Featured Author & Giveaway: Winter Sandberg

Winter Sandberg grew up in a place nicknamed The Magic City, and the view from her house on the hill had her convinced the name fit perfectly for years. Spending time backstage or in music practice rooms took up a lot of Winter’s time, but hanging out with friends was truly preferred. Days after her eighteenth birthday, she headed to college not knowing how to cook.

Nowadays Winter gets paid to help people solve their family problems and then comes home and writes. She happily leaves the cooking to her husband, who is also teaching their daughter that skill so she won’t have to survive on ramen noodles when she moves away from home like Winter did.

Winter writes about transformative moments, exploring how characters manage to work through difficult times. How they respond may not be easy to see and is often not pretty, but they are genuine reactions to having life tipped on its edge. Coming out on the other side is where the good stuff is seen, and Winter likes to write about those moments of true growth rather than simply fading to black.

Connect with Winter Sandberg on Twitter @wintersandberg or visit her website: http://wintersandberg.wordpress.com.

Q&A with Author Winter Sandberg:

1. If you could swap places with one of your fictional characters for 24 hours, who would you choose to be? Why? And what would you do that day?
   
   I would love to go and live as Kevin Magnus for a day so I could tell his father off properly. Ever since Kevin was a young boy, his father has neglected and emotionally abused him, programming him to become a product he can use in his own business dealings. Kevin is somewhat oblivious to the fact that this is abuse. He just thinks his dad is a prick. I’d love to put his dad in his place. The man deserves it, but Kevin knows not to ever rock the boat at home.


2. Tell us about your cover design. Is there any symbolism from the story reflected in the cover?
   
   Hugo Thorson and Kevin Magnus have very intense feelings for each other, but neither are willing to come out in their community. The story is also set in the mid 1990s when being out was still a fairly rare experience in the rural Midwest. Yet, they want to let each other know when they are thinking of each other even when in public, so they find a way to privately display that affection in public. They want to touch, but not touch, so I asked Anne Cain to portray that reserved desire. I think the image she found is simply perfect, especially considering how much Hugo and Kevin love to be outdoors by the water.


3. Tell us something about your characters that we won’t learn from reading the book.
   
   We know that Hugo is an actor in the book, but we have no idea that he grows up to perform as a drag queen as an adult.
   
   Kevin may seem weak because of his abuse, but he has a quiet strength hidden inside. Hugo sees it, and I think readers will too, but it’s not as obvious as Hugo’s. Kevin will eventually come into his own and have faith in himself, but it takes him longer.


4. How do you research for your books?
   
   I do a lot of online research, take Google street mode tours of areas, and talk to people who live where my story is set to get an idea of the culture. With this book, I was lucky enough to live within driving distance of Austin, MN, and I’d already spent time in the SPAM museum to learn the history of the town. When I got in to writing more detailed descriptions of Hormel Nature Center and the high school, I knew I needed to get closer. I was flabbergasted at how gigantic the high school was, and that was seeing it as an adult who had already gone to college on 3 different campuses, so that’s saying something. I wrote a little about that reaction, through Kevin’s eyes.


5. Do you have a nervous habit when writing? A guilty pleasure when writing?
   
   I have the horrible habit of twirling my hair while thinking, but only on my left side. The hair there is shorter now, but my stories get better when I twirl. I never had this problem when I had a pixie cut.
   
   My guilty pleasure has to be coffee, and I like it hot, so I have my mug sitting on a mug warmer. I drink far too much of it, though.


6. What made you decide to write for a Young Adult audience?
   
   This book came about after I’d written a trilogy about Hugo and Kevin. In the first book, I explored their high school relationship, which wasn’t an ideal way to start a dating life, but Hugo and Kevin loved each other almost from the start. After writing their adult stories, I realized their high school story might be valuable to younger readers, but they’d probably never run across it because of the nature of the adult stories. After talking with C. Kennedy and Jamie Mayfield and being encouraged by both of them as well as my publisher, I decided to try to adapt Hugo and Kevin’s story for a younger audience. It is my hope that these men will allow me to tell one more story about their adventures during their senior year, but I haven’t been given permission by them yet.


7. What would you like young readers to take away from your novels?
   
   More than anything, I want people to know they are equal to their straight peers. For years, I felt something was wrong with me because of my bisexuality. It wasn’t until I climbed over that mountain of shame people had built around me and came out safe on the other side that I started to thrive. Too many people in our lives tell us we are “less than” when we are GLBTQA, but we aren’t. We deserve just as much respect as anyone else, even if we do have to remain closeted until it is safe to come out. Just don’t forget to find your own magic inside.

