Ask the Author: Damien Benoit-Ledoux
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Damien Benoit-Ledoux
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Damien Benoit-Ledoux
The idea for THE CLIMB came from my own life.
So many of us who identify as LGBTQ grow up in religious families that make it seem like we don’t (or can’t) belong or fit in. Even worse, some religions can make us believe that there is something deeply wrong with us, when in fact, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. I grew up in an extremely religious family. And to tell you the truth, I didn’t mind it at all. But when I got caught with my best friend, I didn't come out of the closet.
But I didn’t.
I chose to hide who I was and deny that I was gay. So, nothing happened because I feared rejection, feared disrupting the status quo, feared having everything change, and feared of the unknown. I lied about who I was to everyone. I buried it deep inside and forgot about it. Ten years passed before I finally acknowledged that I was gay—talk about an uphill climb! Several more years passed before I finally decided to come out, and it was not easy. I always knew, of course, and while Skyler's story fictionally enhances some key moments of my own journey, I know there are teenagers and adults facing the same struggles that I once experienced, and the ones that Skyler has to deal with.
Now, I can honestly say that it really does get better. I would not have said that at sixteen years old. My family struggled but has come to accept me for who I am. I imagine it was difficult, and there are still some tense moments, but I am fortunate that their love trumps the difficulties. I am extremely grateful to have had my family and close friends with me on the day that I married my wonderful husband, Tim.
I wrote this book because I know there are LGBTQ teens and adults struggling with who they are. If you are struggling, if you find yourself in Skyler, Cameron, or Daren’s situations, please know, there is a community who loves and supports you. It’s just a matter of time until you discover it. It took me seventeen years to realize that. I pray you always have the courage to be who you are today, and no matter what any religion says, God loves you.
So many of us who identify as LGBTQ grow up in religious families that make it seem like we don’t (or can’t) belong or fit in. Even worse, some religions can make us believe that there is something deeply wrong with us, when in fact, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. I grew up in an extremely religious family. And to tell you the truth, I didn’t mind it at all. But when I got caught with my best friend, I didn't come out of the closet.
But I didn’t.
I chose to hide who I was and deny that I was gay. So, nothing happened because I feared rejection, feared disrupting the status quo, feared having everything change, and feared of the unknown. I lied about who I was to everyone. I buried it deep inside and forgot about it. Ten years passed before I finally acknowledged that I was gay—talk about an uphill climb! Several more years passed before I finally decided to come out, and it was not easy. I always knew, of course, and while Skyler's story fictionally enhances some key moments of my own journey, I know there are teenagers and adults facing the same struggles that I once experienced, and the ones that Skyler has to deal with.
Now, I can honestly say that it really does get better. I would not have said that at sixteen years old. My family struggled but has come to accept me for who I am. I imagine it was difficult, and there are still some tense moments, but I am fortunate that their love trumps the difficulties. I am extremely grateful to have had my family and close friends with me on the day that I married my wonderful husband, Tim.
I wrote this book because I know there are LGBTQ teens and adults struggling with who they are. If you are struggling, if you find yourself in Skyler, Cameron, or Daren’s situations, please know, there is a community who loves and supports you. It’s just a matter of time until you discover it. It took me seventeen years to realize that. I pray you always have the courage to be who you are today, and no matter what any religion says, God loves you.
Damien Benoit-Ledoux
Two things.
1) If you don't dream it, it won't happen. Dream big and see yourself as a successful author. That's your end goal. Now, start writing.
2) Your marketing plan should be this: Write the next book better than the one that came before it. It's that simple.
1) If you don't dream it, it won't happen. Dream big and see yourself as a successful author. That's your end goal. Now, start writing.
2) Your marketing plan should be this: Write the next book better than the one that came before it. It's that simple.
Damien Benoit-Ledoux
I'm usually working on several writing projects simultaneously. When I get bored or stuck with one book, I move on to the next. My brain constantly comes up with new ideas, so I'm always writing down ideas and updating outlines. I find that outlines help me write the immediate scenes and lay out possibilities for future scenes and plot twists and changes. After a few days in a different world, I'm usually ready to return to where I had been stuck and keep going.
Damien Benoit-Ledoux
I'm currently editing a completed manuscript for a young adult gay coming-of-age. I'm also working on a larger, more ambitious project: an LGBT sci-fi series called Galaxy.
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