We hope everyone had a great weekend! Today we continue our guest blog post from E. L. Gutierrez, author of Pepper Dolls. In the previous installment (available in our Author Blogs section), Eugene talked about his background and literary influences. This time, he’ll tell us about his book and the inspiration behind it.
My Book Pepper Dolls
Like Charlie’s Angels and the three R&B singers of Destiny’s Child, here comes the three equally (and uniquely) beautiful lady boys- Barbara, Maegan and Jane. When combined, they are called Pepper Dolls. In the most elite academy of Shiranova, powerful students come together to reign and dominate in their chosen fields. These lady boys (or lady belles) have different personalities: Barbara is the most daring and active, Maegan is the most charming and influential, and Jane is an eccentric genius.
Their worlds collide and they form a genuine friendship while savouring impressive moments with the different men who come their way. This book describes their fashion statements as the characters show different profiles: Barbara is depicted as the super model, Maegan is the spearhead, and Jane is the mysterious type of belle.
Readers find themselves on three different paths, plunging into their curiosity about how liberated people explore–even in their real lives. What makes it exciting is how their simple fun and escapades turn into searching about what really matters: love and acceptance. Barbara’s notions about men are tested after meeting Chase, a playboy who makes her laugh and appreciate simplicity. Maegan finds herself confused about the demarcation line between affinity and romance through her childhood friend, Patrick. At the same time, the cat and dog relationship of Jane and Cedric is comically relatable to Asian dramas. Readers are drawn to their fun moments and adventures.
The Inspiration Behind the Book
I was watching the movie Charlie’s Angels when an offhand remark (“There should be a gay version!”) sparked my interest. I’ve had the outline of the draft since 2013. It was remarkable how my real-life friends motivated me to write, knowing that I’ve won many writing contests. I can write well in both English and Filipino languages. It was somewhat a dare, but they had no idea that I had a story ready.
I was blown away when we discussed the names of the characters. Some of my gay friends who were sturdy and masculine enjoyed giving their feminine names. For instance, from Pete, we got Patricia; Andrew became Andrea, and so on. When I read the synopsis to them, there was nothing but excitement. Their constant follow-ups drove me to prioritize this project until I handed in the finished product in October or November 2015. More than two years in the making, I finally made it before 2015 ended. It was such a Christmas gift!
We’ll conclude our guest post from E. L. Gutierrez next week. Pepper Dolls, his first book in a planned trilogy, is available in the AuthorHouse Bookstore.
Stop by later this week when we present more tips for beating writer’s block. Thanks for visiting Author’s Digest!
