Chris Cole | Author
Chris has too much to do, but there's not enough time to do it all.
Born and raised in Southeast Idaho, Chris has always had a love of stories: whether reading them, watching them, or telling them. Throughout school, ze always found time to write and be creative in multiple endeavors. From yearbook to choir to English assignments, Chris always found joy in creating.
1. What inspired you to start writing/creating art, and how has that inspiration evolved over time?
Originally, my goal was to entertain with action-packed stories of everyday people overcoming extraordinary circumstances. As I navigated my own journey in coming out, finding my truth, and finding my passions, I realized I wanted stories about queer people that didn't revolve around the systemic oppression we have, do, and will continue to experience. I wanted more stories like Schitt's Creek, in other worlds and universes. Now, my goal and inspiration is to share my truth, raw and unfiltered, for better or for worse. Truth isn't always pretty or nice to hear, and it's still so important to know.
2. Can you share the story behind your latest work? What was your creative process like?
My most recent book is called Love Off Leash, a sequel to a romance published in 2021 called Puppy Love. These two books are much closer to me than any other books I've authored, because they reflect more struggles I've had and experiences I've endured. They also are very much about me facing my fears and writing about them.When it came to writing Love Off Leash, I recognized there were some story issues in the first I didn't address, like the role of a school counselor and their ethical guidelines. I tried to stay true to the characters as I wrote it, and realized I had grown and changed, and so did the couple, Ash and Remy. I'm very much a pantser, and as I faced struggles in my own marriage, that was reflected back at me in my writing. I didn't decide on how I wanted it to end until I made a choice in my own relationship. I guess my creative process very much mirrors what's happening not only in my life, but in the world around me. I take the hurt, pain, and fear I experience and see around me and try and make sense of it with words.
3. What themes or messages do you aim to convey through your work, and why are they important to you?
I really want to get to a place of queer joy with my work. There's so much I'm grateful for, so much I love and enjoy about my life. I love learning about new people, seeing the world from their perspective, and trying to build understanding of others through my work. I don't know what it's like to be a person of color or a woman, and when I write those characters, I am constantly being mindful of not trying to tell their story from my voice. I want people to recognize the strength that comes with acknowledging, embracing, and celebrating our diversity in this world. Because as much as we are different, we all share a few things in common as a species. Our ability to love, to connect, and to help lift each other in difficult times is something I admire about humans. If only we could come together and not have it be in times of disaster, despair, or crisis.
4. What advice would you give to aspiring authors/artists who are just starting their journey?
My advice depends on the person and what they're hoping to do with their writing. If they want to write as a hobby and publish for fun, learning everything you can about independent publishing and how to make a quality and lasting product you'll love is going to be very helpful. If you're looking to make it your career, write books to share with others, and make this your life, there's a lot more research that needs to happen, especially figuring out what kind of author you want to be - indie, hybrid, or traditional. Identifying your audience, what's selling and super popular right now, trends in the field, elevating your writing by taking courses and going to conferences... there are so many things aspiring writers can do to hone their skills. Going into it knowing it's going to be a lifelong learning pursuit is also important. Self-discipline and accountability are big hurdles for me, so finding accountability partners and ensuring you incorporate writing into your routine is also very important. And with all of this said, I still think the most important thing is to have fun, and find the joy in creating your art! Life's too short to only do things we have to do.
5. What role has self-publishing or independent production played in your career, and what have you learned from the process?
Self publishing allowed me more creative control over my science fiction series, and gave me the opportunity to connect with other writers and artists I would never have met otherwise. From the beta reading, to cover design, to how to market the books, the biggest thing I learned was that I was in charge of everything - whether I liked it or not! Indie publishing was a big learning experience for me, and I'm so grateful to have gained insight into what it takes to take an idea through the process of publishing. It was much harder than I thought it would be, honestly, and I recognize part of the difficulties I faced included not utilizing more resources out there, doing my research, and thoroughly understanding distribution platforms and their abilities. I feel better prepared for any publishing endeavor I take on in the future, and learned a lot about what goes on once you hit the 'go' button on wanting to publish your manuscript. I was even able to make connection at book events, and seeing what other authors were doing with their materials inspired me to step up my own game and invest in more than just the books. So, I have posters, business cards, signage, and things to give away, like pens, bookmarks, tote bags, etc. I made connections with authors and book event organizers, in turn, connected me with my audience and more events where I could see more success in selling my books. Like I said, I am in charge of everything with my indie books, and that means I wanted to make sure I did it well. Learning curves are a part of the process, and I'm grateful for everyone who took the time to share their insights with me.
