Today’s interview is with new author, Ethan Day. Ethan’s first novel, Self Preservation, recently debuted at Loose Id.  

Q: Hello Ethan. Could you tell us all what genre you write in, and why?

A: Most of what I’m writing is a contemporary romantic-comedy style genre, although I am trying my hand at a paranormal/historical piece. I’ll probably stick with contemporary for the most part. I write about what I like to read about, Gay men who are looking for love. I think relationships are funny, so I guess my writing is tinged by that point of view. Some writers might take the subject of stalking your ex-boyfriend to a darker, scarier place. I tend to go for the slightly nutty, neurotic, I Love Lucy style. If the individual reading my book wants to get into the car with my character and help them stalk that ex-boyfriend, then I’ve succeeded.

Q: So, if you don’t mind sharing, would you tell us about your latest work in progress?

A: I’ve got a lot going on at the moment. My second book, Dreaming of You should be coming out within the next few months from Loose Id. It’s yet another contemporary Rom/Com, about Aden Ingle, who’s in love with 2 men. The man he always thought it was his destiny to meet…the man from his dreams, and Logan, the real life man who could be more than he ever dreamed possible. I’m also working on the sequel to Self Preservation, two other contemporary novels, and the one Historical/Paranormal themed novel. I got a lot of voices in my head. Isn’t it nice that as writers we can say we hear voices and not get tossed into an institution? I love that!

Q: Do you need to be in a specific place or atmosphere before the words flow?

A: Sometimes that can help, but it isn’t always necessary. I think music can help. I need to work on setting up some playlists for when I’m working on particular scenes. Music definitely can help get me in the proper mood. Reading another book, TV Show, or Movie that always puts me in a certain mood can help as well. Sometimes, though it just comes out, no assistance required. I do listen to a lot of 80’s pop music and a lot of club/dance music when I’m trying to write funny. It can be distracting at times, cause I’ll register a song and decide to get up and dance around my office. I usually feel sillier afterward which I think is helpful. Of course, I’m a terrible dancer…so I keep my spasms/dancing confined to the privacy of my home.

Q: What’s the strangest source of inspiration you’ve found for a story?

A: There’s no such thing as strange source of inspiration. I’m usually just glad it shows up at all. Grateful, like when you find that twenty dollar bill in your laundry or a coat or jacket you haven’t worn in a long time.

Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?

A: Spare time…what is this spare time you speak of? I do not know of this. : )

I’m still a newbie myself, so trying to navigate the waters of self-promotion and writing. The Yahoo Groups can be intimidating in the fact that each group has its own rules for posting. I’m always afraid I’m going to do the right thing in the wrong group!!

Other than that stress I enjoy talking directly to readers, I think that’s cool as shit, and never something I even considered as being a possibility. As much as I piss and moan about technology and how it’s stripping away all of our social skills in addition to making it more difficult to find love(just my opinion), it is super cool that authors and readers can ‘hook-up’ so easily.

Q: Name one thing readers would be surprised to learn about you.

A: I’m actually Amish!! LMAO

Kidding!! I don’t know how to really answer that. I’d need to know what readers know or think they know about me. LOL! Did that sound all Dr. Suessy or what?

I already admitted to being a horrible dancer, there’s one gay stereotype I don’t fit. I also have terrible gay-dar!! This is a bit of a sore spot with me! I’ve always been a little pissed about it, cheated. I feel like a DVD player that will play the movies you want, but won’t let you fast forward. I mean…what is Spider Man without his Spidey Sense??

Q: What’s your favorite dirty word?

A: Fuck! Live it, love it, learn from it. It’s all encompassing and so damn versatile.

Q: What’s your favorite holiday, and why?

A: Thanksgiving…cause it’s halfway between Halloween and Christmas.

Q: Do you have any tattoos or piercings?

A: No way!! I have a totally irrational fear of needles. Yuck! I don’t mind it on someone else, though. As long as it’s not a tongue piercing or a…um…shoot. What’s it called, a king something, Harley something…I can’t think of the name, but the one in the um…foreskin, if you get my drift. There are two places I just don’t want any metal, and I’ll leave it at that. LOL…feel free to delete all this…it may be TMI!! LMAO

Q: If you could be intimate with three people (not necessarily all at one time *g*) without getting in trouble with your significant other, who would they be?

A: Well hell, Amanda. First I need to find a significant other so I’ll have someone to piss off. LOL

I don’t know, I think I’ve had plenty of intimate encounters at my age. I’d like to find the-one, or at least ‘one’ of the-ones. But in terms of the type of guy I like, I don’t really have a type. I’m an equal opportunity Homo. : )

Q: If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want with you?

