Chris Delyani

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Chris Delyani

Goodreads Author


Born
in Chelsea, MA, The United States
September 24

Website

Twitter

Genre

Influences
William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Leo Tolstoy, Charles Dickens, F. Sco ...more

Member Since
January 2010


In 1993 I moved to San Francisco to devote myself to fiction and have been at it ever since. I'm now the author of three novels: The Love Thing (2009), You Are Here (2012), and Best Man (2019). In 2013 You Are Here won a Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Award for General Fiction. Best Man was a finalist for a 2020 Lambda Literary Award in the Romance category.


You can find me on Twitter, @chrisdelyani.
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Popular Answered Questions

Chris Delyani You’ve read it four times?! I’m astonished and flattered.

I’m afraid there’s not much autobiographical in the book. It’s true that I moved to San Fran…more
You’ve read it four times?! I’m astonished and flattered.

I’m afraid there’s not much autobiographical in the book. It’s true that I moved to San Francisco and spent my first months here bored out of my mind as a temp, but the rest of it is pretty much made up. I never took the LSAT and doubt I could score as high as Greg does. My dad was an electrician, not a lawyer, and I met my husband (a tool-and-dye maker) outside of the office. I doubt if my own life could fill a 100,000-word story.

If anything, my decision to drop everything and move to SF to devote myself to my art comes closer to Peter in “You Are Here,” although I regret to say I’m not as patient or forgiving as he is in that book. The character of Nick shares many details from my own life: childhood in Boston, youngest son in a Greek-American family, B.U. grad, a little too quick with his words. In many ways Peter represents the guy I’d like to be, while Nick represents the guy I’m afraid to become. That’s something to consider if you ever decide to read that one again.

Anyway, thanks for being such a loyal fan. Hopefully I’ll have new work to keep you up at night.(less)
Chris Delyani Hi Kelly ... and here I was, all worried that my books wouldn’t make it to their destinations in time! I’m so glad to hear that the book made it to yo…moreHi Kelly ... and here I was, all worried that my books wouldn’t make it to their destinations in time! I’m so glad to hear that the book made it to you in time, and gladder still that you chose my book.

My favorite? I’m afraid I can’t answer that. I don’t think I could name my favorite book any more than I could name my favorite child (that is, if I had any). That goes not only for the two books I’ve published, but also my third book “Best Man,” which I’m incredibly proud of and am trying very hard to have published.

For the two books that are out there, what I can say is this: “The Love Thing” is a light piece of entertainment, while “You Are Here” is much darker and more serious. I’m equally proud of them both. Thanks very much for reaching out.

Chris(less)
Average rating: 4.03 · 211 ratings · 73 reviews · 3 distinct worksSimilar authors
The Love Thing

4.11 avg rating — 94 ratings — published 2009 — 3 editions
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You Are Here

4.31 avg rating — 59 ratings — published 2012 — 6 editions
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Best Man

3.64 avg rating — 58 ratings — published 2019 — 3 editions
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* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

Newly Minted Retiree

Hey all,

If it’s every writer’s dream to be able to write full-time, then my dream has just come true. This past Friday, June 3, marked the day I retired from my desk job of over 17 years. I can now devote 2-3 hours a day to my passion, rather than rising at the crack of dawn to get a few words in before heading off to work. I can hardly believe it.

That said, it’s going to be quite a few months bef Read more of this blog post »
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Published on June 05, 2022 12:23
The Long Goodbye
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Topics Mentioning This Author

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Virginia Woolf
“Now this is very profound, what rhythm is, and goes far deeper than words. A sight, an emotion, creates this wave in the mind, long before it makes words to fit it ...”
Virginia Woolf

Louisa May Alcott
“I almost wish I hadn't any conscience, it's so inconvenient. If I didn't care about doing the right and didn't feel uncomfortable when doing wrong, I should get on capitally.”
Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

Ursula K. Le Guin
“From that time forth he believed that the wise man is one who never sets himself apart from other living things, whether they have speech or not, and in later years he strove long to learn what can be learned, in silence, from the eyes of animals, the flight of birds, the great slow gestures of trees.”
Ursula K. Le Guin, A Wizard of Earthsea

Calvin Coolidge
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On!' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”
Calvin Coolidge

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Comments (showing 1-39)    post a comment »
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message 39: by Chris

Chris Delyani Colton wrote: "Thank you for your friendship, Chris!"

