Narnia Producer Perry Moore Talks About His Novel, Hero

Perry Moore is difficult to define by any single title. Best-selling author, director, screenwriter, film producer, surfer, comic book fan - he's a man of many passions and that's evident in his work. While he's best known for being the executive producer of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, it was his groundbreaking novel HERO that caught my attention.

I received the book as a Christmas gift from my aunt along with the note, "I think you'll get a kick out of this book." She seriously underestimated the power of HERO. For four hours on a Saturday night, I was totally immersed in the world of Thom Creed and his family and friends. Even now, weeks later, certain scenes and bits of dialogue are still lingering in my head. The novel made an impression on me that I'll never forget.

Later, I was visiting www.perrymoorestories.com and found a slight inaccuracy in his feature, "WHO CARES ABOUT THE DEATH OF A GAY SUPERHERO ANYWAY?" I e-mailed Perry Moore my thoughts and was excited to find an appreciative and friendly e-mail from him the next morning. Soon after, we began exchanging e-mails. I was fortunate enough that Mr. Moore granted me the pleasure of interviewing him.

Despite his recent title as People Magazine's Sexy Man of the Week, it's Perry Moore's sincere desire to make the world better that I find most intriguing. The following interview is both insightful and educational; and for those of you that have not yet read HERO, be warned that spoilers abound! If you've already read HERO and you're looking for dish on Perry Moore's future projects, you've come to the right place.

What inspired you most to write HERO? Was it your love of comic books, a desire to tell a powerful gay coming of age story, or the need to write a truly groundbreaking novel?

My inspiration to write a novel as groundbreaking as HERO came from all the things you mention, but specifically it came from:

1) My love of comic books, and...

2) My love for my dad, my real-life hero.