.
About Touching Wood: Erotic Gems in a Compact Package
Touching Wood belongs to the Erotic Gems line, which specializes in short, intense stories that focus on pivotal, charged moments between characters. These tales are designed for readers who want a full emotional and erotic experience in a smaller page count, perfect for reading in a single sitting.
The blurb teases a story of closeness, risk, and trust—where every touch carries meaning and every choice has consequences. While brief, it promises to explore those liminal spaces where desire meets vulnerability, and where taking a chance on someone else can feel equal parts terrifying and exhilarating.
Why This Release Matters: Royalties Donated to ALSO Out Youth
What sets this particular release apart is Kim Dare’s decision to send all royalties from her November release of Touching Wood to ALSO Out Youth. That means every sale directly supports programs that help LGBTQ+ youth feel seen, supported, and valued.
ALSO Out Youth works to create safe spaces, foster community, and offer vital resources to young people navigating their identities in a world that can still be hostile or dismissive. Financial support helps sustain services such as support groups, educational initiatives, and affirming social events that can literally change—sometimes even save—lives.
Purchasing Touching Wood thus becomes an act of solidarity. Readers get to enjoy an intimate, erotic story while contributing to a cause that champions acceptance and self-worth for queer youth.
Erotica with Purpose: Pleasure, Representation, and Empowerment
Erotic fiction has always had the potential to challenge norms and expand possibilities. Stories that center queer desire and diverse expressions of intimacy help dismantle shame and broaden our understanding of what healthy, consensual relationships can look like.
By linking erotic storytelling to tangible support for LGBTQ+ young people, Kim Dare underscores a powerful message: everyone deserves narratives in which they can recognize themselves, and everyone benefits when those narratives are backed by concrete action. Representation on the page and real-world support go hand in hand.
How Buying a Single Book Can Make a Difference
It is easy to underestimate the impact of one purchase. Yet when a book channels its royalties into a cause like ALSO Out Youth, each copy sold becomes part of a larger wave of support. A single book sale may help keep a safe space open a little longer, contribute to a vital outreach program, or fund resources that reassure a young person they are not alone.
Readers looking for a quick, steamy, and emotionally satisfying story can enjoy Touching Wood knowing that their reading time is also helping to sustain a more inclusive future for LGBTQ+ youth.
Blending Sensual Storytelling with Social Impact
Touching Wood exemplifies how sensual storytelling can intersect with social responsibility. The Erotic Gems format ensures the narrative is tightly focused and intensely felt, while the charitable dimension adds depth and resonance beyond the final page.
For fans of erotic romance, this is a chance to support a favorite genre and a deserving community simultaneously. For readers new to Kim Dare, it’s an ideal entry point: a short, potent piece that showcases her strengths as a writer and her commitment to giving back.
Where Pleasure Meets Purpose
Ultimately, Touching Wood is about more than its erotic charge. It is about how pleasure, representation, and compassion can coexist in a single, powerful reading experience. Every copy purchased is a step toward a world where queer youth feel safer, more accepted, and more hopeful.
Whether you come for the smoldering tension, the emotional nuance, or the opportunity to support ALSO Out Youth, this November release offers a meaningful way to combine your love of reading with your desire to make a difference.