Interview Begins.
CP (Campus Pride): As you may know, many GLBT adolescents looked towards super hero’s who have typically been seen as outsiders of a society. Are there any super hero’s that you, yourself, identify with?
PM (Perry Moore): I guess you can say that I pretty much identified with all of the super heroes. All of the subtext really made me feel different, especially X-Man, I really identified with those characters and how it was their differences that made them special. It was these types of inspirations that made me write the book Hero.
CP: So what were your motivations that made you want to write for this specific genre [YA Novels]?
PM: Growing up in the south as a gay kid applies to this book, old bigots no longer worry me. New bigots aren’t so terrible either because young people think for themselves. I always believed that you should never talk down to your audience. People who are young should be respected and they will think for themselves. Your generation has given young people great hope and I can’t wait to get it out there. This book is the epic coming out story of the world’s first gay super hero. I wanted to tell a story about a young man who happens to be gay and struggles with all sorts of other things as well. There is a hero in each and every one of us all you have to do is believe. I would be nowhere if I didn’t have anyone to inspire me. I guess you can say that the point of the book is to show young people that whether you’re gay or straight, black or white, young or old, there is a hero in all of us. Once you embrace the quality of who you’re capable of being, and you are no longer worried about what makes you different, it can empower you.
CP: If you could go out on a romantic dinner that with a super hero, which one would it be and why?
PM: I had a tremendous crush on the character Colossus from X-Man. He was made out of steal and had a heart of gold. I loved that character. I also love Goran in Hero - where he comes from and what he had to do to get where he want to be is very attractive.
CP: Is there anyone that you based your main character, Thom Creed on? Would you say he is more like you or someone else that you are close to?
PM: I was writing about someone who faces similar situations growing up as I did. I always wanted to write a story about me and my father (who is and always will be my hero) who came back from Vietnam and carried tremendous deep scars throughout his life. He gave me a book “The Things They Carried.” I wanted to give him a book and so I wrote Hero, which is deeply personal and was the last member of my family to read it. He said, “I wasn’t that much of a monster was I?” Keep reading, keep reading was my response.
All of the character’s literally talked to me. As a writer if you’re going to tell a good story you have to have strong characters. I wanted these characters to be very strong. It takes place in a world where these people are super heroes. The best fantasy must always be grounded in reality so I just went with that. What I did too was universal. There are also a lot of girl’s that can relate to Thom’s relationships. The way of our land is really about what we decide to integrate. There is good stuff out there for everyone.
CP: Seeing the context of the story itself, did you find it difficult to find a publisher who would take on this particular book?
PM: I had actually written a non-fiction book prior to this project, it was a movie book about the making of the Chronicles of Narnia. Many of the kids in the cast of Chronicle call me Perry-Poppin’s because I always went out of my way to make sure they were taken care of. They were part of my motivation as to why I started writing Hero; I didn’t have a publisher yet. I hired an agent and before I knew it there was a bidding world. This genre, I found out, is not afraid of the truth. I expected total resistance and had the complete opposite experience. That never happened before. I just got nominated for Two Lambda’s. This is not a book where the whole thing is about him being gay – it is about two lost souls vying to find their place in the world - this is the point of the book and I really love it. So the theme goes beyond sexuality and many people can relate.
CP: So Thom has the power to heal people, is there any particular reason as to why you gave him this particular power as opposed to, lets say, reading minds?
PM: I did that completely by design. I realized in retrospect (having done Narnia) in belief lies the greatest power. I made him a hero because I wanted him to be a strong gay character. On a greater level I think we all have the power to heal the world. It is a very unorthodox choice. His powers are, just like he is, brimming with the power to help heal.
CP: To many GLBT adolescents you are now seen as a role model, how do you feel about filling this role?
PM: Oh my gosh, that’s Crazy. I would love it. I would love it. I just hope I can live up to that role. I am just a regular person who still lives in a one bedroom apartment in New York who loves their family and work. I think Thom is more of the role model. I would, however, love to be one that inspires and motivates. If I could give back a little of that then nothing more would matter.
CP: So you were named one of the sexiest men of the week in People Magazine (giving us all your seduction secrets), would the teenager you once were be impressed or do you still wake up wondering how all of this happened?
PM: I wanted to show young people that you can be successful. I did that shoot to show young gay men that they can surf and be whatever they want to be. The time to inspire is now. I came out right at the end of college and if I can get at least two or more teenagers a day who treasure themselves, then that is just great.
CP: Was there ever a moment in your creative career when you felt less than, well, “super,” and how did you get through those times?
PM: Great question, yes, of course, but I was fortunate because with every low I was saved by the power of stories because my parent’s always took us to the library. Books literally saved my life. My imagination let me explore. I was also part of the team that started up the Rosie O’Donnell Show. I learned a lot but I didn’t want to be a producer for a day time talk show. Hope and belief is what got me through those times. Thom’s power evolves as he evolves as a person. He really becomes more actualized as he learns more about himself. I really believe the book is about everybody because everyone has the power to be a hero. When I speak to groups I always say, “Look to your left, now look to your right because there are heroes all around you.” It is this belief that has gotten me through the rough patches.
CP: If you could give advice to any budding gay super hero, what would it be, or what would you, yourself, tell Thom at the beginning of his struggles.
PM: Believe in yourself. People always ask me, “How did you do all those things you did?” I don’t know how to answer that, I just believed in myself. The tiniest amount of faith goes a long way. I always wanted to write because it was books that shaped my life. To people who want to express themselves creatively, turn off the television and just imagine something great. Then start doing it. Take the time to discipline yourself because you can make it if you allow yourself. There is a fire in your belly and keep it. It is uniquely yours. Flex those muscles and exercise and nurture them. You were put on this earth for a reason, and that is to shine. Keep working!
Interview ends:
Interview Ends.
For more information about Perry Moore go online to www.perrymoorestories.com and for bookings contact Mike D'Andrea at Greater Talent Network Speakers Bureau online at www.greatertalent.com. |