6. How do you connect with your audience, and what has been your favorite moment of reader or viewer feedback?
My favorite way to connect with my audience is through BookTok, but I have been looking to start sending out a newsletter in addition to the blog on my website. I definitely learned that I have to go to the places where my readers are, and be comfortable selling myself and my books. I'm not always comfortable selling my own books, but I've gotten better at it the more I do it. I've found going to Pride events and other queer-focused events is best for me, as queer people may not be comfortable approaching my rainbow-centric booth in other spaces. As for my favorite feedback, I love hearing that people like my books and even had a review on the second book of my sci-fi series demanding the third book sooner. I also have to admit my favorite piece of feedback was a critical review of my book, Puppy Love. The reviewer absolutely called out my characters on their behavior, some of the tropes I overused, and ultimately helped inspire me to write the sequel where I address some of those things. However, the part of that review that said the situation with the neighbor was very unrealistic never met my real-life neighbor I based the character on, and that's all I'm going to say!
7. How do you handle challenges like writer's block or creative burnout, and what motivates you to keep going?
Not well. When I get writer's block, I tend to turn to other projects, so I'm at least making progress somewhere. But, that doesn't help me meet my deadlines. So, there are tools I use, like rolling dice, using packs of writing cards I bought for when I get stuck to see what inspires me, I write in a journal-like book called Finish the Story that has writing prompts, and I also read, listen to books and podcasts, and watch movies or play video games. While the last two are equally entertainment and research, I always try to go in a specific order so I'm not spending too much time away from the project I want to get done. Creative burnout happens, and that's usually when I take a break from writing all the time, or focus on my relationships with my loved ones, and try to replenish my creative well. I can't produce water from an empty well, and sometimes that means I need to take a break. I've also found accountability partners helpful in maintaining consistency in writing, and I attend a local writer's critique group where I purposefully always sign up to read 10 pages of my work in progress (WIP). That way, I have something holding my feet to the fire if I get too entrenched in taking a break. The reality is that writing is helpful for me, and I don't want to go for too long without doing it.
8. What’s next for you? Can you share any upcoming projects or future creative goals you’re excited about?
I am working on the second book of the Ancient Wonders Series (the first book won 3 awards at the Fall 2024 BookFest!), and I'm excited about continuing that urban fantasy romance that will be getting more spicy as the series goes on. I also am delving deep into worldbuilding my YA fantasy series, which has yet to have any books published. This series was inspired by the Animorphs series I loved so much growing up (and continue to adore), and I'm hoping to publish along the same lines - a lot of novellas, versus a few larger tomes. Finding a publisher who will do that can be a challenge (and I'm still mulling over if I want this to be graphic novels, or turn it into a screenplay for a TV series), but I'm hopeful I can get that figured out soon. I ahve a memoir I'm working on, my first nonfiction endeavor, and I'm keen to see how that goes as I look for representation for it. I also have a series of children's books in mind, and am excited about that moving forward! I also have a sequel to my romance Avoiding Aiden in the works, and that book has received two awards and solid reviews. I also have a screenplay I'm trying to find representation for, I have a stage play version of Avoiding Aiden I'd love to see picked up somewhere, and a few other screenplay ideas. I have plenty to do, it's just finding the time to do it all.
9. Who are some of your biggest creative influences, and how have they shaped your work or style?
As I mentioned, I adore KA Applegate's Animorphs series, which I was able to visualize in my head a lot like a movie. This is how I work when I write, so I can see what's happening in my head. The hard part for me is translating that into coherent and descriptive sentences. I was trained to write as a TV news reporter, which is a succinct style in which I couldn't find much creativity. It wasn't until I started writing creatively I found my voice, and it's still continuing to develop. There are also some standalone books I enjoy, including Switched by N.R. Walker, Nothing Special by Casey Cox, Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan, and books based on the Dragon Age video game series. All these different works remind me that writing is an artform, and one I want to be highly skilled in, so I continue to pursue education opportunities when I can, ingest books to remind myself of why I love stories in the first place, and keep in mind that, as with all art, it's subjective.
10. How has your personal life or experiences influenced your writing/art, and are there any particular moments that stand out?
Writing is very personal for me, and a few moments that stand out include writing a romance as I separated and eventually divorced from my partner of 13 years. I put pieces of my soul into each book I write (even the vampire erotica!), and I can't help it. A moment that stands out for me was when I held my first book signing. I had so much love and support coming from my friends and family, and that has continued to grow as I've become more accomplished and published more books. I also have a tattoo that keeps track of the number of books I've published (11 myself, and one anthology in which I participated). I also think attending my first writing conference sealed the deal for me in wanting to make this a career, versus a hobby or a side hustle. Learning about how words can bring people hope, joy, despair, anger, and so many other emotions is something I love to do and share with someone. Finally, I also attended an event to support the unhoused population in my area as part of my work as a licensed counselor, and someone approached me to ask about my books! I'd never met the person before but apparently they knew about me. It was wild and humbling to know that someone, somewhere, mentioned me to this person. It meant so much.
