Sid has invited me here to talk a little bit about Eric Arvin and his work. I discovered Eric via an article he wrote in 2012 titled “A Conversation with Myself About GRL,” wherein he referenced his love affair with a chocolate muffin, used words like “douche-dangle”, talked about himself in the third person, and admitted how much he was looking forward to meeting his arch enemy, TJ Klune.

TJ responded with “I don’t think he’s ready for this jelly.” Their humor instantly won me over, and I’ve been a fan ever since.

Eric has an extensive list of titles in his bibliography (see below), ranging from epic tales of good versus evil, to heartfelt romances, to grand spiritual adventures, to wacky frolicking fun. And there’s even more to come. Prior to his hospitalization late last year, he had four new publications in the works, including a horror novel.

News of Eric’s hospitalization spread quickly, as he is a beloved author in the M/M community and spends a good deal of time interacting with his fans through Facebook, his blog, and YouTube. (If you haven’t seen The TJ and Eric Show, go check it out!) Those who’ve followed him couldn’t have been happier when he announced his engagement to fellow author TJ Klune in October of 2013. Less than two months later, Eric was admitted to the ER, and he had surgery on his brain stem shortly thereafter. You can read about Eric’s condition in more detail (and in his own words) in an article he posted on his blog back in 2012: Me: The Story of a Fall.

In it, he talks about his condition and how it has affected not only his emotional and spiritual journey, but his writing career as well.

“…the experience has taught me a great deal as well. I am in a much better place emotionally and spiritually than I was when I was healthy. I have also accomplished quite a bit and found direction. Before “the fall” I had no real idea what I was doing with my life, and though I had always known I was a decent writer, I kept putting my novel-writing off for a later date. If the accident hadn’t happened I don’t know if I’d ever have done a thing about it. Now, I have a small but very loyal fan base who ADORE me. ADORE me!! And who can blame them, really? I am pretty adorable. I also think I’m more focused on the positive than ever before, and much closer to my family. Strange how that happened.”

Eric’s first published book, The Rest is Illusion, explores themes of mortality and the spiritual realm, and clearly parallels Eric’s life experiences to some degree. The main character, Dashel, suffers from a terminal illness that claimed the life of his father. Throughout the story, we follow Dashel as he ultimately makes peace with his fate. There’s a definite mystical quality to his journey as he turns to nature for comfort and understanding. Dash finds such solace at the end of his journey that I found myself in tears, not only from sadness, but from the sheer beauty of it. The prose is beautifully crafted, and those final few paragraphs–so powerful, so moving. I want to be thinking those thoughts in my final moments.

We find those same themes in many of Eric’s subsequent works, including Woke Up in a Strange Place, The Mingled Destinies of Crocodiles and Men, and Azrael and the Light Bringer. In talking about his writing, Eric says, “At heart, my books are about character more than story. I prefer the surreal and fantastic story lines to the contemporary ones.” He has published a number of contemporary romances with Dreamspinner Press as well, although he admits he often strays from the “template” when writing romance. Although he considers Simple Men his most successful novel in the M/M Romance category, Galley Proof is very near and dear to him. “Anyone who has read [Galley Proof] knows how personal it is. Sometimes embarrassingly so. It’s just shy of a memoir in parts.”

Eric is also quite skilled at writing comedy. His works include a number of zany and hilariously fun titles including Kid Christmas Rides Again, Ghoul’s Gym (cowritten with fiancé TJ Klune), and the Jasper Lane Series.

Perhaps my favorite of all of Eric’s writing is a short work of fiction he introduced on his blog in early 2013. The serial was titled Life in a Northern Town. It is an emotionally charged tale about a man who lives in a small mining town and harbors a strong attraction to a fellow miner. There’s such great tension in every moment of the story. Based on the dialogue and description of setting, I get the feeling it is set in the early 1900’s, although I’m not certain about that. What I love most about the story is the relationship the main character has with his father. His Da, above all else, just wants his son to be happy. The way Eric can pull out such emotion in so few words is remarkable. He has expanded the story, now titled Life in a Miner Town, with plans to release it with Wilde City Press.

Eric is currently still in the hospital, though he is expected to be released soon. His condition has caused irreparable damage to his body. Although he remains hopeful that he’ll regain some mobility in his arms and legs, he is currently unable to move below the neck. He is also on a ventilator to help regulate his breathing. Because of this, he will require extensive medical care at home. Your continued donations to the Eric Arvin Support Fund will go a long way toward helping with those costs.