A: Hmmmm…a hot man who’d know how to survive, cause lord knows I’d be dead within a week otherwise. A deserted cabin for us to live in, cause I’m more of an indoor boy. And a Quiznos…I mean really, life’s just not worth living with out a good sandwich. I’m greedy…does it show?

Q: If you won the lottery tomorrow, what would you spend the money on?

A: Getting myself out of debt. If there was actually anything left after that…I’d probably give the bulk of that to my family. I wouldn’t have time to write if I were out spending money all the time.

Q: What’s your favorite comfort food?

A: Chocolate for sweet, Chinese for savory.

Q: Do you have any guilty pleasures you feel comfortable sharing?

A: I’m a total TV Whore. I know…writers aren’t supposed to say that, but I do love my “programs” as my Grammy used to say. I love to record shows like Dexter, Damages, Gossip Girl, The Closer and then take a Saturday and flop down on the couch and watch them all back to back. The hours you save by not having to sit through the commercials alone…it’s amazing. Plus you don’t have to wait till next week to find out what happens.

The shows I really love, I’ll buy on DVD and watch them over and over. Buffy, Alias, Lost, Gilmore Girls…I think I’ve watched all 7 seasons of Buffy at least 4 or 5 times. I just love that show…so damn funny. And Gilmore Girls, some of the best, snappiest, fast-paced dialogue since His Girl Friday, anyone who has trouble writing dialogue should go rent the DVD’s and watch this show, especially the scenes between the Mom & Grandmother.

Q: Do you have a favorite book or movie?

A: I like old movies…and by old, I don’t mean Pretty Woman or Titanic, LOL. The 30’s – the 50’s. Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, Rita Hayworth, Doris Day & Rock Hudson…I never get tired of watching Bringing Up Baby, Gilda, or Pillow Talk.

As far as books, there’s a lot to choose from. In terms of gay characters, I’d have to say Michael Tollivar from Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City was probably the first gay guy that read about and really connected to. He was a totally mis-guided man-ho, but he wanted to fall in love soooooo desperately, it just made me ache right along with him. I saw a lot of myself in that character, especially when I was younger and just coming out.

I was in my early twenties when I read it the first time, and waiting tables in a fine dining restaurant. One of the customers, and elderly woman at that, brought me her copy to borrow and read. She had kept saying for several months when she’d come in to eat that she was going to bring me a book to read, and then one day she did. I’ll never forget her for that.

It really is such a strangely odd sensation when your reading a book and see yourself - the whole you - mirrored back for the first time. It’s very comforting and makes you feel like you belong to something bigger. Somebody else out there feels just like you. Hopefully something I write can be that for someone else someday. That would be really great.

Wow, guess you wound up catching me on an oddly serious day, LOL. Must be the daylight savings losing-an-hour, thingy.

Q: In closing, tell us a bit about your latest release (& share a yummy excerpt for those who aren’t yet familiar with your work)

A: Self Preservation is my current & first release. I wanted this book to be a lot of fun and still have a lot of heart. I’m pretty darn satisfied with the end result. I laughed so much while writing S-P, it was a lot of fun for me as well. That’s part of the reason I’m writing a second installment.

I think it’s also really cool that in the responses I’m getting, readers seem to be having a good time with these characters as well. I love that people have favorite characters, but they aren’t always the same one. That’s probably the best compliment I’ve ever had, and thanks to everyone who took the time to let me know you enjoyed reading it. I sincerely appreciate that.

I’m terrible at trying to summarize, so I’ll just let the blurb and excerpt speak for itself.
Thanks again for the interview Amanda…I appreciate you allowing me to blather on for a while!

Blurb:
Davis always assumed they would wind up back together, until Jack
calls and invites Davis to his wedding to Tadd Austin, a prominent
architect in Chicago. Jack’s only known Tadd for two weeks, so
whatever Jack feels for Tadd couldn’t possibly compare to what he
shared with Davis. There’s no way in hell Davis can stand by and
watch the life he always expected to get back slip away to some guy
Jack barely knows. Tadd Austin, indeed…more like Toad Ass-ton, Davis
thinks.

With his best friend, fashion designer Deseree Wildwood in tow, Davis
has to shed his sweet, guy-next-door persona, and re-vamp his image
into a self-confident, hot piece of eye candy. He’s going to the
wedding with only one goal in mind: to do whatever it takes to win
back Jack. The Toad is toast!

