An Interview with Frederick Groya
Frederick Groya is the author of the literary novel Good Intentions. He lives with his husband in the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, Virginia. His short stories have been published in Pink Disco Magazine, BarBar Magazine, Opal Age Tribune, and the Umbrella Factory Magazine; shortlisted for The Letter Review Prize for Short Fiction; and nominated for a Pushcart Prize. He is a past president of the Brandywine Valley Writers Group and has attended several Tinker Mountain Writers’ Workshops.
Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?
This book went through three titles before I settled on Good Intentions late in the writing process. It’s an appropriate title. Tom, the protagonist, marries with good intentions, but as the Literary Titan review explains: “…good intentions matter, but they don’t absolve people from examining what their choices have done to others.”
How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?
It felt amazing to hold the finished book in my hands for the first time, to see the concrete reality of something that had existed first in my head as vague thoughts, then as piles of paper or electronic files. I said to myself, “I did it!”
Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?
For parts of my adult life, I kept a journal, and once in a while I liked what I wrote while capturing a deep emotional moment, when I put intense feelings into words, making the feelings understandable. At other times, I felt that I had uncovered a previously hidden truth about myself or humanity in general. Later, while reading the works of Andre Aciman or Jonathan Franzen, I thought I might be able to do something similar.
What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?
I have a PhD in Agronomy from the University of Minnesota. I have worked for several multinational agricultural products companies in product development, project management, and regulatory affairs.
What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?
The most rewarding part of publishing the book was working with the fine team at Atmosphere Press. Everyone was very professional and helped guide me through the publication process. The most rewarding aspect of publishing was to finally get the story that resided in my head for twenty-five years out into the world.
If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?
My book has its own built-in soundtrack. Several scenes take place in bars, in nightclubs, or at parties, where music was playing: “What I Like About You” by The Romantics, “I’m Coming Out” by Diana Ross, “Our Lips Are Sealed” by the Go-Go’s, a remix of “In the Name of Love” by Shep Pettibone, and “It’s Raining Men” by the Weather Girls. One additional song is mentioned in Chapter 1: “Ever since he’d first heard the Firefall recording of ‘You Are the Woman’ in 1976, he imagined the woman of his dreams capturing his heart with just one look. The lyrics elicited an emotional reaction, a deep longing for someone special.”
What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?
In addition to the importance of self-awareness, self-acceptance, and honesty in living a truly good and authentic life, I hope readers will take away from this story an understanding of the strong, driving force that desire (or lust) has on our lives. Only after you know and accept who you are and live every day as your whole self, can you find both love and the fulfillment of your desires.
What creative projects are you currently working on?
I’m working on my second novel, which will explore other aspects of self-discovery. The theme can be summed up by this quote from Thomas Carlyle: “The greatest of all faults, I should say, is to be conscious of none.”
How was working with Atmosphere Press? What would you tell other writers who want to publish?
Overall, I had a good experience working with Atmosphere Press. They have a process that moves along at a steady pace, as advertised, and with clear deliverables. They made a complex process with many moving parts relatively painless. The support Atmosphere Press provided was especially appreciated as the release date approached. I would not have been able to handle the distribution, contest and reviewer submissions, and promotion activities on my own.
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