Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses anti-gay bias.

Steven Rowley is the author of The Guncle Abroad, its predecessor, The Guncle, and The Celebrants. He is known primarily for his style, in which he blends humor with serious themes, such as grief and the process of healing. This trademark style is on display in The Guncle and The Guncle Abroad, as the protagonist, Patrick, processes his own grief and anxieties toward love by guiding his niece and nephew. Rowley sees the subjects of humor and grief as closely intertwined: “For me, humor has always been the way through the darkness. But finding that balance with humor and heartbreak—I pay a lot of attention to it” (Cho, Allison. “The ‘Guncle’ Is Back. Author Steven Rowley Takes Us Behind the Scenes.” The Washington Post, 2024). Rowley likes to find a balance between heavy subjects and humor that can not only bring some joy but amplify the meaning of his words. 

The desire to instill joy comes from Rowley’s own experiences reading LGBTQIA+ literature and the way in which he wants to leave a mark on the genre: