TJ KLUNE is the New York Times and the USA Today bestselling, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of The House in the Cerulean Sea, The Extraordinaries, and more. Being queer himself, Klune believes it’s important—now more than ever—to have accurate, positive queer representation in stories.
To celebrate the release of his new novel Wolfsong, TJ takes on our Ten Terrifying Questions! Read on …
1. To begin with why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself – where were you born? Raised? Schooled?
I was born and raised in a rural farming community in Oregon. We lived well below the poverty line growing up, something that takes a toll on a child even if they don’t realize it at the time. I attended school through high school, and then went straight into the workforce as continuing my education didn’t sound like something I wanted to do. I was never the best student, and I wanted to escape the structure of a classroom.
2. What did you want to be when you were twelve, eighteen and thirty? And why?
A writer. At twelve, at eighteen, at thirty, always. Writing is where I always feel the happiest, where my neurodivergent brain gets a chance to explore everything I can think of. I’m very lucky to do what I do.
3. What strongly held belief did you have at eighteen that you don’t have now?
I believed that the key to happiness was to become super-successful and impress everyone. How wrong I was! The key to happiness is a book, a couch, and a cuddly dog.
4. What are three works of art – this could be a book, painting, piece of music, film, etc – that influenced your development as a writer?
Diana Wynn Jones Howl’s Moving Castle (If you’ve only seen the animated film adaptation, you should really read the book—a different experience entirely.)
“Dead people music”—Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, Patsy Cline, Otis Redding, The Big Bopper, The Everly Brothers, Bobby Darin, Brenda Lee, The Chantels, Peggy Lee.
Stephen King’s The Stand—This was the first book I read by him (at age 11!) and I don’t know that I’ve ever been affected by a novel as I was by that one. I didn’t understand most of it but loved every single second.
5. Considering the many artistic forms out there, what appeals to you about writing a novel?
It comes back to when I was a kid. I had two teachers—Mrs. Bentz and Mrs. Pfieffer—and they were the first people to encourage my writing. Through them, I began to understand the power the written word has, that it can entertain, educate, make people happy or sad or furious. Through them, I learned that words have meaning, and putting them in a certain order could teach readers something new.
6. Please tell us about your latest novel!
Wolfsong is the beginning of the Green Creek saga, a four-volume series that covers decades with the same characters. The main character of the first book—Ox—starts the series as a child, and by the time the series wraps up in the fourth volume, he is a man in his thirties. While each book follows the same cast, the stories themselves are told from four different perspectives, one per book. Also, they are about werewolves? And will probably make you cry? And laugh? And curse the day you ever heard the name “TJ Klune”? (Though, this is pretty much normal with one of my books.)
7. What do you hope people take away with them after reading your work?
That no matter what, queer people deserve to carve a space for themselves. They get to have a weighted presence, and even if the road may be rocky, they get to succeed, they get to be happy, they get to thrive in the face of insurmountable odds. I have made it my mission to give my queer characters the endings they deserve because we get to experience happiness the same as everyone else.
8. Who do you most admire in the writing world and why?
I’m a ridiculous fanboy when it comes to Stephen King. I’ve ready everything he’s written (multiple times), and I hope to be as prolific as he is when I’m his age. It’s remarkable that a man in his seventies publishes one or two books a year and typically succeeds in making me question how it’s possible. Long live the King.
9. Many artists set themselves very ambitious goals. What are yours?
I will never be the best writer in the world. I will never be the best writer in my genre. I will never be the best writer in the queer fiction space. And that’s okay with me. I have never wanted to be the “best writer”—instead, I try and be a little bit better than I was the day before. I don’t always succeed, but that doesn’t stop me from trying again. I love that even a decade into my career, I still learn new things about my craft every day. I hope that continues for the rest of my life.
10. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
First, read Stephen King’s On Writing. It’s the best how-to guide for writers I’ve read.
Second, write for you. If you try and write what you think others will want to read—and therefore, attempting to make everyone happy—you’ll fail even before you begin. Readers are fickle, as is their right. Never write for others because there will always be someone who doesn’t like it. Write the stories you want, and let that be your guide.
Thank you for playing!
— Wolfsong by TJ Klune (Pan Macmillan) is out on the 30th of August!
Wolfsong
Green Creek
Wolfsong is the first book in the Green Creek series by bestselling author TJ Klune. Continue the journey with Ravensong in 2023.
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