GayAgenda Interviews Gay Author Alex Geana

A new voice wants to be heard in USA and Alex Geana is ready to make it happen. He is young and passionate as a poet should be. This gay writer, who’s not thirty yet, has written several well-received short stories and is getting the inspiration to complete his first novel. A citizen of the Big Apple, he is a writer committed to his ideas and goals as many young men living a great moment in the story of his nation. Alex is a man of words full of thoughts and feelings to express in his poetry book called “Side Step Me“, where he explores with a deep sensibility a city called New York. He gives us moments and stories. He’s a writer with the capability of describing the feelings and emotions of a lonely and wildly contemporary society.

Hi Alex it’s a pleasure that you accepted to do this interview for GayAgenda.com. How do you feel about being a gay poet and author?

It’s interesting, I think publishing is about to change, but this is a wonderful time to find inspiration for writing. There’s so much going on. Society is changing; it’s a writer’s job to capture that.

Right now you and the entire gay male population are witnessing a challenge in the country. What do you expect from this new government and what does it means for you having Obama being elected the first African American president of USA?

I’m hoping that an Obama Administration will be able to execute the changes he’s promised during the campaign. He’s the first president-elect, in a major policy speech to mention the GLBT community. That excites me. But the passing of Prop 8 tells me we have a long way to go. Much work must be done.

The U.S. election was a day for the world to celebrate. Even though there is still much to fight for, it felt great when Obama mentioned the GLBT community in his first major speech. How was the day of the elections for you and what did feel?

I bar hoped with friends, noticed the many parties in the city and tried to go to a few, I ended up twittering the night away and was elated to finally proclaim “We have a President!” I ended up watching the speech, at a gay bar, that erupted when he mentioned our community. The next day I nursed a hangover. During the election I did phone calls for Obama, blogged and donated cash, this was a personal win, as it was for many Americans.

I see you like to participate and be part of the change. Were you able to help fight Prop 8?

I live in New York, so I could only do so much about Prop 8; it’s the people in California I’m dismayed with. I am looking forward to a protest here on Wed. I believe that citizens must take an active part in our democracy for it to survive, all else stems from that belief. I’m frustrated by people that are upset that their rights are wilting away, yet they won’t vote or pick up a pen. I go crazy.

To me, you are a passionate and vehement man, how you define yourself? One of your poems in your upcoming book “Side Step Me” you mention Allen Ginsberg. Also, one of your poem’s titles is Howl. How much did Ginsberg inspire you? What kind of authors or books motivate you in your creation process?

Vehement no. I respect people’s beliefs, as long as that belief doesn’t hurt anyone, as is the case when someone’s rights have been taken away. The beat poets were a huge inspiration and Toni Morrison and Gabriel García Marquez. Their work, somehow allowed me to develop a unique voice. I’d never compare myself to any of these amazing writers; yet someday aspire to join their ranks, a lot of that has to do with getting people to notice my work. Once people find it, they seem to like it; it’s just very hard to find readers. I also invoked Howl so that readers would have a recognizable starting place to the book

The “Beat” generation was a huge voice from America’s progressive minds. Part of that culture was the Latin American author as Gabriel Garcia Marquez. What are your thought on Marquez?

Yes, Marquez’s work is truly amazing, stunning. I’m in awe. The Beats were a major poetic force; unfortunately they are quickly being forgotten by my generation.

Is there a new gay poetry generation?

I don’t know if there’s a new poetry generation frankly. I’d love to find them. I read a lot, many magazines and blogs, did much research for my books marketing plan. I can’t find any young poets making it, or even coming close to making it or nurturing a youthful perspective.

How you do you feel about being called a gay author? Do you think there’s a responsibility? Also, do you feel it is more difficult to find readers?

I identify with being a gay author because it’s the easiest way to target market (I hate it btw), yet a lot of my straight readers identify with my work, I try to be as inclusive as possible and try to evoke the common human experience. It’s easier to find readers as a gay author then just an author.

Tell me about your creation process? When and how do you get inspiration?

I draw inspiration from everything, though finding the time to write is hard.

Do you need a special environment, a special music, a special moment or a proper weather or love? Is the BIG APPLE a great inspiration?

Yes, New York is great inspiration. No, I just need to find the time to write, that can be anywhere at anytime. I just have to clear half a day. Turn off my email. Turn on loud music and just write. The words come, for a poem, it’s easy, I write poems all the time, from the subway to bars, then appropriately delete when I find them horribly bad and deem that they never see the light of day, but every once in a while, I write a good one. I just need time and a drama free experience, to let myself observe and to find the story.

