I have a very talented author here today to tell us all about his new memoir, In The Pink. His name is Nicholas Garnett. Enjoy the interview but first, let's find out more about Nicholas and his hot new book...
Nicholas Garnett received his MFA in Creative Writing from Florida International University. He has taught creative writing at FIU, the Miami Book Fair, and Writing Class Radio. Garnett is also a freelance editor and co-producer of the Miami-based live storytelling series, Lip Service: True Stories Out Loud. He is a recipient of residencies from the Vermont Studio Center and the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild, and fellowships to the Norman Mailer Art Colony and Writers in Paradise. His writing has appeared, among other places, in Salon.com, Truehumor.com, Sundress Publication’s “Best of the Net” and Cleis Press’s Best Sex Writing.
His memoir, In the Pink, is forthcoming from MidTown Publishing in January 2022.
You can visit his website at www.nicholasgarnett.com or connect with him on Twitter and Facebook.
Washed out of another corporate job, scraping by playing drums in a wedding band, delivering roses in a tuxedo. This was Nicholas Garnett’s version of the go-go 90s. Then, beautiful, worldly, Rachael turns his
world upside down, introducing him to her gay friends who occupy the upper crust of the burgeoning gay circuit party scene. Nick and Rachael marry. They become known as the hot straight couple that party hardy with the boys in all he right places—until their friends self-destruct, Rachael burrows into addiction, the marriage implodes, and Nick is out on the street again. Follow his harrowing journey as he struggles to find his way in a life that’s been buried beneath a lifestyle.
“In the Pink is a the story of a singular life, told coolly and cleanly, with admirable introspection. If I felt, at times, that Nicholas Garnett occupied an alternative universe — well, he did and I am glad that he decided to chronicle it with a refreshing lack of judgment for his fellow travelers — and himself.“—Laura Lippman, author of DREAM GIRL, LADY IN THE LAKE, and the Tess Monaghan series.
“By turns outrageous, hilarious, and truly moving, this unflinching chronicle of a profoundly mismatched straight couple’s foray into the gay party and power circuit sets a new standard for the tale of wretched excess, and provides much-needed perspective along the way. Nicholas Garnett has–no lie–produced a book like none other.”—Les Standiford, New York Times bestselling author of LAST TRAIN TO PARADISE and BRINGING ADAM HOME.
“I’ve just finished reading Nicholas Garnett’s electrifying memoir In the Pink, and now I need to catch my breath and recover. And then I’m going to read it again. Here is a gritty and lyrical portrait of what it’s like living life way out there on the edge, spinning out of control, and staring into the abyss. Astonishing and slightly terrifying.”—John Dufresne, author of LOUISIANA POWER & LIGHT and REQUIEM, MASS.
“Fasten your seat belts and take this ride through the A-list, drug-fueled, sex-centric circuit party scene of the 1990’s with Nicholas Garnett. Like Bill Clegg’s memoir PORTRAIT OF AN ADDICT AS A YOUNG MAN and David Carr’s NIGHT OF THE GUN, In the Pink will terrify, startle, and ultimately make you sigh with relief over Garnett’s unflinching look at this world and his place in it.”—Ann Hood, New York Times bestselling author of COMFORT: A JOURNEY THROUGH GRIEF and THE KNITTING CIRCLE.
“In the Pink might read like one man’s heady quest to become the gayest straight man in America. But look deeper and it’s your story, what you’ve done to hang on to love, to live beyond labels while searching for your own, to find yourself after decades of getting so lost. Do yourself a favor: buy this book. Read it now.”—Anjanette Delgado, author of THE CLAIRVOYANT OF CALLE OCHO.
Book Information
Release Date: October 18, 2021
Publisher: MidTown Publishing
Soft Cover: ISBN: 978-1626770331; 276 pages; $22.99
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3zxQhYb
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3q0YDV0
Q: What is
the relevancy of In the Pink, which takes place decades ago, to today?
I think this story of my seeking love and acceptance in a relationship, and a lifestyle, is universal and timeless. I hope the story also captures a particular time of exuberance in the face of pain and death. My sense is that the generation after mine places less emphasis on sexual preference. I sure hope that means that young people don’t have to face the shame and guilt that many of my friends did. Also, thank goodness, AIDS is not the death sentence it once was. If there was any upside to all that darkness, it’s that it
created a camaraderie and unity that I suspect has been lost in a more accepting age. Many of the external trappings of the circuit exist now the worldwide rave/EDM scene. There will always be something irresistibly tribal about a group of people gathering to lose themselves in a thunderous beat. But I believe there was something unique about the time and place depicted in In the Pink—an exclusivity, us against them—that people who weren’t there can’t fully appreciate. But at least they can read about it!
Q: Does In
the Pink conjure up any feelings of guilt or remorse in you?
Yes, but not
the ones people might expect. Of course, there was a lot of self-indulgent
behavior, and I contributed my share. The thing I wish I could change, however,
is the way I parted ways with Rachael. Not the fact that I did it—but how.
Instead of facing up to her, I did the one thing I knew she couldn’t forgive:
betray her. That was a cowardly act, one I will always regret.
Q. Have
you stayed in touch with any of the characters in your memoir? If so, what has
been their reaction to it?
I moved from Washington, D.C. in 2004, but remain in touch with some of the people from In the Pink, many of whom, though I don’t see them often, I consider lifelong friends. I live in the suburbs of South Florida, am happily
remarried with two stepsons, so my life has certainly changed. But so has theirs. We all had to move on. Those that didn’t paid the price. When I learned that In the Pink was going to be published, I reached out to a few people that I felt should know beforehand. I contacted the real Dr. Hector, whose life had spiraled precipitously after the period depicted in the book. He and I had completely lost touch for many years. I was relieved to find out that he is recovered, healthy, and happy. He had no reservations about being in the book. That was a relief. Neither did Rachael’s ex (David in the story). He couldn’t have been more gracious and supportive. I imagine that by now, those familiar with my story are asking, “Gee, that’s all really interesting, but what about Rachael?” The answer is that I did not contact her. I did my best to write this story as honestly as possible, tried not to judge anyone except myself. But it’s my story. And I don’t know how I could have written it while trying to blend her version of what happened with mine. That’s not how memoir works. Rachael remains one of the smartest, funniest, and most interesting people I have ever met. Like I say in the book, I hope she found what she was looking for. Now that In the Pink is getting published, I expect that she will
have her own sense of what happened and why, and that it won’t line up completely with mine. It shouldn’t. I hope that the passage of time has allowed both of us to look back on that period of our lives with some perspective—our own.
Q: Are you
concerned that certain elements of the gay community will take issue with the
way they are portrayed in your memoir, or that you might be accused of cultural
exploitation that reinforces certain stereotypes about being gay?
Yes, I am
concerned. But there’s nothing I can do about it. The reason I say that is
because, unlike a reporter or social scientist writing a book-length
examination of gay culture in the 90s, I am writing about a personal
experience, restricted to what I saw, and did, and felt and my effort to impart
some meaning to the experience. In no way am I implying that all gay people in
the 90s were capable of, or even interested in, participating in the circuit
party scene. By definition, memoir narrows the scope of the story to the
writer’s experience. It’s my responsibility to tell that story as honestly as I
can. The rest is up to the reader.
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