About the writer Travis John Klune, who works simply under the name TJ Klune, you will learn on the Internet that he was born on May 20, 1982 in Roseburg, Oregon, USA. That he was only eight years old when he started writing fiction and later published it as well. Or that he was most influenced by Stephen King, Wilson Rawls, Patricia Nell Warren, Robert McCammon and Terry Pratchett. However, for millions of young people around the world, this author is almost like a close friend, showing them that it’s totally okay to be a little different. He inserts so-called queer themes into world fiction through his books and characters. Not only does it open the eyes of LGBT+ readers, it gives hope, it helps understanding. He also becomes a mentor to parents whose children are experiencing adolescence and revealing their intimacy and differences to themselves and their loved ones. Klune himself lost his partner and husband, the writer Eric Arvin, in 2016, who died after years of fighting a serious illness.
Klune’s partner Eric Arvin (left) became a quadriplegic after the collapse and subsequent brainstem surgery to remove a tumor. He was dependent on a ventilator for the rest of his life. He died on December 12, 2016 at the age of 41. | TJ Clune
The more complicated and in many ways sadder Klune’s personal life was, the more he is recognized by the literary world and his supporters, of whom there are countless in the Czech Republic. The writer created several New York Times and USA Today bestseller titles, and received the Lambda Literary Award for The House in the Cerulean Sea and The Extraordinaries. In addition, a number of other prizes. His American colleague David Levithan says about him: “He creates worlds where fear and threat can be overcome by kindness and where a tender queer heart is more valuable than any weapon or force.” The Czech market is conquered under the auspices of ConQueer publishing (according to his own words, he publishes stories about queer people, not only for queer people) and Fantom Print (one of the largest Czech publishing houses specializing in fantasy, science fiction, LitRPG and literary adaptations of computer games). And for his Czech fans, he gave Bleska over the ocean the following interview.
TJ Klune (*1982) is an acclaimed author. His books cover a wide range of genres, fantasy, romance and contemporary fiction. His stories often deal with themes of love, acceptance and personal growth. With his unique blend of wit, heart and deep insights, he continues to captivate readers around the world. | TJ Clune
So far, three of your books have reached bookstores in the Czech Republic. The first of them is House in the Azure Blue Sea, which people outside the LGBT+ community immediately fell in love with. How do you explain that?
“I like to think that my books are about people, regardless of their sexuality. Am I writing with my queer readers in mind? Yes, definitely, above all. Our stories deserve to be told. But I also think that most people have felt different at some point in their lives. We have all been outsiders in some sense at one time or another.’
The House in the Azure Blue Sea is a wonderful, funny, yet very educational and emotional fantasy book. Do you think that today’s teenagers have enough understanding in their surroundings in a complicated world and time? And that they themselves are able to give out positive emotions?
“Yes, without a doubt. If I am worried about the present, it is justified because the world is in a pretty warped state, both in my country and around the world. But one thing I’ve learned over the last few years in talking to lots and lots of young people is this: they’re smarter than we were at their age, sharper and more knowledgeable. And why shouldn’t they be? They have the entire catalog of human history in their hands. But more importantly, they are angry. They saw how things were done and the damage it caused. I don’t worry about the future because I know that the next generations will be better than we ever were.”
Chris Sickels of Red Nose Studio is the author of the popular Klune book covers. Creates 3D illustrations and stop-motion animations. American Illustration, Communication Arts and HOW magazines were honored. The Society of Illustrators also awarded him three gold and one silver medals for illustration and animation work. | Chris Sickels, Red Nose Studio
They say you started writing at the age of eight. This creative ability, to give the world more benign shapes, is this also why you wanted to be a writer? What brought you to this profession?
“I always wanted to be a writer. From an early age I developed a bookish appetite for all the titles through which I escaped from a less-than-ideal home life. Books led to a desire to write. Writing brought me joy, and joy was something that could be taken from me in that house. So I did it secretly, filling notebooks with imperfect stories. I am very lucky to have grown up with the opportunity to do what I enjoy the most. How many people can say that?’
Are you planning to go to present one of your other books in Prague?
“I hope I can do it someday! I’ve just returned from the UK from my first overseas tour and enjoyed being able to speak to readers face to face.’
Your books subtly reveal important messages through innocent plots, to which romance is gradually added… How do you work? Do you always know in advance what paths the story will take?
“Mostly yes. I outline every novel I write beforehand. I always leave room in case a new idea strikes me as I write, so the outline isn’t set in stone. Change is always part of the writing process and imagination guarantees it. Romance used to be a big part of what I did. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve enjoyed exploring other relationships besides romantic relationships. Love has many forms: romantic, platonic, friendly and family. These can be equally important. At the same time, I love when I see how good people find themselves and together complete what has already been built.”
