Grayality by Carey PW ~ Author Interview and Giveaway

Posted: August 16, 2022 in Uncategorized

Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Grayality organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Carey PW will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Garyality

by Carey PW

Genre: LGBTQIA Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

Love knows no gender.

 

Pate Boone, a twenty-six-year-old transgender man, embarks on a new adventure when his childhood best friend, and yes, ex-lover, Oakley Ogden, convinces him to escape their hometown in hopes for something new.

 

They land in Cloverleaf, a tiny rural town in Montana, so that Oakley can care for his granny who is battling breast cancer. She pressures the two young men to enroll in a nearby college. Pate immediately becomes enthralled with Maybelle, a young, vivacious freshman to whom he fears revealing his transgender identity. Still, he finds it impossible to resist Maybelle, even after he meets her ex, Bullet, a large, violent man determined to keep Pate away from β€œhis girl.”

 

But there are others who accept Pate immediately, like Stormy. An outdoorsy, rugged freshman, Stormy warns Pate away from Maybelle and Bullet, but Pate’s too infatuated to heed these warnings.

 

Oakley tries to support his friend’s new love but finds himself entangled in his own emotional calamity when he unintentionally falls for Jody, a gay and ostentatiously confident drag queen. This new relationship awakens deep internal conflicts in Oakley as he struggles to accept his bisexuality, lashing out at Pate and causing friction between him and Jody.

 

Oakley must decide if he can overcome his insecurities so he doesn’t lose the love of his life. And Pate must discover if the love between him and Maybelle is strong enough for her to accept him as a transgender man, or if she will break his heart.

~~~~~

Enjoy this peek inside:

β€œDo you not realize that all these things you do hurt me?” he asked.

 

β€œI apologized for that. I thought we were over that,” I pleaded.

 

β€œThen you call me your boyfriend, but you don’t tell your parents,” he continued. β€œAnd you know that people around here already know about us, yet you won’t hold my hand at lunch. Not to mention that you still won’t touch me.”

 

I looked down in shame. β€œI told you it’s hard for me.”

 

β€œSo when does it get hard for me, Oakley? How long am I supposed to date someone who seems repulsed by me?”

 

I shook my head. β€œI don’t know what to say. You know I’m straight.”

 

Jody wiped some tears from his eyes. β€œMaybe that’s the problem. I shouldn’t be wasting my time on a straight guy, or at least a guy who keeps insisting that he is straight. I told you upfront that we could be friends and that if you wanted to pursue this, then you needed to be ready to actually do it.”

 

β€œAre you breaking up with me?” I asked desperately. Jody finally made eye contact.

 

β€œNo, not yet anyway. But I’m not waiting for you, Oakley. You need to figure this out because my heart isn’t a tool for you to figure out your sexual orientation.”

 

β€œI promise. I’ll try harder. Don’t give up on us yet.” I grabbed his hands.

 

Jody smiled and went to touch my cheek with his hand, but I pulled away. He shook his head in disappointment.

~~~~~

Interview with Author Carey Pw

Do you have any tattoos?Β  Where? When did you get it/them? Where are they on your body?

Β Β Β  I have a lot of tattoos. I was too scared to get any in my twenties because people kept swaying me against it. Finally, I just decided to be myself.

Β Β Β  I have a lot of patchwork tattoos on my arms. I have several Mario characters but mostly villains like Bowser, Gumba, and several of Bowser’s children. I also have the Skull Kid from Majora’s Mask on my left forearm. I have an owl on a tree on my right upper arm that I got the day that I defended my dissertation for my Ph.D. in 2013. The owl stands for wisdom. I have a monkey holding the Chinese flag on my upper left arm with the Great Wall of China behind him. I am a monkey in the Chinese zodiac and lived in China for three years, so I wanted something to share that part of my journey.

Β Β Β  My legs are horror themed. I have Jason, a critter from Critters, Billy the Puppet from Saw, Slimer from Ghostbusters, the Elite Hunting logo from Hostel, and Peachfuzz from Creep. I also have a classic American traditional skull and dagger tattoo.

