Jacob Anthony Rose Interview

• Q. Can you tell us a little about yourself and what inspired you to become a writer?

  Ans. I’m a San Francisco–based drag queen performer, dance singer/recording artist, and now the author of my first memoir, Stillness and Survival: A Life Between Trauma, Glitter, and the Echo of My Own Voice. I’m self-publishing it under my indie record label, JPride Entertainment. The eBook will be exclusive to Kindle, and Ingram is distributing the trade paperback nationwide. I’m proud to share that Books Inc. in Opera Plaza will host my debut author event on January 10th, 2026—just days after my 47th birthday and the official release of the book. I talk about this in the memoir, but I found my love for writing in high school through Journalism and Creative Writing. As a shy child and teen who endured a very traumatic upbringing, I was scared of people and terrified to speak in public. I struggled with a severe stutter for years. Writing became therapeutic—my way to express myself and make sense of what I was feeling. Writing gave me a voice long before I ever found one onstage. For reasons I explore in the book, I made the decision in the summer of 2025 to finally tell my story. I hope that by sharing my journey—and my struggles with depression and PTSD rooted in childhood abuse—I can encourage others to seek help, comfort, and connection. Though I am a gay man and part of the LGBTQ+ community, this memoir is for anyone who has wrestled with mental health challenges and fought to reclaim their sense of self.

• Q. What genre(s) do you primarily write in, and what draws you to that particular genre?

  Ans. My first book is a memoir of my life. I felt a real need to tell and share my story with others. The writing process was deeply cathartic and healing—it allowed me to finally speak my truth, let the past settle, and close that chapter of my life. I hope that by offering this story to the world, it might help someone else who is struggling with mental health challenges feel less alone and more empowered to seek support.

• Q. What is your favorite book, and what about it resonates with you the most?

  Ans. My earliest memory of a favorite book is from my 4th birthday, when my mom gave me a copy of Herbert the Timid Dragon by Mercer Mayer. I still have that book. I was a very timid child, and I remember wishing I could be brave the way Herbert eventually becomes. My mom—and that little book—played a real part in sparking my love of reading and storytelling.

• Q. Who is your favorite author, and how have they influenced your writing?

  Ans. There are so many authors I love that it’s hard to choose just one. I’ve always been drawn to a good mystery or suspense thriller. Early favorites were Mary Higgins Clark’s The Lottery Winner and Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express—both introduced to me by my grandma, Susan, when I was growing up. I’m an avid reader, and some of my favorites from 2025 were The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Sundown in San Ojuela by M.M. Olivas, The Tenant by Frieda McFadden, The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon, The Maid's Secret by Nita Prose, Drawn Testimony by Jane Rosenberg, Three Days in June by Anne Taylor, Murder by Cheesecake: A Golden Girls Cozy Mystery by Rachel Ekstrom Courage, Life Is a Lazy Susan of Sh*t Sandwiches by Jennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan, and A Mannequin for Christmas by Timothy Janovsky. Freida McFadden, who has become one of my absolute favorites over the last couple of years, played a surprisingly meaningful role in my own path to publishing. I read many of her books this past year, and when I was trying to figure out how on earth to start navigating the publishing and distribution world, I found the FAQ section on her website. She shared her own writing process and how she found her way through the industry. Reading about her experience helped me immensely—it gave me the confidence to take the leap and tell my story.

• Q. How do you balance writing with other aspects of your life, such as work, family, or hobbies?

  Ans. Life can be hectic and stressful, so I had to create a routine that kept me grounded while writing. During the week, I set aside two hours a day, three days a week, from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM. I’d turn my phone off and just write. Two other days were devoted entirely to edits. I relied heavily on close friends, beta readers, and editors for proofreading, feedback, and guidance. On Saturdays and Sundays, I didn’t write at all. Those days were for home life with my amazing, supportive husband, Juan, and our little fur baby, Luna—and for Saturdays, my weekly drag show, which I’ve been part of for 18 years. As I share in the book, I used to push myself to the brink of exhaustion and burnout. Over time, I’ve learned how to take better care of my mental health and find balance between writing, work, family, friendships, and my drag and music career. Some days are easier than others, but the balance is worth it.

• Q. How do you show appreciation and love to your followers and readers? Do you actively engage with them on social media or through other means?

  Ans. Yes, I do find this incredibly important and deeply rewarding. Since this is my first book, I relate this question to my day-to-day life, my drag career, and the many creative projects I’ve been part of over the years. I’ve always made it a point to give credit where it’s due and to stay humble and grateful. When I decided to sit down and write my memoir, it was important to me to honor my dear friends, my drag sisters, and the loved ones who have shaped me. They’ve all had such a positive impact on my life. After I finished the manuscript, one of my beta readers told me that in certain moments—especially when I write about drag and my LGBTQ community in San Francisco—the book reads like a love letter to everyone who has supported me and lifted me. That meant a lot.