Now Available from Winter Sandberg:

Private Display of Affection Hugo Thorson knows he’s gay, but coming out during high school is not part of his plan. His parents are open-minded, but Hugo doesn’t want to add more stress for anybody, especially his dad, who is fighting terminal cancer.

At a summer job he meets and befriends Kevin Magnus, and before long, their friendship becomes something more. Kevin knows this will anger his overbearing father, so he decides to protect his secret by dating a girl at school.

Hugo plays along, but it’s still hard to watch the two of them together just to make Kevin’s homophobic father happy. And when Hugo’s father dies, he realizes he can’t go on living the lie. He comes clean to Kevin, who decides Hugo’s true feelings are more important than his father’s expectations. One fact remains: Kevin and Hugo’s relationship must always be hidden behind friendship, lies, girlfriends, or secret kisses. Will they find a sanctuary big enough to hold their feelings?

Adapted as a Young Adult edition of the novel Spark by Posy Roberts, published by Dreamspinner Press, 2013

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Private Display of Affection Giveaway!

Winter Sandberg has generously donated a free copy of Private Display of Affection for one lucky winner. To enter the drawing, please leave a comment below along with your email address.

Featured Author: Eleanor Keane

Eleanor Keane is the author of The Breathing Ghosts and The Blood Witching- two dark vampire fantasy novels aimed at young adults, and the accompanying short story collection, The Ghosts' Feast. All have strong alternative LGBT characters- including a host of out and proud lesbian vampires and very gay werewolves- and are available to buy as ebooks from Amazon and Amazon.co.uk.

Eleanor has written previously for For Books' Sake, Mookychick.com, Vampire Review and for the Feminist Library, London (UK,) and has also given numerous readings from The Breathing Ghosts, including at Westminster Reference Library, London (with the poets and authors Sophia Blackwell and Roz Kaveney) Freedom Press Anarchist Bookshop and the Feminist Library, also in London (with the author Liam Livings.) She has previously been interviewed for Dark Gothic Resurrected ezine (Summer 2013 issue) and for Nyx Book Reviews. She is also a feminist.

Connect with Eleanor Keane on Twitter @EleanorKeane1 or visit her website: www.thebreathingghosts.wordpress.com.

Q&A with Author Eleanor Keane:

1. Tell us about your cover design. Is there any symbolism from the story reflected in the cover?
   
   
   
   Firstly, I should mention that the cover art for all my literary work is by the very talented graphic designer and artist, Rebecca Weaver. I didn’t want to include images of young women on my covers as I see that a lot in popular YA fiction already, and as a feminist I didn’t want to project an ideal of what my characters ‘should’ look like, i.e. ‘beautiful’, ‘perfect’, thin or airbrushed.
   
   Instead, I intended the cover design for The Breathing Ghosts to be more symbolic. I wanted it to reflect the idea of containment, entrapment and freedom, so I included a cage- literally a ‘gilded cage’. The butterfly escaping from the cage also symbolizes the plight of one my vampire characters- a vampire named Violet Valvayne, who longs to be free of her controlling brother so that she can start a relationship with the vampire huntress Rowan Oakwood. Violet is gentle and inherently fragile, just like the butterfly, but the door of her ‘gilded cage’ is all too ready to close upon her.
   
   The motif of the cage is seen again on the cover of my short story collection, The Ghosts’ Feast, which also features LGBT vampires. This time, there is a black rose within the cage, which to me symbolizes the darkness and decadence of the vampires within the stories, and their own dark desires.
   
   The cover for my most recent work, The Blood Witching, features a black pentacle (a four pointed star in a circle) surrounded by white butterflies. This is because the novel focuses on a lesbian vampire sorceress known as the Blood Witch, who uses a pentagram (a four-pointed star) as her symbol. The white butterflies symbolize her unfortunate victims.


