This summer, viewers tuned into The Today Show to find NY Times Best Selling author Steven Rowley enjoying his chat about his latest novel, The Celebrants, as an official Today Show Read with Jenna Book Club pick. As part of his mega book tour that took over a month, he was in the spotlight as never before, having earned his way with his previous novels, Lily and the Octopus, The Editor, and The Guncle, each earning a number of accolades from critics and readers alike. Not a bad start for having published his first book at the age of 45. Each novel is masterfully crafted, with the inclusion of queer characters so perfectly woven into the story, the books are not limited to the LGBTQ community but rather appeal to all audiences while telling our stories.

In this episode, we chat about his early writing as a kid, the critic and audience appeal of his work, healing through grief, aging in the gay community, life after death, his creative process in developing his characters, his marriage with fellow writer Byron Lane, the power of friendship, touring the nation, the future of The Guncle, his message to the LGBTQ community, and so much more. Girl, we get deep!

Hosted by Alexander Rodriguez.

You can follow Steven on Instagram at @MrStevenRowley and check out our in-depth chat with him in the current issue of Metrosource on newsstands or at Metrosource.com