In Pain Before the Rainbow, Jack Cooper presents a powerful collection of stories anchored by Anthony’s Sin.
This novella takes us into the minds and hearts of two young men as they discover beautiful passion while grappling with poignant pain inflicted
by a world that does not yet accept or celebrate love outside its rigid hetero norms.

This book shows how bad it once was for gay men, and renews our commitment to move forward with respect, love, and harmony for all.

This gripping book chronicles the life of a man who was acutely aware of being gay as a boy in an unaccepting world — a time before the rainbow.
Cooper presents an eloquent narrative through a series of stories that engage the reader’s mind and heart in this skillfully composed exploration
of identity and compelling perspective through the lens of a man who lives and loves outside the lines of oppressive heterosexual boxes that society
and religion drew — boxes that condition boys to think and act according to a preset definition of masculinity.

Cooper brilliantly navigates shame and secrecy, tragedy and trauma, as well as strength and courage, that grow out of living one’s truth in a disapproving
and often hurtful world.

• Title: Pain Before the Rainbow
• Subtitle: A Biomythographical Anthology
• Author: Jack Cooper
• Anchor novella: Anthony’s Sin
• Formats: Paperback & eBook
• Status (per your text): Presale / Published June 1, 2025

Jack Cooper lives with his husband and Great Dane, Jack, in upstate New York, where he writes and renovates properties.
He has an MA from Union College, spent 20 years in the private sector, and taught at the secondary level for 25 years.

Jack Cooper’s work has been published in the Flumes Literary Journal, Weasel Press, Limit Experience Journal, Coffee People Zine, Miracle Monocle,
Plentitudes Journal, Prometheus Dreaming, Two Sisters Writing & Publishing, Pride and Presents, Red Noise Collective, Running Wild Press Short Story Anthology,
Wingless Dreamers Publication, Wild Sounds Writing Festival, Beyond Words, Beyond Queer Words, and RIZE Short Story Anthology.

⭐ Reviews for Pain Before the Rainbow

“So I just finished Pain Before the Rainbow, and let me just say, your writing didn’t ‘touch my heart’; it grabbed it, sat it down, and gave it a full existential debrief 😅.
The way you blend myth, memory, and meaning in biomythography is like emotional alchemy, painful and beautiful in the same sentence… Your work doesn’t just tell stories, it rescues them…
That’s not just literature, that’s liberation. 🌈”

— Jenna Parker

“This guy gets it! … I could not get enough of this story… I was left… lost, hurting… We can read their story… We can be reminded how faith and family… need to be transformed into what their intended purpose always was:
love and support and connection…”

“In Anthony’s Sin, Jack Cooper takes us into the minds and hearts of two young men as they discover beautiful passion while grappling with poignant pain… It’s important to read this novella…
While his stories show how bad it once was, they renew our commitment to never allowing the world to slip backwards.”

— Elizabeth Ann Atkins, Co-Founder, Two Sisters Writing & Publishing®

“Cooper’s perfectly flowing prose reaches that elusive place where reality and fiction—biomythography—collide seamlessly. His ability to infuse his characters and settings with heartbreaking depth makes this anthology unforgettable.”

— Glenn E. Kakely, Author of The Power to Create You

“A time before the rainbow… Cooper’s Pain Before the Rainbow is timely as it is historical… a reminder not to allow a return to the time before the rainbow.”

— Laureen R. Violante, CMT, CYT; co-founder of YogaTales

“These stories explore enduring glimmers of compassion, hope, love, and kindness… Your heart will bleed—maybe for the first time—and it should.”

— James Buono, Family Trauma and Loss Counselor

“This phenomenally well written book… the absolute bravery it takes to write and talk about what really needs to be said… Discover your gorgeous rainbow brilliance…”

— Joanie Lindenmeyer, Best Selling Author

“Heart wrenching. How does one endure and continue? Difficult but compelling. So very glad I found this treasure.”

“An amazing piece of literature! Such truth and understanding… you have written words that I felt deep in my soul. Don’t stop writing!”

“He makes you feel his journey in a powerful way… What really stuck with me is the courage and hope that shine through… It’s powerful.”

“I couldn’t put it down. The raw emotion and anguish drew me in immediately… painful, beautiful and hopeful. This is a must read for everyone.”