2. In what way is your story unique compared to other books in this genre?
   
   Without sounding too big-headed, I think my story is unique compared to other YA dark fantasy fiction mainly because of the variety of its LGBT characters. In some YA vampire fiction, LGBT characters aren’t included at all. Instead, the only role models for young teens are (usually white) heterosexual, which seems a real shame given the sexual freedom, power and diversity that vampires can often represent. Sometimes LGBT characters are included, but either as a ‘villain’ type, or as ‘sidekick’ or ‘token’ characters who struggle either with their sexuality and/or with their relationships. They don’t really seem to progress or develop as characters beyond their sexuality, whereas mine have fully fleshed-out back stories, personal tragedies, secrets, memories, foibles and quirks. There’s no definitive ‘good’ or ‘bad’ characters either- even the cruellest of vampires can in turn be vulnerable, and vice versa.
   
   In The Breathing Ghosts, the heroine-Rowan Oakwood-is openly and unashamedly lesbian, whilst in some ways the sequel, The Blood Witching, focuses on the fall-out from a lesbian relationship that went hideously, horribly wrong. That one failed relationship acts as magnet for most of the action, and the pain and loss of that heartbreak has left dangerous scars, and a desperate need for revenge.
   
   I was keen to add humour and lightness to what could otherwise be quite a dark plot, but I also didn’t want to tie every relationship up with a neat little bow. In my opinion, real life isn’t like that- especially not for LGBT young adults who may face discrimination, homophobia, prejudice and bullying on a daily basis. I wanted to explore what it means today to be an outsider, to be different, and to truly be yourself, without resorting to overtly-saccharine ‘happy endings’, irrelevant love triangles or abstinence plots.
   
   I think it’s important to show realistic LGBT relationships- regardless of whether they’re between vampires or werewolves. As a result, some of the issues within my work revolve around social anxiety, sexuality and difference. Most of my characters can be seen as survivors in some way, and though they may be scarred by their experiences, they’re ultimately stronger because of what they’ve had to go through.


3. What part of the story was the most fun to write? The most challenging?
   
   In terms of what was ‘fun’ to write, I’d say the humorous scenes. It’s really important for me to include humour in my work, particularly when dealing with tough issues and when using a Gothic- and sometimes quite macabre- tone. You always have to have light with shade! I also love describing amazingly outrageous outfits for one of my characters named Nerissa Naughton- who just happens to be a Goth lesbian vampire. So far some of her best outfits have included black velvet, stripy tights, skull necklaces and a badge saying ‘If You’re Pissed Off And You Know It Clap Your Hands.’
   
   In terms of challenging writing, I sometimes find it challenging to write dialogue- I prefer to write descriptive scenes.


4. What other interests do you have outside of writing?
   
   As a committed feminist, I often go to feminist protests and demonstrations (which is more interesting than it sounds!) I also love going to galleries and museums and looking at the art of the Pre-Raphaelites. (I don’t think there will ever be a better artist than Dante Gabriel Rossetti, or at least no-one with a better name.) I also love shopping for vinyl records (I love rock music from the ‘60s and ‘70s) going to the cinema, dancing badly and browsing second-hand book shops. My guilty pleasure is Starbucks coffee.
5. Which authors do you enjoy reading?
   
   I particularly like J.R.R. Tolkien, Anne Rice, Dorothy L. Sayers, Poppy Z. Brite, Michael Moorcock, Kate Millett, Cassandra Clare, J.K. Rowling, Kit Berry, Angela Carter, Joanne Harris and Garth Nix.
6. Are there any LGBT charities or resources that are near and dear to you that you would like to give a shout out to?
   
   I think the Terence Higgins Trust does some very valuable work, as well as Stonewall and Mermaids, a charity for children and teenagers with gender identity issues. I also support the work of the Sophie Lancaster Foundation- which although not specifically an LGBT resource, does work to fight against the discrimination and intolerance aimed at people from alternative subcultures.
7. What would you like young readers to take away from your novels?
   
   That it’s okay to be yourself- even if that doesn’t fit into what others consider as ‘normal,’ or ‘average.’ In my first novel, The Breathing Ghosts, this is reflected in the novel’s focus on diversity and ‘uniqueness’- whether characters are vampire, mortal, gay, straight, werewolf or teenager, they all have something that marks them out as ‘different.’ More than that, instead of feeling ashamed or embarrassed about their difference, they openly accept, understand and embrace it. I feel there is great strength is truly being who you are, and not being afraid to defy convention and break the mould.

Now Available from Eleanor Keane:

The Breathing Ghosts Eighteen year old Rowan Oakwood isn’t quite like other girls. She’s a lesbian, a loner, an orphan and the first and last female vampire hunter of her line, forced to hunt vampires with a magic she can barely control.

