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The Interview - T.H. Forest

https://thforestauthor.com/

How did you become an author and get published? Share your experience.

During the pandemic, when everyone (including me and my spouse) was watching TV and cooking, I began taking long walks where I would mull over story ideas. I was a history major, so while I am very familiar with writing long research papers, I had no real experience with writing fiction. I wrote something like 5 books before taking a class at Grub Street (a non-profit for writers located in the Seaport of Boston) on the narrative. I needed to be sure that what I had written was following the laws and rules of writing. I took a class on the narrative (all the different styles: 1st person, 2nd person, 3rd person) and my debut novel: Twinkies & Beefcake, was born out of that class. We had read an excerpt from "The Catcher in the Rye" and I was so intrigued by the writing style that I wrote my book in 6 weeks and then spent many many months editing it. I shopped it around with query letters, and received some very encouraging 'no thank yous' (amazing I know but while people loved the book they were to scared to take it on--it's a pretty controversial book). It was when a good friend told me she would help me market it that I decided to self-publish. I started a publishing company, named in honor of my dear cousin Thomas Holdorf, who I dedicate all my books too, and have never looked back!

I'm excited to open up my company for submissions from other indie authors who write queer fiction. 

Have you ever experienced writer’s block? How did you deal with it?

I have definitely experienced writers block, which was surreal because I never believed it would happen to me. I had written 8 books in two years and couldn't imagine being at a loss for words! When it happens, i go back and edit unpublished manuscripts and I read, for inspiration.

Was there anything you had to research for the book?

SO much! My first book, which I started during the pandemic of 2020, I began somewhat as fan fiction for the TV show Supernatural. In that adventure romance book, "Descendants of the Gods" (Coming in 2025/26), I spent days on Google looking up Mesopotamian gods and their Greek/Roman/Egyptian counterparts. I researched the NSA, Pyramids, Antarctica, the FBI and ancient languages. I video conferenced with a man from New Zealand who goes to Antarctica and acts as a survival guide for the researchers who go there. That was super cool! I also spent a great deal of time researching Oxford and Kensington for that first book, which then led to several books about characters from there. I found it a bit limited because of the pandemic, but now I can't wait to go visit those sites!

What are you reading right now?

I read mostly MM Romance, because that's part of my genre. Right now I'm reading the "Game Changers" series by Rachel Reid, but I also just finished a series by the Australian author, N.R. Walker, that was really fun and cute.

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what kind of music do you like to listen to?

I always listen to music when I write, not so much when I edit. My music style, like my writing, is very eclectic and while I created playlists for several of my books, most of the time I would have YouTube Music curate a 'supermix' for me and that's what I would write with. If a song came on and evoked a mood for the scene I was writing, I would add it to my book playlist. Some of the artists that really influenced and spurred on my writing were (in no particular order):

Rufus du Sol, Elderbrook, Troye Sivan, Sultan + Shepard, Kings of Leon, Frank Ocean, Tove Lo, The Police, Madonna, Chvrches, and so many other one offs and random artists.

What other hobbies do you have outside of writing?

I enjoy cooking, reading, socializing, gardening, and exercise.