Interview With Author G. M. BA
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a nonbinary author with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). I’m based Houston, Texas, in the United States. Although I’ve completed fourteen novel drafts over the years, I only recently published my first one in July 2025. That one is a young adult science fiction thriller called “When Truth Cowers.” I also have an paranormal webnovel series called “The Discarded Thirteen;” the first book, “Death’s Mending Touch,” is available to read online for free. I’m planning on editing my book drafts so that they’re polished and ready to publish over the next few years.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is the one I call my debut, as it’s available as a hardback, paperback, and ebook (and soon, an audiobook). This book is “When Truth Cowers,” a young adult science fiction thriller about the deadly consequences of leaving loopholes in the law. In this book, Cai is a human/alien hybrid who joins a Truth or Dare game show with her girlfriend, hoping to win money to pay for healthcare expenses. But when a serial killer begins killing the other players, Cai and her allies must shift their priorities from keeping their secrets to keeping each other alive.
The story is inspired by a large mix of irritating experiences I have encountered and witnessed because of how little empathy is currently circulating among the American population—especially among politicians, police, and other privileged people. This book is my way of expressing my frustration toward those people. I hope that this story helps other frustrated people feel less alone.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
As someone with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), I have multiple identities—called alters—in one body. We each have our own names, opinions, and access to certain memories. G tends to do the writing. However, with fifteen other alters, we’re able to divide the writing-related work among ourselves. For example, while G rests, some of us will create social media posts for G’s accounts. This way, G can focus on the writing while we focus on the marketing. We can even provide proofreads on G’s drafts. Because of our memory blocks, we’re able to somewhat provide beta reading services for ourselves.
Hopefully the pronouns aren’t too confusing. No worries if it’s a little odd of a system to understand.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Back when I was in middle school, I read my first book by S. J. Kincaid: Insignia. Her worldbuilding got me into reading and writing science fiction. After watching almost all the indie author videos on Jenna Moreci’s YouTube and Skillshare accounts, I knew the indie author route was where I wanted to go. L. M. Juniper set an inspiring example of an indie author, encouraging me further down that path. From there, I’ve continued to be inspired to write books that incorporate the diverse casts I want to see in speculative fiction due to books by authors like Xiran Jay Zhao, Ria Parisi, Sonora Reyes, Alechia Dow, and C. G. Drews. I have a lot of favorite authors, in case you can’t tell.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on developmental edits for the sequel to “When Truth Cowers.” The sequel is in a good spot at the moment, but I’m hoping to make sure the ending packs a strong punch. This means making the situations near the story’s end even worse for the characters.
Although “When Truth Cowers” can be read as a standalone story, I think the second book is important to share. It allows the characters to reclaim agency in their lives while healing from trauma… and being bombarded with more traumatic situations. I’m hoping that reading this can empower people who feel like their lives are so far out of their control due to the government, police, or society as a whole.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I quite like my website. It contains the basics for my stories, including content warnings, playlists, merch, reviews, character art, and even where to find library copies. Since all my stories take place in the same universe, it also has a character database to provide extra context for characters, like which books to find them in. They’re like Wiki pages, only for my characters on my website. The website link is here: https://www.authorgmba.com/
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write often and don’t wait for inspiration to write. The most difficult part of writing is starting. Even if you don’t have a complete plot written out, sometimes you find the plot simply by writing what you feel like should be on the page. I often surprise myself by changing the plot while writing because the new idea flows better. Even if you don’t know what to do with the next scene you want to write, just sit down and try writing something out. You can always edit it later. If you wait until you know exactly what you want to write, you might not ever write it. This process gets easier the more you write and the more books you complete. Everyone has a different process for writing, and you’ll find it eventually. I found mine after writing eight books. The past few books have been much easier because I got through the first eight. If I remember correctly, “When Truth Cowers,” my first published book, was the eighth book I’ve ever written. Sometimes, the first book you publish isn’t the first book you wrote. S. J. Kincaid—one of my favorite authors—published her first book after writing seven books. I wasn’t exactly trying to follow in her footsteps, but I happened to hit my stride around that time too. From what I hear, that’s somewhat common. So don’t worry if it takes you a little while to feel like you’re comfortable with your writing and writing process. Try not to compare yourself to other authors who are succeeding or getting attention on their work. Everyone’s journey is different.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Generally, I would say the best advice I’ve heard is to set aside your doubt when asking for or applying for opportunities. Even if you think that you won’t get the opportunity you’re asking for, if you don’t ask, then you definitely won’t get it. Your chances of getting the opportunity greatly increase if you simply ask.