But when the cold-hearted and cunning vampire Virgil Valvayne sets out for a brutal revenge, she soon finds herself a target.

Rowan knows she has no choice but to kill Virgil, so why is she so drawn to his beautiful and reclusive sister? And is Violet Valvayne really all she seems?

Soon boundaries are crossed, loyalties shift and dark alliances are forged, until Rowan doesn’t know whom to hate, whom to hunt, or whom to love…

The Blood Witching Angelica Blackthorne is many things: beautiful, bold, cruel and in the grip of a madness that threatens to destroy her. Resurrected as a vampire sorceress known as the Blood Witch, Angelica's lust for power knows no bounds, and she will stop at nothing to claim back her ex-lover, the vampire Nerissa Naughton- despite having murdered Nerissa's family years before.

Nerissa Naughton may be powerful, but confronting Angelica could cost her everything-even with the help of an unusual alliance of vampires, werewolves, mortals and the vampire huntress Rowan Oakwood.

With Angelica desperate to win Nerissa back, only three things are certain: hearts will be broken, blood will be spilled, and nothing will be the same again...

The Ghost's Feast In The Ghosts' Feast, the lives, loves and losses of some of the vampires within Eleanor Keane’s The Breathing Ghosts come to the fore: a young boy tries on his mother’s corset, a vampire servant becomes obsessed with her mistress, a lavish feast is laid out for the dead, and a dark goddess concocts deadly schemes.

These short stories - amongst many others - travel from Ancient Pompeii, to 19th century Venice, to London in the Swinging Sixties, and all of them are woven together with ominous undercurrents of desire, death and vengeance. Who can we trust? Who can we believe in?

In the world of The Ghosts’ Feast, some vampires are monsters, some monsters are human, and nothing is quite what is seems…

Featured Author & Giveaway: John Amory

John Amory is from New Jersey, yet is somehow not involved in the mob. He is part Italian, though. He has BA and MA degrees in English and can sometimes be found teaching composition to college students. If you don’t find him there, check Starbucks. A Christmas Caroler is his first YA publication, though he has several adult short stories available.

Connect with John Amory on Twitter @JohnAmory or visit his website: http://www.goodreads.com/JohnAmory.

Q&A with Author John Amory:

1. Tell us about your cover design for A Christmas Caroler. Is there any symbolism from the story reflected in the cover?
   
   I love this question, because I thought a lot about what I wanted the cover to convey. The focal image is a pair of silver bells, which obviously harkens back to the famous Christmas song of the same name. That song plays a huge part in A Christmas Caroler, so I knew they needed to be on the cover somewhere. There’s also a really cute image next to the title of two connected eight notes, where the note heads are bells. The bells in both images, for me, represent Jeremy and Zach, my main characters. In each case, the bells are connected or tied together, which was important to me to symbolize the connection between Jeremy and Zach. I also wanted to make sure the colors said “Christmas” but didn’t necessarily scream it, you know? I didn’t want a red background with green font or anything like that. The white and blues and grays still evoke winter, particularly the snow falling in the story’s final scene. I think Brandon Clay, Prizm’s cover artist, did a great job.


2. In what way is your story unique compared to other books in this genre?
   
   I like to think that I gave an authentic voice to my teenage characters. I’m not too far out of my teenage years, so I always get annoyed when I read a young adult book (or watch a TV show/movie geared toward a teen audience) written by an adult who thinks they know how teenagers talk: every sentence ends in “bro” or “dude” or “man” or “oh em gee,” and everyone’s obsessed with lip gloss or sports. Teenagers are more diverse and, honestly, usually more intelligent than that. Yes, there are those who do speak like that, but that doesn’t mean it’s all they’re capable of. When you write a story about high school seniors, there needs to be some consideration made for the fact that these are (or soon to be) legal adults who are making huge, life-altering decisions about college, work, or the future, in general. You can’t just “oh em gee” your way through that stuff.


3. Which of your characters is most like you?
   
   Definitely Jeremy. He’s equal parts me in high school and me now. His whole speech to Zach late in the story about not knowing who he is or where he’s heading got a little too real a few weeks after I wrote it when I found myself in much the same predicament in my professional life. His overall attitude, his drive, and even his jealousy, are all things we have in common. Also, we’re both perpetual runners-up when it comes to high school choir. It’s okay, Jeremy, I never got that solo either.


