Billy Martin, also known by his pen name Poppy Z. Brite, is an American author born on May 25, 1967, in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He was born as Melissa Ann Brite but identifies as a trans man and prefers male pronouns. Brite grew up in various places, including Bowling Green, Kentucky, Athens, Georgia, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and New Orleans, Louisiana, where he currently resides.\n \n Billy Brite has been open about his struggles with gender dysphoria and gender identity issues. He has identified as a homosexual male since he was young, and in 2011, he began taking testosterone injections and started going by the name Billy Martin. Brite is a fan of UNC basketball and the New Orleans Saints, and he and his former husband, chef Chris DeBarr, were known for rescuing and caring for cats and other animals.
Billy Brite's writing often reflects his experiences and interests. His earlier works, such as "Lost Souls," "Drawing Blood," "Wormwood," and "Exquisite Corpse," are known for their twisted, horrific, and erotic themes. However, his more recent novels, including "The Value of X," "The Devil You Know," "Liquor," "Prime," and "Soul Kitchen," focus on the lives of two young New Orleans chefs, Rickey and G-man, and their restaurant, Liquor. Brite's writing is influenced by his life in New Orleans and his experiences with his husband, who is a chef.
In August 2005, during Hurricane Katrina, Brite chose to stay in New Orleans but later relocated to his mother's home in Mississippi. He used his blog to update his fans on the situation and became one of the first 70,000 New Orleanians to repopulate the city. Brite has been a vocal critic of those who left New Orleans for good after the hurricane. He believes that people should not abandon a place that has taken them in and become a part of them, even if it can be dangerous.