Our goal is to showcase an array of LGBTQ+ content and extremely talented authors in the community. We are happy to introduce you to several authors who are standing behind their amazing works with strong LGBTQ+ themes. We are extremely honored to have them join our Fiesta for an interview.

Here is our third lovely author!

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✮ Author ✮ Cian Griffin

✮ Genre ✮ General Fiction

Tags: #bisexual #drag #dublin #equality #freethelgbt #gay #ireland #lesbian #lgbt #lgbtq #marriage #outwattpad #rdr #referendum #rpdr #slayathome2020 #trans #transgender #vote

The year is 2014, during Ireland's campaign to legalise same-sex marriage by public vote, making them the first country in history to ever do so and earning the praise of a global audience.

What inspired you to write "Out"?

If I'm honest, I was less 'inspired' by what exists already, and more motivated by what is yet to exist in terms of LGBTQ+ literature. As anyone who is part of a minority will tell you, representation in the media is so important, and as a community we have suffered without that for so long. This is why the likes of RuPaul's Drag Race, Pose, and Hollywood have become so popular in recent years - because they come following such a long period of time when these things were considered taboo. We can finally celebrate these aspects of our community, instead of suffering in the dark.

Most of those shows are rather US-centric, and not that this is a problem, but for someone growing up in rural Ireland, it's important that they see themselves represented in both television and literature. These shows have made me realise just how important it is to tell Ireland's story, and to give young Irish children characters they can actually relate to - not a tokenized stereotype in an American show, but a young Irish character they know and recognise. I want to represent the modern, progressive Ireland I have grown to love, and I want to celebrate the queer community that have been part of that change.

In Ireland, we recently hit the five year anniversary of legalising same-sex marriage and we were the first country to ever do so by public refenderendum. This referendum is the basis and timeline for my novel. In writing "Out", I want to commemorate Ireland's role in this monumental part of global history, and also capture the sense of "Irishness" that is so underrepresented in literature. With the likes of Lisa Magee's "Derry Girls" and Sally Rooney's "Normal People" achieving global recognition, I think the world is finally ready to hear this story.

How long did you spend researching before beginning to write the story?

This book has been YEARS in the making. The idea first came to me shortly after Ireland's same-sex marriage referendum a few years ago, but this story began long before 2015. Having grown up in a world that refused to acknowledge who I was, and even worse, condemned it, I have first hand experience of what the characters in "Out" go through. The storylines that run through my novel have been forming since I drew my first breath, and I really draw inspiration for my characters and storylines from real people and situations - it is a very raw book.

A lot of work has gone into "Out" to make sure I do both the LGBTQ+ community and Ireland justice. I have the fortune of having lived through this moment in history, so I have first hand experience of how the world was changed by it. This is a very honest story, that captures quite dark themes in a very light-hearted, "Irish" way.   

How did you discover Wattpad? What are some of your favorite experiences on the platform?

I was introduced to Wattpad by one of my close friends at the age of sixteen, and girl let me tell you, my writing skills were ABYSMAL back then; offensive almost! I actually have loads of my old stories saved as drafts, to remind me of how far I have come, but I cringe so much reading back over them.

I've been on Wattpad for almost nine years now, which is CRAZY to think about, but I've really had some amazing experiences here. My Hunger Games fan-fiction reaching one million reads honestly shook me to the core (especially considering it's actually quite poorly written). The response both my fan fictions received honestly gave me the drive and self-belief to keep at it, and I owe my Wattpad tribe so much for that. Another highlight was when my original novel "Man Hunt" won a Watty Award. Like honestly, I'm still not over that.

This is a very special community, and I owe a lot to the people who have supported me over the years.

If you could invite five people for a cup of coffee— anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would they be and why?

Trixie and Katya - two of my favourite drag queens that I honestly think deserve the world. They are among the funniest people on this planet, and inspirations because both have been through very dark experiences so I am inspired that they can still bring so much joy to the world.

Nicola Coughlan - an Irish actress I am obsessed with (she is in Derry Girls, and I honestly think she's my spirit animal). She is hilarious, but also uses the platform she has built to advocate for equality across gender, race, and sexuality. She is an inspiration.

Kevin and PJ - a gay Irish duo from Cork (Ireland), now living in London. This is the pair behind the " I'm Grand Mam " podcasts, which is definitely worth the listen! They are so down to earth, absolutely gas, and really empower each other and their listeners to celebrate themselves unapologetically. They are great people.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I mean, writing is honestly an integral part of my life - both personally and professionally as a content and social media marketer. Although with that said, I am a big LGBTQ+ activist, and I have an Instagram account called Gaylgeoirí where I promote body positivity, queer culture, self-acceptance and pride (and memes!).

I have used that platform to springboard into different projects. I have a podcast that is coming very soon that explores the idea of modern "Irishness" (whether that means Trans Irish, Afro-Irish, Asian-Irish, etc) and how it has changed for the better over the years.

I also am currently running a pride fundraiser called the for the month of June, in which I raise much needed funds for four LQBTQ+ charities in Ireland, and I'd really appreciate the support if anyone can give it (literally a $1 donation would mean the world - they all add up)! Other than that, I love hanging around with my friends, keeping fit, and partying in gay bars full of drag queens!

More information on the podcast and the Pride Challenge can be found on my Instagram account Gaylgeoirí (be aware it's a bilingual channel, so I sometimes speak in Irish, but I always include the English translations).

What do you identify as? 

I am a gay, cis male. So my pronouns are he/him.

Can you tell us what you're currently working on or what's in store for the readers?

I am really focusing on "Out" for the next few months. I really want to publish this story, and eventually work on an adaptation for television. These seem like big dreams, I know, but remember, there's a billionaire somewhere in this world that invented the pool noodle, so anything is possible!

What is the best writing advice you have received?

Please see the pool noodle analogy above!

 What advice can you give to writers out there?

I think it's important to understand that you should write because you enjoy it, not for any other reason. This goes far beyond writing too; whether it's a sport, or another hobby like becoming a painter or a drag queen for example. You should do something because it's what you are passionate about and because you enjoy doing it.

If you write with the intention of fame, you'll end up feeling unfulfilled and down on yourself and your abilities if that day doesn't come. For a large portion of writers in fact, myself included, that day never comes, so it's important to be happy. But I'm of the opinion that if you focus on something, and put energy into it solely for your own entertainment and because it's what you love doing, success follows naturally. 

"We never really get there, we are constantly learning" do you agree?

I sound like such a Tumblr girl, but honestly, I really believe the journey is the destination. I have a bachelor's degree and a masters, and yet when I started my first proper 'adult job' after college, I felt extremely out of my depth, I suffered severe imposter syndrome, and I began to really panic. I felt like I wasn't equipped for the world at all, even though I 100% am. I think the sooner you realise you can't know everything, and that there are multiple routes to success, the better. As long as you are a better person today than you were yesterday, you're doing something right.

It's all about your perspective at the end of the day; so with that in mind, treat every obstacle as a learning opportunity, always thank the bus driver, and wash your damn hands!