**record scratch**
I did what? Yeah - me. I took a holiday with my family and spent a week near the beach. And subsequently forgot to post this last week. So we are now a week behind. I'm sorry.
But here is the third and next instalment in the interviews I've done of interviewing myself. Chronologically, the next release I had after The Blinding Light was a little short story in an anthology called A Taste of Honey.
Date Published: 18th August 2014
Available in: ebook / print as a part of the A Taste of Honey anthology.
Other forms coming: Will probably rerelease as a standalone when rights have expired.
When did you start writing this book? April 2014
What gave you the inspiration for the story? I saw Dreamspinner put a call out for short stories to go into an anthology about bears (the gay bear type, not the furry, four-footed ones!) I loved the idea and made a mental note to buy the book once it was released. Some months later, I saw BG Thomas put out another plea for good, romantic stories.
At that stage I didn’t know BG – and of course he didn’t know me. Loving Jay hadn’t been published yet. No one knew my name. But there was something pulling me toward this anthology. So I set myself a challenge to write a bear story in under 12,000 words – for BG. I know that sounds silly, but I wrote this story for BG.
And my favourite pairing? Oh, yeah. The big bear and the skinny little bear chaser…
What was the working title? I originally called it “Bear Love,” but then changed it to Bear Chasing when I finished.
Where did the title of the book come from? I didn’t know much about gay bears before starting this story, so I began to research it. Information sites, dating sites, gay blogs – they are great sources of information. And the first thing that popped out at me was the term “bear chaser.” I realised that’s what I wanted my story to be about – the fact that people prefer bears over others. Some guys like bears. Some guys like being bears.
It was a natural progression to call it Bear Chasing.
What challenges did you face with writing this? Research, research, research. Always!
Then there was the fact that I’d never attempted a short story before. That was a challenge to wrap up the story in a HEA (or at least HFN) in less than 12,000 words.
Tell us about MC1 – where did the inspiration come for him? Okay. I confess. Gavin, Frank and Brett were based loosely around my neighbours. There is a bunch of guys who live together in the house across the road from me. I assume they’re straight. I pretend otherwise.
Tell us about MC2 – where did the inspiration come for him? There is a guy I went to school with – Ashley. He was into computers and computer games before it was cool to be, was skinny and socially awkward, and he loved his sister to bits. I haven’t seen Ashley since we were 12, but Neil is what I assume Ashley turned out to be.
Is there anything special that happens in the story that you think readers would like to know about? I fell in love with writing bears.
What is the best thing that has happened about this story, post-publication? My friendship with BG Thomas has blossomed. One day, I will give him a hug in real life. One day.
Do you plan a follow up story? I love this story. But it’s not on my priority list. One day I will write the next chapter in their story. I really, really want to.