Once in Chicago, Davis discovers it isn’t going to be as easy as he
thought. Not only is Tadd very un-Toad-like, but a mysterious British
playboy named Alex Parker manages to interject himself into the mix.
Only true love will survive as the tug of war ensues in this Bermuda
love triangle from hell.

Excerpt:
Deseree placed her hand on Davis’s back. “I’m going to go find the
bathroom.”

“Okay, I’ll wait right here.”

Deseree disappeared into the crowd as Davis surveyed the bar to see
if he could spot Jack. A beefy, shirtless guy in jeans with black
leather chaps slowly made his way past Davis while staring at him
greedily. Davis smiled weakly and turned back to face the bar,
grabbing his shirt collar as if he feared the man might sexually
assault him. The guy walked away and Davis shook his head.

“Stare a little closer, fucker,” Davis mumbled, feeling slightly
molested.

“Quite a nasty tongue you have there,” said a deep voice from behind
him.

Davis whipped around and found himself looking into the throat of a
man who stood at least six and a half feet tall. Davis felt his face
turn beet red. “Oh, I…so sorry.”

“No need to apologize, I rather fancy a nasty tongue.” The man
offered his hand. “Alex Parker. I saw you earlier at the party.”
British, thought Davis.

Davis shook his hand and looked Alex over. He was strikingly handsome
with a long, lean body, accented by dark hair and dark eyes. Davis
estimated his age at thirty-seven, give or take. While he was
impeccably dressed in a dark suit, he somehow projected an ease, a
casualness. Davis smiled at him, admiring the dichotomy.

“I’m…”

“Yes, I know,” Alex said with a sly smile. “I asked around about you
at the party.”

“Really? And what did you discover?” Davis asked as he turned to move
forward in the line.

“I’m ashamed to report, other than your name, nothing.” Alex lightly
touched Davis on the arm and added, “Which has made you all the more
appealing.”

Davis laughed as two guys passed through the line, knocking him face
first into Alex. He caught Davis to keep him from falling. Feeling
Alex’s hand on his ass, Davis grabbed his shoulder, pulling himself
back up. The two men laughed as they looked back.

“I’m fine…thanks.” Davis shot them a nasty look as the guys walked
off without so much as an apology. “Rude fuckers.”

Alex laughed as he smoothed out Davis’s jacket. “That filthy mouth of
yours is delightfully charming.”

“Well, I aim to please,” Davis said, still irritated.

“Really?” Alex asked, looking into Davis’s eyes entirely too
seriously. “I think I’m in love.”

Davis paused for a moment before laughing. “Do guys actually fall for
that?”

“No go, huh?” Alex asked with a frown. “Bollocks.”

“Has that ever worked for you?”

“Yes, actually… I’ve found most men find me utterly irresistible.”
Alex placed a hand on his stomach and added, “Especially when I’m
making an ass out of myself.”

“I’ll have to get back to you on that one,” Davis said, a little
unsure what to make of him, even though he loved the way the word ass
sounded in Alex’s accent.

“Wise decision,” Alex said, stepping forward as they were now only
one person away from the bar. “It’s good not to make snap judgments.
And fear not, I have a wide range of ass-like behavior with which to
impress.”

“As well as a fondness for the word ass,” Davis said, raising his
eyebrows.

“Yes,” Alex said with a devious grin, “and you seem partial to the
word fucker. Together we make ass fu –”

“All righty.” Davis scowled, patting Alex on the chest. “I think I
get it.”

“See how utterly perfect we are for one another?” Alex asked
earnestly. “You…complete me.”

Davis smiled despite himself as he turned to order a martini and
cosmopolitan from the bartender for himself and Deseree. He paused
momentarily and rolled his eyes before turning to ask Alex what he
would like to drink.

“I’ll have a dirty martini as well.” Alex grinned. “Thank you.”

“What’s going on here?” Deseree asked, unnoticed by Davis until that
moment.

“Deseree, meet Alex. He’s an ass man.”

“I’m kinda partial to a nice ass myself,” Deseree said, smiling.

Alex pointed to Deseree and ran his finger up and down in the air
over her frame. “Loving you.”

“Yeah, well…what’s not to love?” Deseree said, staring longingly at
her drink as she took it from Davis.

Davis picked up the remaining two martinis and handed one to Alex.
The three of them got out of line and moved over to occupy three bar
stools to the right. Davis spotted Jack and Tadd walking through the
bar and set his glass down in front of Deseree.

Purchase your copy here:
http://www.loose-id.com/prod-Self_Preservation-882.aspx

Copyright 2009 Ethan Day

For more info on me, please visit me on my website:
http://www.ethandayonline.com