4. What other interests do you have outside of writing?
   
   I’m really into theatre. I minored in it in college, which gave me the opportunity to really learn the ins and outs of multiple positions on a production staff and in a cast, and I still love doing it as much as I can. In fact, I’m dancing in a production of White Christmas right now! I started out only ever performing, but over the years I’ve gotten my feet wet as a stage manager, director and choreographer. The latter two are my favorite things to do; I love the creative process, the expression. And I like being in charge, so there’s that. ☺ I’ve also recently tried my hand at playwriting, and I’ve already had productions mounted in New Jersey and New York City.


5. Is there one genre of YA that you would love to write but haven’t?
   
   I would love to write a sci-fi YA novel. I’ve had this idea for a while now about a dystopian future where the gay gene has been discovered and LGBT people are being eliminated because gene therapy can “fix” them. I just don’t have any idea how to go about writing that type of story, or the research that would be involved… so if anyone out there wants to collaborate, get in touch. ;-)


6. What would you like young readers to take away from your novels?
   
   Honestly, I’m just hoping for a smile. Christmas is my favorite time of year, and I especially love all the beautiful, cheerful music. There’s a kind of happiness that permeates everything and everyone in the weeks leading up to the holidays, and I just hope that that happiness and goodwill is present in my story as well and can bring a smile to readers’ faces.

Now Available from John Amory:

A Christmas Caroler Jeremy Walsh is a high school senior who's got big plans for his future -- namely, to perform at Carnegie Hall. But before he can get there, he needs to secure the solo in his renowned high school choir's Christmas concert and get into college. Everything seems to be on track until a cute new student, Zach Brooks, shows up and ruins all of Jeremy's plans by snatching the solo out from under him. With his college auditions looming and the Christmas concert fast approaching, Jeremy has more on his plate than he can handle. Can the magic of the Christmas season bring Jeremy and Zach together?

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A Christmas Caroler Giveaway!

John Amory has generously donated a free copy of A Christmas Caroler for one lucky winner. To enter the drawing, please leave a comment below along with your email address. A winner will be selected December 16th.

Featured Author & Giveaway: E. Summers

Elizabeth Summers lives in the Chicago area with her husband and writes in whatever time she can carve out from family, work, and other obligations. She loves to read and travel and watches a few too many TV shows and movies. Beneath Angel’s Wings is her first YA novel and she hopes to continue the series in the coming years.

Connect with Elizabeth on Twitter @esummersbooks or visit her website: http://www.esummersbooks.blogspot.com.

Q&A with Author E Summers:

1. If you could swap places with one of your fictional characters for 24 hours, who would you choose to be? Why? And what would you do that day?
   
   I’d love to swap places with Javier, because in addition to being very talented he also has a beautiful, generous spirit, and I adore all his friends and family. As far as what I’d like to do, I think I’d like to swap places with him on a day he’s performing. I have no acting skills at all and I suffer from horrible stage fright, so I’d love to, just for a day, be the talented performer who’s not at all afraid of the spotlight.


2. In what way is your story unique compared to other books in this genre?
   
   I think my story is unusual in that it does not necessarily follow a predictable path. But I’m somewhat dismayed to say that its true uniqueness may come from the diversity of racial/ethnic backgrounds of the characters. I recently read a blog post by Malinda Lo in which she pointed out the small number of YA books about LGBTQ characters who are of color. That article made me very sad. Although the main character in Beneath Angel’s Wings, Adam, is Caucasian, the book also features LGBTQ characters from the African American and Mexican American communities. But while the diversity of characters may make the book somewhat unique, my hope, of course, is that this is a very temporary status.


3. What did you like to read when you were a teenager?
   
   I’ve always been a voracious reader, and that was especially the case when I was a teenager. I read everything, from classics, to historical novels, thrillers, mysteries, science fiction and romances. Probably the only genre I was never too enamored with was horror, though I have since become a big fan of zombie books. As a teen, some my favorite non YA authors were Margaret Atwood, Sue Grafton, Isaac Asimov, Kurt Vonnegut and Robin Cook. I was a teen before many of the most popular teen series were written, but some of my favorite YA authors were L.M. Montgomery, S.E. Hinton, and Norma Fox Mazer.


