In Case You Forgot takes place in the span of a year, and is about two Black queer-identified men -- Zaire James and Kenny Kane -- who are navigating endings and beginnings in their lives -- careers, relationships, family issues, and personal awareness, to name a few. Both find themselves relocating and starting over in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, often seen as a safe place for LGBTQ-identified people. Zaire and Kenny have separate life trajectories that bring them together during the novel. Co-author Dr. Frederick Smith sat down with us to chat about the book's themes, his writing process, as well as the importance of representation in the media.
Dr. Smith, thank you for joining us and taking the time out to answer some of our questions today about your new work! First, what motivated you to write this story?
Chaz and I have been long-time personal and professional friends. We are both avid readers of many kinds of fiction. We were sitting in the Cross Cultural Centers one afternoon talking about our observations of current West Hollywood, race, class, gender, and identity dynamics in the city, and thought -- has anyone written any novels about Black queer people and today's WeHo. Seeing no examples, we decided and asked -- why not us?!?! And the writing journey began.
How did you choose your character attributes of Zaire and Kenny? Are they or their life experiences based in any part on your own life experiences?
At the time of starting the novel, Chaz and I were both experiencing personal transitions. So we thought -- why not start the story in the middle of a loss or a major life transition for Zaire and Kenny -- and go from there. That was the start of sketching out characters. Then, Chaz and I thought -- why not center characters in their 30s and 40s, as our observation about WeHo is that many media center on younger queer demographics. Then we thought about the supporting characters orbiting Zaire and Kenny and how they would play out in their journey. The fun part about fiction is world-building, creating, seeing where the characters and settings take you as a writer. Fiction writing is a fun way to be a professional liar, so to speak, because you make it up as you go along.
Describe the importance of featuring queer and POC characters and storylines in modern literature.
Representation matters. For queer and POC people, seeing ourselves on the page helps to validate our existence. It helps us see and feel like we're not alone. It helps us see there are other worlds and ways of living and being. Equally important, having queer and POC identities on the page is important for people who may not identify as such. Often, people do not know, see, interact with, or live fully with people who are not like them. Fiction gives people an opportunity to get a peek into worlds that may not be their own.
What is your writing process like? How do you get ready to write and what do you do to stay focused while writing?
Generally, I'm a morning person and am most creative when it's quiet, no distractions, no cell, no music or streaming, etc... I also like to write myself into a corner or to a cliff hanger with each writing session I'm in. It gives me something to resolve, fix, think about during the work day, so that when I'm able to get back to my laptop, I'm ready to pick up where I left off. I don't outline fiction -- there are pluses and cons to outlining. With academic writing, however, I find outlines are helpful. Fiction -- I go where my mind and characters take me.
What’s it like writing with a partner? What do you both do to make sure you’re collaborating successfully?
Writing with a partner is a fun and new experience. Luckily, Chaz and I have similar visions and ways of looking at the world. Because we're ten years apart in age, Chaz (the younger of us) was able to help me modernize some of my thoughts and writing. That was fun. Using GoogleDocs helps as well. For this project, we both took lead on a character, so as one of us would complete a writing session, we'd read, see where we left each other and our respective character, and then we'd pick up from there. In the beginning, to get started, we wrote at the West Hollywood library on weekend mornings and afternoons, just to help us with setting, understanding what we wanted to accomplish, etc... Once we established the story direction, GoogleDocs helped store our work and keep each other updated. I loved the collaborative process, mainly because Chaz and I navigate the world in similar ways.
When did you realize you wanted to be a writer? What was the first thing you remember writing creatively?
Ever since a kid -- like 3rd grade -- I knew I liked writing. I entered creative writing contests when a student in Detroit Public Schools. High school and college I was a campus newspaper reporter and editor. I loved watching daytime dramas and soap operas with my aunts, uncles, and grandparents, so the art of drama and cliff hangers was always part of my existence. I've always loved creative writing and academic writing.
What do you like to do when you're not writing?
I read a lot. I like hikes. I think a lot about politics and identity. I like talking with friends and family and coworkers about the state of the world, what's right and wrong, and how we can and should all make a difference. At the Cross Cultural Centers, we talk ideas and creativity and making the world a better place all the time. My life is very congruent on and off campus.
Finally, can you give us some media recommendations of things you’re loving right now? (Books, films, TV, podcasts, blogs, etc)
TV -- When They See Us is must-see. Queen Sugar. Ambitions. Greenleaf. BlackLove. Pretty much anything on OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) or produced by Ava DuVernay. Podcasts are my thing: The Read, Jade & XD, Strange Fruit, HIM, The Black Umbrella, The Friend Zone, Dem Black Mamas, All Heart, Gettin' Grown, Daytime Confidential, and The Big Gay Fiction, and Food 4 Thot. All great podcasts that keep me listening and learning most of the day!
In Case You Forgot is published by Bold Strokes Books and is available through their website, through Barnes & Noble, or through Amazon. Read more about the authors Dr. Frederick Smith and Chaz Lamar.