Miami book fair recently celebrated Mame, Jerry Herman, and ‘the Gunkel’, Stephen Rowley's new novel. Queer News Tonight lead anchor Al Ferguson sat down with author Stephen Rowley to discuss this new book and his appearance at the Miami book fair. The conversation touched upon the fascinating plot of the new book.
Al Ferguson leveraged the opportunity to ask Rowley about the current political and social environment concerning the LGBTQ+ community, especially in Florida.
The duo also discussed how having a Gunkel or gay uncle can change the life of someone coming to terms with their sexuality and the impact of pop culture icons on the narrative of the book.
The exciting conversation started with Al asking Rowley, who stays in Plam Springs, about his reaction to an invitation from Miami Book Fair, organized in the sister city, Fort Lauderdale.
Rowley started by sharing his disappointment after the result of the 2000 election where the Republican candidate Gore won and how he did not feel like putting a foot in Florida after that. He also joked about how gays can really hold a grudge. However, while answering Al’s question, he mentioned how the Miami book fair was the right opportunity to come to Florida after many years and interact with the amazing LGBTQ+ community and its great work in the state. He praised Florida’s people fighting for good and he expected to meet such people at the Miami book fair.
As the Queer News Tonight rightly calls it, Florida is the freak Show State which is now governed by Ron DeSantis as its governor. The state is constantly in the headlines for banning books, controlling communication, and fuelling anti-gay rhetoric. Releasing a book like Guncle amidst such an environment is a revolution in itself.
While talking about the inspiration behind the book Rowley also shared his disagreements with the book-banning activities. He called these incidents tragic. He said his lifelong love for Auntie Mame and Patrick Dennis from the mid-50s which became a Broadway show and then a movie with Rosalind Russell and then a Broadway musical with dearly departed Angela Lansbury gave him the required inspiration to write this book.
Rowley also said, “I don't have children of my own. I was married last year but we don't have
Kids. But I do in real life have five nieces and nephews and I was profoundly moved by how important those relationships were to me not only as a gay man but also as an artist. I think as a writer, I was always very aware that you know no matter how you feel about it, having and raising children is one of life's great emotional experiences and I was aware as a writer of not having that in my Arsenal.”
He said writing this book gave him a chance to write to celebrate some of the incredible LGBTQ+ families that are out there raising kids.
He mentioned that writing books like these and reviving old characters like Auntie Mame is an intellectual exercise to reclaim one of these characters that might have originally been conceived as a gay man if the writers were allowed openly to write that way.
Al and Rowley also discussed the process of writing the book and how the author’s personal experience impacted the flow of the book. They discuss how being a light comedy, the book also deals with serious issues, especially the grief of children losing their parents. Rowley said, balancing the heartbreak and humor took considerable time throughout the process of writing the book.
The author went ahead and briefly mentioned his emotional journey before and after he turned 50. He talked about coming out in the 90s and how gay people were falling prey to AIDS during the time. He hardly expected to have a long, happy, and healthy life then. However, completing 50 years has given him a fresh and positive perspective on life.
Maybe this new perspective is what is appealing to both the older and younger generations to read this book.
In today’s time where the LGBTQ+ community is being dismissed and disrespected by some elements of society, the humorous plot of the book could offer a refreshing reading experience. Plus, it is an answer to those who give negative and dark connotations to everything the community does.
Talking about the same the author says, the slur and backlash LGBTQ+ content receive is so constant and repetitive that now it is boring, and there is not a hint of originality in anything the trollers and haters say.
In Steven Rowley‘s The Guncle, Patrick, or Gay Uncle Patrick – aka “Guncle” – loves spending time with his niece and nephew. But when tragedy strikes and he has to take on the role of primary guardian, he finds out that parenting isn’t as simple as handing out treats and jokes.
The humorous and heart-touching tale of Guncle is for everyone, queer or non-queer.
