Interview with Page Powars, author of upcoming debut THE BORROW A BOYFRIEND CLUB

 

Today's interview is with Page Powars (he/him) about his upcoming debut book, The Borrow a Boyfriend Club. This book sounds absolutely fantastic so I was glad to be able to pick his brain about the book a bit! This was an amazing interview and I am so glad that we were able to discuss this book.

We talked a bit about what it's been like being a debut author, what drives him to write, and what he would tell his main characters if he could talk to them.      

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When did you first start writing?

College! Quite a few authors practically start writing out of the womb, but I didn't even start regularly reading until college. My storytelling knowledge came from video games. That's probably because my public high school curriculum consisted solely of books by old white men from ancient times, so I assumed all books were like that. I had no interest until I discovered a few queer YA books-Tara Sim and Shaun David Hutchinson were two authors who inspired me to pull up a blank doc.

Ooh! That's nice! I'm glad you were able to find what reading and writing worked for you! I was always a reader but I definitely get what you mean by having little interest in the books written by old white men. Reading queer books is so much more fun and so much more relatable.

What drives you to write?

I seem to only have a desire to write a YA rom-com unless I can simultaneously provide a sliver of wisdom as someone in their mid-twenties. I'd like to think my books are 99% jokes but 1% sincerity. Also, when I can discuss ideas that traditional publishing hasn't often put into the world yet. I like to lightly tackle transgender insecurities, and even cisgender insecurities! Two books I'm working on now involve cisgender guys who are regularly mistaken for girls and how that, too, weighs on them. Gender is annoying, and so is high school. I'm not sure which is worse.

I like that balance though! More jokes but still having some honest sincerity there! I'm very intrigued on what you're working on now! I'm very curious how you're going to be tackling that! Also, gender is definitely worse than high school. At least in my experience.

Unless I'm wrong, this is your debut book. What's your experience being a debut author been like?

The early reader reception for The Borrow a Boyfriend Club has been beyond my wildest dreams. It's strange to receive awards and reviews since I just view myself as some guy. I don't know what I wrote or did. But thank you. Maybe when I'm further in my author career, this will start to feel normal, but I also sort of doubt it.

I'm glad that the reception has been so good! I personally doubt it will ever feel normal, but why would you want it too?

What's your experience been like in using social media to promote your book and connect with other authors and readers?

I've gotten messages saying how much readers related to or learned from The Borrow a Boyfriend Club's protagonist. Even though I write very unserious rom-coms, that makes me thrilled. Readers may be hesitant to email their favorite authors-I was too scared when I was a whole adult in college-but we love receiving them. We struggle with confidence, so those keep us going. Once again, to me, I am just some guy.

I love getting to email and message authors! It's such an amazing way of connecting with them and letting them know what a book or character or scene means!

What is your writing process like? Are you more of a planner or a pantser?

When I first started writing, I was a pantser, but I've found that once you're in the thick of traditional publishing, agents and editors request-sometimes demand-an outline. That way, they can pick out what isn't working before you write the whole book. This can stop anywhere from days to years wasted. I personally want to maximize as much time as I can writing what everyone is on-board with since publishing is such a team effort despite there strangely only being one name on the cover.

Ooh, I've never really thought about how much time would be wasted if a scene was written that just didn't work. It definitely makes sense why they would want an outline! I'm sure much time has been saved in making that request! Publishing is definitely a team effort! We need to start having credits in books that list everyone involved in the making of the book.

What inspired the idea for this book?

I wrote this while I was transitioning, so I wanted to create a book about a trans character that had a happy ending in order to believe I'd get one. That he'd have silly friends and a sillier romance. And I wondered if other people wanted this too.

Definitely a wanted topic! Some days I love books that are more serious, but other times I want ones that are a bit silly. Plus, I always strive to believe that trans people can get their happy endings.

Which came first with this book: the plot or the characters?

Both, actually. With every book, I first decide how my main character's gargantuan flaw will catastrophically conflict with the plot, so one can't really exist without the other. For example, Noah, the main character, internally struggles with being seen as a boy and wants to even be invisible, but when he joins the Borrow a Boyfriend Club, he needs to perform as a perfect boy in a metaphorical spotlight for the whole school to analyze. If Noah were more confident, the plot wouldn't hit the same, in my opinion!

Huh, that actually makes a lot of sense! Can't really write a plot unless you know what the character is striving for or dealing with.

What are you most excited about with the release of The Borrow a Boyfriend Club?

That's already four months away. God Save the Queen. My brain refuses to process this is happening- Oh, well, I'll be offering signed copies of The Borrow a Boyfriend Club through The Ripped Bodice bookstore, which is exciting. But this means I need to figure out how to sign my autograph. What do I do for that? I'm not writing PP.

Yeah, I get that! Just not sinking in quite yet. Hahaha, I'm glad you're going to be able to sign some copies. Good luck figuring out how to do that though!

What is your favorite scene in this book?

The scene where they decide Noah's Type. Each Borrow a Boyfriend Club member has a Type, i.e. Sporty Type, Influencer Type, Smart Type, and the way they go about deciding Noah's is chaotic and also cruel.

Yep! That's really all I need to convince me that I need to read the book!

If you could talk to your main characters, what would you tell them?

I'M GONNA CHUCK A XANAX INTO YOUR OPEN MOUTH

See previous comment!!

What do you like to do to relax when life, or writing, gets to be too much?

Story-driven video games refill my well, for sure. The ones I play are distanced enough from books that I can relax yet still be inspired by the character dynamics, dialogue, and plot. For any writers looking for a break, Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail, and Danganronpa are a few. All can be played on the phone so no extra console cost. I also try to go on walks, but big emphasis on the word try.

I love those kind of games!!! Genshin is so much fun to play!

Thank you so much Page for taking part in this interview! I greatly appreciate you taking the time to do this with me! Also, thank you to everyone who read this! You can find Page's social media links a bit further below and you can also find the link to preorder a copy of The Borrow a Boyfriend Club from The Ripped Bodice below!

If you like what I do, consider giving me a follow on my social media or consider sharing or donating my GCLS GoFundMe. I appreciate any help or shares that I can get! Every little bit matters. Thank you for reading!!

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You can find Page Powars on his website, Twitter, Tiktok, and Instagram.

You can buy Page Powars's books from The Ripped Bodice. You can also preorder it from other stores that sell books!

If you can't buy his books but you still want to read them, consider requesting them to your local library or suggesting them on Overdrive!