Happy November! Are you ready for Thanksgiving, my US friends? Maybe you can take some time this break week (if you have one) to enjoy this story, if you haven't already. I hope you have, though, and can share your thoughts on Arran's story, Those Cerulean Eyes, after you enjoy this interview! 

 

Do you eat your fruits and vegetables?

Definitely. There isn’t a fruit or vegetable that I don’t like.

 

If you were an animal, what would you be?

Probably a puma because it is a stealthy, patient and efficient hunter.

 

What’s one location you’d love to go to research for a story?

Florence, Italy because of its rich history associated with the Renaissance.

 

What brought you to Gay Authors?

Dom Luca’s stories. I enjoyed every one of them.

 

If you had to only work on one writing-type project for the next year... what would it be?

I enjoy Catherine Ryan Hyde’s books, so probably something of that nature.

 

Why cerulean?

Because blue is my favorite color and cerulean is the most beautiful shade of blue for me.

 

Okay, are you a fan of Starbucks or do you prefer local joints?

I am definitely not a fan of Starbucks. I chose to use Starbucks in Those Cerulean Eyes because the story takes place in downtown Portland, Oregon where there seems to be a Starbucks on every block. I don’t make a practice of going to either because I have a Keurig at home that makes the best coffee that I could ever want. However when Borders Books was in business, i spent a fair amount of time sampling books over a great cup of Cafe Americano.

 

Do you ‘identify’ with one character better, Mark or Mickey?

Mark, because I wrote the story from his perspective; however, I think both characters have their own merits and goodnesses.

 

What is your favorite scene in Those Cerulean Eyes?

The scene between Mark and Mickey’s mother at the end of the story.

 

Would you like to share a little about your current or upcoming work?

I am currently working to get I Will Sing for You published. While it has already been written, I am editing each chapter before publication to make it as good as it can be. I’ve gotten good comments relating to some stylistic problems of my writing, so I’m trying to incorporate them into the final product. I guess the one thing that I can share is that I, like Callan, am a geologist who finds Arizona geology fascinating, from the very ancient 1.75 billion-year-old Vishnu Schist at the bottom of the Grand Canyon to the remnants of the very recent (less than one million-year-old) San Francisco Peaks stratovolcano near Flagstaff. And I find the Arizona-Sonora Desert one of the most thrilling and beautiful places on earth.