Loss Fuels A Life centers around a classic music critic whose life is upended when his best friend, a sex worker and tech whiz, is found dead in what is deemed a suicide. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

2001 was a prophetic year in my life. The expected, but unbelievably painful, death of my 19-year-old son unexpectedly caused me to change careers and become a writer. In the early days, it was mostly performing arts and film reviews. Writing Loss Fuels a Life, in fact, fuelled my own existence in multiple unexpected ways.

Many of the relationships in the novel revolve around exchange — money, desire, security. What drew you to exploring those dynamics?

Having come out in 1989, my relationships also took many unexpected changes. Fortunately, having support and understanding from my ex-wife (so much better once the initial shock wore off) and beautiful daughter. Making such an enormous change in me (affecting all of those in my circle) turned everything from work, to gradually discovering that my long-hidden desires weren’t evil, but transitory. Both financial and emotional security were at stake, but, looking back, I could only wonder, “What took you so long?”

Was there a particular scene that came to you first and anchored the rest of the narrative?

Perhaps the most pivotal moment comes as Ivan recalls his cheeks-reddening surprise when Rye kisses him out of the blue, only to realize—years later—that his pushed-away enjoyment of those brief few seconds of intimacy was far more than he could, at the time, admit to himself.

What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?

The working title is Perfect, hopefully out in a couple of years. Much faster than Loss Fuels a Life, which took 20!

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