Β Β Β  My most meaningful ones would be my hand tattoos because they show my identities. On my right hand, I have an asexual cupcake. On my left, a nonbinary cat. Written above them are the words, goth and punk. I also have the years when I came out tattooed on my upper fingers. I love displaying my pride.

 

Is your life anything like it was two years ago?

Β Β Β  Two years ago, we were deep into the pandemic, so yes, my life is different now. Probably the most noticeable difference for me would be my physique. I was less than two years on testosterone, and now, I have facial hair and a leaner, masculine build. I feel way more congruent in my body. I also got into baking two years ago as a way to stay busy during the pandemic. Now, it’s one of my favorite pastimes. I also came out as asexual in 2020, which brought a lot of relief to my life. I have one kidney now, too since donating one this past December. In many ways, I am a totally new person; in others, I am completely the same.

How long have you been writing?

Β Β Β  Third grade is my first memory of writing and learning that I loved it. But other than writing for some school assignments, I don’t recall writing in my free time until high school. I wrote a lot of poems to sort out the depression and gender dysphoria I was experiencing at the time. I started writing novels in college, but I got discouraged after graduation and didn’t write for ten years! Finally in 2013, I wrote another novel that was a fictional work about my experiences in China. It’s only been within the past two years that I started writing heavily. I hope to keep that up because I feel like it’s been a missing element in my life.

What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?

Β Β Β  Do the work and don’t give up. Writing is a lot of work. It’s not just writing the draft, but it’s hours of editing and revisions. Also, it takes time to write blurbs and query letters and other promotional materials. Marketing is probably the most time-consuming part. I never expected to spend so much time on social media! For me, I treat it like another job. I have to devote the hours and meet my deadlines. I also did a lot of research and continue to research this industry.

Tell us something about your newest release that is NOT in the blurb.

Β Β Β  It’s not just a lovey dovey romance. The characters are young, but their conversations reflect deep, intricate issues around sexuality and gender identity. Don’t get fooled by the new adult genre. This book may offer something to people of all ages.

~~~~~

About Author Carey PW

Carey PW (he/they) is a debut author, college instructor, and mental health counselor. Carey is currently completing his next manuscript, Acing the Game.

 

Carey lives in Montana, and identifies as nonbinary, transmasculine (AFAB) and panromantic asexual. Due to the lack of resources in rural communities, Carey has discovered that writing about his lived experiences is a therapeutic outlet for him and hopes that his readers relate to his own personal struggles and triumphs shared through his characters’ narratives. Carey is particularly interested in exploring relationship conflicts around sexuality and gender differences. He has also worked as a high school writing instructor and college writing instructor, earning a B.A. in English Literature, a M.Ed. in English Education, and Ph.D. in Social Foundations of Education all from the University of Georgia. In 2020, Carey earned his second M.Ed. in Counselor Education and works as a licensed clinical professional counselor, LCPC. He has a strong passion for working with the unique mental health issues of the LGBTQIA+ community.

 

Readers can learn more about Carey from his blog, www.careypw.com. When he is not writing, Carey is busy training for marathons, parenting his six cats, sharing his culinary talents on social media, serving on the board for the nonprofit Center for Studies of the Person (CSP) and learning photography.

 

Carey PW loves to hear from readers. You can find his contact information, website and author biography at http://www.pride-publishing.com.

 

Other links:Β  Blog / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook

 

~~~~~

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Comments
  1. Mary Preston says:

    A fabulous tagline.

    • Carey PW says:

      Thanks. It was inspired by my husband. He stayed with me after I came out as transgender and transitioned. He proved to me that love knows no gender. πŸ’œ

  2. Carey PW says:

    Thanks for hosting me 😊

  3. Cathy French says:

    Good looking man on the cover and a beautiful backdrop

  4. Rita Wray says:

    Sounds great.

  5. Beatrice LaRocca says:

    I really love this book cover and synopsis, Grayality is a must read for me and it is on my wish-list. Thank you for sharing the author’s bio and book details

  6. Wendy Hutton says:

    thanks this sounds pretty interesting

  7. sherry1969 says:

    I really like the cover and think the book sounds good.

