Queereaders discussion

Nancy and I are test-driving a new idea - authors of the month. Instead of having two BOM selections, we'll have one regular BOM and an Author of the Month. Nancy and I will choose one group author each month and feature one of their books as a group read that month and discuss it. Since both books chosen this month were by group authors, we're going to test it out this month.

Our second author is Paul G. Bens. Pual's first standalone story, Mahape a ale Wala'au, was published by Torquere Books on February 18, 2008. This month we're featuring his novel Kelland as one of our Books of the Month!

This thread is dedicated to Q&A with Mr. Bens. You can ask him any questions you like - about his book, his writing or what color his bedroom is. Near the end of the month, Paul will randomly choose a member who asks a question to receive a free copy of Kelland.

Ask away!

Paul, I've noticed several of your stories feature Asian characters. Have you been to Asia?

What is the proper pronunciation of Minh and Toan Ngô?

Where did you get the inspiration for Kelland?

Nancy wrote: "What is the proper pronunciation of Minh and Toan Ngô?"

Ah, this is hard to do via internet....but Minh is actually pronounced Mnh (almost as if the "i" isn't there which gives it a slight U sound to it.) Toan is pronounced sorta like "thong" but with the g almost silent and the inflection going down. Ngo is pronounced pretty much like it is spelled but with the ng really mushed together into the back of the throat. Almost like the sound of "ng" at the end of the word "song".

When I do readings, though, I can't really do the Vietnamese pronunciation well; so I stick to a very American version. =-)

Nancy wrote: "Paul, I've noticed several of your stories feature Asian characters. Have you been to Asia?"

I've never been to Asian, actually. But in 1989, I became very moved by the massacre at Tiananmen Square in Beijing and I got very involved in the protests here in Los Angeles against the Chinese government. I made a lot of friends during those protests and as I went through my former casting career, I became very involved with the representation of Asian Americans in media (or lack of representation), especially the "Miss Saigon" casting controversy.

As I became a writer, I just really noticed that Asian American are vastly under represented in mainstream fiction and so I've just always tried to include Asian American characters when I write.

As for Kelland, my BF is originally from Viet Nam and he helped guide me a lot with respect to Minh and Toan and their family.

Ralph wrote: "Where did you get the inspiration for Kelland?"

Part of the inspiration came from a very dark period I was going through in my life. It was very tough, a terribly un-healty relationship was involved, and the whole situation really made me look very carefully at myself and my past. As hard as it was to go through, when I reached the other side, I realized that it was probably the best thing that ever happened to me because it made me examine some very dark stuff and ultimately made me stronger.

I really just decided that I wanted to write something that focused on the particular subject matter I was going through and which dealt themeatically with how what is good can very often be bad and what look bad or evil can sometimes be very good.

But the novel itself actually started out as a short story which I've never published (but which essentially morphed into George's story in "Kelland").

Paul wrote: "As for Kelland, my BF is originally from Viet Nam and he helped guide me a lot with respect to Minh and Toan and their family..."

That was going to be my next question, but I didn't want to get too personal. :)

I really felt for Minh and Toan, going through the hardships they did and then growing up in a foreign culture that clashes with their more traditional beliefs. Under the circumstances, I don't think Minh would have ever been able to share what happened to him with his parents. I also think many Asians are more deferential to people of high status and authority. A child may be scared to discuss a serious violation of trust by someone who is older because it may be perceived as disrespectful.

Nancy wrote: I really felt for Minh and Toan, going through the hardships they did and then growing up in a foreign culture that clashes with their more traditional beliefs. Under the circumstances, I don't think Minh would have ever been able to share what happened to him with his parents. I also think many Asians are more deferential to people of high status and authority.

It was really important for me to express this dynamic as far as how immigrants feel toward those that sponsor them in this country as well. Yeah, Minh would have trouble sharing because of cultural beliefs, but there's also that dynamic of "how do you snitch on an organization that has given you so much." There's almost silence by gratitude, which I've found can be very common in situations like this. I really wanted to play with this some and hope I did the dynamic justice.

And the thing about Minh and his parents...I tried hard not to make his parents stereotypical, stern Vietnamese parents. Like with Toan near the end and the unspoken acknowledgment from his father about Calvin's importance. I probably varied a nit from how a traditional Vienamese father would have reacted.

Nancy wrote: I really felt for Minh and Toan, going through the hardships they did and then growing up in a foreign culture that clashes with their more traditional beliefs. Under the circumstances, I don't think Minh would have ever been able to share what happened to him with his parents. I also think many Asians are more deferential to people of high status and authority.

It was really important for me to express this dynamic as far as how immigrants feel toward those that sponsor them in this country as well. Yeah, Minh would have trouble sharing because of cultural beliefs, but there's also that dynamic of "how do you snitch on an organization that has given you so much." There's almost silence by gratitude, which I've found can be very common in situations like this. I really wanted to play with this some and hope I did the dynamic justice.

And the thing about Minh and his parents...I tried hard not to make his parents stereotypical, stern Vietnamese parents. Like with Toan near the end and the unspoken acknowledgment from his father about Calvin's importance. I probably varied a nit from how a traditional Vienamese father would have reacted.

I think you did a great job making Minh's and Toan's parents believable. Even though we have certain expectations of behavior from people of different cultures, we are all still individuals that cannot always be lumped into a box.

Seeing how influential Kelland was in each of the main characters' lives made me curious about what kind of influence (if any) she had in Lucas' life and why she couldn't do anything to prevent his suicide.

Who was your favorite character?

Nancy wrote: "I think you did a great job making Minh's and Toan's parents believable.

Thank you. I tried to make them believable but also tried to stay away from the stereotypes.

Seeing how influential Kelland was in each of the main characters' lives made me curious about what kind of influence (if any) she had in Lucas' life and why she couldn't do anything to prevent his suicide.

I think Kelland really tried to help Lucas, but one of the things I really wanted to capture is that she can't necessarily reach everyone and that it also takes the person to be willing to confront what has happened to them. I think the same came be said for Calvin. Because there are so many that don't survive events like this, I really needed to reflect that in the story, because for every survivor there are those of us who didn't make it, who can't find our way out of the darkness even with someone "holding our hand."

Who was your favorite character?

This one is so hard, cause I really like them all. Toan is kinda who I'd like to be...a rock and roller who is sexy as hell but down-to-earth. But Minh, who I have a huge soft spot for, is more like who I actually am...a control freak. Tracey I just adore because she is just too cool for school. I also have a huge place in my heart for Al....if I ever finish the story I'm working on, you'll see more of Al (and the whole band, actually).

Interestingly, when I was writing it, I thought the character people would respond to most was George. But as I gave the first draft out to frieneds, it was always Minh and Toan that people gravitated to. The novel originally started with George's first chapter and ended with George's last chapter. But my then agents said to me that Minh and Toan were the heart of the story; so they should begin and end the book. And I loved that. I can't imagine it any other way now and if my short stint with my agents gave me anything, it was that.

Interestingly, a lot of people find George kinda creepy....which is funny because he's kinda how I was when I was young.