Tell us a little about yourself. I’m a retired high school English teacher, former stand-up comic, and lifelong class clown. My debut book is LATE BLOOMER BABY BOOMER, A Collection of Humorous Essays About Being Gay Back in the Day and Finally Finding My Way. It took me 20 years to complete—mostly because I was grading essays and navigating the daily challenges of teaching in overcrowded classrooms filled with dynamic personalities, a prevalent reluctance to learn, and the added layer of second language acquisition. My goal has always been to make people laugh: on stage, in the classroom, and now on the page.
What would people be most surprised to know about you?
That I am a living, breathing oxymoron: I can be intelligent and insightful, yet gullible and naïve. I’m strong yet timid, caring but sarcastic. I have no sense of direction—yet I’m driven. I’m all about balance. While seemingly an oxymoron, I am never a contradiction in terms. Also, while I’m selfish, I share. See?
Do you have a favorite quote (either from your own books or ones you’ve read)?
From my own brain: “Denial was my best friend—and I didn’t even know we were in a relationship.” It came up in a previous interview, and I liked it so much I adopted it.
From Oscar Wilde: “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” Always a good reminder.
How long have you been writing and what made you fall in love with writing?
It took me 20 years to write my book. I fell in love with writing when someone compared my early emails to David Sedaris. I didn’t know who he was at the time, so I read some of his books and thought, “Okay, I see it—and I want to do that.” I was hooked. (Still, there was an inordinate amount of procrastination.)
Did you always want to be a writer?
Not necessarily, but I’ve always been a storyteller and class clown. Whether it was telling jokes, doing improv on stage, or making my friends laugh, I knew humor was my passion. Writing just became the next evolution.
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
I only have one book in me—trust me, it took everything I had. My ambition now is to get the word out, grow my audience, and use social media to bring my book and humor to new people. I’m creating short comedy videos, many of which are excerpts from essays in my book. Lately, I’ve introduced my alter ego “Sassy,” who appears in these one-minute videos having discussions with me—also based on book material.
What’s your favorite part of writing?
When I’m inspired by a true event, tell it to friends, get big laughs—and then make the transition to putting it on the page. I love playing with language. I’m a self-described wordsmith and love creating figurative language around my comedic experiences.
Tell us about your writing style.
My style is a mix of memoir and stand-up. I structure my essays like a comedy routine—mostly in paragraphs that have a setup and a punchline. It’s all based on true stories, shaped with humor and precision.
What does your writing process look like?
Mostly bursts of inspiration, caffeine, and procrastination. I don’t outline. I start with a funny incident that actually happened, then build from there. I revise constantly—because writing is rewriting. And rewriting is half therapy, half editing.
When/where is your favorite time/place to write?
Always at my computer—but only after I’ve re-enacted a true event from my life. I don’t have a favorite time; I’m at the mercy of inspiration. Since I’m a night person, it tends to flourish later in the day.
Why did you choose to write LGBT non-fiction?
I never write fiction. I wouldn’t even know where to begin. I write true stories from my life. Growing up as a gay Baby Boomer, navigating dating, struggling with self-acceptance, and teaching in the inner city as the class clown turned teacher—that’s what I know, and that’s what I write about.
Describe a scene in your writing that made you laugh or cry.
Hard to choose just one—many of my essays still make me laugh out loud. With titles like “My Rocky Horror Virginity Show,” “My Colonoscopy,” and “Ditch as Snitch,” you can probably see what I mean. Picking a favorite would be like choosing a favorite child. And I don’t believe in favoritism—unless we’re talking about dessert.
Give the readers a brief summary of your latest book. What genre does it fall in?
LATE BLOOMER BABY BOOMER is a memoir told through humorous essays. It’s gay, it’s funny, it’s honest—and it covers growing up in denial, getting sober, teaching in the inner city, dating mishaps, and the lifelong coming-out process. Or, to put it another way: what happens when the class clown becomes the teacher. (By the way—I’m gay.)
Give us a little insight into your main characters. Who are they?
Since it’s a memoir, the main characters are all versions of me—Young Me, College Me, Teacher Me, and sometimes still-figuring-it-out Me. They’re all funny and flawed.
Which actor would you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book?
When I was pursuing acting, my biggest obstacle was being a comic character actor trapped in a leading man’s body. If Rodney Dangerfield and Grace Kelly had a kid, that would’ve been me. I’m not sure who could play me now—maybe we take a national survey?
What genre/s do you enjoy reading in your free time?
Memoir, humor, and smart contemporary fiction. My all-time favorite book is A Confederacy of Dunces, which I’ve read eight times. I’m always drawn to sharp wit and emotional honesty—and if it makes me laugh out loud in public, even better.
What was the last book you read? What did you like about it?
Probably something by David Sedaris. He was my original role model for writing. He manages to find humor in everyday life and awkward personal moments—and it’s exactly what I try to do.
