Today’s interview is with an author whose newest book was released just last month. Hopefully you have already read All Kinds of Other, but if not, get to know the author & then order yourself a copy! Read all about the connection between writing and baking bread, about the dangers of killing of red-haired characters, and which English cinematic icon James would like to have a dinner date with.
And of course, follow James on twitter!
Let’s start at the beginning. How did you first get into writing?
I’ve been writing since I was in about fourth grade. I think it was a way to express myself in an environment in which conformity and obedience were strictly enforced, dissension and self-expression, suppressed. I remember writing notes to my parents instead of talking to them directly. In fifth grade, influenced by Stephen King novels, I’d write stories and my mother would accuse me of killing off all the red-haired ladies (of which she was one). So, psychopathy or creativity. I went the latter route.
What are your favourite genres to read and write, and are there any genres or tropes you wouldn’t write?
Nowadays, I mostly read literary fiction and graphic novels, with dips into memoir and, increasingly, YA fiction. I used to read a lot of fantasy/sci-fi, and I may get into it again. I tend to write more contemporary fiction, both YA and adult, that have different modes of writing in them (transcripts, texts, graphic novel elements) because I find mixing elements to be more exciting to create. I don’t usually go in for Romance, which is funny because All Kinds of Other is a love story. To me, it’s less about the romance, and more about the connection.
How do you get inspiration for your books and what’s your writing process? At what point do you let other people read your drafts and who are they?
I think of writing like baking bread: the ingredients are a disparate collection of creative inspirations: a newspaper article; a random stranger yelling on the street; observations while walking my dog; a situation my sister finds herself in. When there are enough of them, thrown together and kneaded, they begin to form interesting connections. The yeast, what makes them cohere and rise, is an interesting situation, or the dynamic between two characters, or a question I want answered. I mix these elements, give them a rough shape and allow it to rise. Punch it down, reshape it. Hopefully, given enough time, the story will develop flavor and complexity.
I have a writing group of four I belong to (I dearly need a deadline), and they see rough pages as they are being written. I am notoriously slow as a writer; I need what I have written each day to be compelling enough to lead me to the next section, so tend to revise as I go. When I have a draft I’m happy with (usually after a couple of passes) I give them to a few people I trust, old friends who know me and my work, and they’ll give me notes. Around that time I’ll also show it to my agent and see what he thinks.
Which three authors would you say influenced your writing the most?
Edith Wharton for her insightful, witty, and incisive description of the human condition, Margaret Atwood for the beauty and poetry of her writing; and Neil Gaiman for his world building and storytelling prowess. If I could add a fourth I’d mention John le Carré for his elliptical style of writing and his ability to describe characters quickly and indelibly.
And for something that is also very important to us & what we put a lot of emphasis on when blogging. What does ownvoices LGBT representation mean to you?
What I love about the idea of ownvoices for LGBTQ writers is that it can elevate and showcases people in the community who are writing works about the community. For LGBTQ writers, especially those who are BIPOC, this can be a welcome spotlight when their book is coming out. What’s not so great is when ownvoices is used as a tool to police who gets to write what, a cudgel that can do real harm to those who may not be out or wish to disclose details of their personal life. Writers in the community should be given the opportunity to write their own stories, but at the same time all writers should work on including complex, compelling, authentic LGBTQ characters in their work. I believe both things can happen.
What’s one piece of advice you would like to give your younger self?
I would tell my younger self: Look, you aren’t living in a community where there are a lot of Asian kids, let alone any queer Asian kids, but they are out there. You’re not alone. Being gay does not mean you have to be white and muscular. There are all kinds of other out there—embrace that. Make some space for yourself—you are worthy. And don’t worry about having to choose between acting and writing—you can do both!
Summarise your most recent/next book in up to 5 words and a meme.
Cisboy. Transboy. Love. Why not?
Meme: And love is love is love is love is love is love is love
If (when!) your books were to be made into movies, who would you like to direct them?
I’m not sure, but I think it’d be important that the director be in the trans community, or someone incredibly fluent in the nuances and challenges within the trans/nonbinary space.
If you could have dinner with one member of the LGBT community, dead or alive, who would it be?
As a huge LOTR geek and Shakespeare lover, I wouldn’t say no to a dinner date with Ian McKellan—the stories he could tell! And maybe Derek Jacobi could tag along.
Which of your characters would you most want to fight a zombie apocalypse with?
Jack’s mother Nita. She was a fierce ally for her son during his transition, and I think she would bring that fierceness and determination during the apocalypse that would keep her boy (and his boyfriend) safe.
Is there a famous franchise or simply a movie/TV show you’d like to be able to write for?
Aside from trying my hand at adapting my own works (I think Still Life Las Vegas would make an excellent limited series) the first thing that popped in my head when you asked that question was: I would love to put on my Cloak of Invisibility, sneak into Hogwarts, administer the polyjuice potion to the Writer Who Shall Not Be Named, and right some wrongs in that universe, starting with adding some intentional LGBTQ characters into the mix.
Do you have any secret non canon ships in your books you wish people would write fics for?
Well, there are two supporting characters in All Kinds of Other—Jamaal, the head of the varsity basketball team, and Lowell, the head of the GSA, who might make an interesting pair…
Rec us some great LGBT books you’ve read recently!
There are so many many to recommend, but these are just what’s been on the nightstand recently: Pet by Akwaeke Emezi (I’m always buying copies to give to people); Small Beauty by Jiaqing Wilson-Yang (my current lit fiction reading); Spellbound by Bishakh Som (a fascinating, quietly subversive graphic novel); The Best At It by Maulik Pancholy (a sweet, touching middle grade book); and Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender—I’m about to embark on this and have high hopes!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
James Sie (pronouns he/him) is the author of Still Life Las Vegas, which was a Lambda Literary Award nominee for Best Gay Fiction. He has contributed essays to The Rumpus and The Advocate. James is also a voiceover artist for many cartoons and games, including Stillwater, Jackie Chan Adventures, Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness; Final Fantasy VII Remake, and Avatar: The Last Airbender, where his excessive love of cabbages has earned him immortal fame. Born in New Jersey to immigrant parents, James now lives in Los Angeles with his husband and son.
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