Authors Tackle AIDS: Gregory G. Allen and Kergan Edwards-Stout

Two gay authors talk about their new indie novels focused on HIV and AIDS, and about how they were told their stories were too "depressing" for mainstream publishers.

First-time novelists Gregory G. Allen and Kergan Edwards-Stout have a lot in common. Both are openly gay, both published their books through small presses, and in their debut novels, both write movingly about AIDS, a topic which today seems to be shrouded in silence. Suddenly, they’ve found themselves to be competitors too, as Edwards-Stout’s Songs for the New Depression and Allen’s Well With My Soul battle it out in the LGBT short list for the 2011 Indie Lit Awards. The authors sat down recently to chat about their commonalities and differences as well as the hovering specter of AIDS in the gay community.

Kergan Edwards-Stout: Greg, thanks so much for taking the time to chat. I’m sure you’ve found the buzz about your novel Well With My Soul very gratifying.

Gregory G. Allen: It has been an amazing ride! I’m overwhelmed by the comments of readers, and then coming across you and your great reviews led me to purchase Songs for the New Depression, which completely blew me away.

http://www.advocate.com/Arts_and_Entertainment/Books/Gregory_G_Allen_and_Kergan_Edwards_Stout_Tackle_AIDS/