What do mountain top farms, hockey, and a passion for queer romance have in common? You're about to find out! Get ready for a conversation that's as Southern-charming as sweet tea on the front porch.
Meet Matthew Hubbard, the bestselling author of "The Last Boyfriend's Rules for Revenge". Growing up gay in rural Alabama, Matthew knows how it feels to be an outsider. But he turned that experience into fuel for writing the queer YA romances he wished he'd had as a teen. From mountain top farms to becoming a published author, Matthew's journey is all about embracing your true self. In this episode, he opens up about his rural Alabama roots and how that influenced his writing. He shares his journey from closeted teenager to bestselling author of unapologetically queer stories. Matthew gets real about the power of representation, how he found his voice through writing, and the importance of embracing your true self. Plus, he dishes on his creative process, overcoming self-doubt, and why failure is just an opportunity to take the scenic route. Get ready for a heartwarming, hilarious chat with the king of queer YA romance that's as inspiring as it is entertaining!
Connect with Matthew on Instagram or his Website and get a copy of 'The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge.'
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- More about Heather via @heather_vickeryandco on Instagram, @Braveheather on TikTok, and listen to The Brave Files
- More about Alan via @theatre_podcast on Instagram and listen to The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales
EPISODE TAKEAWAYS
- Matthew grew up on a Mountainous farm in Rural Alabama
- The hope of getting “out” is what kept him going when he was hidden in plain sight
- In 6th grade, he started writing his own version of the “boy wizard book” by the author who shall not be named!
- An early adopter of Blog Writing, Matthew, found a passion for writing. And then when he discovered YA Queer romance things all started to come together.
- Stereotypes are based on some type of reality but they don’t have to define us.
- Matthew wrote his main character, Ezra’s, father to heal his own inner child.
- Boyfriends is an Unapologetically Queer book and Matthew embraces it!
- Although Matthew landed an agent with his first book, he wrote four before finally landing on 'The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge’ which took off and became a best seller with a massive release.
- When the Flordia “Don’t Say Gay” bill passed Matthew felt helpless. His book was a way to fight back. He felt free to be open and proud about himself, his queerness and he didn’t care what other people thought.
- Creatively drunk - being uninhibited - that’s Matthew’s new approach to writing.
- Ego is required! “If I don’t think that I’m the best I am going to start worrying that I am not the best”
- Make sure you give your loved ones a chance to show up for you. Don’t make assumptions.
- “People come of age at different points in their life.”
- Matthew always puts a positive spin on things and, for him, failure is never a no, it’s a how can I re-route myself. “Failure is a chance to take the scenic route”