Ask the Author: Andrew J. Peters
Answered Questions (6)
Andrew J. Peters
So sorry about the long delay, Garrett. I love your question, and I appreciate you dropping by here on GR. I'm not as active here as I used to be under this author name (my real name) since I've been growing a list of steamier gay fiction titles under a pen name.
This question is something I think about a lot as a writer. There are cover bands, and it would be fair to say, I'm a cover author, sometimes transparently vis-a-vis my novel Irresistible that is a retelling of an ancient romance novel Callirhoe, and my short story anthology Smashed and Mashed. My other fantasy work takes inspiration from mythology and folklore, though less directly.
Lately, what's been on my mind is classic dark romance thrillers like The Postman Always Rings Twice. I'd love to read a gay version of that story, and I'm actually in the very beginning stages of writing one (under the other pen name).
This question is something I think about a lot as a writer. There are cover bands, and it would be fair to say, I'm a cover author, sometimes transparently vis-a-vis my novel Irresistible that is a retelling of an ancient romance novel Callirhoe, and my short story anthology Smashed and Mashed. My other fantasy work takes inspiration from mythology and folklore, though less directly.
Lately, what's been on my mind is classic dark romance thrillers like The Postman Always Rings Twice. I'd love to read a gay version of that story, and I'm actually in the very beginning stages of writing one (under the other pen name).
Andrew J. Peters
Hi Jalen - Thanks! I'll send you a note very soon.
To answer your question here, my writing schedule can vary a bit as I work full-time at a university where it can get hectic at certain times of the year. But generally, on weekdays, I get an hour of writing or researching in early in the morning and say two or three hours at night. I also use some of my vacation time to do full days of writing; and, I commute to work, so when I'm really immersed in a project, I'll do some work on my tablet on the train.
To answer your question here, my writing schedule can vary a bit as I work full-time at a university where it can get hectic at certain times of the year. But generally, on weekdays, I get an hour of writing or researching in early in the morning and say two or three hours at night. I also use some of my vacation time to do full days of writing; and, I commute to work, so when I'm really immersed in a project, I'll do some work on my tablet on the train.
Andrew J. Peters
Just as I like unexpected and non-conventional heroes, the couples that I found the most enjoyable are not especially from the romance genre, and they're a little quirky. For example, though not a couple in a romantic sense, I loved the title characters in Helen Wecker's The Golem and the Jinni, who forge a deep bond and discover they have to rely on one another in a world that is hostile to them as occult sort of creatures.
In gay fiction, the freed slaves Gorgik and Sarg from Samuel Delaney's Tales from Neveryon stand out as a very sweet couple, who were also very inspirational by leading a slave rebellion. I find subtlety very nice in the depiction of fantasy lovers. Though somewhat tragic in the end, I loved Llyr and Commander Cherrystone's relationship in Gregory Maguire's Son of a Witch.
I've been asked this question in reference to my own work, and I think, like most authors, it's tough to answer. I'm quite emotionally attached to all of the characters in my books so it's hard to single out favorites! I guess in terms of romantic inspiration, a couple that I feel probably has the most "staying power," I would pick Dam and the fantasy warrior Hanhau from Banished Sons of Poseidon.
In gay fiction, the freed slaves Gorgik and Sarg from Samuel Delaney's Tales from Neveryon stand out as a very sweet couple, who were also very inspirational by leading a slave rebellion. I find subtlety very nice in the depiction of fantasy lovers. Though somewhat tragic in the end, I loved Llyr and Commander Cherrystone's relationship in Gregory Maguire's Son of a Witch.
I've been asked this question in reference to my own work, and I think, like most authors, it's tough to answer. I'm quite emotionally attached to all of the characters in my books so it's hard to single out favorites! I guess in terms of romantic inspiration, a couple that I feel probably has the most "staying power," I would pick Dam and the fantasy warrior Hanhau from Banished Sons of Poseidon.
Andrew J. Peters
I have a couple of projects in the works. First, I'm working on The Lost Histories Series with a follow up to The City of Seven Gods and an outline for a third installment. Kelemun and Ja'bar's adventure really just gets started in the first book when circumstances have them joining up to run away from Qabbat'lee. And there are other characters who I introduced in CoSG - Praxtor, his mother Nebetawy, among others - whose stories are ready to be told.
My other main project is totally different and may surprise some of my readers. I have a contemporary rom-com that I'm shopping around! The one thing that ties it together with my other work is that it's inspired by an ancient Greek myth, though something pretty obscure. I'm excited to share the details in the coming months.
My other main project is totally different and may surprise some of my readers. I have a contemporary rom-com that I'm shopping around! The one thing that ties it together with my other work is that it's inspired by an ancient Greek myth, though something pretty obscure. I'm excited to share the details in the coming months.
Andrew J. Peters
This is actually rarely a problem for me. I love writing, and if it didn't cost me a semblance of a social life, I would do it all the time.
My thoughts are never too far from the stories I'm working on (I usually juggle two or more at the same time), so it's a pretty easy transition from the "real world" to my space in front of the computer in my apartment.
I draw specific inspiration like characteristics for a fantasy setting or other little descriptive things when I'm out about about traveling, or visiting a museum, or just reading a book or watching a good movie or TV show.
My thoughts are never too far from the stories I'm working on (I usually juggle two or more at the same time), so it's a pretty easy transition from the "real world" to my space in front of the computer in my apartment.
I draw specific inspiration like characteristics for a fantasy setting or other little descriptive things when I'm out about about traveling, or visiting a museum, or just reading a book or watching a good movie or TV show.
Andrew J. Peters
I've been interested in Greek mythology since I was a little kid, so the idea for The Seventh Pleiade had been bouncing around in my head for quite a while.
Some years back, I became especially intrigued by the legend of Atlantis, which doesn't figure into the popular stories of ancient Greece as much as you might think. The story comes from Plato, and there are many curious things about his account.
Plato's story recasts mythological figures like Poseidon and Atlas in very different ways from Greek folklore. Also, he introduces characters like Cleito and Poseidon's five sets of twin sons who don't appear elsewhere in Greek literature. Then, there's the intriguing fact that Plato doesn't finish the story, leaving what happened to the legendary empire up to the reader's imagination.
I wanted to explore those facets of Plato's account, and I also wanted to have a gay character front-and-center. I think epic fantasy needs more gay heroes.
Some years back, I became especially intrigued by the legend of Atlantis, which doesn't figure into the popular stories of ancient Greece as much as you might think. The story comes from Plato, and there are many curious things about his account.
Plato's story recasts mythological figures like Poseidon and Atlas in very different ways from Greek folklore. Also, he introduces characters like Cleito and Poseidon's five sets of twin sons who don't appear elsewhere in Greek literature. Then, there's the intriguing fact that Plato doesn't finish the story, leaving what happened to the legendary empire up to the reader's imagination.
I wanted to explore those facets of Plato's account, and I also wanted to have a gay character front-and-center. I think epic fantasy needs more gay heroes.
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