I had the good fortune to meet Katrina Strauss at BishieCon this year. We had a great time hanging out talking about m/m and writing and biz, not to mention enjoying all the great cosplayers at that convention. Today Katrina's here to celebrate her recent release, Off the Beaten Path, and to talk about Darth Vader fanfic and the joys and pitfalls of publishing. Please join me in welcoming her to Friskbiskit's Author Spotlight.
Off the Beaten Path, by Katrina Strauss:
Travis Bell is openly gay to family and friends, but as a college athlete, he chooses not to define himself by his sexuality. When he covers for a friend's misdeed, he's forced to renegotiate his future. Carefully. Or he's going to lose his coveted lacrosse scholarship.
The last thing Travis plans on is a “volunteer vacation” in the remote wilderness with members of Omega Beta Pi, aka Off the Beaten Path, a fraternity devoted to gay rights and environmental causes. To make matters worse, he must share a tent with Kyle, an opinionated activist who also happens to be the hottest guy Travis has ever met.
Kyle Schafer is a proud activist who disapproves of Travis's ignorance on issues affecting the environment and the gay community. To his even greater annoyance, Kyle finds himself attracted to his shallow tentmate on a purely physical level. Travis goes against everything Kyle believes in, but that doesn't dampen the chemistry that sparks between them. Pretty soon, it looks like Travis isn't the only one who'll be going off the beaten path.
Don't miss the yummy excerpt from Off the Beaten Path at the bottom of the post. And now, a few questions.
What do you like about m/m?
When I read or write het romance, I’m constantly aware of an underlying battle of the sexes. As an author, I take pains to ensure my heroine isn’t dominated by the hero outside of the bedroom, yet still, I worry my heroine will be viewed as either a doormat or a ballbuster. With M/M, in spite of any conflicts between the lead characters, even if one male is more Alpha than the other, I see these men as united and equal in their stand against an anti-gay society. M/M frees me, as both author and reader, to simply explore and enjoy the relationship in and of itself, rather than worry if my characters’ interactions will somehow be viewed as one partner repressing the other.
That was my intellectual answer. On a visceral level, it’s just plain HOT to describe two (or more!) beautiful men making love together.
What is your favorite guilty pleasure?
I read entirely too much yaoi. Hey, it’s illustrated!
Was there a time when you almost gave up? What made you keep going?
I almost gave up a few months ago, actually, due to a vicious cycle of writer’s block, finances, mediocre reviews, and personal issues. Then, a moving e-mail from a reader reminded me why I do what I do. I went back and re-read other positive letters I’ve received since my first publication. (Yes, I save them all!) I realized I just needed a break to recharge my brain cells and reassess my direction. Once I recovered from the creative crisis, a completely different issue kicked in and forced me to extend my hiatus, but I’m gradually resuming writing as my situation improves. If my work touches just one reader out of a hundred, it’s worth the time and effort.
If you could change one thing about the publishing industry, what would it be?
Only a year ago, I would have said a more open attitude toward e-books. But overnight, we see that’s changed! Now, I’d like to see the e-book price wars level out in a way that benefits readers and authors alike. The erotic romance industry paved the way for e-publishing at well below $9.99 a book!
Who is your favorite character, and why?
Derek from my Blue Ruin series. I’ve written him as my ultimate fantasy man, the “caring Alpha” who knows when to be firm but how to be soft. He exudes an inherent confidence that I’ve personally had to work for in my life. And he has sexy hair!
Do you now write, or have you ever written, fanfic? If so, what fandoms, pairings, etc?
I used to write Vader/OFC fic set in a Star Wars AU. In making a point to un-Mary Sue my heroine, I ended up with a dark, twisted tale that, to my surprise, gained a following and my first ever readership. (Although I suppose we Vader fangirls tend to be a bit dark and twisted!)
What kind of impact do you hope your work will have on readers?
I want readers to see that people from all walks of life and of all sexual orientations can fall in love, grow together, and face the challenges of the world hand-in-hand.
Great interview Kitty, thank you for your intriguing answers! And now, how about a nice, steamy excerpt from Off the Beaten Path:
