Kergan’s Comments (group member since Aug 09, 2012)

Kergan’s comments from the Q & A with Kergan Edwards-Stout group.

Hi everyone,

I'm thrilled to announce that my new book, Gifts Not Yet Given, has a giveaway on Goodreads in advance of its launch. It is a collection of 14 short stories, all tied to holidays, and illuminates those surprising moments when personal awakenings occur and our hearts expand. Filled with a wide mix of characters, young/old, gay/straight, varying ethnicities and religions, all are trying to find their place in the world. Despite their surface differences, they tied together by what roots us at our core--our shared humanity.

http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...

Author Richard Kramer, whose These Things Happen was so wonderful, just read the book and shared this quote: "Kergan Edwards-Stout’s stories are muscular, funny, sad and an antidote to holiday treacle, no matter the holiday. His writing is fueled by an original mix of compassion and rage. Several of the stories left me in tears, which certainly beats being left in tears by my own family at holiday time. Which means: he understands family, and the often crossed wires of family love. You will want to give his book as a gift.”

My debut novel, Songs for the New Depression, won a 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Award, was shortlisted for the Independent Literary Awards, and landed on several "Best Books of the Year" lists.

I hope you'll check out my new book, with 10 author-signed copies available to win on Goodreads through 10/14/13. Enjoy!

Hey Jeff, Thanks for the note! Typically, I like to read the work, if at all possible. If not, I research the person and other articles about them, reviews, etc.

Overall, I try to get to bigger picture questions. For example, for those in the LGBT community, my interests may veer into the political or social views of the person being interviewed.

Sometimes my interviews are in person or via phone, which allows for more free wheeling questions. Sometimes they're via email, so not quite as spontaneous!

While for most, a book may be just a book, I think art has the potential to affect change, and that is what I'm most interested in. How can we create a better world???

Thanks for the note!

Hi there! Nancy, following the book of shorts, I'll be working on a memoir, called Never Turn Your Back on the Tide. It's a tricky book to write, but that will be next! After that, we'll see where inspiration leads!

Much appreciated!

Thank you!

Progressive, baby--all the way!

I write in fits and starts. Unfortunately, my life leaves little time for writing, so I grab the time when I can. That works well right now, writing short stories, but not as well with a novel, given the head space I need to be in for both character and continuity.

I'm sure I will!

Yep--just hope I can finish on time!

Great question, Nancy! (And I'm glad you liked the book.)

I think an author has to make a choice when telling their story: is their goal to sell as many books as possible, or tell the story the best way the story needs to be told? Both are valid approaches, but it is rare that a story falls into both camps at once.

For this story, about a damaged man attempting to rebuild his life, it was important to see just what happened to him. He continues to confuse love and sex, and that even veers into sometimes rough encounters. I felt, to accurately tell his story, there needed to be a real grittiness to it, which led to the descriptive sexual encounters.

The target audience for this was primarily gay men, and I felt that they would largely be okay with the depictions, but I fully realized that for other readers, there may be some discomfort. I also knew that I was giving up on certain audiences with not only the sex scenes, but also with a lead character so broken.

I was told more than once that I should make him happier and less sarcastic, but I felt that was key to his character and decided that I would rather be true to my character and story than in altering it to make it more appealing to a wider audience.

My next book is a collection of short stories, purposely aimed at a wider audience, and for that I've chosen a totally different tone.

Thanks again for the great question!

In addition to my work as a writer, I'm a fierce advocate for equality and peace & justice issues. Whether it is LGBT rights, poverty, climate change, or politics, feel free to ask your questions here!

In addition to my novel, I've written articles and short stories for Huffington Post, Bilerico Project, LGBTQ Nation, and American Short Fiction, and blog regularly at http://kerganedwards-stout.com

If you have questions about the process of writing, please let me know!

I'm currently working on my memoir, which examines a key relationship in my life, and I look forward to sharing it with you, as soon as I'm done. If you have questions about this memoir, Never Turn Your Back on the Tide, this is the place to ask them.

I've been working feverishly on a new collection of holiday-themed short stories, and I look forward to discussing them with you here!

My debut novel, loosely inspired by a partner who died of AIDS, was a labor of love and took me over 12 years to write. Ask me anything you like about the novel, here!

Thanks for stopping by! This journey to authorhood has been amazing, and I've learned so much. Feel free to ask me anything about my work, writing, life--I want to hear from you! Also, check out my website, where I blog regularly, http://kerganedwards-stout.com.

Best wishes,
Kergan