I apply this to a lot of situations, but especially as an author. It’s how there’s a perfume inspired by my book. If I hadn’t jumped on the opportunity to reach out to the perfumery, it wouldn’t have happened. One of my favorite authors wouldn’t have read the “When Truth Cowers” ARC and provided feedback if I didn’t ask. My favorite example is when I met S. J. Kincaid (she’s super nice and amazing, by the way) because my dad (a NASA employee) offered her a tour of Johnson Space Center. He didn’t expect her to say yes, but she did! That was a super cool day.
What are you reading now?
I just finished “I Am Not Jessica Chen” by Ann Liang! It’s a young adult contemporary with a romance subplot that I wish I read in high school. It’s a body swap story that dives into problems with self-perception, academic pressure, and racism. I suggest especially for people who have endured a toxic school environment and for people who compare themselves to the perceived success of others.
Here’s a little summary of the book that I wrote up (because I like sharing reviews like they’re book reports for school):
Jenna Chen has spent her life working hard in school, but never measuring up to the accomplishments of her beautiful, talented, and hardworking cousin, Jessica Chen. When Jenna wishes to be Jessica, her wish comes true. Jenna wakes up in Jessica’s body, but soon finds that living as the model student everyone admires and envies doesn’t feel as satisfying as she expected.
I’m debating which book on my TBR list to read next. I’ll likely decide tonight or tomorrow. I like keeping up the pace of reading one book per week. There are too many amazing books out there for me to not keep reading!
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ve got some lofty goals for the near future. Realistically, I’m hoping to release the “When Truth Cowers” sequel sometime later in 2026. I also hope to release the “When Truth Cowers” audiobook this year. And I’m hoping to upload the second book in my webseries “The Discarded Thirteen.” Beyond that, I’m hoping to do in-person events and more collaborations! It’s already a lot of work to simply write, which is what I focused on in 2025. With 2026, I intend to do more on the marketing side… even though social media often feels like flinging darts into the void. Overall, I’m feeling upbeat about the nearby projects. I’ve even almost settled on the third book I want to publish. Keep an eye out for a young adult horror LGBT+ romance between an astral projecting enby and a guy with a random assortment of curses.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Only 3 to 4 books??? Kidding. I can do this. Strategically, I would probably want to spread out the genres and author choices. I’d want to bring books I’m sure I would like, so they’ll be among my favorites list. At this moment, I would say:
“How We End” by L. M. Juniper. A contemporary apocalypse with a LGBT+ romance subplot about a found family coming together to outlast different types of zombies roaming around London… including getting hormones (which I’m glad about because I’ve wondered how I’d survive as a trans person in an apocalypse).
“The Broposal” by Sonora Reyes. A contemporary LGBT+ romance about two roommates who fake a marriage for a green card… only to stubbornly bumble through finding that maybe their love isn’t so fake.
“Hazelthorn” by C. G. Drews. A contemporary botanical horror with a LGBT+ romance subplot and an unhinged family with a garden that everyone should stay away from.
“The Diabolic” by S. J. Kincaid. A science fiction with a romance subplot and a powerful robot impersonating a dainty human so that the dainty human doesn’t die in a political plot.
There were at least two other books that I had to debate swapping in, but I stuck to the assignment. That was difficult to narrow down. I think I should get a little gold star.
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