Thank you, Cia, for a thought provoking interview.

One of the reasons I always enjoy reading AC's work, is because if that faith he has in us readers. Sure, his stories aren't always easy and pain free, but neither is life. He trusts us as much as we trust him. He writes (beautifully I might add) life and love itself, not shying away from the uglier sides of us humans.

I also liked to get this little sneak peak into his own life. I'm curious by nature.

Wonderful interview! By the way, if you want someone to do a piece for your Christmas collection, i volunteer. I look forward to it.

Becoming Real is a very thought provoking story. It is the kind of realization tale many of us can relate to. You are a very gifted writer who I think has much more to tell us.

Thank you for all of it.

Loved the interview and the background information to Becoming Real. Great to see that two of my favourite writers are joining forces.

The concept of trust had never occured to me, but the connection Tim makes with Simon in the Judas Tree is so accurate. Have to think about that some more.

Thanks, Cia.

Thanks for the kind words, AC. I guess I somehow trusted you from the moment I met Simon in Judas Tree. And I'm proud of those rare but epic times I've managed to be a catalyst for crucial matters in your stories.

Oh, and I want to add that apart from being a brilliant author and loyal and caring friend, you are also a helpful editor/beta reader.

Thank you, my dear friend Tim! You came to my work at a Godsend time, and were one of the first to give me in-depth encouragement on the Simon material. I say just at the right time, because you happened along when I was very low and contemplating writing the final two (and very challenging!) novellas of the series. Without your support, both technical and moral, I doubt very much that Unafraid and The Codeword would have been what they are.

I've said it before, and I will say it again – I owe you a lot, buddy. Cheers! 

Loved the interview and the background information to Becoming Real. Great to see that two of my favourite writers are joining forces.

 

The concept of trust had never occured to me, but the connection Tim makes with Simon in the Judas Tree is so accurate. Have to think about that some more.

 

Thanks, Cia.

Thank you, J.HunterDunn! It seems only recently that I lured you into my world of words with Bound & Bound, but in a very short time, you have become such a good friend to me. I enjoy our PMs very much, and your insights are always useful to me as I move ahead with thoughts of what to write next.

I know you have read and enjoyed reading Becoming Real very much, so for that I also thank you!

If anyone's on now, I will answer your questions first...

Hi AC, 

First let me me say, great interview. 

There are a few things I admire about your writing. One being the very descriptive elements. Another, the way each sentence carries weight, and words are deliberate in delivery. Both succeed in drawing the reader into a relationship with your characters, making it a very real experience. There is also a very 'realness' feel to your works. You make us feel, think and examine, and I'm grateful that you share your talent with us. 

My question about Becoming Real though is this.

Because of how closely you relate to the story, was there any part of the series that was easier or more difficult to write, and do events that shape your life always make it into your work? 

Hi, Defiance19. Let me take a moment or two to answer your question, and thank you properly    

Hi AC, 

First let me me say, great interview. 

There are a few things I admire about your writing. One being the very descriptive elements. Another, the way each sentence carries weight, and words are deliberate in delivery. Both succeed in drawing the reader into a relationship with your characters, making it a very real experience. There is also a very 'realness' feel to your works. You make us feel, think and examine, and I'm grateful that you share your talent with us. 

 

My question about Becoming Real though is this.

Because of how closely you relate to the story, was there any part of the series that was easier or more difficult to write, and do events that shape your life always make it into your work? 

Thank you, Defiance19, for your support. I always look forward to getting your reviews and comments on the various story forums.

Your comments about my work are highly complimentary, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Creating realism, an 'experience,' and being emotionally honest are the markers I always strive for.   

About what if any part was more difficult to write than others, it was the Billy material. He appears in the final two stories, and as you may have perceived, he has a complex aspect to the way he relates to the world. That includes Josh. That was probably the one part of fictionalizing my personal experiences that was the hardest to face. A poet might say those were the sections where the veil was thinnest.

Thanks for a great question!

I finally get that I'm supposed to pose the quiestions here :-)

I'd like to know whether Cast Stones and Becoming Real were written more or less at the same time.

...and do events that shape your life always make it into your work? 

Haha, somehow I ignored the second part of your question. Ooooppps. You ask if events that shape my life always make it into my work.

Yes and no. Naturally, I think every writer pulls from their own set of experiences, and I do too. With Becoming Real, as it was my first concentrated effort to write something worthwhile, and I found that reality would sometimes pull me in a way that was not good for my artistic goals. Sitting down and doing this for the first time as I was, those moments where I could draw on my experiences (as opposed to slavishly recording them) suddenly were setting me free. I hope this is making sense… It's perhaps akin to a form of mediation where the thing you are focused on is not the thing you are experiencing, but the key to unlocking what it truly means.

I finally get that I'm supposed to pose the quiestions here :-)

 

I'd like to know whether Cast Stones and Becoming Real were written more or less at the same time.

Well, no. The order was Becoming Real, then my first novel, The Round People, and then Cast Stones.

I went to Cast Stones as a way to give me time to 'fix' my novel. The form posted here is the result of me finally being able to do that in 2012.

Thanks for a great question!

One thing I greatly admire about your writing is your diversity of form.  You are equally adept at writing poetry, screenplays, and narrative fiction.  Do you find you have a higher comfort level with one vs. others? Is it difficult to switch tacks or do you write what inspires you at the time? 

 

Great interview, BTW.  It's always nice getting to know other authors (and friends ) better. 

