Excerpt: Our Uncle’s Promise: A LGBTQ Family Story by Ruta Levu
- Archaeolibrarian
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Book Details:
Book Title: Our Uncle’s Promise
Author and Cover Artist: Ruta Levu
Publisher: Book Writing Maestros
Release Date: July 31, 2025
Genre: LGBT Non-fiction
Themes: Family love, loss, two straight older people, two gay men, coming out and learning to smile again
Heat Rating: No sexual content
Length: 367 pages
It is a standalone book
#rutalevu @gaybookpromotions
@gaybookpromotions
This is a LGBTQIA family memoir. This is a story of two grandparents, two gay uncles and four little girls growing up in the 1970's and 1980's. The four little girls lost their mother, and their father was transferred by the military, so they were raised by their maternal grandparents and their two gay uncles. This story is about loss but also about unconditional love and the adventures with the fun uncles around the San Francisco Bay Area.
The story goes through the heart break that the little girls should not have had to face so young, but they were rescued by their grandparents and their fun-loving uncles. The four little girls learned that there is a rainbow after the rain and that you can laugh and smile after loss. In our lifetime a door may have closed but a window opened for unconditional love and an occasional disco dance with the uncles.
Bookshop.org | StoryGraph | Goodreads | Smashbomb | BookBub
It was Halloween of 1974, and I have to admit, my costume was awesome. Sina, though, looked like a boring farmer’s wife or whatever lives on a farm.
“You girls look so adorable! Aww…” Uncle Rueben praised, reaching out to hug us close.
“No, Uncle Rueben, don’t hug us yet,” I warned. “I don’t want my red cape to get all wrinkled and smashed.” I held up my hands to ward off the hug coming our way.
On Halloween night in 1974, Sina was dressed like Dorothy from the movie The Wizard of Oz. I was dressed as Red Riding Hood with a kick-butt red cape. Oli wore a Casper the Friendly Ghost costume and mask.
I have to admit, I was A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E with a capital A, but I knew I had to stay humble. Sina looked like a boring farmer’s wife in a blue checkered dress and red shoes. My red cape, on the other hand, made me feel like I could save the world—or at least that’s how I felt wearing it.
Rueben drove us to a swanky part of San Francisco, known for giving out full-size candy bars.
“All you girls stay by my side. No running ahead, and always hold each other’s hands when going up to a door. Never leave my side unless I give you permission, okay?” With the safety instructions given, Rueben led the way with a nod of his head.
Back in the 1970s, everyone seemed to give out candy, and all the kids dressed up for Halloween.
As we made our way from house to house, Uncle Rueben could be heard shouting, “Oli, don’t let go of my hand yet!” or “Sina, Ruta, don’t run too far ahead of me!”
“Hold Oli’s hand now and go up to the door. Be nice and say thank you when they give you candy,” Uncle Rueben called as we hurried toward a house with its porch light on.
Ring. Ring. Sina usually pressed the doorbell. We waited in excitement. A few moments passed. No one answered. We were the only kids at that door. Ring. Ring.
“I don’t think anyone’s giving out candy at this house,” Sina said with a sigh.
We had almost turned around when the door creaked open, and a strange fog rolled out from within. Suddenly, a lady in ragged white clothes appeared, arms raised, screaming in our faces!
“Aah! Aah! Aah!” The three of us screamed right back at the scary ghost lady! I dropped Oli’s hand like a hot rock and bolted from the porch. I thought we had all run, but apparently, that wasn’t the case. In that moment, I didn’t care if Sina or Oli made it out—I was in danger of being killed!
I figured I just needed to be faster than Oli, and I’d be safe. “You only have to outrun the slowest person,” was something Grandma and Pop used to say when watching TV shows. Plus, I wasn’t that attached to Oli. She could always flash her dimpled smile, and maybe the killer scary ghost lady would spare her. Honestly, I didn’t care if either of them was left behind—all I knew was it was every girl for herself. And I should add: not only did I save myself, but I also made sure to save my candy bag. Apparently, danger didn’t mean leaving behind my hard-earned candy stash.
“Run, Uncle Rueben! Let’s go!” I screamed, racing toward where the car was parked. We were going to make it! I didn’t care who else survived.
Uncle Rueben, however, didn’t seem to grasp the gravity of our situation. He was doubled over, laughing hysterically. Fine—let the killer scary ghost lady get him. Then I stopped in my tracks. NO! Uncle Rueben had to survive—he was our ride home!
Little did I know that Sina was right behind me until I turned to look for Uncle Rueben. Of course, she hadn’t warned him to run like I had. She only cared about herself. Big question—who was going to drive us home? I couldn’t drive. Sina couldn’t drive. Uncle Rueben had to survive. Unlike me, Sina had no long-term vision.
Uncle Rueben was still bent over, laughing. Oli was hugging his legs. How could he laugh? Did he not realize we were all in mortal danger?
Uncle Rueben walked confidently towards the danger, and I saw him pick up Oli’s shoe that she lost trying to run or whatever she did, away from the killer scary ghost lady.
“Run, Uncle Rueben! Come on, you’re in danger!” I shouted.
Sina and myself were breathing like we had just ran a few miles when we had only run a half block. I started noticing other kids staring at us, and parents chuckling. Did I mention that adults sometimes have no sense of urgency? What was wrong with them? Did they not realize there was a killer scary ghost lady in that house?
Finally, Uncle Rueben reached us and the car. It took him forever, but at least he was still alive.
September 25
Gay Book Promotions
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Book Review Virginia Lee Blog
September 26
Mx. Phoebe’s Viewpoint - INTERVIEW
September 27
Emotion in Motion
Never Hollowed By The Stare - INTERVIEW
The Faerie Review
September 28
Love is Love Books and Promotion
September 29
A Wonderful World of Words - INTERVIEW
September 30
Ellie Thomas Romance
Maggie Blackbird - INTERVIEW
October 1
Lily G Blunt - INTERVIEW
October 2
Drops of Ink
October 3
Bayou Book Junkie - INTERVIEW
Love Bytes Reviews - INTERVIEW
October 4
Lily G Blogger
October 5
LGBT Book Promotions
October 6
LGBT Books To Read
October 7
Gay Book Promotions Blog
October 8
@buttonsmom2003 - REVIEW
@onceandbooks
Ruta Levu, the unicorn that farts rainbows., is currently married and lives in the Pacific Northwest. Ruta has a daughter and five fur babies. I am the crazy cat lady on the block and proud of it. I speak with and see my sisters often. I still bring my glittery joy and happiness to my sisters’ lives to this day.
Author Links
Tour hosted by: Gay Book Promotions
Comments