The outpouring of love and support for Eric and TJ has truly been inspiring to witness. So has Eric’s magnificent smile. Despite his tragic circumstances, he hasn’t lost hope. He wrote an article two years ago about the Reality of HELL. In it, he says:

“Hell is different for everyone. I think it does exist, but as a state of mind.
Hell is indeed other people sometimes.
Hell is doing the same thing over and over, a trapped spirit in a dark house.
Hell is being trapped in paralysis. I had a brief taste of that. Very brief, but it felt forever.
Hell is the situation you can see no way out of.
Hell is being alone.
Hell is shattered dreams.

But buck up, Bucky Boo! There is a way out. There is always hope. I think, like everything, change and evolution happen because people will it to happen. Human will is a powerful thing, an almost supernatural thing. The great collective soul says, “We’ve had enough of this. Let’s move on.” And we do. Sometimes slowly. Sometimes with the simple nudge of a book or a film. Our minds, our beliefs, have given us great leaps in evolution in the past. I think it’s time to jump again. Let’s make better hells. Ones that are easier to control and ones that we can eventually get rid of altogether.”

Eric has been to Hell and back, and his battle cry of “Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!” has been heard around the world. He’s an inspiration to us all.

Christine Fobbe, a nurse who lives in southern Germany, was so inspired by Eric’s story, she volunteered to make handcrafted Boschi Beanies for anyone willing to make a $20 donation to Eric’s Support Fund. (That’s me, pictured above, proudly sporting my “Let’s go!” beanie.) Although Christine hadn’t picked up a crochet hook in years, she wanted to give in some way, and has currently raised over $1,200 for Eric and TJ. The Boschi Beanies are very popular in Germany, and were originally created by Felix Rohland and Thomas Jaenisch, two young men who attended university together and learned to crochet while traveling abroad. They sell their hats directly, and also sell do-it-yourself kits with patterns and instructions, which Christine has used to make her creations. She includes the Boschi labels when she sends the hats, and adds “Let’s go!” or “Believe” to help spread Eric’s message of hope. Being able to help Eric and TJ in this way has meant a lot to her. “I am in a very difficult part of my life right now,” she explained. “And Eric saying ‘Let’s go’…well, that really gives me power too, somehow. I try to keep that in mind whenever I think I can’t stand my situation any more.”

Contact Christine at https://www.facebook.com/christine.fobbe to place your order for your own Boschi Beanie in custom colors!

I am hoping that once Eric gets settled into his new home, he’ll return to storytelling. He is such a beautiful soul and has so much more to share with the world. If you haven’t yet read any of his work, check out his bibliography below. There’s a little something there for everyone!

Eric Arvin Bibliography:

Azrael & the Light Bringer, Wilde City Press, 2013
Zombie Boyz, Wilde City Press, 2013 (Anthology)
Crack the Darkest Sky Wide Open, Self-Published, 2013 (Anthology)
The Mingled Destinies of Crocodiles and Men, Wilde City Press, 2013
SuburbaNights (Vignettes from Jasper Lane #3), Dreamspinner Press, 2012
Roids, Rumps & Revenge, Seventh Window Publications, 2012
Miss Locks, Untreed Reads, 2012
She’s Come Undone, Untreed Reads, 2012
Galley Proof, Dreamspinner Press, 2012
Erotica Exotica: Tales of Sex, Magic, and the Supernatural, Bold Strokes Books, 2011 (Anthology)
Man Falls Down, Untreed Reads, 2011
Uniform Appeal, Dreamspinner Press, 2011 (Anthology)
Woke Up in a Strange Place, Dreamspinner Press, 2011
Another Enchanted April, Dreamspinner Press, 2011
Simple Men, Dreamspinner Press, 2010
Kid Christmas Rides Again, Dreamspinner Press, 2009
Suburbilicious (Vignettes from Jasper Lane #2), Dreamspinner Press, 2009
Gone to the Movies, Bruno Gmunder Verlag, 2008
Mr. Right Now, Dreamspinner Press, 2008 (Anthology)
Slight Details & Random Events, Dreamspinner Press 2007
Subsurdity (Vignettes from Jasper Lane), Dreamspinner Press 2007
The Rest is Illusion, Self-Published, 2006

About Madison Parker:
Madison Parker began writing LGBTQ fiction to help address issues of bullying and low self-esteem among young adults. She has a Bachelor’s and two Master’s Degrees in Mathematics and Education and has taught both middle and high school. Madison spends her days reading, writing, solving math problems, taking photographs, and playing with her feisty German Pinscher. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, her pup, and her troop of sock monkeys.

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