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AE: Is there a lot of you in I Say A Little Prayer?
ELH: No. I'm in a wonderful place in terms of my spiritual life. I don't go to mega churches in Atlanta. They don't uplift my spirit. My relationship with God is a personal one. If I get the impression he wants me to go to church, he'll direct me there. I did go to a small church in Arkansas that gave me the idea for this book. A lot of love was there.

AE: What about the boy band aspect?
ELH: I don't know nothing about boy bands. It's just what Chauncey did.

AE: Do you think the “down low” is a theme that runs in your books?
ELH: No, because I'm not a part of the down low. I'm just living my life. I like writing about issues of sexuality that help build self esteem in young gay people. Those are the things I'm interested in. I'm a romantic at heart. The bottom line is love.

AE: Do you enjoy being on the road with a book tour or are you miserable?
ELH: To say no would seem unappreciative. A lot of authors don't get to go on tours. This is the least I can do. I've been on the road since May 1, and I'll be on the road until next Thursday. But they treat me wonderful. It would be ungracious to complain. But physically, it is tiring on the body. You have little time for your self. You meet 200 strangers a day who feel they know you.

AE: Do they know you?
ELH: They think they do, but they don't.

AE: Any place on the tour that shocked you?
ELH: Fort Worth, Texas kind of shocked me. We had a big crowd. A mixed crowd. Black, white, young, old.

AE: What question do you get asked the most?
ELH: When is there going to be a movie?

AE: And the answer is?
ELH: There will be soon. With the success of Tyler Perry's movies and Brokeback Mountain, they are taking it more seriously. They're [Hollywood] followers not leaders.

AE: Is it easier to write about gay topics than to show them in movies?
ELH: Oh yeah. Books are more personal. Movies are more about making the money,

AE: Is it true you are toning down the sex in your books?
ELH: Yeah. It's maturity on my part. I'm not trying to write porn. I'm trying to show relationships just like any other. There's no need to shock any more. I did that in Invisible Life.

AE: So, are you happy these days?
ELH: I'm happy. I'm happy to be alive. To have my place in life. I'm glad I stuck around to see what the second half would bring. I'm looking forward to the future.

AE: What do you do in your daily life?
ELH: I teach school. I love the interaction with my students. I love being back on the college campus. To be able to relive that part of my life and be smarter and in more control. It's more enjoyable now.

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