Drama Queen

Introduction

Interview with the Author

Excerpts:
  •  
  • Drama is an Elective
  •  
  • "But I Thrive on Drama!"
  •  
  • Drama's Roll Call
  •  
  • Compulsive Spending
  •  
  • Roommates

    Letter From the Editor

    Editorial: Having Our Say

    New Releases

    Authors On Tour

    Feedback

    Ordering

    Gay/Lesbian/Feminist Bookstores Around the Country

    The Mostly Unfabulous Homepage of Ethan Green

     




    Drama Queen The Author's Interview


    A Conversation with Patrick Price

     

    What drew you to write about Drama?

    Feedback from my first book, Husband Hunting Made Easy. Readers generously offered commentary and questions that reflected a broader portrait of our lives. I chose to explore these everyday hotspots -- friends, family, work, money, pet peeves -- and soon realized success is all inter-connected. And yes, I got the chance to revisit the realm of relationships without doing Husband Hunting Made Even Easier. Drama was a natural connective theme. It's an understood phenomenon -- even if it's tricky to pin down or define. Simply put, drama is when you had more mature relationships with your peers in kindergarten than you do now. Everyone is prone to drama but, let's face it, gay men express it with a style all their own.

    Patrick Price

    Do you consider Drama Queen humor? Self-help? Sociology?

    All of the above? Honestly, I consider it a one-to-one pep talk -- the kind of no-nonsense advice a best friend would give who loves you enough to tell the brutal truth. But it's equally infused with humor because no one signed up for a lecture. People will be drawn to it for a variety of reasons -- whether hoping to glean answers or simply wanting to be entertained -- but my favorite scenario is when a reader walks away surprised to discover both reactions. My secret is I have fun but at heart am completely sincere.

    Do you get to pick the models on the covers of your book? Are they single? Can I get their numbers?

    Yep. I've been blessed with some pretty amazing old and new friends, who for a free book and a little notoriety, graciously volunteered to flesh-out the book so to speak. I specifically wanted to use "real" people in real-life settings to create an imaginary album of the reader's life. Of course we exaggerated it just a tiny bit. The cover shoot was done professionally in a studio but nearly all the interior pics were taken in one absolutely insane weekend in early, freezing February. My friend Ray, who took the interior photographs, joked that we should include "Pop Up Video" trivia with the final book, dishing all the backstage drama. For instance, any outdoor shot of guys wearing short sleeves was a true acting feat. A pile of thick winter coats waited just out of sight. Lucky for me -- bundled in a coat and scarf, coaching "Think sunshine!" -- it was non-union labor. As for the guys' romantic availability -- some are single; some are not. It's hard to keep up. I leave you to your own ingenuity.

    Where do you get your ideas and what research did you do for Drama Queen?

    Ideas pop up at the strangest times -- in the shower, at work, preparing dinner, lying in bed, riding the subway -- and I frantically try to find a piece of paper to record the fleeting "truths." Often the "rules" reflect something I experience or witness secondhand but just as often it's purely my over-active imagination. I'll take a scenario and then warp it to its highest level of drama. If I can crack myself up, I've done my job.

    What makes you the expert on drama?

    I'd never call myself an expert. I guess once you write a book you're elevated to instant "authority" but the truth is that the thoughts and voice are just unabashedly who I am. There's no diploma from Ann Landers University framed above my desk. Perhaps it's my Libra nature to try and make peace of our complicated lives. I certainly don't have all the answers but I'm satisfied if it steers you in a positive direction.

    What questions do you get asked most often?

    Variations of "Where are the quality guys?" and "Does anyone else crave more than hooking up?" Where I was a little tongue-in-cheek at times in Husband Hunting Made Easy, I tried to more practically address these concerns in Drama Queen. The easy -- and real -- answer to the first question is anywhere. Quality guys are not locked away on the Island of the Good Men. And the greatly abbreviated reply to the second question is yes. You're not alone. Many others feel the exact same way and I have a multitude of letters from across the country to prove it. Patience, my friend.

    When, where, and how do you write?

    Each book takes about nine months to write, which includes periods of near-unproductivity (I mean, uh, "important fieldwork") and times when I'm fairly chained to the desk, forgetting the need to eat, sleep, or let others know I'm still alive. Of course this is in addition to working full-time, so we're talking late nights and weekends -- which in hindsight amazes me that anything gets done. First, it's observations and the chance to let my mind wander. I carry a steno pad with me everywhere. Next, there's a little home office where I work on my laptop, surrounded by a quilt of messy notes. I used to prefer writing in absolute quiet but I've developed an appreciation for background music. Husband Hunting Made Easy was written almost exclusively to k.d. lang's "Drag" album. If I heard it now, I'd start typing. With Drama Queen I branched out: briefly working to k.d.'s Invincible Summer and some Ella Fitzgerald, but it soon led to the guilty pop trio of Madonna's Music, N'SYNC, and, I confess, Britney Spears. It all becomes white noise but sometimes I'll randomly tune into the chorus and do a little dance and sing-along at my seat. Writers get a little weird in captivity. If any part of Drama Queen leaves you baffled, it's not my fault. Blame Britney.

    What are you working on now?

    After a short break to promote Drama Queen, I plan to dive into writing fiction for a change. I'm hungry for characters and plot. There are actually two novels fighting for my attention -- one a romantic thriller that partially utilizes my publishing industry background and the other a dark, modern fairy tale about a group of friends who learn that wishes can be unhealthy. Clearly there's a yin and yang to my character. At this point I prefer not to reveal anymore, because I've learned the more you talk about it, the less chance it will happen. Also, in a more familiar role, I'm hoping to start a syndicated advice column. Thanks for asking.

     


    Copyright © 2001 Patrick Price.


    Back to the Stonewall Inn