We chat with author Nicolas DiDomizio about Nearlywed, which sees an engaged couple’s compatibility put to the test during their ill-fated early honeymoon.
Hi, Nicolas! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hello! First of all, thank you so much for having me — I really appreciate the opportunity to introduce my work to your readers.
I’m the author of the (literal) beach reads Nearlywed (out 5/21!) and last year’s The Gay Best Friend, as well as the mother/son buddy comedy Burn It All Down, which came out in 2021 with advance praise from James Patterson. Prior to my career in fiction, I worked full-time in NYC for a number of different media empires, including MTV/VH1, Vogue/Condé Nast, Audible, and more.
Outside of books, I really enjoy long-distance running, golfing with my partner, cuddling with my Old English bulldog, and spending entirely too much time at bars, casinos, and racetracks.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I was obsessed with Goosebumps as a kid — particularly the one about the bowtie-wearing puppet that comes to life (Night of the Living Dummy! Thank you, Google) — so sometime in elementary school I started writing my own horror “books” on looseleaf notebook paper that I’d staple together and force everyone around me to read.
I drifted from reading and writing in middle/high school, and it wasn’t until college and grad school that I fell in love with it again. The books I was obsessed with at that time were comedic memoirs like Bitch is the New Black by Helena Andrews, Swish by Joel Derfner, and pretty much anything by Chelsea Handler.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: a random nonfiction books about frogs
- The one that made you want to become an author: Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: (I’m 20 years late, but…) Mystic River by Dennis Lehane
Your latest novel, Nearlywed, is out May 21st! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
I can do even better and describe it in just three words! Which are: Live, Laugh, Lobster.
What can readers expect?
Nearlywed is ultimately a story about every facet of long-term romantic partnership — the good, the bad, and (especially) the messy — and the choices you make when the reality of navigating life with the person you love doesn’t quite match the image you were sold by the bitches at Hallmark.
Readers can expect an engaging voice full of zippy one-liners and pop culture references, but also a number of thoughtful discussions about stuff like wedding culture, relationship patterns, monagomy, gay shame, personal privacy in the age of social media, and how all of those things intersect for an opposites-attract gay couple with a ten-year age gap and a wedding in two months.
Where did the inspiration for Nearlywed come from?
Nearlywed as a title came up during brainstorming session for my last book, and I remember thinking it would be perfect for a story about an engaged couple that faces unexpected obstacles leading up to their wedding.
I was also inspired by a reread of Elizabeth Gilbert’s (terrific) debut novel Stern Men, which is why I chose to set it against the backdrop of commercial lobstering in southern New England. And of course I drew much inspiration from my own experience as a gay millennial/ex-journalist in a long-term relationship with a Gen X-er for the past ten years.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
The whole thing! But off the top of my head, I had a wildly fun time writing the scene in Chapter 1 where a bird flies into Ray and Kip’s house (which is pretty much a verbatim retelling of the real-life time a bird flew into my own house).
My favorite supporting character to write was definitely Stefani, Ray’s deadpan but loving older sister who loves light beer, the Red Sox, and Xena: Warrior Princess. She’s also a badass lobsterman.
What’s next for you?
A big pivot from the beach read/romcom space! I recently finished the first draft of a very dark psychological thriller that I’m super excited about, and am hoping to find the perfect home for it this summer. But I’m sure I’ll return to the beach with my next one.
Lastly, are there any book releases that you’re looking forward to picking up this year?
So many! I’m most eagerly (and bittersweetly) anticipating Elin Hilderbrand’s final Nantucket book, Swan Song. For thrillers, I can’t wait to get my hands on The Hollywood Assistant by May Cobb and No Road Home by John Fram. And on the romance front, I must recommend two 2024 releases I had the privilege of reading early: Steven Salvatore’s The Boyfriend Subscription (a delightful gay Pretty Woman retelling) and Lynn Painter’s Happily Never After (a hilarious romcom about professional wedding “objectors”).