Thanks! I see you're a writer too -- hope it's going well.


message 38: by Colton

Colton Freelove Thank you for your friendship, Chris!


message 37: by Chris

Chris Delyani Only a couple of weeks to go before I find out if I've won the Lambda Literary Award for gay romance for "Best Man." As they say on the red carpet, I'm grateful for the recognition I'm also grateful my name has made it onto Oprah's website:

https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainmen...

Hope you all are safe and well during these challenging times. We will survive this!

Chris


message 36: by Chris

Chris Delyani To my wonderful friends and followers,

The first chapter of “Best Man” is now available on Reedsy Discovery. If I get enough upvotes they’ll feature the book in their weekly newsletter on Friday. Please click the link below and upvote (and maybe share with your friends). You’ll be making my day.

https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/bes...

Thanks!

Chris


message 35: by Chris

Chris Delyani To my wonderful followers,

Best Man and its first chapter are now available for view on Reedsy Discovery, available here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

If you like what you see, please consider giving it an upvote. If I get enough upvotes, Reedsy Discovery will include me in their weekly newsletter. Thanks very much for your support.

Chris


message 34: by Chris

Chris Delyani Yoshi wrote: "Hi Chris,
Happy New Year!
Hope your 2018 will fill with health and joy.
Fingers crossed that you will get the book published. :-)"


Hey Yoshi -- thanks so much! I hope you have a terrific 2018 as well. And my fingers are crossed as well to find a publisher for my newest book. In the meantime I'm making a commitment to have a reasonably complete draft of my fourth novel by year-end. Hopefully, the wait for Book Four won't be as long as the wait for Book Three.

Thanks again! You've always been so kind.

Chris


message 33: by Yoshi

Yoshi Hi Chris,
Happy New Year!
Hope your 2018 will fill with health and joy.
Fingers crossed that you will get the book published. :-)


message 32: by Chris

Chris Delyani Ajax1978 wrote: "Sorry to hear about McGee. When my golden retriever died a few years back I swear I was depressed for months. I still find it hard to look at pictures of him.

What's with this hard to find an age..."

Hi Ajax, Thanks much for the support on the lost pet. Yeah, it's been tough on both me and my husband. We're not depressed or anything, but McGee was part of our household for such a long time, that it's strange to come home and not find him waiting for us, or crying to be let in or out, or wanting to jump in one of our laps. But the grief, I guess, is the price we pay for the joy he brought us.

That's terrible to hear about your dog -- especially a golden retriever. I know that if I had a golden retriever and lost him, I'd be devastated. Dan (my husband) had a German shepherd as a kid and I think felt pretty much the way you did when she died.

As for the agent, well, we see. I'm giving it a few more months to see if something pans out. If not, then I'll examine my options then. I really do appreciate the support. I'm very flattered to think you still remember me, now more than four years since I published only my second book. Working on a new one now. I'm always impressed at how some of the authors here can put them out. For me, it seems to be getting harder, not easier. Anyway, hope you're having a good 2017. Be well!

Chris


Ajax1978 Sorry to hear about McGee. When my golden retriever died a few years back I swear I was depressed for months. I still find it hard to look at pictures of him.

What's with this hard to find an agent business? Why do they not see the wonderfulness of You Are Here and The Love Thing? Your writing is a known quantity. Give them my number. I'll vouch for you - 555-AJAX


message 30: by Yoshi

Yoshi Hi Chris,

I am so sorry to hear about your cat. I can't imagine how sad you must be right now. :-(
It's the right attitude to turn the pain of your loss into art.
McGee must be busy catching mice in the cat heaven. Be strong!

I will be waiting patiently for your upcoming book.
Wow! It has been 6 years since I read The Love Thing the first time.
I think it's about the right time to have another reread.

Take care.


message 29: by Chris

Chris Delyani Yoshi wrote: "Hello Chris, Good to hear that book 3 is finished and you are working on book 4. Hopefully it will be published soon. :-)
I cannot tell exactly why but your stories grabbed me since the first time ..."


Hi Yoshi -- so glad to hear from you. I'm having something of a sad sad day today because my cat, McGee, died suddenly last night. So it's nice to hear a message from a friend.

I still haven't given up trying to find an agent/publisher for book 3. I'm giving myself the year to find one, and if it doesn't work out, I'll go the self-publish route again. You could possibly give me a nicer compliment by saying my characters were "like real people." That's exactly what I aim for in my work. I like to think we are all heroes in our own unique story.

