"The Husband Swap: Saturday Night Dinner" - Interview with Author J S Gray

J S Gray has just returned to live in Darlington with his husband and son, having lived on the beautiful island of Jersey for the past sixteen years. In 2015, he published his first novel Standing in the Shadows, a supernatural thriller, under the name Jon Stasiak. ​Since 2020, he's focused on writing LGBTQ romance novels with themes of family life, marriage, adoption, affairs and betrayal.

I had the pleasure of speaking with J S about the inspiration behind his latest murder mystery thriller.

What inspired you to write this novel?

JG: I grew up reading horror and thriller novels, only really getting into LGBTQIA+ literature in the last couple of years. As a happily married gay dad, I wanted to write something relatable, but with an interesting narrative and a bit of an edge. A lot of the MM books I’d read prior to writing about MM relationships seemed to be purely sex-driven, with little else so I wanted my work to be more rounded. The Husband Swap: Saturday Night Dinner was my response to bringing everything I loved into one novel: Relatable characters and scenarios, a touch of adulterous steamy action here and there and the whodunnit mystery of an Agatha Christie novel. Although I have to say, I’ve read many great LGBT novels from some fantastic authors since really getting into the genre.

What is your writing process like?

JG: I usually start with a simple idea, such as - a twenty-something guy comes out or a married couple wants to switch it up by inviting a third into their relationship – and let the ideas flow from there. Sometimes I can have the full arc of the story pop into my head at once; other times I begin to write and follow wherever the characters take me. I have a couple of great novels half-written, but things can often get in the way, such as writer's block or complex timelines with interwoven characters hindering my flow.

How do you approach writing your characters and bringing their relationships to life?

JG: I like to take a little inspiration from the world around me. It might be someone I know, or a great character I’ve read, or seen on TV. I take that little seed of inspiration and then create someone new from it. I’d never want to copy, or recreate what’s already out there, but it’s a good place to start. Often, when I think about my character’s back-story, their personalities will develop and change so much, they become completely unrecognisable from where I first started. I find it’s their interaction with other characters or situations that really brings them to life. You always have to ask yourself, ‘Would he really do that?’ or ‘How would she say it if she was really angry?’.

What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?

JG: I didn’t read much until I became a teenager and found my local library (long before I got my Kindle). From then on, I was hooked. I’d visit regularly, loving the escapism of reading something brand new and completely different each week. I soon started reading from my parent’s Stephen King and James Herbert collections, which was where I first began to love horror novels. Around that time, I took my first tentative steps at writing a teenage novel, but soon found how difficult it was. It took me a long time to return to storytelling.

What is the most challenging part of your artistic process?

JG: A blank page. There’s nothing worse than sitting in front of a white screen, having a great idea but not knowing where to start. I find it really helps jotting down a few bullet points for each chapter and then returning once you know a little more. At least this way you can jump into the chapters where you know exactly what’s going on and build up your story from there. Who says you have to start at the beginning and work front to back?

What do you hope readers take from this story?

JG: None of my novels are too heavy-going. I try to write fun, relatable - yet interesting escapism. I really hope my readers enjoy my novels, fall in love with my characters, have a laugh (and sometimes a cry) along the way and ultimately end up wanting to read more from me.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

JG: Start sooner, long before the regular 9 – 5 gets in the way. Study English at University (instead of Fine Art). Keep a journal of ideas – and keep adding to it whenever something interesting comes up.

What’s your favourite under-appreciated novel?

JG: Jurassic Park is my all-time favourite novel, which seems to be completely underappreciated as a novel versus the film franchise. On a less blockbuster-y level, I love the Commitment Issues series by Bradly Brady.

What would your advice be to any aspiring writers?

Just keep going. I think it’s true that everyone has a novel in them, and if you’re serious about writing – regardless of finding a publisher, or getting an agent… just keep going. Ultimately, you’re a writer because you love writing, not because of how successful you are.

What are you writing next?

I’ve just finished writing a follow-up to Saturday Night Dinner called Come Dine With Me which I’m hoping will come out very soon. I’m working on a respectable MM Christmas rom-com that may (or may not) be finished before this Christmas, and I’m also just putting the finishing touches to the steamiest novel I’ve ever written. Lots going on, so watch this space!

Married couple James and Daniel are hosting Saturday Night dinner for Billy and Aiken. About to complain at the noise, nosy neighbour Sheila peers through their window and sees red. Has someone been stabbed?

A week earlier, the foursome had drunkenly agreed to a husband-swap. Businessmen Daniel and Aiken can focus on their careers, leaving best friends James and Billy to have a bit of fun whilst taking care of baby Cleo.

Over the course of the week, Daniel’s secret is revealed just as Aiken’s problem threatens to ruin more than just his career. To make matters worse, James’ ex-boyfriend comes back to stir up trouble just as Billy’s dreams of having a surrogate baby may hang by a thread.

After twenty years of friendship, will best friends James and Billy fall for one another, or will a heated argument between the two couples get in the way of true love forever?

Author Links for J S Gray

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Thank you again to J S for a wonderful interview. The Husband Swap: Saturday Night Dinner is now available on Amazon.