The Rice Queen Spy

Philip Croft, a master spy for Her Majesty’s secret service was cruelly outed and tortured for his homosexuality. He was a rice queen—partial only to Asian men—a gentle man who was betrayed by some—not for being gay, but for being too decent and naïve. This novel, with its erotic passages, traces Philip’s life and his loves, and is a triumphant testimony to a gay man’s passage to old age. He kept his dignity and lived fully while briefly thumbing his nose at his former superiors by opening a gay sauna in London. The book breathes life into a gay man who served his country through deception, and though his country punished him for his personal deception, he became the victor rather than the victim.

This book, a gay, erotic novel, in order to depict realistically and naturally the hero’s sexuality, does not pull any punches when it comes to the gay amatory passages. These sensual interludes are presented as a necessary and integral part of the novel’s narrative. Philip Croft, a master spy for Her Majesty's secret service was cruelly outed and tortured for his homosexuality. He was a rice queen-partial only to Asian men, a gentle man who was betrayed by some-not for being gay, but for being too decent and naïve. This novel traces Philip's life and his loves, and is a triumphant testimony to a gay man's passage to old age. He kept his dignity and lived a full life while briefly thumbing his nose at his former superiors by opening a gay sauna in London. This book breathes life into a gay man who served his country through deception, and though his country punished him for his personal deception, he became the victor rather than the victim.

John (Jack) Rooney was born and educated in Springfield, Massachusetts (Classical High School and American International College). He wrote book reviews and feature articles for the Springfield newspapers. After receiving his M.A. in Arts and Science from Columbia University, he worked for the Cunard Cruise Lines as a business correspondent at 25 Broadway, went on to serve in the U.S. Army as a military policeman in the Times Square detachment, in civies in AWOL apprehension, and in Vienna, Austria. At various times he was an advertising manager, a real estate broker, and an expeditor in a magneto factory. He completed his course work for his Ph.D at NYU, and worked as a teacher, a department chair, and a curriculum coordinator in the Farmingdale, NY, public schools. He has published travel articles, feature articles, and five novels. His writing has included seven screenplays and a stage play. He is the author of the terrorist thriller NINE LIVES TOO MANY featuring his series detective Denny Delaney and the arch-terrorist Felix the Cat. His novel CLAWED BACK FROM THE DEAD is a suspense thriller sequel to NINE LIVES starring Delaney. In 2007 he published the gay erotic novel THE RICE QUEEN SPY about a veteran British spy who faced a life crisis and thumbed his nose at the intelligence establishment. It pleased readers across a wide social spectrum. Also in 2007 he published the suspense novel THE DAEMON IN OUR DREAMS, a blend of the naturalistic and the supernatural. His latest book is a gripping suspense novel about a sea journey from Buenos Aires to Santiago around Cape Horn entitled LAST PASSAGE TO SANTIAGO. His future work schedule includes a new Denny Delaney effort. Rooney is a world traveler and cruise ship enthusiast whose favorite cities are New York, London, Venice, and Sydney, Australia. He is an avid theatergoer, movie buff, and reader of British procedural mysteries. His favorite drink is a vodka martini on the rocks, extra extra dry with a twist of lemon, which for the most part, he drinks in moderation.