And I'm very excited about book 4. It's still very unfinished and I'm only getting to know the characters, but already I can tell these are people I wish I knew in real life. A cat figures into the plot -- a cat I'm modeling after McGee. As Meryl Streep said last week about Carrie Fisher, maybe I can turn the pain of my loss into art.

Talk to you soon!

Chris


message 28: by Yoshi

Yoshi Hello Chris, Good to hear that book 3 is finished and you are working on book 4. Hopefully it will be published soon. :-)
I cannot tell exactly why but your stories grabbed me since the first time I read it. Maybe because the MCs were so normal and like real people. Cheers!


message 27: by Chris

Chris Delyani Hi Yoshi,

Happy New Year to you as well! I made a real college try this past summer to find an agent for Book 3, but no luck. I'm going to try again in the New Year. I assure you, one way or another, that book will be published. Meanwhile I'm working on Book 4. I can't tell you how thankful I am you remain interested in my work, 4 full years after my most recent book was published.

Chris


message 26: by Yoshi

Yoshi Happy New Year Chris!
Wish you and your family a wonderful 2017 be filled with joy, good health and fortune.

One more year has passed, where is book 3? :-)


message 25: by Chris

Chris Delyani Yoshi wrote: "Chris wrote: "Yoshi wrote: "Hi Chris,
Happy Holiday! I hope everything is fine with your and your family.
Has your writing muse been kind to you? :-)"
Hi Yoshi, sorry I'm getting back to you lat..."

Thanks, Yoshi. My fingers are crossed on the third novel too. All I can say now is I'm proud of it and am looking forward to sharing it as soon as I'm sure it's ready to be shown.

And I promise to avoid making any female character too stupid or bitchy. Same thing for the male characters. Stupid. Bitchy. Meh. I'm not wasting time on people like that (just like I don't in real life). :-)


message 24: by Yoshi

Yoshi Chris wrote: "Yoshi wrote: "Hi Chris,
Happy Holiday! I hope everything is fine with your and your family.
Has your writing muse been kind to you? :-)"
Hi Yoshi, sorry I'm getting back to you late on this -- t..."


Good to know that your third book it almost done. :-)
Hopefully the novel will be published soon. *fingers crossed*

I would love to see a nice female character in a gay romance/drama. Only if she's not too stupid or bitchy. LOL


message 23: by Chris

Chris Delyani Yoshi wrote: "Hi Chris,
Happy Holiday! I hope everything is fine with your and your family.
Has your writing muse been kind to you? :-)"

Hi Yoshi, sorry I'm getting back to you late on this -- thanks very much for thinking of me! I've pretty much wrapped up my third novel. It still needs to a copy edit, but once that's done I'll be ready to pitch it to agents and maybe even land a publisher. (I'll self-publish it if I can't.) Trying now to jump-start a fourth novel. I'm thinking maybe making it less about romance among gay men, and more of a general interest novel that will allow me to introduce some major female characters. It kind of bugs me that I've never created a female character that's more than a bit player in the main (gay) drama. We'll see. And I hope you and yours are well. It means a lot that you are waiting for my third book!

Chris


message 22: by Yoshi

Yoshi Hi Chris,
Happy Holiday! I hope everything is fine with your and your family.
Has your writing muse been kind to you? :-)


message 21: by Yoshi

Yoshi Oh yes, sure I am more than interested in knowing your writing progress. I have been 'following' you since some years! :-)


message 20: by Chris

Chris Delyani Yoshi wrote: "Hi Chris,

Thanks for the reply. I hope your book will be published soon. No matter if it's from a publisher or self publish, I am sure I will enjoy it, giving my experience with your previous boo..."

Thanks Yoshi ... as always, thanks for the support. I'll be sure to pop in every now and then to let you know how I'm doing. I'm very flattered you want to know my progress!

Chris


message 19: by Yoshi

Yoshi Hi Chris,

Thanks for the reply. I hope your book will be published soon. No matter if it's from a publisher or self publish, I am sure I will enjoy it, giving my experience with your previous books. :-)

Take care! Hope to get more updates from you regularly.


message 18: by Chris

Chris Delyani Yoshi wrote: "Chris wrote: "Howdy all,

Five paperback copies of You Are Here are up for grabs in the Giveaway section. If you already have a copy, then please encourage your friends to enter the..."


