Ask the Author: Chris Jacoby
Answered Questions (12)
Chris Jacoby
I'm thrilled to be releasing my next novel, Frontier Kindred, soon. It's an LGBTQ+ historical fiction story set in the late 1800s--a tale of quiet courage, found family, and love in a world that doesn't make either easy. It's very different from Unbound, but the heart is the same.
Chris Jacoby
I'd say: you're not alone. Identity, rejection, resilience--these aren't just plot points in a book; they're real battles people face. Whether you're estranged, misunderstood, or trying to reclaim your voice, your story matters. And no one gets to define your truth but you.
Chris Jacoby
Revisiting trauma. There were scenes that forced me to relive pain I thought I'd already processed. But writing also gave me a sense of closure. It helped me transform grief into something meaningful--and hopefully healing for others, too.
Chris Jacoby
That’s a question I’ve been asked a lot—and I think it’s an important one.
Unbound is fiction, but it’s fiction inspired by real emotion, real moments, and real growth. I’ve always been upfront about that. I chose to tell this story through a fictional lens because I wanted the freedom to explore the truth of my experience—not just the facts of my life. That’s the heart of what fiction can do: it lets you capture the emotional reality, the internal battles, and the personal truths in a way that sometimes pure autobiography cannot.
Every scene in Unbound was crafted with intention. Some moments are drawn closely from life, others are dramatized or reimagined to serve the narrative arc. But the emotional core—the struggle for identity, the fear, the longing, the hope—that’s all deeply real. That’s mine.
Fiction gave me the space to process, reflect, and create something that I hope resonates with others who’ve faced similar questions about who they are, how to escape pain, and how to find love. I don’t claim this story is the only truth. But it is my truth, told in the way that felt most honest to me.
Unbound is fiction, but it’s fiction inspired by real emotion, real moments, and real growth. I’ve always been upfront about that. I chose to tell this story through a fictional lens because I wanted the freedom to explore the truth of my experience—not just the facts of my life. That’s the heart of what fiction can do: it lets you capture the emotional reality, the internal battles, and the personal truths in a way that sometimes pure autobiography cannot.
Every scene in Unbound was crafted with intention. Some moments are drawn closely from life, others are dramatized or reimagined to serve the narrative arc. But the emotional core—the struggle for identity, the fear, the longing, the hope—that’s all deeply real. That’s mine.
Fiction gave me the space to process, reflect, and create something that I hope resonates with others who’ve faced similar questions about who they are, how to escape pain, and how to find love. I don’t claim this story is the only truth. But it is my truth, told in the way that felt most honest to me.
Chris Jacoby
Yes, most of the characters are inspired by real people from my life. That said, every character in Unbound was fictionalized to some extent—names were changed, details adjusted, and scenes dramatized to serve the story. This allowed me to honor the emotional truth of my experiences while respecting the privacy and complexity of the individuals involved.
The Kramer family, for instance, reflects a very real and formative part of my journey. But even their portrayal was written with care, intention, and a blend of truth and fiction that allowed the narrative to unfold honestly without becoming a memoir. Unbound is, at its core, a fictionalized story rooted in my lived experience—not a literal account.
The Kramer family, for instance, reflects a very real and formative part of my journey. But even their portrayal was written with care, intention, and a blend of truth and fiction that allowed the narrative to unfold honestly without becoming a memoir. Unbound is, at its core, a fictionalized story rooted in my lived experience—not a literal account.
Chris Jacoby
Unbound is my truth--told through my lens, shaped by my experiences, and rooted in my emotional journey. I've never claimed it to be anyone else's story. Like many works of fiction inspired by real life, it reflects how I processed and survived difficult moments, not how others may have seen them.
Every memory carries perspective. What we choose to share, what we leave behind, and how we interpret the past are all part of personal storytelling. That doesn't make it dishonest--it makes it human.
No one gets to tell you how to tell your story.
This story was written with honesty, care, and deep introspection. It's not meant to offer an objective record, but rather a heartfelt reflection of identity, healing, and growth. For anyone who's ever struggled to live openly and authentically, I hope Unbound offers comfort, connection, and courage.
Every memory carries perspective. What we choose to share, what we leave behind, and how we interpret the past are all part of personal storytelling. That doesn't make it dishonest--it makes it human.
No one gets to tell you how to tell your story.
This story was written with honesty, care, and deep introspection. It's not meant to offer an objective record, but rather a heartfelt reflection of identity, healing, and growth. For anyone who's ever struggled to live openly and authentically, I hope Unbound offers comfort, connection, and courage.
Chris Jacoby
That's a thoughtful question--and a fair one. The short answer is: Unbound was never intended to tell the full story of my life. It's a deeply personal, emotionally driven narrative that focuses on one very specific journey: my path to escape, self-acceptance, and love. It's not a memoir of everything I've lived--it's a story about the emotional and psychological transformation I experienced.
Yes, my marriage and children were part of my life during that time. But thematically, they belonged to another chapter--another arc entirely. Including them would have added layers that didn't serve the story I was telling here. I wanted this book to stay focused on one central truth: what it felt like to live in silence, to slowly find the courage to live authentically, and to finally experience a kind of love I'd long denied myself.
I chose to write Unbound as fiction based on my lived experiences, which gave me space to craft the emotional arc without the burden of documenting every fact. That's not avoidance--it's storytelling. And I stand by that choice because it allowed me to go deeper into the heart of the journey I was ready to share.
Yes, my marriage and children were part of my life during that time. But thematically, they belonged to another chapter--another arc entirely. Including them would have added layers that didn't serve the story I was telling here. I wanted this book to stay focused on one central truth: what it felt like to live in silence, to slowly find the courage to live authentically, and to finally experience a kind of love I'd long denied myself.
I chose to write Unbound as fiction based on my lived experiences, which gave me space to craft the emotional arc without the burden of documenting every fact. That's not avoidance--it's storytelling. And I stand by that choice because it allowed me to go deeper into the heart of the journey I was ready to share.
Chris Jacoby
Unbound is a work of fiction inspired by my lived experiences. While some characters and events are drawn from real life, they've been fictionalized, dramatized, and adapted to serve the story's emotional arc. I changed names, created composite characters, and focused on a specific chapter of my journey--one of escape, identity, and love. It's not a memoir, but it is deeply personal.
Chris Jacoby
When I finally came out to my family—they were silent. Then they smiled and said, “Don’t worry, we already fixed it.”
Chris Jacoby
I’d ride straight into a queer Western—something like Brokeback Mountain where wide-open skies meet forbidden love. I’d find a quiet ranch at the edge of town, sit under the stars with someone who sees me, and finally live in a world where love doesn’t have to hide behind closed doors.
Chris Jacoby
Since I’m deep into writing my next novel, I won’t be picking up much reading this summer. I’ve found that immersing myself in other books while drafting can pull me out of my own creative flow. So for now, I’m focused on writing—but I’m definitely keeping a list for when the project wraps up.
Chris Jacoby
Honestly, it already was—Unbound. The biggest mystery was understanding my own sexuality. It took time, reflection, and a lot of internal questioning. Writing the book helped me work through it and tell a version of that story in a way that felt true.
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