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LGBTQ+ Journalists
ANKRBOY follows the raw and gripping journey of a man leading a double life—rising in the high-stakes world of television news while hiding his true identity in a world that demands conformity. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I wrote ANKRBOY for two reasons: 1.) To help heal myself and 2.) To hopefully help others who are struggling in their own lives. I was absolutely devastated when I lost my career in TV news when my secret was revealed. Writing the book helped me make sense of a lot of things that happened to me. During the process, I realized the news business needed me a lot more than I needed it. Living my life openly and authentically has brought me to a wonderful place and I’ve never been happier.
The media industry plays a pivotal role in your book. Do you think it has changed at all in terms of LGBTQ+ representation?
Yes, there’s been a dramatic change (for the better) in terms of LGBTQ+ representation in the media. In fact, I use that change in the set-up of my book comparing how open and honest today’s generation of LGBTQ+ journalists can be—and how that would have never worked for me. It was simply a different time—and I’m happy we’ve gotten to where we are today where LGBTQ+ journalists are not only accepted but celebrated.
The book has some emotional moments. What was the most emotional moment for you to write about?
There were many nights when I was writing ANKRBOY that cried my eyes out. I think the most difficult part was reliving the final hours of life with my first boyfriend who died of AIDS. He asked that I come over and help his parents give him one last hot bath. We sat for over an hour—as he soaked in the warm water—saying our goodbyes. It was absolutely crushing, but amazingly cathartic for both of us. I have to warn people about that chapter in the book (#21). It was extremely difficult to write—and just as difficult to read.
If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
I’d tell “Young Mark” to relax. To breath. To believe. That everything would work out just the way it should—and great things are coming for him. To just keep going.
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ANKRBOY
Mark Pettit’s ANKRBOY is a raw and unfiltered fictionalized memoir that pulls no punches in telling the story of a man navigating a double life, one in the limelight of television news and the other in the shadows of his own identity. Set against the backdrop of the late 20th century and early 21st century, the book takes us through the highs and lows of Pettit’s career, relationships, and self-discovery. He paints a vivid picture of ambition, love, betrayal, and survival, all wrapped in a style that is as direct as it is deeply personal.
Pettit’s writing is gripping, filled with humor, heartbreak, and an unrelenting honesty that makes the pages fly by. He doesn’t just tell his story; he pulls you into it, forcing you to feel every triumph and every crushing defeat. One of the most compelling moments comes early in the book, in Dead Man’s Party, where the protagonist is drugged at a high-profile event. The sensory overload, paranoia, and the life-threatening consequences of a single drink spike are so vividly described that I felt my own pulse quicken as I read. His ability to capture the highs of club life and the terrifying lows of its dangers is a testament to his skill as a storyteller.
Beyond the personal struggles, Pettit also delivers sharp commentary on the media industry. His accounts of being a rising star in TV news, only to be discarded when his private life became inconvenient, are infuriating but all too real. The moments where he faces rejection, particularly when his agent bluntly tells him, “They don’t put guys like you on the evening news,” hit hard. Pettit doesn’t sugarcoat anything; he lays bare the hypocrisy and cowardice of an industry that rewards deception while punishing authenticity. His narrative is peppered with humor, but the underlying rage is impossible to miss.
The relationships in ANKRBOY are another highlight, especially his hidden love affairs and the tension between who he is and who the world expects him to be. His love for Luke, a closeted co-worker, is heartbreaking in its inevitability. The scene where Luke refuses to acknowledge their love despite their passionate nights together is both frustrating and tragic. Pettit captures the pain of loving someone who isn’t ready to love themselves, and the emotional weight of that realization lingers long after the chapter ends.
This book is not just for those interested in LGBTQ+ narratives or media insiders, it’s for anyone who has ever felt trapped by expectations. If you like stories that are raw, confessional, and unapologetically real, ANKRBOY is a must-read. Pettit’s journey is not just about survival; it’s about reclaiming identity and refusing to be erased. He doesn’t ask for sympathy, only understanding. And by the time you turn the last page, you’ll be glad he told his story.
Pages: 328 | ISBN: 098892837X
LITERARY TITAN 