Wyatt O’Brian Evans is the creator of the steamy, sexually
provocative and popular series of novels entitled Nothing Can Tear Us Apart
(NCTUA). More than just highly
entertaining, NCTUA deals with some serious issues—including its overarching
theme: Intimate Partner Violence and
Abuse (IPV/A).
According to Evans, he
decided to tackle IPV/A—which tends to be heavily stigmatized and “swept under
the rug” in the LGBTQ Community—in the form of fiction. “I handled it in that
way because I believed that the issue would be more palatable,” stated the
author. “It’s less of ‘bitter pill to
swallow’. However, the issue’s impact is
in no way diminished.”
RAGE!, the latest
installment in the NCTUA series, has just been released. And lemme tell ya—it’s one helluva
rollercoaster ride! And, the last three
chapters will leave you simply breathless!
I had a recent talk with Evans about “all things RAGE!”
Evans: Mr. Gaytekeeper,
thanks for taking the time to speak with me.
Q: Where were you born and
raised?
A: The metro Washington D.C.
area.
Q: As a child, did you want
to become a journalist/writer/entertainer?
A: Pretty much. As a kid, I was always into the news, current
affairs, politics—that’s why I decided to go into journalism. And when I was a kid, I’d write poetry. And, a buddy of mine and I created comic book
companies. We were the creators,
writers, and illustrators; every month for a couple of years, we’d exchange
book titles. That was a lot of fun! I also had the ability to make others laugh,
and decided to try comedy as an adult.
As a stand-up comedian, when the audience is laughing at your material
and is really into you, and you have them in the palm of your hand, well…it can
be better than an orgasm! (Pause) Well, almost.
(Hearty laugh)
Q: What’s your educational
background?
A: I have two Bachelor of
Arts degrees, in journalism and political science, from the George Washington
University. I’ve nearly finished my
Masters in Communications.
Q: What are your
writing/journalism credentials?
A: I’ve been a writer
consultant for government and the private sector. And, I’ve written for print and on-line media
outlets including the Huffington Post,
Bilerico, BaltimoreOUTloud, Washington Post, Washington Blade, American
Politics, and Imperious Entertainment.
I’ve written in-depth, popular and influential series on both racism and
domestic violence/abuse (intimate partner violence/abuse) in the LGBT
community.
Q: What motivated you to
write Nothing Can Tear Us Apart—RAGE!?
A. I wanted to tell the
fresh, unique and inspiring story of two openly gay, accomplished, upwardly
mobile masculine men of color—Wesley, (African-American), and Antonio (‘Tonio;
Latino)—who, no matter what the odds, work to forge, sustain and then nurture a
monogamous relationship. I wanted to
demonstrate that two masculine men could indeed be truly loving and romantic. I also wanted to explore how intimate partner
violence and abuse would impact the couple.
Q: What’s the novel all
about?
A: Well, Nothing Can Tear Us
Apart—RAGE! has as its protagonists Wesley, who’s African-American, and Antonio
(‘Tonio) who’s Latino. Wes is 45,
‘Tonio’s 31, so there’s some age difference to make it interesting. The story is set in the present time, in
metro Washington area.
Wes is a handsome,
wealthy celeb/ entrepreneur, who hires the deliciously muscular ‘Tonio as his
Chief of Security. When they first meet,
the chemistry is instantaneous, totally off the hook! But neither one acts on the attraction? Why?
Well, they’ve both failed in the relationship department before. And then, they wonder if they should mix
“bizness with pleasure,” if you will.
But after getting to know one other well on so
many different levels, they can’t help it: they fall in love—deeply, madly,
passionately. However, they still have
problems admitting it. But certain
circumstances compel them to confess their true feelings for one another! And the lovemaking scene that follows is
awesomely provocative, riveting, explosive, and simply HAWT!!!
You see, I wanted a “slow
burn”—no sex between them occurs until they
pledge their love to one another. I
wanted to show these two guys falling in love, NOT lust. And afterwards, the two form a monogamous
relationship.
However, Wes and ‘Tonio
must confront internal issues and outside forces that throw their relationship
in dire jeopardy—including a duplicitous, nefarious individual who further
manipulates and complicates matters. And
then, things get totally out of control and ‘Tonio physically batters Wes!
However, that’s not the
end of the story: far more occurs that
profoundly impacts both men--including a horrific experience Wes
undergoes. Nothing Can Tear Us
Apart—RAGE! addresses and explores various issues/themes including intimate
partner violence/abuse (IPV/A), the DL, and ethnic/racial tensions between
African-Americans and Latinos.
Q: Why do you believe that
your novel will resonate well with a broad audience?
A: Thought-provoking, Nothing
Can Tear Us Apart—RAGE! is full of rich drama, action, masculine romance,
intrigue, provocative sexual situations, and twists and turns. Men and women—be they straight, gay,
bisexual, transgender--can embrace and relate to Wes and ‘Tonio, because their
story is one of true, deep romantic love between two individuals. Because RAGE! addresses and explores topical,
relevant, and timely issues, I fervently believe that Nothing Can Tear Us
Apart—RAGE! has universal appeal.
Q: Would you leave your
partner if he physically abused you?
A: To be honest, yes. But would/does Wes leave ‘Tonio? You have to read Nothing Can Tear Us
Apart—RAGE! to find out!
Q: Wyatt, what’s next, in
the pipeline?
A: I‘ve finished a novella
(short fiction) called Sinnin’ in Tha Citay.
Also, I’m working on the sequel to RAGE, and am fleshing out a self-help
tome. My new weekly progressive internet
radio program, The WOE Show, debuts June 1.
And after that, I’ll be conducting national workshops/seminars on
intimate partner violence and abuse. And
my company, Nair’Bo Universal, will be developing aspiring authors.
Sounds interesting! Must see if I can get a copy!
ReplyDeleteyou should do that :)
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