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The Day Before You Came听is the debut novel from longtime gay press contributor and former听 writer Alistair Sutton, who describes it as, “A celebration of Sydney and gay life in the 1980s.”

Setting the scene, Sutton told听17c起草社区,听“The 80s was such a pivotal time for the 17c起草社区I community, and I was interested in capturing the sense of fun of that era, which听still influences us today in fashion, music and style.

“Although overshadowed by the spectre of AIDS, those of us who lived through the 80s view it with nostalgia. If anything, AIDS increased the desire for people to live for the moment before the party ended.

“I reference the plague, given the novel is set in 1987 鈥� but it’s not about AIDS. Excellent writers like Gary Dunne have already done that with sensitivity and style.”

听Set in Sydney鈥檚 Eastern Suburbs, the novel is a commentary not only on gay relationships but tackles, albeit in a light-hearted way, themes of loyalty and betrayal, love and lust, and friendship.

The protagonist, Stuart, is flawed but Sutton hopes readers will relate to him.

鈥淪tuart can be lazy and self-centred, but he is also thoughtful and kind. Basically, he鈥檚 well-meaning.鈥�

The novel starts with Stuart, who at 30 is at a crossroads in life. He is seeking to re-evaluate his priorities, without quite knowing what he wants. He blunders into sexual encounters, when what he says he wants is a relationship. He finds someone he connects to but discovers that problematic too.

听Sutton is a crime-fiction addict, so the genre is naturally one he wanted to explore in the novel. But it鈥檚 the book’s colourful characters, and the froth and fizz of the 80s, grounded in the realities of life, which really drive the tome.

The book’s Sydney setting is also pivotal.

鈥淚 love reading books about gay life overseas from wonderful authors like Edmund White and Patrick Gale,鈥� said Sutton.听鈥淏ut I also love reading about how we live in Australia and I’ve been influenced by fabulous local authors such as Graeme Aitken, Neal Drinnan and Phil Scott. They write with a wit and keen eye for detail I really admire.鈥�

The Day Before You Came is not autobiographical, asserts Sutton, although it covers topics that interest him such as interior design, theatre, books… and men.

鈥淲ho doesn鈥檛 like a bit of rough trade now and again?鈥� he said, laughing.

听Surprisingly, Sutton says he doesn鈥檛 particularly enjoy writing sex scenes.

鈥淚 started writing erotic fiction for听BNews听in Melbourne when the lovely Bill Calder was editor. I quickly realised how challenging it is to present sex in an engaging way. I hope I succeeded in the novel.鈥�

鈥淥ne thing鈥檚 for sure 鈥� with writing, you鈥檙e always learning!鈥