You grew up at the turn of the 80s and 90s, when a lot of significant stories were created, mainly in the field of film. Do you remember one that you still consider essential?
“Definitely! The best movie experience of my life was when I was 12 years old and saw Jurassic Park in the cinema. I have never seen anything like it and it completely blew my mind. I became that dinosaur boy who simultaneously listened to the movie soundtrack on repeat. Other films that I consider essential from my youth (and some from before I was born) were ET The Alien, The Terminator, The Little Toaster, The Neverending Story, Milo and Otis, The Fox and the Hound, Monster from the Black Lagoon, The Princess Bride. And also, if you ever get the chance to see The Wizard of Oz in a movie theater, do it. It will change the way you see colors.”
You have already written a number of books, many of which have also received significant awards. Where do you get inspiration for your stories and who are the first readers of your new stories?
“I draw inspiration from the world around me. Life has a strange way of turning itself into stories. All I know is that when a character starts talking loudly at me, I should start listening. And the first people to read my books are three women who have been my beta readers for years. They know me, they know how I work and they are not afraid to tell me when something is not working. My work wouldn’t be nearly as good without them.”
You are also a dog owner. In our editorial office, we have a project called Flash of Paws. Through it, we help abused dogs and other animals, we fight against people who breed them at the expense of their health and lives. If you wanted to support this activity with some words, what would you say?
“Dogs are everything to me. I love them all in one. My own Hendrix was found in some woods so starved he could barely stand, and he had signs of abuse. I’ll never know what he went through before I got him, but I made sure he knew nothing but peace and happiness every day since. People who work in animal rescue are a special kind of people. They see things that many of us would give pause for thought, and they go above and beyond, doing whatever they can to help. I like people like that the most.”
TJ Klune (*1982) is an acclaimed author. His books cover a wide range of genres, fantasy, romance and contemporary fiction. His stories often deal with themes of love, acceptance and personal growth. With his unique blend of wit, heart and deep insights, he continues to captivate readers around the world. | TJ Clune
So far, your last book, which was presented at our book festival Svět knihy Praha 2023, is a book called In the lives of puppets. What’s the next story you’re working on?
“I’m currently between projects because I’ve been on a month-long tour for In the Life of a Puppet. I use the time to get some sleep and then start thinking about what’s next. That being said, I have several unannounced projects that are already written and I’m sure readers will go crazy for what’s to come…”
More questions sent to you by your fans… Your books have beautiful covers, are you as excited about them as the readers?
“Definitely. Chris Sickles of Red Nose Studios does my covers and he’s the best at it. Seeing all the different versions that other publishers are doing based on his work is amazing. I hope to work with him until the end of my career.”
Do you like cooperation with a Czech publishing house? And how do you perceive the great response from Czech readers?
“It’s amazing! I can’t believe my books have gotten this far. If you had told me as a child that I would be where I am today, I wouldn’t have believed you. I think it goes to show that stories are universal no matter what language they’re told in.”
Can you tell us about your creative process while writing? Do you listen to any special music or do you have other rituals? In short, can you reveal something interesting?
“Music is part of everything I do. Many readers have enjoyed the music in my books, but many don’t know that I create playlists of the books as I write them. And when I say playlist, I mean hundreds of songs. And then I listen to that music everywhere I go, so I stay in the same world even when I’m not writing in it. The playlist In the life of a puppet got a little out of hand and grew to more than 500 songs.”
If you could adopt one child from The House in the Azure Sea, who would it be? The questioner hopes that Lucy.
“Ha, Lucy, he’d be great! All children would be. But if I had to choose, it would be Chauncey. I adore him above all else.”
This is how the artificial intelligence imagines the hero of the book House on the Azure Sea: Kind and touching shapeshifter Chauncey (left) and the charming six-year-old antichrist, who is allowed to bring destruction on humanity until after dinner, Lucy. | Blesk v AI Midjourney, id
What was the original story of In the Lives of the Puppets supposed to be? What were you forced to change?
“It wasn’t necessarily forced. I just had to make some changes that took some aspect out of the original story – changes that I didn’t agree with. Sometimes it happens that the vision fails to translate for some, and so it is simple. The decision was left to me alone, but I was the only one to enforce it.”
The last question is from us again… Your characters tend to have supernatural abilities. Which one would you like to have? And if you could, what would be the first thing you would change in today’s world?
“That could be a dangerous question. Changing the world would mean erasing hatred, but what would that do to free will? Since I’m answering these questions on a Monday night, I don’t have the emotional range to respond meaningfully. So – I’d like to fly so I can rescue cats and little people when they get stuck in trees.”
Play a preview of the new audiobook version of Under the Whispering Door:
