P. E. Ryan: Exploring the Issue

First, a bit of history. When I was 18, I was a freshman at Florida State and had a job shelving books. One of the books I came across was The Anita Bryant Story (an autobiography of a singer-turned-orange-juice-spokesperson who surprised everyone in the 1970s by becoming America's #1 homophobe). I was in the closet, nervous, and immediately read the chapter titled, I think, "The Homosexual Problem." I then committed my one and only act of censorship: I went into the elevator and, with the doors open, I dropped the slim, little book through the gap and down into the elevator shaft. It's probably still there.

I wrote Saints of Augustine because I wanted to write the book that I wish had existed back in 1983: a novel about a gay guy, a straight guy, their various problems, and how they could forge a solid friendship despite—or because of—their differences.

Thankfully, it's easier for teens to come out these days, but that doesn't mean it's easy. I see it as a "right of passage" that shapes the adults we become. With that in mind, the subject matter is still very, very relevant. There are many prejudices thriving in the world, but the prejudice against gays and lesbians will probably be the last to evaporate. Therefore, it's up to us to explore the issue, celebrate it, and hopefully reach out to the world with our writing.

I wrote Saints of Augustine for all readers, not just a gay and lesbian audience. In fact, I purposefully kept in mind straight readers (both guys and girls) and was just as interested in the straight characters as the gay ones.

If you're a straight guy, Id love to know what you thought of the book and if you'd recommend it to your straight friends. Likewise if you're a straight girl or a lesbian. And as for my gay male readers…did I get it right?

P. E. Ryan
Author of Saints of Augustine