  8. Dianne Casey says:

    Sounds like a great book.

  9. Tracy Robertson says:

    This sounds like a very creative accomplishment! Is it your first book and did you self publish?

  10. Wendy Hutton says:

    is there a certain in of day that you like to write

    • Carey PW says:

      I feel like I write best on Sunday mornings. I am not in a hurry and write while enjoying my coffee. However, I will do some writing after work in the evenings, but I am often tired. I do not write too much on those nights, but just enough to make progress.

  11. Wendy Hutton says:

    was it hard to chose the cover

    • Carey PW says:

      It was a little hard. I didn’t think on it too much. I shared the three options with my husband, and he chose this one because he felt that it resembled the character Pate more. I agreed.

  12. Wendy Hutton says:

    have a great Friday

  13. Wendy Hutton says:

    hope you are having a creative weekend

    • Carey PW says:

      I am making a new cupcake recipe today. It’s a rosemary cake. Tomorrow and Monday, I’ve got lots of writing planned 😊. I hope you are enjoying your day.

  14. Wendy Hutton says:

    thanks this sounds like a great book to read

  15. Eva Millien says:

    Great interview, I enjoyed the excerpt and Grayality sounds like a wonderful book to read!

    Thanks for sharing it with me and have an amazing week!

  16. Wendy Hutton says:

    hope you have a wonderful week

  17. Wendy Hutton says:

    great excerpt sounds really good

  18. Wendy Hutton says:

    is there an author that inspires you

    • Carey PW says:

      I don’t really have favorite authors that I follow. I like to randomly select books to read versus seeking out certain ones. I also enjoy reading indie authors, too. I would say all writers inspire me because it takes guts to write and put your work out there.

  19. Wendy Hutton says:

    thanks this sounds like a pretty interesting book

  20. Wendy Hutton says:

    week went quickly, happy writing

  21. Nancy P says:

    Sounds fantastic!

  22. Wendy Hutton says:

    best wishes with the book

  23. Wendy Hutton says:

    have a great Sunday

  24. I like the cover! It sets the stage for the book.

  25. Veronica Lee says:

    Sounds like a great read.β€οΈβ€οΈπŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ˜€πŸ€ž πŸ“šπŸ“–

  26. Wendy Hutton says:

    I like reading “About the Author”

  27. Wendy Hutton says:

    another hot Tuesday here

  28. Wendy Hutton says:

    another hot day here

  29. Wendy Hutton says:

    sounds like a wonderful book, thanks

  30. Wendy Hutton says:

    thanks this does sound really interesting

  31. Dana Banana says:

    Happy September everyone! I am so excited fall is on its way! What is your favorite season?

  32. Dana Banana says:

    This is so true and much needed today. Love doesn’t know a gender. Love is for everyone.

    • Carey PW says:

      Love can come up in many different places. I’m thankful every day for my wonderful husband who loved me in woman form and now loves me even more in male form.

  33. Wendy Hutton says:

    does the hot weather affect your writing

    • Carey PW says:

      I live in Montana, so it does get hot around July and August, but summers are short here. It’s one of the reasons I moved here. It does not affect my writing, but it certainly impacts my running.

  34. Debbie P says:

    This book sounds like a great read.

  35. Wendy Hutton says:

    have a wonderful long weekend

  36. Wendy Hutton says:

    did you always want to be a writer

    • Carey PW says:

      I knew I wanted to write since I was about nine years old. I wrote stories for my third-grade class, and my classmates loved them. That’s where the inspiration began.

  37. Wendy Hutton says:

    best wished on the book

  38. Wendy Hutton says:

    what are you looking forward to this fall

    • Carey PW says:

      I am looking forward to it all. I love the fall. I love cooking winter squashes, I love baking pumpkin and gingerbreads, I love the cool weather and shorter days, just anything! I’m also a big fan of Halloween and horror movies. It’s also a time of year when we don’t travel much, which I enjoy, too. I like things slowing down, and I can certainly get more writing done. πŸ™‚

  39. Christy R says:

    The excerpt sounds promising. I can feel the characters’ angst and heartbreak.

