WPS Author Interview Day 23: Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith
Welcome to day 23 of the Wonderland Pride Spotlight author interviews! Today I am interviewing Kate Hyers & J.C. Smith. To see all of the spotlight posts created by my lovely community, head over to the hashtag #wonderlandpridespotlight over on Instagram!
Kate and JC's Books
1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?
K: " I am indeed! I love the umbrella term 'queer,' but when asked, I most often identify as bisexual."
J: "I suppose I’m what you’d call a 'baby queer.' But I also identify as bisexual."
2. What books of yours have LGBTQ+ representation, and what rep do they have?
K: "Our coauthored fantasy book, The Courtesan’s Eye, is our first published work. We made the highly conscious decision to feature identities across the spectrum of sexuality and gender. I wrote for the character Cordè, who mirrors my own chaotic bisexuality."
J: "What Kate said! Inclusion and diversity are both incredibly important to us. And while the character I wrote in The Courtesan’s Eye does not identify as queer, he learns to appreciate diversity in new, unique ways."
3. Why do you think LGBTQ+ rep in books is important?
K: "It’s important for the same reason that all representation is important. People in marginalized communities deserve the chance to see themselves portrayed in any form of media they consume. Representation can literally save lives—especially in today’s fraught political climate."
J: "Because it’s taken too damn long for representation to happen. I mean, homosexuality was considered a mental disorder up until 1973. Gender dysphoria was declassified in 2019. Queer people have existed since the dawn of time. Yeah, it’s about time we focus more on LGBTQIA+ in literature."
4. What got you into writing?
K: "I wrote a lot in grade school, but I didn’t consider it a possible career until my mid-to-late teens when I joined some online writing and roleplaying forums. Those virtual friends played a pivotal role in helping me believe in myself as a writer (and, truthfully, in my self-discovery process as a queer person). It’s been years since I’ve spoken to most of them, but they fundamentally altered the course of my life."
J: " I’ve been surrounded by books since birth; one of my earliest memories is my dad reading me The Hardy Boys before bedtime. It wasn’t until middle school, however, that I tried my hand at writing. My English teacher wanted us to write something—anything—and me, being the competitive, overachiever I was, wrote a fantasy novel. It was terrible. Everyone died. I like to think I did a little better writing The Courtesan’s Eye."
5. Who is a queer figure you look up to?
K: "Eddie Izzard has always been hugely important to me. I first became aware of her as a performer in her standup show Dress to Kill, which I still quote on a regular basis. It’s been so enlightening to watch Eddie’s gender identity and expression evolve over the last two decades. She’s shown me that everything exists on a spectrum, and there’s no shame in playing with or reevaluating your identity at any point in life. She’s also, in my opinion, one of the funniest people to ever live, and I admire her to no end. (I’d also be remiss if I didn’t at least acknowledge Angelina Jolie’s role in my coming out process. She’s the first celebrity I can remember being attracted to, and then finding out she was an out-and-proud bisexual at a time when that was so taboo did a lot for me as a questioning preteen.)"
J: "Confession. I sat and stared at this question for at least ten minutes while running through my list of names, trying to decide which one stood out the most, and I realized…I have no clue. Like I said earlier, I’m a wee babe in queer terms. I only realized within the past five or so years that my adoration for Cate Blanchett was more than just adoration—and I’ve hesitated calling myself bisexual because I don’t want to “claim” it without fully knowing what it means. But I have an amazing support network full of people who patiently answer my many questions, and I’m forever grateful to them."
