We recently connected with Kristoffer Gair and have shared our conversation below.

Kristoffer, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I’d co-written one history non-fiction novel before going solo, then wrote three comedies. I was very comfortable in the comedy genre and assumed this would be where I stayed for my writing career. That changed in 2015 during my father’s last year of life.

Watching someone suffer from Alzheimer’s is a life-changing event. Not only does the patient suffer, but so does the family, especially if they are also acting as caregivers. I knew his time was coming to an end, and I wasn’t sure if I had the will to write another comedy, let alone another novel. What would this next book be about? Would there be a next book?

Friends and family had asked me for years when I was going to write something serious. This seemed an opportune time provided I could find something that inspired me in some way. I decided to piece together some random plot elements I’d been collecting for the past couple of years. The story would indeed be serious, and I’d be expanding the number of characters I typically dealt with. There would be an ensemble cast, and what they faced would be meaningful to me.

What came out of the experiment was a tale of people looking for hope, which mirrored my life for the previous 7 years. I needed to know hope still existed, and I explored that theme through these characters. It wasn’t long enough to be a novel, but it wasn’t a short story either. I settled on the novella, and I knew the publishers I worked with wouldn’t publish a novella. Also, they might want to change elements of the story, and I didn’t want that.

So, I worked with editors of my choosing, hired a cover artist, and published Falling Awake independently. The story was turned out to be the best received and most reviewed piece I’d ever had at that time, and it taught me a few things. First, my ideas can exist without a publisher provided the editing and cover are still professional. Second, I can write something serious and meaningful. Third, having both one and two meant my work could open up in areas I never explored before.

Incidentally, family and friends asked me shortly after when I was going to go back to writing comedy again.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My mother read to me as a child to the point I could recite my favorite children’s books back to her before I could read. I loved books. I loved the places they could take me, and I started writing puppet plays in 1st Grade. These graduated to short stories–not particularly well-written short stories–and then attempts at a novel in college–equally poorly written. But, I loved the process and dipping into the well of creativity.

I had an amazing mentor during my college years, and surrounded myself with budding writers. We never had an absence of creativity around us, and that fostered an atmosphere I’ve rarely experience since in its rawest form.

One of my former English and History teachers from high school approached me after I graduated from GVSU and eventually asked if I’d co-write a book based on her research. It took 3 1/2 years, but we finished it, and having a completed first draft in my hands made me want more. I went solo after that and began to exploring stories within the LGBTQ genre that I wished I’d had when I was growing up.

I consider my novels to be fiction, just with main characters who happen to part of the LGBTQ community. We exist, so they will exist in my work. We are a normal part in the fabric of life, so the characters are a normal part in the fabric of life. I’m proud of the stories I’ve told, and how the worlds they’re about continue to grow. The books aren’t perfect, and I continue to grow and improve, but there’s something unique about each story that has caught a reader’s attention, made them think, and made them feel, and that to me is best thing in the world about what I do.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

One of my degrees is in film, and I never had the opportunity to do much with that. And by that, I mean move to LA or another area where there was a thriving film industry, and work my way into it. Honestly, I’d have have loved to have worked with the likes of Roger Corman from the ground up and learned the trade. I’d also have been happy filming some bad low-budget horror or science fiction films because cast and crews can do some fun things in those genres with low budgets. That wasn’t meant to be for me, however.

What I do now with the novels is create stories–non low-budge horror or science fiction stories–I would have enjoyed bringing to the screen. I’m writing the books I wish I could make into films. Sink or swim, the success of each story is all on my shoulders, and I’m fine with that. Being able to see my vision from start to finish, decide what edits I make or ignore, and choose my own cover artist in order to release something that is truly my own is what continues to drive me.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

For authors, review their work. Leave a rating on Amazon, B&N, Goodreads, or wherever you can. Every review counts. Word of mouth on social media helps, too. Heck, interact with the author whose book you read. We’re people, too, and we like to know someone out there is taking an interest, even if it wasn’t to their taste. There’s a good chance one coming up might be. Connections between people are made all over the world through social media. It’s a huge place, and it can be a friendly place when traveling if you even have the opportunity to meet. Sharing and connecting is one of the beauties of being a creative.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kristoffergair.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkristoffergair/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristoffer.gair.3
• Twitter: https://x.com/KristofferGair