  40. Margaret Smith says:

    Thanks for hosting. Sounds like a great book.

  41. paige chandler says:

    This looks like a timely and fun read

  42. Abigail Gibson says:

    Thank you for a chance to win! Looks like a great book!

  43. Wendy Hutton says:

    was it hard finding a publisher

    • Carey PW says:

      For this novel, I think I sent it off to around fifty places then waited. I sent this manuscript to Pride Publishing in June last year and received a contract in September. Was it hard? I would say that it was a lot of work and was time consuming, but not necessarily hard. I researched a lot of publishers and followed their instructions for sending a manuscript. For my upcoming novel, I only sent it out to eleven places and had a contract within a week, so that one was way easier.

  44. David Hollingsworth says:

    Sounds like a really interesting book!

  45. Ann Fantom says:

    This sounds like an interesting book and I also like the cover.

  46. Wendy Hutton says:

    have you started any other books

    • Carey PW says:

      Yes, I have. Acing the Game is in the publishing process now with Extasy Books. I am working on Book One for a series that I hope to get ready to send to publishers in December.

  47. Cynthia Conley says:

    The synopsis sounds interesting.

  48. Barbara Montag says:

    I enjoyed reading this well done excerpt!
    Thank you for sharing this.

  49. Wendy Hutton says:

    how old were you when you started writing

    • Carey PW says:

      Basically, I started when I was nine, but I didn’t make it a serious thing until after high school when I wrote my first novel. I would also add that it didn’t get really serious until 2020 because now it’s basically another job and that’s how I treat it.

  50. Wendy Hutton says:

    have a great weekend

  51. Wendy Hutton says:

    do you write while on vacation

    • Carey PW says:

      If I am at home, definitely. I look forward to vacations and holidays to be able to write. I travel a lot for marathons, and I don’t write on those trips because I’m usually tired after running.

  52. Wendy Hutton says:

    this sounds like a great read

  53. Wendy Hutton says:

    do you write while on holidays

    • Carey PW says:

      Yes, I do. In fact, I plan to write on holidays. We usually do not travel because holiday travel is usually busy. I enjoy waking up and writing while I enjoy a cup of Death Wish Coffee. I usually have a cat or two snuggled up next to me.

  54. Wendy Hutton says:

    congrats on the book hope all is going well

  55. Wendy Hutton says:

    do you tend to write more certains times of the year

    • Carey PW says:

      I used to mostly write during the summers and winter break. I am college instructor, and those were my less busy times. However, now I am writing all year. I am a marathon runner, and I travel a lot from May to August, so it has become harder to write a lot during those months. Winter is easier because I don’t travel.

  56. Carolsue says:

    It sounds like it is an inspirational book.

  57. Wendy Hutton says:

    was it hard gettin gpublished

    • Carey PW says:

      It took a lot of work and time. I sent this book off to around sixty places before getting a contract. For my second novel, I sent it to eleven places before getting a contract. I had to research publishers and format it the way they specified. Some wanted chapter by chapter summaries. It takes a lot of work and paying attention to detail.

  58. Wendy Hutton says:

    is there an author who inspires you

  59. Do you enjoy camping?

  60. Wendy Hutton says:

    is there a quiet place to go to write

  61. Wendy Hutton says:

    do you write more in the fall or winter months

    • Carey PW says:

      I write a lot more in both the fall and the winter because I travel less, but I do get a two week holiday in December, which makes writing easier. Plus, those are my favorite seasons. My novels are typically set in fall and winter.

  62. Wendy Hutton says:

    do you have a favorite author or book

    • Carey PW says:

      I don’t have a favorite. I like to read different genres and authors. I also like supporting indie authors. I enjoy anything by Oscar Wilde and Christopher Moore. I love randomly choosing books, though.

  63. Wendy Hutton says:

    this sounds like a really good book to read

  64. Wendy Hutton says:

    another week gone by, happy writing

  65. Wendy Hutton says:

    if you could meet any famous person who would it be

    • Carey PW says:

      That’s a hard question. It would be cool to meet Tim Armstrong. I love any musical projects he has done. But I never know how famous people are in real life, so I don’t know how it would truly be to meet them. They could be totally different people.

