Kyle meets… Jeremy Flagg, and discusses his new chubby, gay superhero

It seems that now more than ever, audiences have been sending the media a clear message: Representation matters. Audiences have been showing out in droves to see films such as Black Panther, Wonder Woman, Get Out, Us, and Girls’ Trip. Television shows that predominately feature women, people of color and LGBTQIA+ characters like Black-ish, Pose, This Is Us, Jane the Virgin, How To Get Away With Murder, and Killing Eve are seeing some of the highest ratings ever in the history of television. Times are changing, and audiences want diversity. 

But that’s not to say that some forms of media haven’t been slacking when it comes to representation of larger bodies. Yes, we have Lizzo and David Harbor to appreciate right now. But there’s still a need for even more representation, especially in the world of literature. To pick up a mystery novel or a comic book and read about a character that’s depicted as being a person of size is rare, especially when it comes to superheroes and leading men and women, is rare. 

This is something that author Jeremy Flagg is definitely challenging with his new superhero universe Children of Nostradomus and its first series The Night Quartet. The first book in the Night Quartet series, entitled Nighthawks, features a main character who is both chubby and gay. I recently got a chance to discuss the series with Jeremy, and some of the other projects he has planned for the future. 

Hi Jeremy! Can you tell us a little bit about your background? When did you begin your career as a writer?

I’ve been writing since 2006, but if you ask my mom, I’ve been spinning “tales” since I was a child. I went to school for graphic design, and while I love it, it’s about helping clients realize their vision. Writing is about my own vision. What other profession can you have superpowers, raunchy sex, and beat the snot out the school yard bully all before morning coffee? After years of writing, I decided to pull the trigger and published my first book, Suburban Zombie High, a campy romp through the perils of modern high school. When I noticed people buying the book, I thought to myself, perhaps this is something worth pursuing?

Well, it definitely seems like it was well worth it! Let’s talk a little bit about the Children of Nostradamus series, and the first book of that series entitled Nighthawks. What is the release date? What was the inspiration behind these stories?

I’m a die-hard geek bear. There isn’t much to do growing up in Northern Maine, so I read comics. It was only natural as I got older to follow a band of mutants as they tried to make the world a better place. I think all of us secretly want to be Jean Grey. By my middle school, I started writing my own comics. They were heavily inspired by Marvel. Years later I found the scripts and with some adjustments to the story and dialing it up for an adult audience, I had the first draft of Nighthawks.

The novel is inspired by the new world we are watching unfold. I needed a way to cope with the obscene injustices. I pushed the book into the near future and set it in a bleak dystopian America. Nighthawks asks, “What does it mean to be human?” In a world consumed by darkness, I needed to feel there is still hope and opportunities for individuals to become heroes.

Nighthawks is available September 3rd, 2019 through Amazon and Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited.

I love the fact that your main hero is a chubby gay character. What made you decide to make this character a chubby bear?

It made writing sex scenes far more enticing! 

Ever notice how every superhero has a six pack? The outlandish standards for superheroes are not limited to women with big breasts and tiny waists. I for one want to see more burly thick men soaring through the air. A hairy man strong enough to sweep me off my feet? Yes, sir.

The main character, Conthan is a twenty-six-year-old thick guy who is attracted to other burly men. It’s not discussed at length in the first book, but the hints are sprinkled for bearish admirers. It gets developed over the course of the series as a relationship blossoms. Conthan has the ability to teleport, and let’s be honest, if I could teleport to the store, I wouldn’t be walking. It’s an extra layer of realism. It just so happens it also mirrors my own experience back in the days of being a naive cub. 

I had a vision of what Conthan has looked like as I wrote the series. However, it was when I met Sean Carlson at Boston’s Fan Expo Conthan got his first visual. I made sure to emphasize that the character does not have the standard superhero physique. He sent me some great rough sketches, but I wasn’t prepared for the final artwork. Is it wrong to be attracted to a character you created? It’s not a secret, I would buy my protagonist a drink at the bar.

This is really inspiring, especially since there’s a big body positivity movement going on right now. However, there’s still a definite need for more LGBTQ and bear/chub representation in the media, especially as heroes and romantic characters. 

Are you hoping that your stories can be a bit of a catalyst for this type of representation? 

I want us as a society to admit that the human body is a facet of identities and something to admire in all its shapes and forms. As a young gay in the 90’s, I struggled with body issues. I believed attraction was limited to a very narrow scope of what mass media presented as “acceptable” for gay men. I’m chubby. I’m hairy. I’m gay. It took me a long time to realize I wasn’t alone. 

The Children of Nostradamus Universe has a strong emphasis on diversity. Gay. Bisexual. Straight. Neurodiverse. Physically challenged. Muslim. Catholic. Chubby. Ripped. Lanky. I wanted to show the diversity I see every day at the coffee shop. This is our reality, and we have a tendency of ignoring those not in our immediate social circles. 

For Nighthawks, I wanted to create the superhero I needed when I was a kid.

Are the other books in the series completed, or are you still working on them?

The Children of Nostradamus Universe is going to be an ongoing project. The first series, The Night Quartet introduces readers to a world where superpowers have developed. Currently Nighthawks (September 3rd), Night Shadows (September 24th), Night Legions (October 15th) and Night Covenants (November 5th) follows a team trying to prevent a psychic’s visions from coming true. Morning Sun (November 26th) gives us the background of the characters before they begin their adventure.

Next year, because fans requested it, I’ll be working on a prequel trilogy. It’ll focus on the psychic who sets into motion the events of the Night Quartet. I have other writing projects happening, but for the time being, I’m going all in on this superhero universe. There are plenty of other stories and characters that have stories that need exploring.

You said you’ve been writing books since 2006. What are some of your other books about? Are they all LGBTQ themed?

The majority of the books I write are for an older audience. Every story I’ve written features a LGBT lead character, but very few of my stories focus on LGBTQ themes. Often times, we find LGBTQ protagonists with an agenda relating to their sexuality, gender or gender identity. I fast forward past that because as a bear creeping up on forty, much of that is behind me. Occasionally my characters encounter discrimination that needs to be remedied, but for the most part, their LGBTQness is a small aspect of their overall character in the context of the story. 

However, years ago I was asked to remove the only line in a short story that revealing the character was gay. Excuse me? No, I think not. When I first published, I was scared to be known as the “gay superhero author.” Now, I own it. My readers have supported my professional coming out and as long as I sneak in some heterosexual loving with big beefy men, they’re happy. When I discovered the bear community, I found a home, there’s no going back into the closet for me or my characters. 

What do you have planned for the future? Any other LGBTQ related projects in the works?

I’ve been working on a side project with Amanda Kahl – Illustrator of the webcomic Age of Night. We grew up in a small town in northern Maine where LGBTQ life is a struggle. After a long conversation, we decided we needed to set a story in the area we grew up. I Am the First follows the story of a young boy who develops super powers after a traumatic experience because of his sexuality. Living near cities offer a bastion for young gay people, but in these remote small towns, life is harder than hell. We’re hoping to start pitching the project to publishers in 2020.

I’m also working on a bit of a non-fiction project about a man (surprise, I’m the man!) who decides to uproot his life and move to Scotland. The first draft won’t be done for a while as I’m writing it as the story unfolds. It’s shaping up to be heartfelt humorous story with a bit of romance with a sexy Glaswegian cub. 

Where can people find more of you, your writing, and the Children of Nostradamus?

If you’re looking for photos of me in the hot tub, then head over to Instagram (@writeremyflagg) or if you’re looking for more about all my writing projects you can find me on Facebook or sign up for my mailing list