The first person to read an advance copy of Grumpy Bear messaged me and said, “I wish campgrounds like this really existed!”

It surprised me — she thought I’d invented the entire concept of the setting. (Seriously flattering, but I couldn’t take credit for that.)

I told her there are clothing-optional campgrounds and resorts like this all over the country. I’ve been going to them for twenty-five years.

She sent back a mind-blown emoji.

A few days later, she admitted to going down an eye-opening search engine rabbit hole.

I wanted to write stories about real men falling in love in real queer spaces. I wanted to write about my personal experiences and the lives of my friends. Representing our community is important to me.

Write what you know, they say.

But I wasn’t sure women would want to read books with this setting. There are literally only men, and women aren’t allowed. I shyly pitched the series to a few of my author friends at GRL.

Turns out, they were excited to see a part of gay culture they could only visit through my books.

So, I came home from the conference encouraged to write these stories.

A lot of gay men have never been to these campgrounds. (Some of my readers have since booked vacations.) And plenty of women have written to me about their adventures at clothing-optional resorts.

There are options for everyone, of all gender identities.

Is Bear Camp really real?

It’s a fictional place, but there are 4 real clothing-optional locations that inspired Bear Mountain Lodge.

Question:

Have you ever been to a clothing-optional resort?

(If not, what are you most curious to know?)

Write and tell me — slade@sladejames.com

P.S.

For the record, nudism has never been the major attraction for me.

In a future email, I’ll tell you about the first time I ever went to a naked campground…

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Read the Bear Camp series by Slade James.