From your writing, I would guess you have fallen in love many times. Is that right?

No, actually just the opposite. On the other hand, to paraphrase Elton John, “I fall in love five times a day just walking down the street”. Yet true love, beyond infatuation, escapes me. One of the reasons I can’t quite get my novel to be just right. No one can fake the sensation of love, falling in love takes a long time, although many writers have faked the sensation of love. One can identify this trickery quickly.

You were born in Rumania and moved to the USA as a child. Have you ever traveled to, or have the curiosity to know about your parent’s country?

Actually, I’m planning on going back to Rumania, for the first time, this Christmas, I’m hoping to blog about it. I’ve never been back. My family isn’t very accepting about the whole gay thing. They have told me, they’d prefer that I don’t talk about it.

How was your coming out process?

Alex Geana: I mean, I told my mom, my family knows, they’d much rather avoid the whole topic. It’s the “seen and not heard” syndrome. As long as I don’t talk about being gay, dating anyone, or mention anything about being gay, they’re fine with it.

So, if you had a partner, would you consider taking him for Thanksgiving or Christmas? What do you think would happen?

I’m not sure what would happen. I mean, finding a partner would be the first step. Then I’ll figure out the rest. Don’t want to think to far in advance.

I read your book and it was a great experience. However, you mention pills when people feel lonely. Can you tell me about that?

Yes, a lot of people turn to pills and drugs instead of trying to find a connection. I’ve worked really hard on myself. Learning how to develop a connection and interact with people. Yet, I’ve met so many powerful people, the have sold their lives to corporations, have lost personal skills and are giving a myriad of pills by doctors, from happy pills to sleeping pills, to the whole rainbow of drugs.

Your poetry is deep and vigorous. It talks about pleasure, loneliness, sex, drugs, bad and good moments, relationships, the people and the city that never sleeps where people gave up or are looking for sex online, hooking up, and fantasy. Is this from personal experience?

I try to pack a lot into a small book. I love observing and capturing moments. I listen well, I spend a lot of time listening, even though it sometimes doesn’t appear it, I notice a lot of details, this comes from my early hotel career, where I was trained to notice the smallest dust particles. It’s a different way of watching. Honestly, my characters have more fun then I do. I’m not as bold, or adventurous.

Why do you think some people become tired of their lives when they have as much as they do?

Because there’s always more to be had. There’s always someone better, stronger, wealthier, has a better toy.

I find it sad to see wealthy people destroying their lives when other people are helping and being supportive in good causes. Thoughts?

I hope that wealthy people contribute, often times they do, and they have massive amounts of money to charity, and they do good things, lots of good things. I’m just saying that they sometimes, powerful people sacrifice a lot to get there. It’s a balance. I don’t do well in corporations, so that’s just what it is.

Any particular book you keep next to your bed and always go back to read?

I don’t really go back to books often, since there’s always something new to read. Right now I’m trying to make time for Love in the Time of Cholera; I’m also reading the Paris Review and Tin House. I feel so literary snob as I type this.

Do you think American society is still repressive about sex?

Oh yes. It still feels very dirty. We are still quite repressed. I mean. A President has a blowjob in the Oval Office, grounds for impeachment and lying about taking us to war, not so much.

Your short story represents New York very well. What is your new book about? What are your new projects?

Right now finding time to create them. I had a play lined up; I wanted to do something in theatre. But because of the econ crisis I have to re-think my long-term goals.

I was quite impressed with the nude picture of your friend on your blog. Was it easy to ask him to take the photo?

Actually, he wanted to do that. I was fascinated by Spencer Tunick for a bit and wanted to see what it would take to find someone who wanted to pose naked outside. He was surprisingly easy to find. It just worked, that’s why I used it. I wanted to have him next to a poem about Fashion, the contrast.

It was a pleasure speaking with you Alex! What would you like to tell our readers about your book?

Buy It! Please buy it! It’s on Amazon in select bookstores, but it’s easier if they buy it online. Buy it and write a comment, send me a note. You can buy a copy by clicking here.  Also, check out Alex’s site - AlexGeana.com!

I am sure they will take note of it.

Clayton Littlewood’s “Dirty White Boy - Tales of Soho”

Is it appropriate to speak to television personalities when they’re buying underwear? How should you react when a transsexual wants to show you her latest surgery? What is the correct etiquette for visiting a brothel?