  66. Celticlady says:

    Good luck to the author! Thanks for sharing!

  67. Wendy Hutton says:

    are you a full time writer

  68. Wendy Hutton says:

    best wishes on the book

  69. Wendy Hutton says:

    how many books have you written

    • Carey PW says:

      I have written two unpublished books, and two published books. One of those is in the publishing process now. I am finishing up my first book in a dark fantasy series.

  70. Wendy Hutton says:

    was it hard choosing the title for the book

  71. Wendy Hutton says:

    thanks this sounds like a great book

  72. Wendy Hutton says:

    do you ever get writers blocks

  73. Wendy Hutton says:

    have a wonderful weekend

  74. Wendy Hutton says:

    great cover and title

  75. Wendy Hutton says:

    thanks again for the giveaway

  76. Barbara Montag says:

    What part of the book did you have the hardest time writing?

    • Carey PW says:

      The hardest part was probably the description of Pate’ suicide attempt because it hit home for me. I struggled a lot with my mental health when I first started transitioning.

  77. Wendy Hutton says:

    do you use the same person to design all your covers

    • Carey PW says:

      My publisher’s artists designed it. My new publisher is going to design the book cover for my next book. It isn’t really something where I can choose an artist.

  78. Wendy Hutton says:

    thanks again this sounds good

  79. Nancy P says:

    Interesting

  80. Wendy Hutton says:

    was it hard to find an editor

    • Carey PW says:

      My publisher provided me with an editor. I really liked working with her, too. I definitely appreciate the ways she helped me improve my work. Editing is one of my favorite parts of writing.

  81. Wendy Hutton says:

    thanks have a wonderful weekend

  82. Wendy Hutton says:

    do you have any hobbies

    • Carey PW says:

      I have lots of hobbies. I run marathons and am running my 82nd marathon in Spokane today. I cook. I have cookbooks for each season that are organized by desserts, meal prep, pizzas and side dishes. I like reading, of course. I’m working on getting into art, too.

  83. Wendy Hutton says:

    sounds like you have an interesting life

  84. Wendy Hutton says:

    do you write while on vacation or just relax

    • Carey PW says:

      No. We usually travel for marathons, and they are usually short trips. I don’t bring my computer or writing with me. However, if it is a staycation, I will totally write a lot. I love doing that!

  85. Wendy Hutton says:

    thanks again for this wonderful giveaway

  86. Wendy Hutton says:

    are you currently writing any other books

    • Carey PW says:

      Yes. My next novel, Acing the Game, is currently in the publication process. It is about two married men who decide to experiment with polyamory. I am working on the first book of a dark fantasy/romance series. Characters possess powers from various animals and can morph into animal forms. It contains the tropes of good/evil, forbidden love, and chosen ones.

  87. Wendy Hutton says:

    hope you are having a great week

  88. Wendy Hutton says:

    TGIF have a great weekend

  89. Wendy Hutton says:

    hope you are having a great weekend

  90. susan12151962 says:

    Great interview! Congrats on your new release.

  91. Wendy Hutton says:

    hope you are having a great Sunday

  92. Daniel M says:

    sounds like a fun one

  93. Jeanna Massman says:

    I like the cover! It sets the stage for the book.

  94. Debbi Wellenstein says:

    Thank you again for the giveaway!

  95. Wendy Hutton says:

    thanks again for the awesome giveaway

  96. Wendy Hutton says:

    hope your week is going well

  97. Wendy Hutton says:

    week is going quickly

  98. Barbara Montag says:

    If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

    • Carey PW says:

      I would have told myself to go for it. I always loved writing and even wrote my first novel (unpublished) when I was 20. I never seriously pursued getting published until this novel. I would tell myself to follow my dreams.

  99. Wendy Hutton says:

    do you prefer hot or cooler weather

    • Carey PW says:

      For me, the colder the better. I do not enjoy hot weather or too much sun. I am a little sensitive to the sun. Growing up in Georgia, I do not miss the hot weather at all.

