The Gift follows a gay young man who is cast out of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and his mom’s home and life, who embraces the life of a cowboy while learning to accept himself. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

When I started writing, I had no preconceived ideas or outline for what this story would be. I began with a simple premise of a gay male character named Butch and intended to write a gay western/romance novel, but as I wrote and that character took shape, the story just traveled down the path it wanted to go.

​I felt this novel’s supporting characters were intriguing and well-developed. Who was your favorite character to write for?

My favorite character is Butch. He and I share many similarities in temperament and history. But I also really enjoyed writing the villain in this narrative. Dick Stinchfield had so many flaws, but I also wanted to depict him as human. That character was enjoyable to create.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

I didn’t know it when I started writing, but after the characters and narrative took shape, it was clear that I was writing three themes into this novel. All three are themes of contrast: black vs white, good vs bad, beauty vs ugliness.

Intolerance, racism, genderism, sexism, and homophobia are all ugly, and I wanted to contrast them against the self-righteousness of religion.

Gay men don’t all match the stereotype. Today, that wouldn’t surprise anyone, but at the time when this story takes place, it was inconceivable that a masculine cowboy could be gay.

There is a tremendous beauty in the landscape and solitude of the rural American West, but at the time when this story takes place, it was often accompanied by a strong rejection of people who were different. My favorite line to write came from a resident who had absolute confidence in his faith and community – “the good people around here won’t put up with any of those in this town. Dick was the only one, as far as we know, and good riddance to him.” At that time, there was a tremendous level of hate coming from a place of so much beauty.

What is the next book that you’re working on and when can your fans expect it out?

The next novel I am working on is a fictional story of a single mother who has traveled across the country in search of her father. It is still several years away from being ready for release.

Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Amazon