4. If you could travel back in time and tell the teenage you one thing, what would it be?
   
   Don’t stop writing! I know that doesn’t sound very profound, but I was a pretty level headed teenager so I don’t feel like I need to give my younger self any other life-altering advice. I wish, though, that I had not given up creative writing for nearly twenty years after graduating high school. I can only imagine the number of stories I would have had ready for publication had I simply insisted on carving out a little time to write each day, instead of abandoning it altogether. Now that my muse has been unleashed again, I feel like all the stories are there in my head, but I’ll never have enough time or be able to write fast enough to get them all out. So my advice to my teen self and to all teens out there is don’t let adult distractions and responsibilities stifle your creativity. If you love to write, make it a point to keep writing, even if it’s just a few minutes each day.


5. Are there any LGBT charities or resources that are near and dear to you that you would like to give a shout out to?
   
   I made a personal commitment to contribute half of my proceeds from the sale of Beneath Angel’s Wings to LGBTQ causes, though the actual organizations may change from time to time. In the month of November, the beneficiary will be Lost –n-Found Youth, an Atlanta organization that helps homeless LGBTQ youth.


6. What would you like young readers to take away from your novels?
   
   First and foremost, I’d love for readers to feel hopeful and be inspired to reach out and help others around them who may be losing or may already have lost hope. I know it often takes a great deal of courage and sometimes sacrifice to do what’s right, even on a small scale, instead of simply looking away when faced with someone else’s pain, but the results of that outreach can be so very impactful and rewarding.
   
   Beyond that, I’d love for readers to walk away celebrating diversity in all forms, be it sexual orientation, gender identity, race or socio-economic background. Homogeneity, with its emphasis on conformity, can be stifling and soul-crushing, whereas diversity lets us all learn from one another and unleash our true potential, making the world a better, richer place.

Now Available from E Summers:

Beneath Angel's Wings Bullied and friendless, with little love or support from his parents, seventeen year-old Adam has reached his breaking point. Just as he’s about to take the irrevocable last step, he meets Angel, who helps him see another path.

Angel’s life has been a series of tragedies and barriers. He has no time to take on other people’s problems, but when he recognizes Adam’s desperation, he can’t turn away. On the spur of the moment, he becomes the younger boy’s protector and introduces him to a new group of friends who help Adam develop the strength and self-confidence to confront and overcome his fears.

The two boys from different backgrounds have little in common, yet their newfound friendship propels them both toward achieving their dreams. Angel embarks on a road to independence while Adam, for the first time, finds love. But just when things can’t get much better, Adam is faced with his worst nightmare and has to make a life-altering choice.

Warning: This book deals with serious themes that may be potentially disturbing for readers, such as attempted suicide, physical and verbal bullying, discussions of sexual practices (including safe sex,) and potentially offensive language. Some themes in this book may not be appropriate for readers under fifteen years of age.

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Beneath Angel's Wings Giveaway!

E Summers has generously donated a free copy of Beneath Angle's Wings for one lucky winner. To enter the drawing, please leave a comment below along with your email address. A winner will be chosen December 9th.

New Releases for December 2013

Featured New Releases:

Beneath Angel Wings by E. Summers

Published by Amazon Digital Services

This is a coming of age book about a gay teen. It’s not a story about supernatural beings or a Christian text. 

Bullied and friendless, with little love or support from his parents, seventeen year-old Adam has reached his breaking point. Just as he’s about to take the irrevocable last step, he meets Angel, who helps him see another path.

Angel’s life has been a series of tragedies and barriers. He has no time to take on other people’s problems, but when he recognizes Adam’s desperation, he can’t turn away. On the spur of the moment, he becomes the younger boy’s protector and introduces him to a new group of friends who help Adam develop the strength and self-confidence to confront and overcome his fears. 

The two boys from different backgrounds have little in common, yet their newfound friendship propels them both toward achieving their dreams. Angel embarks on a road to independence while Adam, for the first time, finds love. But just when things can’t get much better, Adam is faced with his worst nightmare and has to make a life-altering choice.

This book contains themes that may trigger negative responses in readers, such as attempted suicide, discussion of a death of a background character, physical and verbal bullying, discussions of sexual practices, including safe sex, and potentially offensive language. Some themes in this book may not be appropriate for readers under fifteen years of age..

Night Creatures by Jeremy Jordan King

Published by Bold Strokes Books

It’s 1981, and Bryant thinks his move to New York will be the beginning of a new life. But the men he meets are being threatened by a mysterious illness. Could transforming into a Night Creature save him and his loved ones from certain death? Book Two of The Immortal Testimonies travels back in time to the gay community’s darkest days.