Thanks, Valkyrie. It's more like an itch. Sometimes I just feel like I want to 'get back' to a form. This feeling tends to creep up on me while I'm in the middle of doing one of the others. For instance, when I was supposed to be focusing on Jack Shaw and his problem in Destiny, I was distracted by thoughts of these Christmas stories I am working on now. Perhaps as I get close to wrapping them up, another 'project' will begin bugging me for immediate attention.

I don't know if this happens to you or not, but sometimes I just have to give in a bit. Like when I was writing Destiny, I just let myself have a day to jot down ideas on these Christmas stories. By letting them 'vent' a bit, it allowed me refocus on the task as hand.

I wonder if some writers get 'blocked' by not letting themselves think about more than one project at a time. Thoughts…? 

Wait? What? My first friend on GA, and one of the most thought-provoking writers I've ever met, and one so versatile in his methodology, mentioned me? I'm flattered beyond words that he asked to include Jay and Miles in a segment of his new series--it just seemed such a good fit since both works are set in 1976. I won't give anything away, but I hope you love Katie's Sketchbook as much as I did! Now I have to fret over doing justice to his people when I cover that period in JM...I'm sure AC will be saving my bacon more than once.

I started Becoming Real a long while back, but I got distracted by starting to write my own stuff, and finding other things on GA as well, but I've started it again--this is not to knock it--just saying I skip around to keep fresh, and finding his Judas Tree and B&B stories so quickly put it out of my mind. Rest assured, it's well worth reading and stirred up a lot of memories for me as a gay teen back in that era, if not the same place.

For the life of me, I can't understand why AC doesn't try to break into the world of paper and ink publishing--he's eminently qualified in both prose and poetry!

Thanks, ColumbusGuy. You know how much I enjoyed our collaboration and look forward to continuing it on your end of the storytelling. Plus, I'm hoping to snag some of your many (and avid!) Jay and Miles readers to check out my poor Christmas tale when it posts. I hope you will talk it up some to them for me

And of course I mentioned you! It's was too good an opportunity to overlap my Xmas 1976 story with your lovebirds from Ohio. They are the perfect example of young devotion to shake my main character out of his youthfully jaded ways. I'm so glad we worked together on this.

One of the reasons I always enjoy reading AC's work, is because if that faith he has in us readers. Sure, his stories aren't always easy and pain free, but neither is life. He trusts us as much as we trust him. He writes (beautifully I might add) life and love itself, not shying away from the uglier sides of us humans. I also liked to get this little sneak peak into his own life. I'm curious by nature.

Thank you, Puppilull. You touch my heart with your comments. It's true that I think anyone can approach my work and get something out of it. I do trust that readers are people who do not deserve to be treated as 'consumers,' but as people.

Also, thanks for your compliments. They mean a lot to me.

Wonderful interview! By the way, if you want someone to do a piece for your Christmas collection, i volunteer. I look forward to it. Becoming Real is a very thought provoking story. It is the kind of realization tale many of us can relate to. You are a very gifted writer who I think has much more to tell us. Thank you for all of it.

Thank you, Cole! You know, or at least I hope you do, that your input on Bound & Bound was greatly appreciated by me! You made that book better in many and substantial ways, and I want to thank you for that.

As far as a collaborative effort between us, I would love it! You bring a unique twist to everything you write, and I know we could come up with something sure to please.

Thanks again for all of your support. 

This is the first story from AC I've had the opportunity to read all the way through, so this was my first good taste of his skill.

After careful evaluation, I must say he's like Sam Goody's. He's got it!

You did a hell of a job on this story, AC. You took me to a place. And I ain't the only one!

This is the first story from AC I've had the opportunity to read all the way through, so this was my first good taste of his skill.

After careful evaluation, I must say he's like Sam Goody's. He's got it!

You did a hell of a job on this story, AC. You took me to a place. And I ain't the only one!

Thank you, Twisted. You're saying you read it this evening, aren't you. That's amazing.

Let me also say it's amazing to be allowed to offer you feedback and input on your work. You are an awesome storyteller, and as far as I'm concerned, everyone should check out your postings. Post haste

Congratulations, AC!!!!!

I loved Becoming Real. It was my first story of  yours that I had read, and I really enjoyed your writing style.

Your writing is definitely thought-provoking and you have characters you can relate to. I remember distinctly reading The Round People and thinking, "Omg, that's EXACTLY how I felt!"

Your characters are so alive and REAL. Even Jack - and he better STAY alive. That's all I'm gonna say!   And who can't help falling in love with Simon?

So thank you, AC, for writing Becoming Real and letting me into your wonderful world of characters.

Congratulations, AC!!!!!

 

I loved Becoming Real. It was my first story of  yours that I had read, and I really enjoyed your writing style.

 

Your writing is definitely thought-provoking and you have characters you can relate to. I remember distinctly reading The Round People and thinking, "Omg, that's EXACTLY how I felt!"

 

Your characters are so alive and REAL. Even Jack - and he better STAY alive. That's all I'm gonna say!   And who can't help falling in love with Simon?

 

So thank you, AC, for writing Becoming Real and letting me into your wonderful world of characters.

Thank you, Lisa – for everything!

You had me laughing so hard right now as you said my characters are so alive, and that's how you want Jack Shaw to stay! I'll see what I can do about that

As you said, your reviews and help on Becoming Real were what drew me to you as my editor. And I have been happy and blessed with your guidance ever since. Thanks for all the subtle and sledgehammer ways you make my work better. I owe you a lot too.