These are the questions that matter in London’s Soho neighbourhood, where Clayton Littlewood and his partner Jorge Betancourt run a designer clothing store called Dirty White Boy. From his window on one of the busiest street corners in the world, Clayton watches the daily parade of fashion queens, prostitutes, gangsters and celebrities that make up the population of this strangest of villages.

His Soho diary is a snapshot of modern London, caught between the ghosts of the past and the uncertainties of the future. The cast of characters range from Sue and Maggie, the girls from the brothel upstairs, to Angela the feisty trannie, to Pam the Fag Lady, begging for money and cuddles and Chico, the campest queen on Old Compton Street. Not to mention cameo appearances from stars (Kathy Griffin, Janice Dickinson and Graham Norton).

And amidst all this madness occurs one of the strangest and most touching love stories you will ever read.

EARLY REVIEWS:

“Like the queer descendant of Samuel Pepys, Clayton Littlewood captures the day-to-day drama of his London in all of its demented glory.” —Michael Thomas Ford, author of Alec Baldwin Doesn’t Love Me and Last Summer

“Clayton Littlewood recreates the real Soho, from its beauty to its underbelly…insightful, humorous, heartbreaking.” —Arthur Wooten, author of On Picking Fruit and Fruit Cocktail

“When writers try to make art that is universal and not personal they always fail - it’s being personal which makes it universal in the end. Clayton Littlewoods book is tender, warm and full of humanity. Soho is like an upturned dustbin and he like a drunk rummaging through it. He shows us all that glitters is not gold. And all that smells is not garbage. Living in Soho is like coming all the time. Reading his book is too.” —Sebastian Horsley, author of Dandy in the Underworld

“A hilarious and poignant fly-on-the-wall view of Soho. Clayton Littlewood is the wisest fly you will ever meet.” —Josh Kilmer-Purcell, author of I Am Not Myself These Days

BIO:

Clayton Littlewood grew up in sunny Weston-Super-Mare and moved to London in his teens to join a band called Spongefinger as the lead singer. After being rejected by every record company in the UK (and many in the US), Clayton turned to pirate radio, hosting a comedy show where he posed as a female West Country aromatherapist by the name of Doctor Bunty. This led to an MA in Film and Television and writing a tv comedy script, which inspired one agent to say ‘This is the most disgusting piece of filth we’ve ever read. Don’t ever contact us again.’
Clayton’s latest incarnations have been running the shop Dirty White Boy in Soho, writing the Soho Stories column for The London Paper and being a regular contributor to BBC Radio. This is his first book.

Gay Authors Get a Break & Get Published

There are more and more self-publishing companies to choose from these days, however, now gay and lesbian authors finally have a publishing site devoted to their work, www.rainbowauthors.com. RainbowAuthors.com, a Chances Press LLC website, affords GLBT authors an opportunity to publish their own work as well as other publishing, editing, designing, publicizing, and distribution options, including a free publishing and sales option. All publishing packages utilize Wordclay’s breakthrough and user-friendly do-it-yourself publishing technology.

RainbowAuthors.com also offers free publishing and resource links specific to marketing a GLBT title and have partnered with Gaybookstoreonline.com who provides authors with an additional possible promotional opportunity.

Michael Holloway Perronne, a novelist and RainbowAuthors.com founder, is a no stranger to taking risks. In 2004, he developed his own marketing plan and self-published his first novel, “A Time Before”. His book has sold thousands of copies, and won the Bronze Award in Gay & Lesbian Fiction in the ForeWord Magazine 2006 Book of the Year Awards.

It was his success with self-publishing that inspired him to start RainbowAuthors.com.

“I realized that through my own publishing experience I had begun to build a valuable database of publishing contacts for gay and lesbian authors,” Perronne said. “It was then I began to think about providing other gay authors who were looking to go “indie” with a publishing outlet tailored to their needs. A partnership with Wordclay proved to be the perfect opportunity.”

Perronne also stated “Gay authors may have access to fewer traditional routes to publish their writing, and RainbowAuthors.com provides another format for these important voices to be heard.”

In addition, writers who register on the site by 9/30/08 have the chance to win a one year Wordclay ISBN and Channel Distribution package for their book.

Gay Black Author Goes Straight

Best selling writer E. Lynn Harris can still remember the first time he realized he was poor. His family had been invited to the housewarming of a well-to-do family in his hometown of Fayetteville, Ark., and Harris, then a young boy fresh from an afternoon of playing outside, was sitting in the living room when another guest remarked on his appearance.

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