Interview with Author Gavin Atlas:
Hi Gavin. Thank you for doing this interview. I would like to welcome you to the Romance at Heart Interview and Author Grilling session. *bg* We are interested to find out as much about you as we possibly can, so lets get started...
- Please tell us about your latest book.
I have two m/m erotica stories available from Forbidden Publications. The latest is “Simple and Easy” about a young man who was considered cute enough when he lived in New York, but when he moves to a smaller city, Richmond, he’s suddenly the hottest guy around. Soon, everyone is trying to have their way with him. If that plot works for you, then try my other e-book, “Claiming Danny”. It’s even wilder!
- How do we find out about you and your books?
I have a small website, www.GavinAtlas.com, and I also have a LiveJournal blog. In addition to my stories with Forbidden Publications, I have stories in print anthologies titled Hard Hats (Cleis Press) and Island Boys (Alyson). I will have two more stories coming out in anthologies titled Surfer Boys and Ultimate Gay Erotica 2009.
- How may readers contact you?
I can be reached at GavinAtlas@sbcglobal.net. Readers can request a free story from me called “Wet Pass” about a collegiate water polo player’s locker room encounter with an older journalist. Woo woo!
- Do your fans' comments and letters influence you in any way?
I think they have a bit. I didn’t expect my readers to be mostly women, but it seems like they are, at least for my e-published works. I’ve gotten a fair number of negative reviews for not being romantic at all nor having enough of a relationship between two main characters. I haven’t submitted anything else yet to an e-publisher, but with some of my print stories, I’ve tried to create something a bit more loving and meaningful. I still usually have a young man who loves wild sex and is often promiscuous, but now I try to temper that with clearer longing for one man who obviously cares about the younger protagonist. I’m not sure I succeed at true romance, but now I often try.
- Do you have a favorite comment or question from a reader?
Earlier this year, I received a rejection from a mainstream magazine and was subsequently feeling rather sad. I wasted some time “ego-googling” and found that another writer had written in a blog that one of the authors that “blows her away” was Gavin Atlas. I couldn’t believe it! That completely changed my day. There’s also a well-known reviewer on LiveJournal who goes by AngusDevotee, and she shores up my confidence a lot, too.
- How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?
Uh oh, dangerous question. Quite a lot of life experience goes into it, but to make compelling fiction, I have to exaggerate circumstances frequently, and, of course, my characters are a bit more adventurous than I ever was. Unlike my two e-books which have a lot to do with my personality when I was younger, my print stories are largely just fantasies without basis in fact.
- When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first ms?
There is a wonderful children’s book called Dreams of Victory by Ellen Conford that made me realize I wanted to be a writer. So I’ve been writing since elementary school, and I first submitted a manuscript in high school. I think what prompts a lot of authors to submit manuscripts is a search for approval, and that’s probably what I was doing subconsciously. I didn’t start writing erotica until a few years ago. It helps me get things out of my system that would be inappropriate in mainstream writing, and it helps me practice descriptive detail which is often a weak point for me. And I won’t lie, getting paid a little for my creativity is a nice thing, even if it’s for work my mom can never know about.
- What kind of research do you do?
I didn’t know much about surfing, so for the Surfer Boys anthology I watched movies like Big Wednesday and Point Break. I also watched kids learn to surf on YouTube. For Island Boys I wrote about an island named Palmyra which is largely uninhabited. I read about it on Wikipedia and learned it’s actually an awful place, but it still fit my story anyway. Besides YouTube and Wikipedia, TrekEarth helps me a lot with setting research.
- Please tell us about yourself (family, hobbies, education, etc.)
I’ve lived in Houston for the last six years. Before that I’ve lived in New York City, Richmond (Virginia) and Washington DC. I have a boyfriend, John, of nearly three years whom I love deeply. In general, I’m a sweet and easy-going guy, but I suffer from fairly serious depression, so I’m very grateful for his ability to put up with me. As far as hobbies, I love Sim City and The Sims. Also, I know a fair amount about colleges, so I do “college matching” as a pastime. I don’t charge for it since I’m not a professional, but I think I do a good job. I also collect (inexpensive) gemstones, and I love airliners even though I’m not big on flying. I also adore parakeets although I don’t have one right now. I just go to PetSmart and watch them bounce around and be silly. Most of my interests wind up in my fiction.
- Do you have a favorite author? Favorite book?
I don’t have a favorite author, but my favorite book is Blue Heaven by Joe Keenan. It is hysterical, and nearly everyone to whom I’ve recommended it has loved it.
- Who are some of your other favorite authors to read?
This is going to be a long answer. For short stories, I’m a big fan of Lorrie Moore, Erika Krouse, Ann Harleman, and Stacey Richter. They all have terrific senses of humor while maintaining such lyrical grace. For literary authors with a gay sensibility, I’ve loved Philip Gambone’s stories and Felice Picano’s memoirs. For popular fiction and mysteries, I’ve really enjoyed Cochrane Lambert, Neil Plakcy, Greg Herren, Stephen McCauley and Warren Dunford. I met a writer named Steve Berman who is hard to categorize since he writes a number of things such as paranormal, young adult and literary. I’ve been getting into his work recently. For male/male erotic romance, I’m amazed by CB Potts, James Buchanan, and Vincent Diamond. I don’t read much romance, but I loved Letters to Kelly by Suzanne Brockman. I think it’s out of print, but any writer or would-be writer who hasn’t read it should go run and find a copy right now.
- Are you a member of any author groups - RWA, critique groups, etc.?
I am a member of a local critique group called the Houston Fiction Cartel, but when I write erotica I don’t bring my work to them. I do “beta-read” and edit for other writers, including a wonderful author named Kimberly Frost. Every story of mine is read by one or two critique partners before I submit it.
- What do you think of critique groups in general?
They are very useful as long as people balance honesty with tact. Neither puff groups nor groups that are so destructive they tear up your confidence are helpful.
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
Hopefully I’ll have one or two collections of short stories available. I sometimes prefer writing other genres such as humor or literary, but humor, in particular, is a very difficult genre to break into.
- What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?
Hearing someone laugh when something I’ve written strikes them as funny. Either that or a simple compliment such as “I enjoyed your story.” Of course, something bigger like “I loved your story immensely, so I’m naming my cat after you” would be wonderful, but I don’t want to ask for too much.
- Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?
If someone thinks “I wish I could write, but I’m terrible at it,” she should write anyway. With enough practice and reading the work of strong writers, she’ll progress from terrible to not bad to good to published. I’m amazed at how bad some of my early work is, and I still think I have a long way to go.
- What question would you love to answer that I didn't ask?
If you had a harem of male celebrities, who would be in it? Hee hee. I’m bad, aren’t I? I think I’d choose Dean Cain, Matt Damon, and Marco Rinaldi from Like Water for Chocolate. I enjoy hearing what answers other people come up with. Thanks so much for the interview! I appreciate the opportunity!
Thank you, Gavin. I appreciate you taking the time with us and answering our questions. I realize this is an interruption to your busy schedule. Good Luck, and we will be looking forward to the next delightful creation from your talented imagination! I can't wait to see what you have in store for us next.
Yours in good reading,
Rose!
Gavin's Website Gavin's Blog Interview Review Review
Buy Gavin's Books At Amazon
Buy Gavin's Books at Cleis Press
Buy Gavin's Books at Alyson
Buy Gavin's Books at Forbidden Publications
