Asian/Pacific Gays and Friends

Tradewinds

June 2007

Monthly Newsletter     

 

INTERVIEW WITH MICKEL PARIS  Conducted by Roy Liebman, Publications Chair
   
  Mickel Angelo Paris has written the novel West Hollywood Story. We anticipate that he will be reading from his book at the A/PGF social on August 5th, 2007.

RL: Talk about your ethnic heritage and how it may have shaped you as person.

MP: My father was born in the United States, with German/Austrian grandparents and my mother immigrated to the United States from Korea at the age of forty. It was very difficult for her to make the transition as she had already lived practically a full adult life. I saw firsthand how the American dream was lived out for a woman who wanted deep down to be American, but because of the challenges she faced with the language was never accepted fully or taken seriously by most people she came into contact with. I believe that's the fundamental reason why writing and language is so important to me. I felt that if I were to take control of the language, through telling stories, that I could fulfill my own destiny.

What was your life like growing up?

I lived a difficult life. I was badly burned as a toddler, but recovered with help from a children's hospital. When I was seven my father was laid off and we lost our home and became homeless, living with family members and experiencing the challenges of family separation and welfare. My brother died in a terrible car accident when I was thirteen. All these challenges were thrown at me, yet I still remember my youth as being golden and filled with adventure. I was always exploring and building forts, riding my bike to far off places. Even when I was a toddler, I would wander off for hours, only to be found at the local ice cream store with chocolate on my face. I have always found adventure and fantasy in daily life, and my writing is an extension of that.

What was your coming-out process like? What was your family's reaction?

My cousin Michelle laid out the steps to my coming out process, and one day she called and said, "It's time. Drive to your parents right now and tell them." So I got in my car and on the eight hour drive home I choreographed everything in my mind. I knew how each parent would respond and what I would say to each one. It was beautiful. My parents reaffirmed their love for me, and life went on. It was anti-climactic, actually! In "The West Hollywood Story," Aaron comes out to his parents and the scene that takes place in the book is very similar to how it transpired in my life.

Talk about about your job/profession?

It's funny because I have worked in many different professions, but my heart will always be in writing. I have been a door-to-door salesman, an administrative assistant, a graphic designer at both of the biggest Hollywood Trade magazines "Daily Variety" and "The Hollywood Reporter," a medical recruiter, and a teacher. I even worked as a personal caregiver to a woman who was dying of emphysema. I value all these positions because it gives me perspective, and I am able to apply that to my writing. Each job has been like a different chapter for me; none of them tell the same story, but they are all part of a big book on life.

Talk about your desire to become a writer and what you did---and are doing---to pursue your dream.

I write because it is in me to express something important. Sometimes writing a book is like having an infatuation with a lover; you can't get the idea of it out of your head, your thoughts become like an obsession and the only fulfillment is the written page. The editing stage is much like the break-up! But I have published one novel, as well as a collection of poetry called "Seasons of Unrequited Love," and am slowly building upon my successes. I have exhibited "The West Hollywood Story" at book festivals and gay pride festivals throughout Southern California, from Santa Barbara to Palm Springs.
I am beginning to promote it nationwide, and after guest-speaking at IWOSC (Independent Writers Organization of Southern California) and attending smaller literary circle events, I am gaining more confidence in public speaking, which was never my biggest love!

What would you like to say about West Hollywood Story?

I first began writing it two weeks following the suicide of my friend Aaron. The story is a journey reflecting the ups and downs of gay lifestyle, not so much a coming out story but a handbook of sorts, describing what to expect, what to value--- even what to believe---all through the lenses of trials, drama and denials. This complete story is the book I would have given Aaron the day before he took his life. Sometimes my characters act or say things that are hard or difficult to ignore, but the end result is that we learn something new about ourselves. A big theme for "The West Hollywood Story" is speaking your voice. There is this feeling throughout the story of not having enough courage to say what you truly think, or expressing what you truly feel. Sometimes it takes an earthquake just to pull a few simple words out of people. It's this dynamic that I explore, the dynamics of denial. I feel that if we take the time to truly say what is on our minds, our world become s a beautiful place----and we get not only what we want in life, but also what we truly deserve.

What are your future goals, aspirations, dreams?

A great many people at exhibitions ask me if "The West Hollywood Story" was made into a play. I can't assume that it's coincidence. I think that it would do very well as a stage production. I actually would love to take a playwriting course and see if that area of writing would suit me. I've written a screenplay, a children's adventure, and look forward to writing more screenplays as I take courses and delve into it. But my ultimate goal, of course, is in striving for excellence at the top of the New York Times Bestsellers list in fiction! I feel that I have a voice with pop fiction, and I think it's only a matter of time. The first novel I ever wrote, "Messiah"( an epic supernatural thriller), will probably be the one!

