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Written by Prideindex Staff
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 Name, gender and birthplace:
Michael-Christopher, male, Teaneck, NJ
Current or most recent project:
I just reprinted a compilation of the first five "Living The Life" comics (available in stores and on www.LIVEdLIFE.com). Its about three young black gay men, Hank, Andre and Kurtis, all living in New York City. They are all very different and come from varied backgrounds. I was motivated to write because back then,  in 1998, there was only the DL bisexual thug and the cosmopolitan sassy queen. I wanted to bring some more complex characters to the genre. Currently, I'm writing my third "Living The Life" prequel novel based on the comic series and I'm working on another novel...that's a secret!
Earliest memory of being a writer:
I've been drawing since I was about three years old and used to create my own comic strips and books as a kid. I would make up my own super-hero characters and stories and end up with 20-page comics. I was very young when I started doing the books. I don't recall not doing it to be honest! In junior high school I took my one and only creative writing class. Later, I used to write weekly installments of this fantasy, soap opera story called "What If?" for my best girlfriend and me. In it, everything we ever wanted was given to us, including many unforeseen obstacles.
My professional writing career started in high school. I covered baseball games for the local paper, The Suburbanite. I published the first issue of my comic "Living The Life" in April 1998 after having been laid off from my job as graphic designer at a professional reference publishing company. My first novel, "Living The Life Prequel - Hank" was published in 2001 after leaving New York and settling in the Washington, DC area.
How do you identify and nurture ideas for new projects?
I try to come up with something fresh and unpredictable. I've always had a knack for making up stories and when I have a story in my head it just flows. Many times things | My Favorites | Color: Purple Food: Beef Ribs, Bread Pudding,Pistachios Gadget: iPod Nano Drink: Arnold Palmers and Vodka & Cran Movie: Purple Rain Performer: Prince, Kevon Edmonds (After7) |
come to me in the morning when I'm laying in bed. If I let my mind wander, I end up playing out my ideas like movies in my head. I've had to sleep with my laptop near the bed in order to capture all those scenes!
Authors/writers/performers that have influenced your artistic style:
Its funny, one of my biggest life influences is not an author, but he is a writer. Prince has influenced my creative spirit in so many ways. His words, his imagery, his flair, all have affected my style. When I was in high school, I used to listen to the album 1999 in the dark from start to finish (and it was a double album). Each song had strong concepts that were like short stories. Prince often wrote about freedom, whether sexual, religious, or freedom to love. As an LGBT author it is important to not have too many inhibitions.
Bil Wright was also an inspiration for my first novel. I read, "Sunday You Learn How to Box" right before I wrote, "Living The Life Prequel - Hank" and it really set the tone for me.
Piri Thomas, author of "Down These Mean Streets" was the first author of color I read in Ethnic Literature class in high school.
2 books or CDs that everyone should own:
"Down These Mean Streets" "Sunday You Learn How To Box" Love Deluxe, 1999,
My thoughts on LGBGT authors' obligation to the LGBT community:
I think it depends on that individual's comfort and level of experience. We all have stories to tell, but we can't tell stories we don't know about. And people have different motives for putting out books. For some its fame and fortune, for others its about providing positive images for our community. We are all entitled to make our own decisions.
Biggest misconception about me and/or my work:
That I am Belasco, the x-rated cartoonist. For some reason, many readers find my comics incredibly sexual...its very PG-13. I've heard the same about my novels too. I'm hardly that. I'm a tease!
Advice for aspiring writers?
Work at your craft. Read. Don't force yourself to write. Learn the difference between a story and an idea.
Preview of my upcoming project(s):
It's going to take the community by storm!
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