We're here in Asheville for an interview with Ridge Huntington. Ridge's story is being told in A Change of Pace, from Torquere Press. Ridge has kindly invited me to join him in the sunroom of his renovated farmhouse outside Asheville, North Carolina.
JM: So, Ridge, thanks very much for taking time to meet with me. I have to say, this place is not what I expected. (looks around the sunroom in awe)
RH: You're very welcome, JM. What did you expect, though?
JM: Hmm. Well, I guess I expected you two guys to have an in-town apartment, in one of the hot spot gay-friendly areas, to be frank.
RH: (chuckles) That's funny. Been out in this area all my life. Grew up down the road about four-five miles. Now, Drew, he's another thing all together.
JM: Exactly. That's what I was thinking. How would you describe him? I had a tough time telling his story.
RH: Hah. That man, he doesn't want to cooperate with much of anything. It didn't take me long to learn that about him at all.
JM: Tell me more about him.
RH: He's definitely stubborn. We bump heads every now and then. He thinks his city ways are best a little too often for my taste. (with a snort, Ridge rolls his eyes.) It took him a while to bring it down a few notches.
JM: But you love him?
RH: Oh, yeah. Hard not to. Even when he's driving me nuts with his silly engineer kookiness. Have you ever been around anyone who's an engineer? They're a little obsessed with details. I didn't really notice it until I started living with him. On the one hand, it's good, since he's a stickler for a clean house - and I mean, a clean house. (Ridge nods decisively) On the other hand, he'll obsess about reading four books on how to weed the gardens.
JM: (laughs) Oh, I kind of got a hint of that writing his story. Turns out he loves these gardens, hmm? They really are something. I would never have thought it of him.
RH: He'll surprise you every now and then.
JM: How do you feel about your story being told?
RH: Kind of weird, I think. (shrugs)
JM: But good?
RH: (nods) I think so. Yeah, it's good. I mean, on the one hand, we're just a couple of guys who got together. Even around here, there are plenty of gay couples.
JM: But you had to work at it, right? It didn't come too easily.
RH: Hah. You can say that again.
JM: (grins) Well, we don't want to give too much away, so I think I'll leave it there for now. (looks around) How about a tour of this beautiful place?
RH: That was easy. (pushes back his chair) I'll be glad to show off the place. I just finished turning a pair of old closets into a small home office. Let me show you. You wouldn't believe the reclaimed wood I found at a salvager in town.
Read Ridge's story in A Change of Pace, being released by Torquere Press on August 10th.
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A note from JM Cartwright:
I've finished the three-book Change series, and Pace makes #3. I began the series with the idea of one guy leaving the big city -- Chicago - for a smaller town life and the chance to grow professionally. It took off from there, by itself. I learned a lot writing these books, since they were my first efforts. I like to think I've grown as a writer.
I've just completed a couple of shorts, which was new ground for me. One is a free read at Goodreads, part of the Hot Summer Days stories. Authors were challenged to choose a picture submitted by members, and write a story about the pic. I was drawn to the shot of Batman holding a gorgeous, naked guy. The result is Appearing Knightly. Another short is A Gentleman and His Jockey, which was a response to a pic that Cryselle put up on her blog, Cryselle's Bookshelf. When Crys read my ficlet, she urged me to write a complet story. Both of these efforts were fun and very enlightening regarding my style as a writer, and the necessity of keeping things succinct and cohesive in a faster format.
I'm now working on Antonio Diaz' story. Those of you who've read The Trouble with Angel will recognize that name. It's giving me a little difficulty, but I hope to have it submitted for consideration in the next couple of months. It's especially tough to think about it now, since I'm on vacation. 8-)
A Change of Pace by JM Cartwright
Coming to Torquere Press Aug. 10th
Ridge isn't sure that Mr. Right Now is worth the aggravation. They argue, Drew curses a lot, and Ridge rolls his eyes.
Drew manages to step on a few toes as he adjusts to life in the south, and Ridge finds himself entertained in more ways than one.
Can an uppity Yankee and a laid-back Southerner meet in the middle?
It's a man's world...
Publisher link: www.torquerepress.com
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2 comments:
Great interview sounds like a great read!
Thank you - and thanks to Dawn for letting Ridge have his say!
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