Not Broken, Just Bent by Mia Kerick

Published by Harmony Ink

Braving the start of high school, longtime childhood friends Benjamin Wells and Timmy Norton quickly realize they are entering a whole new world colored by their family responsibilities. Ben is trying to please his strict father; Timmy is taking care of his younger sisters. While their easy camaraderie is still comfortable, Ben notices Timmy growing distant and evasive, but Ben has his own problems. It’s easier to let concerns about Timmy’s home life slide, especially when Timmy changes directions and starts to get a little too close. Ben doesn’t know how to handle the new feelings Timmy’s desire for love inspires, and his continuing denial wounds Timmy deeply.

But what Timmy perceives as Ben’s greatest betrayal is yet to come, and the fallout threatens to break them apart forever. Over the next four years, the push and pull between them and the outside world twists and tears at Ben and Timmy, and they are haunted by fear and regret. However, sometimes what seems broken is just a little bent, and if they can find forgiveness within themselves, Ben and Timmy may be able to move forward together.

Secret Lies by Amy Dunne

Published by Bold Strokes Books

Would you face your biggest fear, to save the one you love?

Nicola Jackson escapes from her abuser, only to realize she has no one to turn to and nowhere to go. In a twist of fate, she accidentally bumps into Jenny O’Connor, the most popular girl at school. They strike up an unlikely friendship. As their trust in each other develops, they share their darkest secrets, and their relationship blossoms into a secret romance.

Jenny loves Nicola, but she is fearful that if their secret relationship is discovered, she might lose her family, friends, and her seemingly perfect life.
Nicola confronts her abuser and blackmails him to leave for good, but things go terrifyingly wrong. Jenny is left with a life-changing dilemma: should she face her fear and accept who she is, or let Nicola take the blame and pretend their relationship never happened?

Triane's Son Learning by Amy Lane

Published by Harmony Ink

2nd Edition

Sequel to Triane's Son Rising
Bitter Moon Saga: Book Two

When Torrant Shadow fled his homeland of Clough, he hoped to leave its threats behind. He spent four years living with the Moons, making sure Yarri had a home; now it's time for Torrant and his foster brother, Aldam, to leave for the University of Triannon, where Torrant hopes to create a new life enmeshed in healing arts and politics.

Torrant's new school friends Trieste and Aylan want to teach him about love as he settles in, and at first, Trieste's tenderness seems to make him the logical choice for an interim lover, while Torrant waits for Yarri to grow up. But Torrant has learned the hard way that nothing is simple when Clough still wields its influence over their lives. More and more, Torrant must call on the cold predator in himself, the part that Aylan most admires. The truth is, Torrant has certain gifts that give him an advantage of self-defense, but using them to protect the ones he cares for may destroy the part of him Trieste and Yarri love best.

As the four schoolmates progress to life beyond education and the evil from Torrant’s homeland becomes too pernicious to be ignored, Torrant must choose his destiny: Will he be a healer or a hero? Only Triane's Son can be both.

Vivaldi In the Dark by Matthew J. Metzger

Published by Queerteen Press

Out-and-regretting-it comprehensive attendee Jayden Phillips turns his cast-iron plans for life upside-down by falling in love with private-school violinist Darren Peace, a sardonic boy with the craziest hair Jayden's ever seen.

But all is not what it seems, and Jayden's bullying problem becomes meaningless when he is confronted with what the music does to Darren. How do you stop a dangerous depression rooted in the same thing that makes someone what they are? Dark moods, blank apathy, and the undertow of self-loathing all simmer beneath Darren's dry and beautiful veneer, and Jayden feels powerless to stop them.

Then a mugging gone wrong takes the music forcibly away, and Jayden is finally given the chance to change Darren's life -- and, quite literally, his mind.

Here's to You, Zeb Pike by Johanna Parkhurst

Published by Harmony Ink

Fact: When Zebulon Pike attempted to climb what is now known as Pikes Peak, he got stuck in waist-deep snow and had to turn back.

That's the last thing Dusty Porter learns in his Colorado history class before appendicitis ruins his life. It isn't long before social services figures out that Dusty's parents are more myth than reality, and he and his siblings are shipped off to live in Vermont with an uncle and aunt they've never met.

