Harry Trevaldwyn on the power of queer rom-coms

Whether you know Harry Trevaldwyn for his online comedy or his roles across film and television, it’s easy to hear why no one was better suited to perform his debut work of YA fiction, The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King, than the author himself. Here, Trevaldwyn shares the power of writing, reading, and rom-coms, with a healthy dose of his trademark humor and wit.

Michael Collina: Most people likely know you for your acting roles or your comedy (The Bubble; The Acolyte; My Lady Jane). What is it that draws you toward comedic storytelling, and what made you decide to write a YA rom-com for your first novel?

Harry Trevaldwyn: I’ve always loved books (humble brag) and always come back to YA books because they are the books that made me fall in love with reading. And rom-coms are the things that have kept my heart soft and sincere when there is so much in the world that can make it hard and cynical; rom-coms are the baths you want to sink into at the end of the day. Speaking of which, I love baths! So, because I love YA, books, rom-coms, and baths, I didn’t really have much of a choice but to write this book.

Were any of Patch’s (mis)adventures inspired by your own experience as a teenager?

A favorite pastime of my friends at the pub is for me to tell them stories of embarrassing things I did when I was younger (if you see me in person, ask me about a hamster called Camille), and many of these found their way into the book. Patch himself, however, is very different to who I was when I was younger. He is much braver than I am, especially in his pursuit of love (I didn’t come out until I was at university), but Patch is also much more deranged than I am. Hopefully my loved ones will agree with that??

Did you learn anything about yourself while sharing Patch’s quest to find his first boyfriend? Or maybe any dating advice you can share with listeners?

There are certainly lots of lessons to be learnt from Patch but these are largely what not to do; if you are looking for a guide on how to be a "chill" and "casual" person following their heart, I’m afraid this is not the book for you. In terms of advice, how about: Make sure you are positive someone is available/likes you before doing big romantic gestures (this will make sense when you read the book).

As one of Britain’s most beloved actors, comedians, and self-proclaimed national treasures, you’re no stranger to performing. What was it like narrating your own novel? Were there any challenges throughout the process that surprised or excited you?

Okay, I’m taking that as a pull quote for my CV, thanks so much. It was bizarrely so cathartic reading it out loud. I care so much for Patch, and he has been living in my head for so long, it felt so special to be sharing him while I was reading the book for audio. The director (Alexandra) and I had some very emotional conversations while we were recording about wishing to have been braver with love when we were younger and the limited access to queer love stories.

What has it been like writing the screenplay for the TV adaptation of The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King? Are there any other projects—writing, acting, or otherwise—that you’re working on now that you can tell us about?

It has been a true dream adapting TRTOADK (sadly, not an acronym that rolls off the tongue). When I was writing the book I imagined it very visually, and because I have more experience writing scripts, it was actually a pretty seamless and joyful transition. However, if you are the production company reading this, ignore the above: It was a laborious, pained, and emotionally precarious process, which is why I sometimes submitted drafts late.

I do have some exciting projects coming out soon! Two films this year (not even a humble brag, just a brag brag) are How to Train Your Dragon and My Oxford Year. Please watch them!!

What other books or podcasts on Audible would you recommend for listeners once they finish The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King?

I recently listened to How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie and think Charly Clive (who narrates it) has the best speaking voice in the land.