Queer author Alexander Paul Burton is opening up about his personal struggles with mental health and estrangement from family in his new fantasy novel, “The Hollow Vale.” In a recent pitch for Pride Month features, Burton discusses how writing the novel has been a form of psychological resilience and a way to redefine masculinity.
Burton, who identifies as neurodivergent, has faced challenges with focus and spelling. However, he has found ways to stay productive, including using AI tools and alternative routines. He advocates for reframing technology as a support rather than a crutch.
As a gay man, Burton challenges traditional notions of masculinity in his novel. Instead of macho posturing, his characters demonstrate quiet bravery and vulnerability. He hopes to offer a space for boys and men to feel deeply through fantasy, while also putting queer identity and male tenderness at the forefront.
“The Hollow Vale” is set in a post-Roman Britain and draws inspiration from Burton’s childhood in Somerset. Blending myth, memory, and mental health, the novel tells a lyrical, character-driven story about grief, survival, and chosen family. “I didn’t write The Hollow Vale to be successful,” Burton shares. “I wrote it to stay alive.”
In addition to writing, Burton has also composed original music albums to accompany the novel, using soundscapes for meditation, emotional regulation, and focus. He is also launching a podcast, “Marketing For New Musicians: Stop Pissing Your Money Up the Wall,” where he discusses topics such as mental clarity, budgeting, and self-belief for creative men.
Burton, who now resides in Toronto, is available for interviews via Zoom or podcast. He is especially interested in discussing male mental health, creative identity, writing as a form of recovery, neurodivergence and masculinity, and the power of self-publishing as an act of self-worth. The novel, “The Hollow Vale,” is distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/.