Telling the stories of our lives: an interview with John Gilgun

J. Alexander

In a novel, a book of short stories, and two books of poems, as well as in numerous on-line publications, John Gilgun has proven himself one of the best undiscovered secrets of contemporary gay letters. This interview, conducted shortly after Gilgun retired from thirty years of teaching English and creative writing, reveals how he construes his sexuality as an integral component of his creative vision; indeed, for Gilgun, gayness drives both his sense of content and style. Gilgun also offers advice to young gay authors about what they shoud read and what themes should inform their work.