Double Bound (Tales from Ballena Beach)
Book Description:Nick Nolan’sDouble Boundreunites us with many of the characters introduced in his delightfulStrings Attached: Jeremy, now in a committed relationship with fun-loving, hotheaded Carlo; Arthur, Jeremy’s protector, confidant, and mentor; and Katharine, Jeremy’s wealthy benefactress, still hiding a slew of secrets and hidden agendas. This sequel displays the same wit, verve, style, and sense of adventure that were so engaging and fresh inStrings Attached. And whereStrings Attachedplayfully alluded toPinocchio,Double Boundhas fun with theJack and the Beanstalkfable.Just asStrings Attachedwas Jeremy’s story,Double Boundis Arthur’s, exploring his troubled relationship with disapproving parents and his precarious years as a gay Marine. However, there’s an added element this time out—the stakes are higher, the repercussions more dire, and the choices harder and more consequential. There is a darker feel to this novel, which not only adds depth to the characters but highlights Mr. Nolan’s growth and confidence as a storyteller. We’ve moved beyond high school concerns into real-world choices, where outcomes are not always tied up in neat "happily ever after" packages.Eric Arvin, Author ofSimple Men, Interviews Nick NolanEric Arvin:What can you say aboutDouble Bound?Nick Nolan:First of all, it’s the sequel toStrings Attached, which was loosely based onPinocchio, the puppet who wished he could be a "real boy."Stringsis a coming-of-age story about Jeremy Tyler, a co-dependent, or puppet-like, gay teen whose only wish is to be "real man." I twisted the original characters from Carlo Collodi’s book into a modern fairy tale of greed, lust, betrayal, and temptation.Eric Arvin:Is Jeremy still the central character in this newest work?Nick Nolan:No--because his story has already been told.Double Boundis all about Arthur, Jeremy’s mentor: his abuse-filled youth, his years as a closeted gay man in the Marines, his weathering of personal tragedy, then the anguish he feels over his relationship with Jeremy, whom he begins to develop "feelings" for. In this story, Arthur, Jeremy, and his boyfriend, Carlo, travel to Brazil to check out this amazing resort Jeremy’s aunt, Katharine Tyler, has the family bucks tied-up in. But the trip to Brazil isn’t all sun and fun; they run into a lot of trouble once they get there.Eric Arvin:Like what?Nick Nolan:Let’s just say this story is loosely based onJack and the Beanstalk. And I’ve thrown in some old Yoruban mythology, as well. But the part I really like is how Arthur and Jeremy take on the roles of "Erastes" and "Eromenes," where they echo the relationship between an older and younger man in ancient Greece.Eric Arvin:Were there any events in your life that shaped the writer you’ve become?Nick Nolan:I was a miserable kid: I had asthma, I hated sports, and I was scared of my father. I even used to stutter--badly. So when I discovered my, uh,fascinationwith guys, I became suicidal.Double Boundhas a lot of autobiographical material in it. I think my escapist nature enabled me to write, because I lived in a dream world to ride out my daily misery. My imagination got a great workout during my teens; if there’d been an Olympics for day dreamers, I would’ve won numerous gold  medals. A great imagination is essential for writing; when I’m bringing a story to life I’m living completely inside my head--I see every crack in the wall and, hopefully, every hole in the plot.Eric Arvin:Tell me about the residential treatment program you were part of. Sounds very inspiring.Nick Nolan:I was completely self-supporting during college, and instead of taking out loans I worked full time. It was hell; my first "two years" of college took eight to complete, so I pushed through my final two years by working forty hours a week doing commissioned sales, while carrying 15 units per semester. I was fueled by the anger I felt toward my stubborn, Catholic parents: they refused to help me with school, and they rejected my sexuality and my partner for the first decade he and I were together--we’re still happily married, by the way, after 23 years. So after barely surviving my youth and early adulthood, I vowed to help others navigate this very tenuous process of self-acceptance. So right out of school I fell through the doors of the Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services in Los Angeles. Working with those teens was amazing, and taxing, and rewarding, and frustrating beyond anything I’ve done before or since. But ultimately, I burned out and decided to pursue writing, which I believe to be my true calling.Eric Arvin:Who do you write for?Nick Nolan:I write books I’d like to read--it’s that simple. When I read I want to fall in love with the characters... to root for them... then to grimace when they do something stupid. I write for that person who likes a fast read, who tears through a novel, then is sad because there are so few pages held between their right thumb and fingers. Of course, I write primarily for gay men, which is why I’m not bashful about putting some judiciously scripted sex in my books. If there is a romantic storyline, I’m not going to shy away from "going there" because it makes certain readers uncomfortable. Having said that, I’ve been surprised by how many female readers enjoy my work.Eric Arvin:Do you have any upcoming projects that you can talk about?Nick Nolan:I do have a third book nearly completed that I’m very excited about—it’s also a thriller, but this time instead of the pages being peopled mostly by gay guys, this book features a large cast of characters including two older lesbians who carry the plot. It’s a big story, there’s lots of tension and unusual ideas about God in it, and I hope I can pull it off. Then, of course, there will be the third and final installment in the Jeremy and Arthur trilogy. I can’t wait to find out what happens with them!