While summer may be vacation time, this year is very different than others. Instead of going off to relax with several good books, I am finishing up edits on a new Romantic Suspense as well as keeping a watch on the current books that are coming out. This week I am welcoming to My Writing Corner author Gabbi Gray. I have to admit her new book caught my attention because of its setting.
While she works for the government by days, she says she spends her nights writing gay romances. She also says that while she firmly believes in happy endings, she likes to make her characters "suffer before finding their true love." Of course, I wanted to know more about her writing.
What are some of the challenges of being a writer?
My biggest challenge is focus. I have Attention Deficit Disorder and, as the
expression goes, I see squirrels everywhere.
Actually sitting down and doing the work of a writer is tough for
me. I participate in writing sprints to
get the words on the paper, but struggle with editing and, eventually,
marketing. I’ve discovered that being a
writer is so much more than just putting words to paper.
I’ve had a very bumpy road to publication. I started writing my first book in university
in 1996. I still have plans to finish
that book. The year 2012 was tough for
me, and I decided I needed to focus and take my writing seriously. From there I haven’t looked back. I just finished writing my fourth gay romance
and hopefully it will be published next year.
The past few books have been for a call from a publisher. One was set in a small town in Vermont where
one character had to come from the town.
I knew I wanted to write a gay romance and from there, for reasons I
still can’t explain, I came up with a dead black Civil War soldier ghost who haunts
the local cemetery. The visitor had to
be a gay man who could see a ghost. Who
better than a history professor dedicated to telling the stories of the
dead? The next book had to involve ice
cream and the beach. I wanted to set it
in my city of Vancouver, Canada and that led me to question what are the major
industries? That leap was to the film industry
and the book is my take on the big film star and the unknown person. Again I made it a gay romance and had my ice
cream story.
Usually I start with characters and let them guide
me through. I’m a pantser who writes
romance so I start with my two main characters, the happy ending, and then I go
from there. How I get there is always a
mystery.
Catch a Tiger by the Tail is a romance about two men who fall in love on the sound stage
during the production of a film. I wanted both characters to have tragic backstories so even though I call the book my fake-boyfriend age-gap gay rom-com, there is some weight to those characters. Throw in tiger tail ice cream (orange cream with black licorice), and I had the makings of a story.Perseverance.
It took me eight years to get published.
I kept writing, kept taking classes, kept striving to improve. These days self-publishing is a valid
alternative to traditional publishing, to be sure. I wanted the community of writing with a
publisher and was very lucky to find The Wild Rose Press who have published
three of my books – including one that was written way back in 2014. Hang in there and keep working toward your goal.
I had the opportunity to return to that small town in
Vermont. A beloved character is a gay
man, and I knew I wanted to write his happy ending. I’m hopeful the publisher will contract the
book. Beyond that I have several
projects vying for my attention. I can’t
sit on my laurels and, to be blunt, I can’t not write. It’s part of me – a part I will always
treasure.
Thomas Walsh knows the number one rule in the film
industry. Don't get involved with the talent. But resisting the urge to take
the big screen to the bedroom can be hell when the lead actor on the set looks
good enough to eat...one slow lick at a time.
Peter Erickson's latest role as a gay man hits a
little too close to home. He's still in the closet and secretly grieving the
death of his lover. Then an enchanting production assistant catches his eye,
and he's surprised by the instant attraction that stirs more than his wounded soul.
When the two men are caught on camera in a very intimate pose, both Thomas and eter are afraid they've caught a tiger by the tail.
Sounds great! Where can readers buy your book?
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3cKUTOv
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2XKTelO
KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/catch-a-tiger-by-the-tail-6
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/catch-a-tiger-by-the-tail-gabbi-grey/1137046121
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/catch-a-tiger-by-the-tail/id1517323369
Publisher: https://www.thewildrosepress.com/books/catch-a-tiger-by-the-tail
How can readers get more information about you and your work?
Website: https://gabbigrey.com/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGabbiGrey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbigrey/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GabbiGrey
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/gabbigreyauthor/
Thank you, Gabbi, for being my guest! Any comments or questions for Gabbi?