WHAT DID YOU DO FOR A LIVING PRIOR TO SETTING UP THE GAY READ?

I worked for a national charity, training volunteers to advise the public on their rights.

HOW DID YOU FIRST BECOME INTERESTED IN WEB DESIGN?

Books, really. I used to review books (general) for a website. A colleague and I decided we would try and devise a website of our own. It started from there.

THE GAY READ IS, AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE ONLY WEBSITE IN THE UK THAT REVIEWS AND SHOWCASES SPECIFICALLY GAY WRITING/WRITERS. WHY ARE THERE NOT MORE SITES LIKE YOURS?

There are one or two other sites which do review GLBT books, but none that specifically focus on showcasing GLBT writers alongside book reviews. I wish there were more sites but maybe there is a lack because there isn’t any money to be made.

DEPRESSINGLY, OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS MANY GAY BOOKSHOPS HAVE SHUT DOWN AND GAY/LESBIAN WRITING SECTIONS IN MAINSTREAM BOOKSHOPS ARE BECOMING HARDER TO FIND. WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS?

Again, money. If bookshops are not supported then they do go to the wall, like any other business. I think that one of the one or two that are left are finding it tough going. It’s all lack of support, lack of funding and perhaps the premium added to GLBT titles (sometimes 50% on the general cover price) all adds to a depressing future for the bookshops. . .and Amazon, with its mighty weight is also a factor.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST KNOW YOU WERE GAY?

There was never a defining moment when I knew I was gay. It’s something I’ve always accepted without question, though there was a moment of clarity in the changing rooms at the local swimming baths when I was 11 or so. Our teacher got undressed and I thought ‘I hope Santa brings me one of them for Christmas’. Eventually he did!

DID YOU ENCOUNTER MUCH ANTI-GAY PREJUDICE AS YOU WERE GROWING UP? IF SO, HOW DID IT MANIFEST ITSELF?

I can’t say that I did, really, or certainly nothing of significance that I can remember now.

WHO ARE YOU PERSONAL FAVOURITE GAY WRITERS? WHAT WRITER WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO SHOWCASE AND INTERVIEW?

Favourites would include: Stephen Fry, Tom Lennon and a new author called Elizabeth Lewis (Sunbathing in Siberia). There’s more but I can’t think at the minute. To interview – that would be Stephen Fry (a gentleman), Boy George (interesting life) and Jane Austen (a bitch before her time, though not sure she was a lezzer).

HOW LONG DO YOU SPEND WORKING ON YOUR SITE EACH WEEK?

It varies. All depends on how pissed I am and whether I can see the screen enough. Probably about 40+ hours a week.

THE GOVERNMENT IS SO KEEN TO EMPLOY YOU, THEY OFFER YOU THE CHANCE TO SET UP YOUR OWN MINISTRY. WHAT WOULD THATA MINISTRY BE?

It would be something artistic, cultural. Promoting the vast talent of painters, artists, writers, etc, that we have in this country. Emphasis on marginalized groups: inner-cities, poverty stricken, GLBT and regional talent. We had Chris Smith who was in a real position to do something akin, but he did eff all, like the rest of them.

THEY ALSO OFFER YOU THE CHANCE TO CREATE OR DELETE 5 LAWS. WHAT ONES WOULD YOU PICK?

That’s a tough one – and would need plenty of thinking about.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PERFECT PHONE CALL?

Telephones annoy and delay me, so it would be a silent one.

I VERY MUCH ENJOY YOUR REVIEWS. IT’S GREAT TO SEE SO MANY ON THE SITE. HOW MANY BOOKS DO YOU READ IN A WEEK?

It varies from week to week. Factors such as how busy I am, how inebriated I am, how much work I have to do, whether I’m having a life that week, etc. A mean average would be around the 5 mark.

WHO WAS YOUR FAVOURITE WRITER AS YOU WERE GROWING UP?

I didn’t have one. I do remember getting to that age – about 10-11 - where ‘big books’ began to make sense. I was overwhelmed by ‘The Secret Garden’ and cried myself to sleep when I had finished it. I think that’s when my love of the written word (and its obvious power) kicked-in. The beauty, the skill, the story. Perfect. Obviously I couldn’t verbalise that at so young an age but I knew something special had been awoken in me. But then I entered puberty and promptly became depressed for five years.

YOU’VE ALSO HAD SUCCESS WITH YOUR OWN SHORT STORIES, WHICH I LOVE. ANY PLANS FOR A BOOK?

Ta. I’ve had ‘success’ with one story. It was the first and only one I’ve sent off (so far) and came second in a mag competition. I don’t consider myself a writer, lacking the talent as I do, but I do so admire those that have it. I have written a novel and binned it. It was bad! I will write another one though just for my own enjoyment.

WHERE DO YOU GET THE IDEAS FOR YOUR SHORT STORIES? HOW DO YOU WRITE THEM? HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU?

Ideas come from everywhere and everything. Any nuance is a potential story. I don’t look for ideas, if anything, the options are so vast as to be quite daunting. It’s for this reason I don’t believe in ‘Writers’ Block’. Everything, everyone, every experience (good or bad) is a potential story. How long? A first draft can take half an hour, or a full day. It’s the editing afterwards that takes the time.

WHAT’S YOUR IDEA OF A PERFECT DAY?

Just those odd few days when you wake up fully refreshed and contented and it feels like everything in the world is right. Then one of the neighbours gets on your tits and you want to kill them, all feelings of being level zapped in a second.

YOU HAVE UNLIMITED FUNDING TO TURN A BOOK OF YOUR CHOICE INTO A FILM. WHAT BOOK WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND HOW WOULD YOU CAST IT?

‘Killing for Company’ by Brian Masters, the true story of the gay serial killer Dennis Nielson. I would use artistic license and cast Kathy Burke as Nielson.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN A PERSONAL AD?

Fucked-up, Fucked-off, and dying for a Fucking Foster’s. London.”

IF YOU HAD TO LIVE SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN THE UK, WHERE WOULD YOU MOVE TO?

Andalusia, Spain. Until a few years ago, I had never been to Spain. Ended up going one year just for a quick break. Loved it. Keep away from the tourist areas (and thus the tourists) and it’s a terrific place with terrific people. Love the Sierra Nevada Mountains. You can drive for hours through beautiful scenery and not see another car or person. Great looking men too. Snippet: Almeria in Andalucia is farther south than Tangiers in Africa. Not a lot of people know that.

I’M THINKING OF SETTING UP A ROOM 101 SECTION ON THE SITE. WHAT (IS IT 8?) 8 THINGS WOULD YOU BANISH TO ROOM 101.

Inconsiderate people. All the cars on the roads (except mine). 99.9% of politicians. Religion (fundamentalism, any which espouses hate or superiority). Jeffrey Archer. George Bush. Tony Blair. Poverty.

AND WHILE I’M AT IT, I’LL HAVE YOUR DESERT ISLAND DISCS – 8 PIECES OF MUSIC, ONE FAVOURITE RECORD, A BOOK AND A LUXURY ITEM, PLEASE.

MUSIC:

‘Gimme Some’ by Brendan. (Reminds me of late teens, early twenties.)

‘Ave Maria’ any acapella version (beautiful.)

‘In the Ghetto’ by Elvis. (perfect lyrics.)

‘December ‘63’ by The Four Seasons. (Good times to that song.)

‘What Becomes of the Broken Hearted’ by Jimmy Ruffin. (Just a great song.)

‘Respect’ by Aretha. (We should all take note.)

‘Rachmaninov’s Variations on a theme of Paganini, Opus 23’ (pure class).

FAVE RECORD: ‘Gimme Some’

FAVE BOOK: Either ‘Jane Eyre’ by Charlotte Bronte or ‘Pride & Prejudice’ by Jane Austen

LUXURY ITEM: Wireless laptop.

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?

Everything.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF?

I’m more comfortable in my own skin, sort of like a grubby cardy that you can’t bear to throw away cos it’s moulded itself around you. The thing that never really changes is ourselves – we just grow into ourselves, discover who we are, culmination of everything we have ever experienced. A work in progress.

I care.

WHAT ANNOYS YOU MOST ABOUT YOURSELF?

Sometimes I can care too much and this can be seen as a negative or a weakness by others. It ain’t though!

YOU HAVE 1 HOUR TO LIVE (BUT ARE FEELING REMARKABLY PERKY.) HOW DO YOU SPEND IT?

I would have a kitchen disco. CD on full pelt, Foster’s in the fridge and a good ‘ol boogie. Or maybe go on the Net (while still drinking Foster’s, obviously) and max my credit card out with fantastic presents for everyone, which will arrive when I’ve snuffed it. Don’t care about the credit card: I’m dead!

WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING NOW IF COMPUTERS HAD NEVER BEEN INVENTED?

Become a lesbian.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED?

He gave a damn – and proved it.

WHERE DO YOU SEE THE GAY READ IN 5 YEARS TIME?

The Gay Read is hopefully just a stop-gap. I’m hoping that those that can, get the funding together and create a huge charitable organisation for GLBT writers in the UK. There’s plenty of funding available if you have the right skills and people. It would offer bursaries, have its own publishing arm (including mag), nationwide venues for writers to get together – the lot! It’s not a dream, a handful of people with imagination and determination and we’re away.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT GETTING OLD?

Ask me when I’m old.

WHAT OUTFIT ARE YOU WEARING WHEN YOU ARE MOST COMFORTABLE?

Something that moves when I do. Never been interested in fashion. If it’s comfy then it’ll do.

YOU ARE GRANTED THREE WISHES. WHAT ARE THEY?

See 30 above

Own a villa on a secluded hillside in Andalusia.

Abolish everyone’s woes. Let’s get loved-up.