WPS Author Interview Day 10: G. L. Rueda

 WPS Author Interview Day 10: G. L. Rueda

Welcome to day 10 of the Wonderland Pride Spotlight author interviews! Today I am interviewing G. L. Rueda. To see all of the spotlight posts created by my lovely community, head over to the hashtag #wonderlandpridespotlight over on Instagram! 

GL's Books

• Unlikely Ideal
• Looping Threads (coming later this year)

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"I'm an ace woman."

2. What books of yours have LGBTQ+ representation, and what rep do they have?

"Unlikely Ideal is my debut. It's a romance between a gay man (Dillon) and a Demiromantic/pansexual man (Karlos). Besides them, their friend group is diverse: Dillon's friend group has an asexual woman and a married gay man. Karlos' group has an aromantic/pansexual woman, a nonbinary lesbian, a bisexual man, and a trans woman who is married to that bi man. 

My upcoming release, a Holiday Romance called 'Looping Threads,' will feature a Sapphic relationship. It'll be the second book in the Love in Bellinvue series out of six, with Unlikely Ideal being the first. Three of them will be Achillean romances, and three will be Sapphic."

3. Why do you think LGBTQ+ rep in books is important?

"Because it's normal, and it should be treated as such. More and more people are able to feel comfortable finding themselves because they can see people like them out and proud. Knowing yourself and being able to live your truth makes life just a little bit easier, and finding community through that can save lives, especially when hatred and bigotry [are] still so prevalent, particularly with people in power."

4. What got you into writing?

"I started out with Pokémon fanfiction when I was 10 or so, because I wanted more episodes where Team Rocket had happy endings. It kind of clicked that, if I want a story, I have to write it myself. I finally jumped from fanfiction to original work when I decided it was time to see something that is entirely mine. I have a lot to learn, but the feeling of having my ideas materialize is inexplicable."

5. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"There are always legends like Marsha P. Johnson, and current icons like Lady Gaga. I'd like to mention Nava Mau, though. She's from the same city as me, is involved in various causes, and is so talented and so kind (from what I've seen). I hope she keeps thriving."