TELL US ABOUT YOU.
I live in sunny Northamptonshire in the UK with hubs and my two twenty-something “children”. I taught in primary schools for over twenty-five years before discovering the wonderful world of m/m fiction.
WHEN DID YOU START WRITING?
Surprisingly, I discovered m/m novels through Twilight about four years ago.
As a teacher, I never set out to become an author. Although I often had story ideas whirling around my head, I never wrote them down. But after reading slash Twilight fanfiction for a few months, I suddenly had an idea in the middle of the night, and wrote my first two chapters the following day. It was during my summer holiday and I remember thinking “Why am I wasting my time on this?” I posted on FanFiction.net and added some more chapters over the following months, which were het. I have since rewritten this story, deleting the het scenes. The story is now called Heartbeat and it’s still on my FF profile (sue273). I started Oxford Blues during a bout of insomnia. This story rapidly gained followers and introduced me to many friends in the Twilight fandom. Other stories followed, along with a wider readership and, after joining Facebook, I met up with many people who encouraged and helped me along the way.
WHY SELF-PUBLISHING?
I edited some of my stories, and then sent them to a couple of publishers, but they weren’t interested in writing that had been previously offered as fanfiction. I have to thank Tee Baggins because she suggested self-publishing, helped guide me to all the right places, and held my hand as I published my first book. I decided to publish my own fiction myself, as it’s so much quicker than waiting on a publisher.
BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER BEEN TOLD?
Life is too short to stuff a mushroom.
Seriously, your best form of advertising is your next novel. So keep writing …
CRAZIEST THING YOU’VE EVER DONE?
Not necessarily crazy, but this altered the course of my life. I ruptured my Achilles tendon while barn dancing. I didn’t do it on purpose! In fact, I almost didn’t go to the party that evening because I was feeling ill, but it was a friend’s fiftieth birthday and I thought I couldn’t let her down. As a result, I spent the next three months at home in plaster and a wheelchair. It was during this time I discovered Twilight, YouTube and fanfiction. I wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for that evening! Now that is crazy!
THREE RANDOM FACTS ABOUT YOU THAT YOUR READERS DON’T KNOW?
I make and post gay-themed videos on YouTube and Vimeo.
I have a Shetland sheepdog called Barney.
For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to perform a gymnastic routine on a beam.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR LILY G BLUNT?
I plan to complete my three fanfiction works in progress that I put on hold while writing my latest novel. I’m also writing a story using Van Gogh’s paintings and Don Maclean’s Vincent as my inspiration.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR LATEST RELEASE.
BOYS ON FILM tells the story of Stefan, a porn star who is confused about his sexuality, and Nate, an unpublished author of gay erotica.
Set in an opulent house in San Diego that also serves as a porn studio, the story follows Stefan as he falls in love with Nate, a budding author from England, and in the process comes out as gay. Despite working in a gay porn studio and having sex with his best buddy, Dan, on a regular basis, Stefan outwardly claims to be straight, although he enjoys the sex and substantial pay he earns from his gay videos. This changes when he meets Nate, who has been given the opportunity to observe the inner workings of Blue House Film Studios to add realism to his latest erotic novel.
THANKS TO MY FRIEND AND FELLOW M/M AUTHOR FOR THE INTERVIEW