• Q. What do you enjoy most about being an author, and what keeps you motivated to continue writing?

  Ans. At first, the hardest part was simply motivating myself to sit down and write my story—and staying disciplined enough to keep to a schedule. I gave myself a timeline and a page-count goal, and I stuck to it. Now, what drives me is the positive feedback, love, and support I’ve received for sharing my story. Writing about my past traumas and my journey through mental health struggles and treatment was emotionally draining at times, but ultimately it was worth it. I hope that by telling my story, I can help others who may be suffering too.

• Q. Have you ever faced writer's block, and if so, how do you overcome it?

  Ans. I only experienced writer’s block briefly, toward the end of the book. I found myself thinking, okay, I need to wrap this up—how do I wrap this up? I was determined not to let the memoir exceed 250 pages. After about a week, I finally figured out the ending, and I was relieved when the final page count came in at 236. Honestly, I couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to read more than 250 pages of what I had to say!

• Q. Can you share any interesting or funny anecdotes from your writing journey?

  Ans. I share a lot of funny and lighthearted stories in my memoir—especially drag stories. One in particular was a mishap during a show that went hilariously wrong, and I just rolled with it. The following excerpt is from Chapter 10 of my memoir: Back then, when I first started with the Dream Queens Revue, country-loving queen Bonnie Sawyer and occasional hostess Madame Steele were also part of the lineup. I adored Bonnie’s Dolly Parton performances—teased wigs, rhinestone cowgirl glamour—which reminded me so much of my Grandma Susan’s deep love for Dolly and country music. That connection to her made me want to bring Dolly into my own repertoire. I started performing a few Dolly numbers, but my favorite was the live version of “Jolene,” where Dolly cheekily gives a shoutout to her drag queen fans. It was warm, witty, and a little wink to the people in the room who “got it.” Every time I performed it, the audience ate it up like it was sweet tea and pie. One especially memorable early performance went hilariously off the rails. There were maybe fifteen people in the audience that night—small enough to feel like a living room, but big enough to make a fool of yourself in front of. I wore a glittery little cocktail dress and clear 3" Pleasers, feeling cute and ready to sparkle. Isn’t it funny? I can remember exactly what I was wearing that night, but for the life of me I can’t remember what song I was performing to. Anyway—about halfway through the number, one heel slipped off and glided across the carpet like it was making its own dramatic stage exit. Annoyed but determined not to lose my flow, I pulled a full Patti LaBelle and kicked off the other heel with flair. Unfortunately, it flew right into my friend Matthew’s table, hit his full beer bottle, and sent it spilling everywhere. Foam and lager went in every direction. Without missing a beat, I laughed and thought, well, if this were a carnival game, I’d have just won a giant stuffed animal. Matthew was filming the whole thing and caught my walk-by quip: “Oh, it’s a shit show tonight!” He took it in stride, bless him—though I do wonder what ever happened to that video. That night—like the time I broke a heel at Charlie Horse mid-performance—taught me something important: mishaps are inevitable, but they can be magic if you lean into them. Over the years I’ve learned to embrace the chaos. Just last year, in the middle of a packed show, my music cut out entirely. Without thinking, I launched into singing the alphabet—yes, the alphabet song—and before I knew it, the whole room was singing along, cheering until the music came back. You just roll with it and turn disaster into a moment.

• Q. What advice would you give to aspiring authors who are just starting their writing journey?

  Ans. Even if it’s just daily journaling, write what you feel. Just write. Don’t worry about perfection or structure in the beginning—just let the words come. The important thing is to start, to show up for yourself on the page, and to keep going. Over time, your voice will strengthen, your confidence will grow, and the story you’re meant to tell will find its way through.

• Q. Do you have any upcoming projects or works in progress that you'd like to share with your readers?

  Ans. Yes—my debut memoir, Stillness and Survival: A Life Between Trauma, Glitter, and the Echo of My Own Voice, will be released on Tuesday, January 6th, 2026, which also happens to be the week of my 47th birthday. It’s an incredibly meaningful milestone for me, and I’m excited to finally share this story with the world.

• Q. Finally, what are your goals and aspirations as a writer? Where do you see yourself and your writing career in the future?

  Ans. I never imagined I would write my memoir, so who knows what will happen next. I’m just at the beginning of this journey, and I’m excited to see where it leads.

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