  100. Wendy Hutton says:

    another week gone by quickly, have a great weekend

  101. Barbara Montag says:

    When did you discover you have the gift of writing?

    • Carey PW says:

      In third grade. We wrote our own stories throughout the year, and we would read them in class. They always saved mine for last because everyone thought mine were the best. Everyone would clap and cheer for me when I finished. It made me want to get into it.

  102. Wendy Hutton says:

    well we got our first snow of the season this morning

  103. Wendy Hutton says:

    hope you are enjoying your Sunday

  104. Barbara Montag says:

    Where do you get your ideas for writing?

    • Carey PW says:

      I just get them from life mostly. This novel and my upcoming one, Acing the Game, are directly inspired by my own life. My current WIP is a dark fantasy, but I’m a horror fan and always loved good villains, so those passions inspired me.

  105. Barbara Montag says:

    Do you reward yourself with something special when finishing a book?

    • Carey PW says:

      Not really. I always have so much going on. I finished a book yesterday but went immediately into other tasks that needed to be completed that day. I guess I have the reward of knowing that I’m done.

  106. Wendy Hutton says:

    thanks this sounds like a very enjoyable read

  107. Wendy Hutton says:

    are you more of an early riser or a night owl?

  108. Barbara Montag says:

    Did you get a lot of encouragement when you decided to become an author?

    • Carey PW says:

      Not really when I was younger. My parents thought it was just some hobby. However, my husband has been completely encouraging. I read him my novels while I write them.

  109. Wendy Hutton says:

    best wishes with this book

  110. Wendy Hutton says:

    do you prefer coffee or tea?

  111. Wendy Hutton says:

    what type of movies do you like, I love any british or australian crime shows

    • Carey PW says:

      I watch a variety. Horror movies are my favorite, and I like seeking out rare ones. I also enjoy good dramas on serious issues. Comedies and action movies can be fun sometimes. I would say documentaries would be my second favorite after horror. I love learning about various social issues.

  112. Wendy Hutton says:

    do you have a favorite dessert

    • Carey PW says:

      I like anything with icing like cakes and cookies. I bake a lot, and I love my fall recipes. I made pumpkin cookies this past weekend. I make gingerbread cake, gingerbread cheesecake, and pumpkin cheesecake. I make eggnog cinnamon rolls. They’re all very good.

  113. Barbara Montag says:

    Have you ever started a book that you decided not to finish?

    • Carey PW says:

      Not recently, but I didn’t finish one that I was writing when I was around 21 years old. I got busy and never returned to it. I can’t find it now unfortunately. I guess it’s lost.

  114. Wendy Hutton says:

    do you prefer beer or wine

  115. Wendy Hutton says:

    another new month, happy writing

  116. Wendy Hutton says:

    our weather today is snowing and cold, hows yours

  117. Wendy Hutton says:

    do you enjoy winter sports

  118. Wendy Hutton says:

    we have snow already, do you?

  119. Wendy Hutton says:

    definitely winter here snowing and windy today, what a mess

  120. Wendy Hutton says:

    what are your thoughts on daylight savings time, I hate it

  121. Barbara Montag says:

    What part of the book was the most fun to write?

    • Carey PW says:

      Probably the last few chapters. The characters growth comes through, and they triumph over their challenges. The novel contains a lot of angst, so it is good to see them surmount their obstacles.

  122. Wendy Hutton says:

    what type of music do you like

  123. Wendy Hutton says:

    do you take a winter vacation

  124. Wendy Hutton says:

    its -29 here this morning I am thinking I need to live in a warmer climate

  125. Barbara Montag says:

    Do you do anything special to treat yourself after finishing a book?

    • Carey PW says:

      I really should, but I don’t. I often work 11 hour days for my main job, so I’m always rushing around. I do things that I enjoy like cooking, running, and watching movies, but I don’t do anything celebratory.

  126. Wendy Hutton says:

    what is your main job? or is it writing

  127. Wendy Hutton says:

    thanks for this giveaway and best wishes with the book

  128. Denise Duvall says:

    Congratulations on your book! Beautiful cover and what a tanled love triangle!

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