Today I am very excited to welcome Kate McMurray to Joyfully Jay! She is here to talk to us more about her new book, Out in the Field, which I reviewed here earlier today. She has also brought a copy to give away to one lucky reader, so be sure to check out the details at the bottom of the post.
Kate, thanks so much for joining us today!
Thanks, I am happy to be here!
Congratulations on your new release, Out in the Field. For those folks who havenβt had a chance to check out the review, can you tell us a bit about the story?
Itβs a romance between two baseball players, one who is at the tail end of his career and one who is just beginning. They fall for each other over the course of one baseball season and have to cope with injuries, and team drama, and, of course, keeping their relationship a secret from pretty much everyone out of fear for what could happen if they get outed. The story spans four years and looks at how these two characters change and adapt to difficult circumstances.
The book focuses on two professional baseball players who are involved in a relationship while trying to keep their sexuality a secret. It was really interesting to me to see how being famous compounded the challenges they faced as they are under such intense media scrutiny. It is a difficult balance β on one hand they have fame, fortune, and prestige, but on the other they are so controlled by these same things. Was that an interesting challenge as an author?
Yes, it was an interesting challenge! Iβm fascinated by that bind: on the one hand, the characters are getting everything they ever wantedβthis is especially true for Iggy, who has dreamed of playing for the Brooklyn Eagles since he was a boyβbut thereβs definitely a price to pay for that. Plus, I like a really juicy conflict in a novel, and this is definitely one for which thereβs no easy solution.
It strikes me that professional sports seem to be one of those places where being publically gay is still an incredible stigma. Athletes seem to face the very real threat of losing their jobs, or at least damaging their reputations beyond repair. Do you have any thoughts about why this is, or whether this is changing at all?
I think things are changing, albeit very slowly. ESPN had a pretty great article on the topic at the end of last year that (to oversimplify) argues that authorities really need to make space for gay athletes because the stakes are still so highβcoming out could still have a lot of negative consequences, from harassment to losing money via endorsement deals and a lot of other things. American athletes still mostly wait until retirement to come out, if they do at all. But then there are stories like this oneΒ out of Brazil, which was definitely an inspiration to me as I writing (those of you who have read the book will probably see some parallels). I think as goes the rest of the country, so will team sports, so as things like marriage equality pick up more support, we may see more out athletes over the next couple of years, though I think first weβre going to need one trailblazer. Matt and Iggy talk about this a lot in the novel, and I still think itβs true.
Reading Out in the Field, it is clear that you know a lot about baseball and the book is full of wonderful detail about the game. Did you have to do a lot of research for the book? Or is this a subject you already knew a lot about?
Some of both. Iβve been a fan for yearsβthat was a big part of what motivated me to write the book to begin withβbut I did have to do some research. Also I consumed a lot of baseball-related media while I was writing; I listened to baseball podcasts and watched a lot of games and read a few books. (Probably half of this book was written while I was sitting in my living room with a game on in the background.)
Matt and Ignacio play for the Brooklyn Eagles, a fictional team that is part of the real Major League Baseball organization. Was it difficult to blend those two elements together?
A little. Having the characters play for a fictional team gave me some room to make up some details, but I still wanted these characters to operate within the real world of Major League Baseball and I wanted the story to seem realistic. I worried a little that it would seem weird for New York City to have three teams, but it wouldnβt be the first time (prior to the late 1950s, NYC hosted the Yankees, the Dodgers, and the Giants). Also, theyβve been building the new Nets (basketball) stadium in my neighborhood, so Iβve gotten a first-hand look at what could be like to have a stadium in Brooklyn.
So do you have any other projects you are working on that you would like to tell us about?
I have a novel coming out in late summer/early fall called Four Corners about two guys who grew up together and fall for each other as adults, although there is a whole pile of stuff keeping them separatedβitβs on the angsty side, but in a good way, I hope. And right now I am (finally) writing a sequel to The Boy Next DoorβNealβs story, for anyone who read that book.
Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by today. If readers are interested in learning out more about your or your books, how can they find you?
My website is at http://www.katemcmurray.com. (There are book trailers and excerpts and things there!) Iβm also on Twitter: @katemcmwriter.
Thanks again so much again for visiting today! Iβd love to have you back any time!
Thanks! This was fun!
And now Kate has generously brought a copy of Out in the Field to give away to one lucky reader. Β Leave a comment below to enter. Β The contest closes on Friday, May 11 at 11:59 pm EST.
- By entering the contest, youβre confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
- Winners will be selected by random number.
- If you win, you must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen. Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from Joyfully Jay andΒ leave your email addressΒ if it is not in your profile.
>Ooh, first! I've read a few reviews on this book and the interview was great – its def on my to get list, so yes please for a chance to win!
Suze
Littlesuze@hotmail.com
>Kate McMurray is a new author for me but not for long.
I enjoyed both the interview and the review; both were great reads.
I'm adding Out in the Field to my must have list.
Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com
>This looks really go so please count me in. Thanks
diannakayATgmailDOTcom
>Some of my favorite m/m novels are sports themed, and I can not wait to read this one, I have read great reviews for it, congratulations! Peggy – peggy1984@live.com
>Oh, pick me! Pick me! π This one's already on my 'must-have-grabby-hands' shelf!
qbeeqt[at]yahoo[dot]com
>Loved sports themed novels. Thanks for the interview, the review and the giveaway.
I'm in! π
>I'm really, really looking forward to this one. I remember seeing the play TAKE ME OUT (about a baseball player who outs himself and the events that follow) and finding it sexy but heartbreaking. Maybe with It Gets Better and the NHL's You Can Play project, gay athletes won't have to deal with as much ingrained homophobia in a few years…
vitajex(at)aol(dot)com
>I should correct my last entry–You Can Play is a grassroots project that most prominently includes several NHL players (along with college and Olympic athletes), but it's not initiated by the league itself (wish that it were!). Wanted to give credit where it's due…
>Sounds great – I'd love a go :)) It's:
albrookeATmeDOTcom
Thank you!
>I'm really looking forward to this one! I love sports-themed stories π
varuca25(at)gmail(dot)com
>Having read such great reviews I would love to be entered in the giveaway. Thanks!
Chris
ssalvc126@rogers.com
>Great interview…Thanks! Please count me in for the contest.
>Interesting interview and book.
Hope I win! π
Sue
corieltauviqueen at yahoo.co dot uk
>The book sounds very interesting. Please count me in.
gisu29@yahoo.com
>Hello Kate & Jay,
Thank you Jay for hosting Kate McMurray on your Blog, as always you bring Us such Great Authors to keep our credit cars of fire…..but I'm not complaining one bit. π
Thank you Kate for taking the time to spend with Jay's Fan Club & having such a Great Interview! You new release, "Out in the Field" sounds like such a Great Book…I just LOVE M/M Sports Themed Genre Books, but there isn't that many to be found…..& Ohhhhh how I just LOVE "The Boys of Summer". Each year I can't wait for spering training to start because then I know It's not long before I can see those Yummy Ball Players in their Uniforms. My poor PHILLIES, I think they need some comforting to make them feel better π (as well we Ryan Howard & Chase Utley back & a Good Bullpen LOL)
In "Out in the Field", a romance between two baseball players, one who is at the tail end of his career and one who is just beginning….I HAVE to Get this Book!!!! This sounds FANTASTIC!!!! & your Cover Art LQQks sooooo Eye-Catching, very Nive ManCandy!! π
I would very much appreciate the opportunity to enter your very generous giveaway of a copy of "Out in the Field". Thank You.
Take care & Much Success On Your Release,
PaParanormalFan (Reneeβ S.)
paranormalromancefan at yahoo dot com