Hey Yoshi,

Just managing expectations! Landing an agent takes time, and then the agent has to find a publisher, and then the publisher has to put the book on the calendar. If all that happens, then it'll be more than a year before the book comes out. (I'm currently working with a freelance editor to bring the manuscript to professional grade, and that's turning out to be far more work than I'd expected.) The one thing I can control is my writing, and I promise, I'm working as hard (and as fast!) as I can.

Part of me wants me to say to heck with it, I'll just go and self-publish this year, but it seems like the competition for readers gets tougher by the minute. All I can hope is that when my next story does manage to see the light of day, that you won't feel let down by the result.

Very nice to hear from you! I hope you've been well!

Chris


message 17: by Yoshi

Yoshi Chris wrote: "Howdy all,

Five paperback copies of You Are Here are up for grabs in the Giveaway section. If you already have a copy, then please encourage your friends to enter the contest.

Mea..."


OMG! Another year? We are only in January…… :-)


message 16: by Chris

Chris Delyani Howdy all,

Five paperback copies of You Are Here are up for grabs in the Giveaway section. If you already have a copy, then please encourage your friends to enter the contest.

Meanwhile I'm incredibly hard at work on my third novel. I know I said I'd publish in 2015. If I choose to self-publish it, I can keep my promise. But I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't sell myself short and try to find a real publisher. If that's the case, it might be pushed to next year. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks!

Chris


message 15: by Chris

Chris Delyani Stacey Jo wrote: "Thanks for the friendvite :o)" Thanks to you for accepting it!


Stacey Jo Thanks for the friendvite :o)


message 13: by Chris

Chris Delyani ★Nic Starr★ Because two men are better than one! wrote: "Thanks for the friend request!"
Thanks for accepting it! Looking forward to connecting with you on Goodreads.


message 12: by Nic

Nic Thanks for the friend request!


message 11: by Chris

Chris Delyani Ajax1978 wrote: "Happy New Year to you as well.

To speed things along I can help you. You need somebody to type? Someone to look for their/there/they're mistakes? Someone to come up with more lines like "he fucked..."


*laughing* That's kind of you, Ajax, but I'm afraid I've got to go this one alone. I've learned that getting to know my characters is like getting to know people in real life -- it just takes time. But I appreciate your offer -- and the generosity of you, Yoshi, and all my other fans!


message 10: by Chris

Chris Delyani Yoshi wrote: "Hi Chris,
Happy New Year!
Oh yes, there are more people out there waiting for your next book!
Keep us posted. :)"


Very grateful, Yoshi. My sincerest wishes for a lovely 2014.


Ajax1978 Happy New Year to you as well.

To speed things along I can help you. You need somebody to type? Someone to look for their/there/they're mistakes? Someone to come up with more lines like "he fucked her hair off"? I'm your man.


message 8: by Yoshi

Yoshi Hi Chris,
Happy New Year!
Oh yes, there are more people out there waiting for your next book!
Keep us posted. :)


message 7: by Chris

Chris Delyani Ajax1978 wrote: "Write another book, please"

So nice to hear from you, man -- happy new year! I'm grateful you're actually waiting for my next book.

Unfortunately, despite working on it practically every day since I began my first draft nearly two years ago, my latest won't be ready in 2014. But I do hope to have a final draft done before year-end, after which I'll be handing it over to professional editors for (I imagine) extensive revisions. I can only hope that once it's done, it'll be something worth waiting for.

As for what the book's about, all I'll say at this point is that it's closer in intensity to "You Are Here" than it is to "The Love Thing." Maybe for my fourth book I'll consider turning back to the light.

Hope you have a great 2014!

Chris


Ajax1978 Write another book, please


message 5: by Chris

Chris Delyani Thanks, Yoshi -- happy new year to you! As for the new book ... stay posted!


message 4: by Yoshi

Yoshi Chris, Happy New Year to you!
I am still waiting patiently for your next book :-)


message 3: by Saleh

Saleh Hi.What We Talk About When We Talk About Love?PLZ Answer The Question In My Profile.


message 2: by Chris

Chris Delyani Hi Dora,

I'm flattered that you consider it an honor to be my first friend! Please feel free to encourage any of your current friends to approach me -- I'm a little shy, but I definitely don't bite.

Thanks!

Chris




message 1: by Dora

Dora Traynor-Coberly WooHoo! I am so pleased to be your first friend! That makes 3 for me! I'm on a roll!

In Friendship,
Dora


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