Do you have any advice for prospective young writers?

Free-write as much as you can. I wrote a 1200 page epic novel in exactly one year using a tear-away desktop calendar. I think it was the Far Side Calendar at the time! What I did was write "1" on January 1st and added 3 pages to every day in the calendar. That's about 1200 pages. Then I just made sure I wrote enough pages to equal what was written down for each day!

Anything else you want to say?

Look out for future book signings and projects on my website at www.mickelparis.com . You can find "The West Hollywood Story" at A Different Light Bookstore, www.amazon.com or www.bn.com . Thanks for the interview!
 
 
 

ICONIFW2007 – Where’s the Action by Bill Tom
 

When one come to a new city, or one that you haven’t visited for a while.  You certainly want to see what’s new.  Minneapolis can certainly offer you something.  

Everyone has heard about the Mall of Americas, the largest mall in the U.S.  It’s easily accessible with the same light rail that runs to the airport. It has an  amusement park, and a hotels.  For those who are short on time, take their guided tour service, which can give you an overview and aim you at the shops of your interest.    

If you have an inclination for something more cultural, you should look into the results of the recent $500 million-plus building boom, spearheaded by world renowned architects.  

There’s the Guthrie Theater, a dramatic industrial twilight-blue building along the Mississippi River.  You can wander in without a ticket—dine at the ground-floor restaurant, visit the cafe and lounges, or sip a drink at one of the many bar stations.  A definite highlight is the 178-foot cantilevered promenade that overlooks the city and the Mississippi.   

Or for contrast, you can visit the Museum of Russian Art, housed in a Spanish-style church.  It has one of the largest collection of Soviet realist paintings in America.  Then head to the Walker Art Center, with its avant-garde designed.  The Center is a large, irregular cube sheathed in aluminum metal mesh skin.   

For a bit of nostalgia, there’s the Mill City Museum.  Minneapolis used to be called Mill City when it dominated the flour business and this mill was a part of that history.  It was gutted by fire in 1991 and restored as a museum with a dramatic outside courtyard.   

Another impressive building is the Minneapolis Central Library with its five-story atrium, a design of architect Cesar Pelli.  Just relax here; on any floor, in one of the comfortable easy chairs and savor in the view.  

If you feel you must visit the twin cities, go to the convention website, www.iconifw2007msp.com, for details on the hotel and convention schedule.

News Update:  Two New York radio hosts fired for Asian slur
Monday - May 14th:  The CBS network has fired two "shock jocks" over an on-air slur against Asians, US media reported Monday, weeks after another radio host was sacked for making a racist remark.

The hosts of "The Dog House with JV and Elvis," Jeff Vandergrift and Dan Lay, had been suspended earlier as the broadcaster decided their fate.

The show was permanently canceled after the two placed an on-air order to a Chinese restaurant for "slimp flied lice" and compared food items to certain parts of the body on April 5.

"'The Dog House with JV and Elvis' will no longer be broadcast," CBS Radio spokeswoman Karen Mateo told the New York Daily News.

After the prank call was broadcast, the Organization of Chinese Americans, an advocacy group, had blasted the network and demanded CBS fire the hosts.

The move came after Don Imus, who had enjoyed a large national audience for his radio and television program, was fired after he called the Rutgers university women's basketball team "nappy-headed ho's," nappy referring to the tight hair of many African-Americans and ho, as street talk for "whore."

"In the wake of the Imus case, it would have been maddening to the community if these idiots did not get fired," Queens City Councilman John Liu told the New York daily.

TCM celebrates Gay Pride Month
June is Gay Pride Month, and throughout the entire month Turner Classic Movies is showcasing several movies with various depictions and stereotypes of gays and the gay lifestyle. The focus isn't necessarily movies with a gay theme, but movies with gay characters, or movies with gay actors, writers and directors. Some of the movies include The Maltese Falcon, Designing Woman, and The Picture of Dorian Gray.

This would also include at least two Hitchcock films in this line-up: Psycho and Strangers on a Train, which allude to certain characters being gay during a time when blatant depictions were much less common.

The films will be shown every Monday and Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m. in June, and will be hosted by Robert Osbourne and Richard Barrios, along with guests Tab Hunter, Alan Cumming, Michael Musto, Ron Nyswaner and Charles Busch.

Of possible interest to our members
 

Upcoming Events in June 2007

HOSTS NEEDED:  Can you open your home to host an event?  If so, please write to events@apgf.org .  We NEED your help!!!

 

Check our Event Calendar on our website  www.apgf.org for complete details on any of our events

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