Interview and Giveaway with author A.J. Walkley
By: Lauren
1. Greer is such a
unique name. How did you come up with it?
unique name. How did you come up with it?
I actually knew a
girl named Greer back in summer camp when I was a kid. Funny story – she, too,
was a swimmer and actually had webbed-toes! I didn’t make my character have that
quirk, but her name is Greer and she is a swimmer. I thought it was a pretty
distinctive name. Plus, it rhymes with “queer” so, it worked well!
girl named Greer back in summer camp when I was a kid. Funny story – she, too,
was a swimmer and actually had webbed-toes! I didn’t make my character have that
quirk, but her name is Greer and she is a swimmer. I thought it was a pretty
distinctive name. Plus, it rhymes with “queer” so, it worked well!
2. I think it’s
great when characters have a particular passion that comes across in the book.
Are you a swimmer like Greer? Whether you are or not, is there a particular
reason you made that Greer’s hobby?
great when characters have a particular passion that comes across in the book.
Are you a swimmer like Greer? Whether you are or not, is there a particular
reason you made that Greer’s hobby?
I am not a swimmer, though I was
the captain of my ice hockey team back in high school. I loved being involved in
a varsity sport and I have wonderful memories looking back on those days. You
get a sense of camaraderie from a sports team you can’t find many other places,
especially in your teenage years. I thought it would be interesting to place
Greer on a team, where she might feel that sense of belonging, at the same time
that she was coming to terms with her identity and feeling like she didn’t
belong anywhere.
the captain of my ice hockey team back in high school. I loved being involved in
a varsity sport and I have wonderful memories looking back on those days. You
get a sense of camaraderie from a sports team you can’t find many other places,
especially in your teenage years. I thought it would be interesting to place
Greer on a team, where she might feel that sense of belonging, at the same time
that she was coming to terms with her identity and feeling like she didn’t
belong anywhere.
As far as choosing the swim team
specifically, I personally felt I could have been a swimmer myself if I hadn’t
gotten into ice hockey and lacrosse (among other sports) first. I wanted to
explore that sport with Greer.
specifically, I personally felt I could have been a swimmer myself if I hadn’t
gotten into ice hockey and lacrosse (among other sports) first. I wanted to
explore that sport with Greer.
3. The summary of
the book states that Greer is coming to terms with her sexuality. If it doesn’t
spoil anything, did she have an idea she may like girls before the big
move?
the book states that Greer is coming to terms with her sexuality. If it doesn’t
spoil anything, did she have an idea she may like girls before the big
move?
Well not to give
anything away, but let’s just say that Greer has had experiences with at least
one girl in the past that she puts out of her mind until she’s ready to confront
her sexuality after moving to a new state and a new school.
anything away, but let’s just say that Greer has had experiences with at least
one girl in the past that she puts out of her mind until she’s ready to confront
her sexuality after moving to a new state and a new school.
4. Speaking of
the move, does the state of Arizona play a large part in the book…and what
inspired you to set the story here?
the move, does the state of Arizona play a large part in the book…and what
inspired you to set the story here?
It’s kind of ironic that I had
Greer move to Arizona and wound up moving here myself some four years after I
actually wroteQueer Greer. In the book, Greer’s father
decides he wants to become a coyote, helping people across the border from
Mexico. There is background here – he has a very personal reason for chasing
this bizarre dream that you’ll find out when you read it. South Carolina is
pretty far from Mexico to make that happen, which is why he moves the family to
Arizona to be closer to the border. I simply chose Arizona for its proximity to
Mexico.
Greer move to Arizona and wound up moving here myself some four years after I
actually wroteQueer Greer. In the book, Greer’s father
decides he wants to become a coyote, helping people across the border from
Mexico. There is background here – he has a very personal reason for chasing
this bizarre dream that you’ll find out when you read it. South Carolina is
pretty far from Mexico to make that happen, which is why he moves the family to
Arizona to be closer to the border. I simply chose Arizona for its proximity to
Mexico.
5. What would you
like people to know about the book that maybe the summary wouldn’t tell them, or
if it does, an aspect you really want to make clear?
like people to know about the book that maybe the summary wouldn’t tell them, or
if it does, an aspect you really want to make clear?
I’d like potential readers to know
that this is a story about more than a teen figuring out who they are attracted
to – it’s about family, societal assumptions and pressures, the pains of high
school, and finding yourself when everyone around you is doing their best to
make you into whatever they think you should be. I think it speaks to many
aspects of growing up, sexuality aside.
that this is a story about more than a teen figuring out who they are attracted
to – it’s about family, societal assumptions and pressures, the pains of high
school, and finding yourself when everyone around you is doing their best to
make you into whatever they think you should be. I think it speaks to many
aspects of growing up, sexuality aside.
6. What other
LGBT novels are you a fan of or would recommend to readers?
LGBT novels are you a fan of or would recommend to readers?
I honestly wrote
Queer Greer
because I felt there was a true lacking of LGBT literature out there, especially
for bisexuals. Recently I read Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult, which tackles
the coming out process from an older perspective. I think it does a great job of
commenting a lot of the legal implications and religiously-based discrimination
surrounding LGBT people. I personally haven’t found or read anything else
recently that jumps out at me, but I’m open to suggestions!
Queer Greer
because I felt there was a true lacking of LGBT literature out there, especially
for bisexuals. Recently I read Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult, which tackles
the coming out process from an older perspective. I think it does a great job of
commenting a lot of the legal implications and religiously-based discrimination
surrounding LGBT people. I personally haven’t found or read anything else
recently that jumps out at me, but I’m open to suggestions!
Giveaway-
To Enter: Leave a comment about something in the interview. Please make sure I can find your email should you win.
Open To: Everyone
Prize: a digital copy of Queer Greer, donated by the author
Ends: May 5, 2012
***
A.J. Walkley is the
author of Queer Greer and Choice. She is currently writing her
third novel, Vuto, inspired by her
experience as a U.S. Peace Corps health volunteer in Malawi, Africa. Follow her
on Twitter @AJWalkley and Facebook at facebook.com/ajwalkley.
author of Queer Greer and Choice. She is currently writing her
third novel, Vuto, inspired by her
experience as a U.S. Peace Corps health volunteer in Malawi, Africa. Follow her
on Twitter @AJWalkley and Facebook at facebook.com/ajwalkley.
Link to buy Queer Greer: http://bit.ly/zsnW8Y
Bisexual invisibility is definitely a thing. Yay for bi characters!