Stephen Rowley

We were robbed of so many beautiful examples of what aging racefully as a gay man should be.

You know, I think, you know, and we've met and we've hung out and you know me, I am hopefully a joyous and happy person.

I think people who read my books are worried that maybe I lost like a whole busload of people off a cliff in a fiery crash at some time.

And that is certainly not true.

But I do, I may have mentioned this last time was on, I do think grief and grieving is one of the more universal human experiences that we have.

And we so often go through it in isolation, you know, particularly in a Western culture, we're so bad at it.

Reaching out, we think we're a burden if we're grieving, and the irony being it's something we all will have to deal with.

And so I like to approach it with humor, and I like to explore different relationships.

You know, we lionize romantic love, right?

There's so many love stories and romances.

And it's strange that this is my sixth novel, and it's my first time exploring romantic love.

I did the love between someone and their animals, a mother-son story, you know, the Gunkle is extended family, and the sibling story, the celebrants, friendship, love.

And so this is my first time really tackling romantic love.

And it gave me a whole new relationship to explore.

Yeah, you know, but I think there's great romance in that, too.

I do think there's something really special about being together for a long time.

And yes, some of the passion fades and some, you know, that when we're sort of ignited with passion for someone because they're kind of a stranger, what happens to that passion when they become and feel very familial?

And yeah, sure, I'll freak straight people out.

But it is one of the advantages of being in a same sex relationship is you can both sort of ogle the same person, you know.

It is fun and no one's feelings necessarily have to get hurt.