How do you relax?
I rewatch the first season of Twin Peaks and all three seasons of White Lotus. I also revisit favorite films from my youth. As a Baby Boomer, I grew up watching TV—and it’s still a big part of how I recharge. All while pretending I’m just “taking a break” from promoting my book.
What hobbies do you have outside of writing?
I make short comedy videos based on excerpts from my book, go to the gym (even though I hate exercising but love the results), and spend an unreasonable amount of time perfecting my comedy scripts for social media.
Book Title: Late Bloomer Baby Boomer: A Collection of Humorous Essays About Being Gay Back in the Day and Finally Finding My Way
Author and Publisher: Steve Milliken
Release Date: December 2022
Genres: Memoir/Biography
Tropes: Self-discovery through humor, finding identity, acceptance, and resilience by laughing through life’s absurdities.
Themes: Finding humor as a gay Baby Boomer – Because the coming-out process never really ends, and it’s best to laugh along the way.
Heat Rating: 2 flames
Length: 66 000 words/228 pages
It is a standalone non-fiction book.
Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited
Blurb
What happens when the class clown embraces his truth, becomes a teacher, and takes on the absurdities of life? Hilarity ensues.
In LATE BLOOMER BABY BOOMER: A Collection of Humorous Essays About Being Gay Back in the Day and Finally Finding My Way, Steve Milliken delivers a laugh-out-loud memoir packed with sharp wit, self-deprecating humor, and occasional bursts of wisdom. With the observational humor of David Sedaris and the candid charm of Augusten Burroughs, these essays explore self-discovery, urban teaching misadventures, and the hilarity of navigating adulthood as a gay baby boomer.
Spoiler: It’s a parade of pitfalls, pratfalls, and punchlines.
Excerpt 1: From “Introduction”
“Some people ask me, ‘Steve, who’s the target audience for your book?’
And I tell them:
‘My book is for anyone who is gay, knows someone who’s gay, or someone who is NOT gay but would like to be! Or… a straight guy who’s had a gay experience—like wearing a belt that matches his shoes.’”
“Back in my distant youth, I pursued a career as an actor, but the problem with acting for me was that I was a comic character actor trapped in a leading man’s body. If Rodney Dangerfield and Grace Kelly had a baby, that would have been me.
But to be honest, I never wanted to be rich and famous… and so far, that’s working out great! Not really…”
Excerpt 2: From “Epistolary Possibilities for a New Year”
“After not working out for a month, I arrived at the gym only to realize my gym bag had turned into a mildew science project thanks to a rogue water bottle. Unfortunately, I discovered this catastrophe only after I’d stripped down in the locker room. I panicked, naturally, but I was too far gone to turn back. I had no choice but to wear my stinky clothes.”
“Now, I’m not religious, but in moments like these, I consider a higher power. I clutched my hands together and said a novena to the patron saint of putrid smells: ‘Our Lady of Sacred Stench, please help me now.’”
“Once on the gym floor, I tried to keep a safe distance from everyone. But when someone got too close, I’d suddenly dash to another part of the gym for no apparent reason. I’d seen my cat do this, so it seemed worth a try…”
Excerpt 3: From “Bitch Ass Snitch”
“One day, I ‘snitched’ to the Dean about a student of mine who had tagged his desk with a box cutter blade. The next day, when he came back, in front of the whole class, he called me a ‘bitch ass snitch’ and ran out of the classroom.
Later that day, in the staff parking lot, I discovered someone had vandalized my car.”
‘Gee, I wonder who that could have been?’
Of course, I came to one conclusion… ‘Karma’s a bitch… for a bitch ass snitch!’”
Excerpt 4: From “Changing Closets”
“Originally, I was in the closet for being gay… but now I’m in the closet about my age.
To counter the effects of aging, I’ve reluctantly adhered to diet and exercise mandates. I even tried becoming a vegetarian… although not a strict one.
Occasionally, I’d eat chicken, fish, and ass. I’m kidding, I kid. I didn’t eat chicken…”
Steve Milliken, a native Californian who never left—thanks to a rent-controlled Santa Monica apartment—is a writer, humorist, and recovering class clown who has spent a lifetime finding the comedy in life’s quirks and curveballs. A gay baby boomer with a knack for self-deprecating wit, he’s been an inner-city teacher, a reluctant adult, and an expert in the fine art of laughing at himself.
In LATE BLOOMER BABY BOOMER: A Collection of Humorous Essays About Being Gay Back in the Day and Finally Finding My Way, Steve shares sharp, heartfelt, and laugh-out-loud stories about coming out, inner-city teaching, and navigating life one misadventure at a time. His writing has been compared to the observational humor of David Sedaris and the candid storytelling of Augusten Burroughs.
When he’s not finding the humor in everyday life, Steve creates and shares short comedy videos online based on excerpts from his book, proving that some stories are best told with a punchline… and good lighting.
Author Links
Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
