M.C. Hutson is a booktoker, author and host of A Very Sapphic Podcast. She was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. When M.C. isn’t reading, reviewing, writing or talking about gay shit on her podcast, you can find her in the kitchen replicating recipes she finds on YouTube or trying to get her Morkshire terrier to behave.

I had the opportunity to interview M.C. which you can read below.

First of all, welcome to Geeks OUT! Could you tell us a little about yourself?

Thank you so much for having me!!! Hi, I’m MC Hutson, and I’m a booktoker, podcaster and, in the last year, I became a published author. I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. I’m a Gemini, and I like to think that’s why I’m super chatty. And probably the most interesting thing I’ve done with my life is moving abroad to teach English in Tokyo. 

What can you tell us about your most recent novel, French Pressed Love? What was the inspiration for the project?

French Pressed Love follows Jordan, who’s in a rut. She’s in her early thirties, and she hasn’t found success in her career or in love. Frankly, she doesn’t see herself moving beyond her position as a coffee shop manager, and she’s given up on love. Enter Noémie, the customer from hell, who turns Jordan’s life upside down. Noémie helps Jordan start to believe that she can achieve her dreams and settle down. 

Mostly, my personal struggles inspired this novel. I’ve felt stuck so many times throughout my life, and my love life, before I met my current partner of eight years, was extremely chaotic—possibly because I was looking for love in all the wrong places. French Pressed Love is packed full of drama based on many of my own personal experiences and my struggles navigating relationships as a stone butch lesbian. 

As a writer, what drew you to the art of storytelling, especially romance?

Honestly, boredom. Growing up, if I had access to a computer or could watch TV whenever I wanted, I probably would have never picked up a book. But, I didn’t have a computer and my grandmother hogged the television to watch soap operas all day. So, the Harlequin novels with the saucy covers called to me. I knew I shouldn’t be reading them, and that’s why I did. And then, I became quite addicted to everything romance—especially bodice rippers. On average, I probably consumed 2-3 books a week as a teenager. I couldn’t get enough romance.

I just wish the publishing landscape wasn’t so straight back then. It wasn’t until my early twenties that I read my first sapphic novel—Tipping the Velvet. That book was a game changer for me. It meant a lot to finally see myself reflected in a book I was reading. 

How would you describe your creative process?

I get inspired by TV, films, anime, video games and books. After I finished watching Arcane and then Cyberpunk, I had the worst emotional hangovers. I love stories that stomp all over my heart. I was chasing a feeling when I picked up my keyboard, for the first time in over a decade, and started typing out my debut, Born of Blood and Magic.

I don’t plot, and I don’t really think about who my characters are when I start a new project. I just sort of think about things that interest me. George RR Martin says there are two types of writers: the architect and the gardener. I’m definitely a gardener who has no idea what they are growing until the story is done.  

When I write, my focus is about trying to create as much conflict as possible and following the feeling that I’m chasing. Usually, I like to start a chapter with a conflict and try to resolve it by the end of the chapter. I also am trying to figure out who my character is as I get further into the story. I think the magic for my stories comes after I’ve completed my first draft. Honestly, I hate drafting a new story. To me, the worst kind of torture is a blank page. I love to edit and rewrite (sometimes entire chapters).  

What are some of your favorite elements of writing? What do you consider some of the most frustrating and/or challenging? 

I love to write dialogue, and I love to develop characters. In my opinion, every single character in a story matters, and I think fully fleshed side characters are such an important feature to adding depth to stories. For me, spicy scenes are always a challenge. There are so many words that I hate, which limits what words I am willing to put on the page to prevent redundancies. Also, I just feel like readers care about the spicy scenes more than anything else, so there’s a lot of pressure to get it right. 

As a creative, who or what would you say are some of your greatest creative influences and/or sources of inspiration in general?

Probably my biggest creative influence is the manga Naruto. Every character in Naruto is fully fleshed out—it doesn’t matter how small of a role they play. Every character has a unique design and most have heartbreaking backstories that make you connect with them—even if they are the bad guy bent on destroying the world.

When I was a teenager, I believe it was after getting into Naruto that I first started writing. I just really wanted to create something that could make me feel the way watching Naruto made me feel. And something readers might note is that I focus a lot on backstory in my books. Sometimes it isn’t even relevant to the plot, but I think the backstory is critical to readers understanding how and why my characters make their decisions. I think backstory gives stories depth and makes readers care about the characters. Naruto taught me the importance of backstory. 

Aside from your work, what are some things you would want readers to know about you?

I am a very picky eater, and there was a period in my life where all I ate was pizza and Dairy Queen. Strangely enough, this was also when I was very into fitness and worked out everyday. I looked great, but pretty sure I was not healthy. There’s a character in French Pressed Love, who has the same eating habits as I once did. 

What’s a question you haven’t been asked yet but that you wish you were asked (as well as the answer to that question)?

Why do you write stories with interracial couples? Reason: I am mixed race, and most of my relationships have been with women of a different race. I like my books to reflect me, and my experiences. 

What advice might you have to give for aspiring writers out there?

Don’t plot yourself out of writing a book. Just sit down every day and write, and you’ll be done your first draft in a year.  Also, you really don’t need to listen to anyone. There isn’t a right way to write. The craft books and writing podcasts are great, but take from them what you want and throw out the rest. One of the best craft books, though, is Saves A Cat Writes A Novel. Do I follow it? Nope, but I still think it is good to understand story structure. 

Are there any other projects you are working on and at liberty to speak about?

Yes, I’m about 30% through writing the draft of a sequel to French Pressed Love, not sure sequel is the right word though—I’m writing Noémie’s POV of the story because she’s fun and misunderstood. 

I’ve been crawling towards finishing the sequel to Born of Blood and Magic. I really want to publish it before the end of 2025. 

Finally, what LGBTQ+ books/authors would you recommend to the readers of Geeks OUT? 

I have sooooooo many recommendations, this is hard. I will keep it to ten:

1. Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters
2. Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
3. Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown
4. Down to A Science by Haley Cass
5. To Be With You by TJ O’Shea
6. Honey in the Marrow by Emily Waters
7. Compass Ross by Anna Burke
8. Breaking Character by Lee Winter
9. And Playing the Role of Herself by K.E. Lane
10. Above All, Honor by Radclyffe