FAQs
Here are answers to some commonly-asked questions I get. More as they come in…
1. How did you come up with the idea to write “Bear Like Me“?
In 1999, I saw the growth of the bear community, and felt it would be an up-and-coming phenomenon. I searched online, but there were no novels written about or set in the bear community that had been published so far. I could be the first!
The more I thought about it, though, the harder a sell I figured it would be to a gay publisher. If the book was about bears, not only would it be limited to the gay community, but mostly the much-smaller bear community within it. My solution was to have the main character be a non-bear entering a bear world. That way he, and the readers, could learn about bears and bear love along the way.
2. Are the characters all based on people you know?
As I said in a recent interview, Peter is a more naive (I actually said ‘dumber,’ but that’s not quite fair) and courageous version of myself. I think of him as epitomizing the phrase “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” He also lives in a fairly benevolent universe where taking huge risks always pays off.
The other characters take bits and pieces from one or another friend, or people I’ve known in real life. Everyone’s been through enough of a blender, though, that my friends wouldn’t be able to pick themselves out of the cast (they’ve tried!).
Lastly, my current boyfriend is a burly non-scene bear with red hair, offbeat interests, and the prototypical “strong, silent type” — just as I the love interest in the book, 11 years ago. Freaky!
3. Where do you get your ideas?
I have a list of about 30 ideas for novels and stories. Some go back to when I was a teenager, and one or two I’ve come up with in the past two months. I usually combine a “what if” with thinking about the social or psychological implications. For example, with “Bear Like Me,” the idea was “what if a twink disguised himself as a bear?” The implications were that his exterior changes would also end up changing how he sees the world, and how he sees himself.
4. How did you get published?
Things have changed a lot since 2000. For gay fiction, ebooks are increasing where it’s at. Your best bet is to write, write, and write some more — then consult gay fiction sites like Reviews by Jessewave to learn the ins and outs of the gay publishing, writing, and reading worlds. One piece of advice: never give up. Always keep at it.
5. What’s next?
So many ideas, so little time! My interest has definitely been piqued by the m/m romance genre, but I’m not always about HEA (happily ever after) endings. I also like science fiction, mysteries, and suspense, so the field’s open. Whatever’s coming, though, is going to come soon. Stay tuned!
Do you have any questions? I’d love to hear from you at jonathanacohen@gmail.com.