Happy Pride Month everyone! Twinsie Tenise here. I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who took the time to answer the questions for our pride month celebration. I thought hard about the questions and had fun coming up with them. I love that the authors seemed to have as much fun answering them. We will be celebrating all month with author spotlights as well as reviews for some of the LGBTQIA books we’ve read this year. Check back daily to learn more about that days featured author or book and add to your TBR piles. I hope you enjoy getting to know a little about all of these wonderful authors and their work.
🏳🌈Tell us your name and a little about yourself?
C.J. Baty I have been writing MM Mystery/Romances for over 15 years. It’s what I read and therefore, it’s what I write. There are many things you probably wouldn’t know about me. Some of that will be answered in other questions here.
🏳🌈How many books have you written? Do you have a favorite?
I’ve published nearly 30 books. And I do have a favorite. The first Pinkerton Man book is one of my favorites. It’s based on a Fan Fiction story which was based on Author Charlie Cochrane’s Cambridge Fellows series.
🏳🌈Do you write one book and finish it completely before starting the next? If not, how do you keep yourself from confusing the projects?
Generally, I do finish one before I go on to the next. However, when I’m writing a series, I keep an Author’s Bible of characters, places, and info on each series. That way I don’t end up killing someone twice. That just wouldn’t be nice.
🏳🌈What font do you write in? Do you actually care or is it a default setting?
For the most part, I keep to Times Roman 14pt. My eyes enjoy reading that.
🏳🌈How do you ensure your LGBTQ characters feel authentic and mutifaceted, rather than just serve a plot function?
When I first started out, I asked several men whom I trusted if it sounded right to them. Now, I have a trusted crew who read much of my stuff and are very helpful.
🏳🌈Do you have a favorite piece of LGBTQ history or fun fact you would like to share?
At one of my very first events, a woman came to my table. She had tears in her eyes. She told me her son was gay and that she could never get him to read. She gave him one of my books and he hasn’t stopped reading. That was something I will never forget.
🏳🌈What is one of your favorite books or movies with LGBTQ representation?
Feel free to share more than one, I know it is difficult as a reader to pick one favorite of anything. Especially if its book related.
The Adrian English series by Josh Lanyon is my absolute favorite read. I was thrilled beyond words to meet Josh at an event where I was signing. She’s a lovely lady. And I’ve already mentioned Charlie Cochran and the Cambridge Fellows. Another wonderful author whose has a real love for the LBGQT+ community. As far as a movie goes, I’m telling my age by saying I absolutely love Birdcage with Robin Williams and Nathan Lane.
🏳🌈What is something you have used for a bookmark that IS NOT a bookmark?
A grocery store receipt. Shameful I know.
🏳🌈Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what are some of your favorite genres or songs?
This is another thing you might not know. I love music of all genres, but I mostly listen to albums that have raining water, creeks rushing, or just the sound of the night in the mountains. Which fits since a lot of my stories take place in the mountains.
🏳🌈What is a super specific detail you know about one of your characters that has no relevance to the story?
In the Pinkerton Man series, Michael O’Leary is Stile Long’s significant other. Michael has a secret desire to be messed up. He’s always so neat and tidy in the stories but he loves it when Stiles gets a little randy.
🏳🌈What are your purchase links?
You can find me on Amazon and Books2Read for my universal link.