The Moonballers: A Novel about The Invasion of a LGBTQ2+ Tennis League … by Straight People (GAY GASP!) received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Jeffrey Sotto.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
The Moonballers: A Novel about The Invasion of a LGBTQ2+ Tennis League … by Straight People (GAY GASP!)
What’s the book’s first line?
In the forested area of the nationales Tenniszentrum von Bonn, or the National Tennis Centre in Bonn, Germany, was the biggest tree in the city: a great oak standing at 150 feet tall, and sprawling 15 feet wide.
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
An out, proud, and narcissistic president of a queer tennis organization becomes unhinged when a new, talented STRAIGHT player joins the league, and ultimately goes to absurd lengths to drive him and all other heterosexuals out. With a colourful cast of characters, campy humour, and dramatic twists telenovela style, The Moonballers: A Novel about The Invasion of a LGBTQ2+ Tennis League … by Straight People (GAY GASP!) is an action packed and wacky sports parody about intolerance, love, and the absurdity of socio-political extremes that will hit you like a hard shot to the face!
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
I’ve been part of a queer tennis league in Toronto, Ontario, Canada since 2003. Back then, we only had queer members, and I always thought it would be funny to see how the league would react when straight people started to join. I then put the idea aside as I worked on my first book. Then in 2016, when Donald Trump was elected president, I thought about this premise again, and started to imagine what my main character would be like – a president who wanted to keep certain types of people out; in this case, keep straight people out of a queer sports league. I started the actual writing of it in 2018, and now 2022, I’m super excited to seeing it finished.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
People should read this book just for some knee-slapping, tear-inducing, laugh-out-loud giggles. We all need it right now! But in addition to the humour, there is a message about the need for the acceptance of differences in all people, and the pervasive bias and intolerance in everyone including those who insist they are “woke.”
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
The main character is the president of the tennis league, Stefan Porsche. He is toxic masculinity personified; he’s the ugliness of the ego that comes out in all of us when we feel inferior to others, and must compensate to up-ease ourselves. As I mentioned, I looked at Donald Trump as inspiration for Stefan; I feel his actions are driven by his ego and need to feel worshipped as president of the league and the best player. But I “flipped the script” by having him, and the league, queer. I wanted to challenge the idea that toxic masculinity is only associated with heterosexual men. There’s sometimes a stereotype that gay men are supposed to be softer, effeminate, and ultimately weaker than straight ones. But as I’ve witnessed in my almost 20 years as part of a queer tennis league, when the competitive juices for superiority — the “need to win” — rears its ugly head, the toxicity that manifests can come from anyone despite their gender, sexual orientation, and all other parts of their identities. In other words, we are ALL toxic as*holes. Lol.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
No, this is my second book. My first novel, Cloud Cover, was published in 2019. It is based on my own experience with mental illness and eating disorders, and the effects they have on every aspect of life. It is definitely a different book from The Moonballers in terms of tone and story.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I work in the financial industry full-time, specifically in the outreach, recruitment, and advancement of visible minorities and other under-represented groups within our labour market. It is so gratifying to see the workforce reflect the diversity of our communities. I am also an advocate for mental health and eating disorder awareness and recovery, working as a peer mentor for a non-profit organization that supports eating disorder recovery; moreover, I participate in events that raise awareness such as virtual panels and news interviews. I feel privileged to use my lived experience to perhaps help others not feel so alone in their journey.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
The Color Purple.