WPS 2026 Day 11: Andy Barrow

 

Wonderland Pride Spotlight Day 11: Andy Barrow

Welcome to day 11 of the 2026 Wonderland Pride Spotlight! This is my way to help champion LGBTQ+ books and authors this Pride month! Today I am interviewing Andy Barrow. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

Andy Barrow's LGBTQ+ Release

• Peter in Progress

The Interview

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

"Gay"

2. What rep do your books have?

"Gay, queer, and range of races"

3. If you were to write in a different genre, what would it be?

"Investigative journalism. I'd *love* to be at the helm of a big expose (think "Bad Blood" / Theranos!). "

4. What is your biggest writing inspiration?

"On one level, my thirty-something gay adolescence (I'm a late bloomer) inspires quite a bit of my writing ...  my life is awash in so many amazing, confusing, and rich experiences right now, and I find myself needing to write through them all. But at another level, I think of storytelling (and story reception) as such a human act - as the primary way that we discover and expand our own humanity; and the vehicle by which we connect with other humans in our increasingly isolating world. When I think of the texts that have touched me - the lines and moments that have made me feel more seen and known and alive - I feel very inspired to create, and to participate in creative exchange."

5. Anything exciting for you on the horizon?

"Peter in Progress, out June 2, is my debut novel. So everything is super exciting (and scary!) right now. I have readings coming up in Provincetown (6/26), New York Pride (6/27), and my hometown on Long Island (6/29) - pumped for all of those. But really, I'm most excited to start hearing from readers, to get their reactions to Peter's journey." 

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

"I've been so fortunate to work with my publicist, Michele Karlsberg, and the Publishing Triangle, an organization of queer creatives that she helps to spearhead. For decades, this group has nurtured, supported, and advocated for queer writers. They are talented artists and fierce activists; at the same time, they sustain a loving, diverse, and genuinely welcoming artistic community. I'm learning so much from them."

Outro

I adore this excuse to conduct little author interviews! Happy Pride everyone! Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their LGBTQ+ releases!