Indie Support Sunday: G. L. Rueda

6 days ago
7 min read

G.L. Rueda’s Instagram bio says everything you need to know about her and the stories she writes: wholesome LGBTQ+ romances are my jam. She might have gotten her start by writing fanfiction to ensure her favorite anime characters were getting the right kind of love. And since then, she’s published two books in her six-book series, Love in Bellinvue.

Living in Mexico and writing her books in English, going the self-publishing route was the easiest. Not to mention having control over the kind of stories she wants to write and how she wants to grow as an author. Which is clear in the five pieces of advice she has for anyone venturing into or already in this business!

One of my favourite responses of this interview has been the thought-out and elaborate answer to asking who G.L. would cast as the leads if her books were adapted. It’s always so interesting to see how authors visualise their characters.

Unlikely Deal and Looping Threads are available now!

BEING AN AUTHOR

Who or what inspired you to write?

To be honest, I started writing fanfiction in notebooks when I was around ten because my favorite anime characters weren’t getting the attention I wanted. It wasn’t until my twenties that I decided to create original stories for pretty much the same reason; I wanted to read something that hadn’t been written yet, and I took it upon myself to write it.

What’s the best and worst part about being an indie author?

I love the writing process; I get to know my characters, develop their stories, and be satisfied once I type “The End”. Marketing is the tiring part. I don’t expect to be known without any work, but even now, posting online is my weakest point.

Why did you choose to self-publish instead of going the traditional route?

I’m in Mexico and write in English; not an easy market, and I don’t have the means to move to an English-speaking country. Aside from that, I want to tell my stories a certain way and grow without forgetting the essence of my creations.

When you’re not writing, what do you do to get the creative juices flowing?

Read and consume other fiction, like TV shows and video games. I love exploring other people’s stories; creativity is always admirable.

If you were to recommend books to me (in any genre), what would they be?

My first queer romance books were by Alexis Hall (Boyfriend Material series), Alison Cochrun (The Charm Offensive), and Alexandria Bellefleur (Written in the Stars series), so those are my go-to recs in my genre.

What are your top 5 tips or pieces of advice for aspiring authors?

Don’t get discouraged if a story is giving you issues; give it space, revisit it later, and you’ll figure out how to connect the cogs.
Research is always important, no matter how silly something seems. You’ll make mistakes, but there’s no shame in them after trying your best to learn something new.
Ask Why? For every plot point. If there’s no answer, rework the story to give it one or adapt the plot point to fit with something you already established.
Be patient; success is not a guarantee (I should know, I don’t have any lol), but if you love writing because you want to create stories, the wait for it to reach others will be easier.
Feel proud of your accomplishments, no matter how small. It’s surreal to have books you wrote out in the world, but each of them was a collection of challenges. Don’t look down on small feats; they are all important, and you’re improving with every obstacle you overcome.

ROMANCE AS A GENRE

Why did you choose romance as the genre to write in? What is your favorite thing about the genre?

I’m in the AroAce spectrum, but love stories have always been comforting to me because they’re ultimately about connection and happiness, particularly romantic comedies. I enjoy seeing the main characters find a balance and become better people for themselves and the person they love. Personally, exploring personal hardships while falling in love is interesting because it can reveal a lot about a character and the reasons behind their personality.

If not romance/subgenres of romance, what genre would you like to write in?

I’m already planning a fantasy book, but it’ll be a while until I get there.

What are your most and least favorite tropes?

My favorite tropes are opposites attract, found family, hurt/comfort (mainly comfort), and low-stakes conflict. My least favorites are miscommunication, cheating, bully romance, love at first sight, and teacher-student relationships when the student is in college or younger.

What are some tropes you want to write in the future?

I just finished writing single dad and my upcoming books will have second chance, childhood friends to lovers, and roommates falling in love.

What are some topics (sensitive and otherwise) that you think should exist more in romance?

Mental health being actually treated. I’ve seen characters with anxiety or depression being “healed” by the love interest, which I consider a disservice. Yes, a good partner can help, but they won’t make everything disappear with a kiss. I’d rather see more supportive partners who stay by the MC’s side as they keep moving forward with their treatment, or riding those bad moments with them.

If you write closed door romance, why did you choose that and what are your favorite ways to build tension between the characters?

I think this fits more with my writing. All my books have one sex scene that I go over with the broadest of strokes and no explicit descriptors, the other sex scenes are mostly referenced in a paragraph.

I picked that because I don’t feel like I’d be able to do justice to those scenes, and it’s not the part of the relationship I’m most interested in. I do enjoy writing teasing touches and kisses that leave the characters breathless. Of course, banter is always a good way to play the MC’s off each other.

YOUR BOOKS

What inspired your published stories? How and when did you come up with these stories and plots?

Unlikely Ideal came up after watching a video essay on age gap romances and how they’re depicted in fiction. Most times are abusive and rarely are they queer. I know many queer couples with age gap and they’re lovely, so I decided to write a healthy love story between two men with years between them.

Looping Threads was just my longing for a sapphic Christmas love story. There are a few in the book community, especially indies, and I caught the spirit as well. Plus, I loved the pairing before I even started writing, just because of how I imagined them.

Foreign Home is my latest, and I wanted to explore more family dynamics than in my previous books, and how they affect romantic relationships.

Can you briefly tell me about your books?

Unlikely Ideal is an achillean office romance between Dillon, a P.A., and his boss’s son, Karlos. With 11 years of difference and opposing lifestyles, it’s unexpected for both when feelings start to develop.

Looping Threads is a sapphic Christmas romance between Opal, a fashion designer, and Jelena, a gym trainer, who get involved by pure luck, or maybe the magic of the season, leading their future at the end of the year.

Foreign Home is an achillean romance between Lisandro, a single dad who cooks at a diner, and Tristan, a graphic designer who’s been eyeing him for months. Family matters are weighing on them as they try to give their relationship a chance, testing their commitment to themselves, each other, and their loved ones.

Do you already have a favorite character from the stories you’ve written?

I couldn’t pick one, I love all of them for different reasons. Secondary characters, though, I have a soft spot for Dakota, Jelena’s best friend from Looping Threads.

If you were to cast your book for a movie/television show, who would you cast in the lead roles?

With Unlikely Ideal, Karlos Olner could be played by Kofi Siriboe (or Damson Idris, but both are years older than Karlos). Dane DeHaan could be a good pick for Dillon.

Looping Threads, I think Lorena Andrea or Haskiri Velazquez would be a cool Jelena. For Opal, saying Nicola Coughlan would be too easy, and she’s a few years older, so Megan Stalter is a good choice if she could wear contacts (I’m sorry! Opal’s eyes are why she got her name.)

As for Foreign Home, honestly, I have a hard time finding someone who would fit Tristan… Zach Miko (model) might be close, but he’s 8 years older, Garrett Clayton was another choice if he had a softer body. Lisandro, funnily enough, reminds me of Trey Santiago-Hudson, who is younger than the character.

How much of yourself do you put into these characters?

If a character has anxiety, that’s a part of me in them.

What is a story/stories that you really want to tell?

I want to do some fairy tale re-tellings, and I really hope to be able to bring the fantasy world I’ve planned for years to the page.

Is there one common element that readers can find in all your stories?

Supportive friends, various family dynamics, green flag relationships, and happy endings. Oh, and queer MC’s.

What’s next on the bookshelf for you? Anything you can tell us about a future project?

My current books are all part of a series called Love in Bellinvue. Six books in total, two published and the third one coming in late June. I’ve mentioned before the tropes you can expect to see!

When you write these stories, what are you hoping your readers will feel?

Happiness, comfort, coziness, and calm after they finish the book.