Dusty's new life is a struggle. His brother and sister don't seem to need him anymore, and he can't stand his aunt and uncle. At school, one hockey player develops a personal vendetta against him, while Emmitt, another hockey player, is making it hard for Dusty to keep pretending he's straight. Problem is, he's pretty sure Emmitt’s not gay. Then, just when Dusty thinks things can't get any worse, his mother reappears, looking for a second chance to be a part of his life.

Somehow Zebulon Pike still got the mountain named after him, so Dusty's determined to persevere—but at what point in life do you keep climbing, and when do you give up and turn back?

A Private Display of Affection by Winter Sandberg

Published by Harmony Ink

Hugo Thorson knows he’s gay, but coming out during high school is not part of his plan. His parents are open-minded, but Hugo doesn’t want to add more stress for anybody, especially his dad, who is fighting terminal cancer. At a summer job he meets and befriends Kevin Magnus, and before long, their friendship becomes something more. Kevin knows this will anger his overbearing father, so he decides to protect his secret by dating a girl at school. Hugo plays along, but it’s still hard to watch the two of them together just to make Kevin’s homophobic father happy. And when Hugo’s father dies, he realizes he can’t go on living the lie. He comes clean to Kevin, who decides Hugo’s true feelings are more important than his father’s expectations. One fact remains: Kevin and Hugo’s relationship must always be hidden behind friendship, lies, girlfriends, or secret kisses. Will they find a sanctuary big enough to hold their feelings? Adapted as a Young Adult edition of the novel Spark by Posy Roberts, published by Dreamspinner Press, 2013

A Christmas Caroler by John Amory

Published by Prizm Books

Jeremy Walsh is a high school senior who's got big plans for his future -- namely, to perform at Carnegie Hall. But before he can get there, he needs to secure the solo in his renowned high school choir's Christmas concert and get into college. Everything seems to be on track until a cute new student, Zach Brooks, shows up and ruins all of Jeremy's plans by snatching the solo out from under him. With his college auditions looming and the Christmas concert fast approaching, Jeremy has more on his plate than he can handle. Can the magic of the Christmas season bring Jeremy and Zach together?

Featured Author: Tom Mendicino

Tom Mendicino is graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of North Carolina School of Law. His debut novel Probation (Kensington) was named a 2011 American Library Association Stonewall Honor Book and was a Lambda Literary Award finalist. His novella “Away in a Manger” appeared in the Kensington collection Remembering Christmas and his short fiction has been published in numerous anthologies. “Hello, Mary Lou” is the first book of the trilogy KC, at Bat.

Visit Tom's website at www.tommendicino.com.

Q&A with Author Tom Mendicino:

1. Tell us about your cover design for KC, at Bat. Is there any symbolism from the story reflected in the cover?
   
   The cover of KC, at Bat is my favorite of all my books. Glenn Gale, a promising young photographer only a few years older than KC and Charlie, perfectly captures the bond between two lonely boys facing an uncertain future.


2. What did you like to read as a teenager?
   
   I was a comics guy. DC, not Marvel. The Silver Age classics: Superman, Batman and The Legion of Superheroes. (I still have a crush on Timber Wolf.) As for fantasy, Tolkien, of course, and Stranger in a Strange Land. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was my favorite classic and Red Sky at Morning and The Last Picture Show were contemporary books I loved. But, by far, the book that had the greatest impact on me was Lord of the Flies, which I re-read every few years.


3. Which of your characters is most like you?
   
   Charlie. Hands down.


4. What does your main character(s) like to read (if anything)?
   
   Charlie, on summer hiatus between a day prep school and the Ivy League, carries around a copy of David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest, but never gets beyond page 73. KC has never read a book in his life. But he studies “Baseball America” like the Bible and would probably love The Natural if he had the patience to sit down and read it.


5. Is there anything from your own teen years that has been placed in your book?
   
   Like KC and Charlie, I spent the summer before my first year of college “humping” for my Uncle Paul, to whom the book is dedicated. The music of the original teen idol Ricky Nelson is the soundtrack to the story. I was too young for his Fifties heyday, but he made a successful comeback in my teenage years. James Taylor’s “You Can Close Your Eyes,” which Charlie plays for KC on their last night together, was in heavy rotation on FM “alternative” (now called “Classic Vinyl” or “Classic Rock”) stations while I was in high school.


6. What would you like young readers to take away from your novels?
   
   Never assume anything about anybody. Appearances can be deceiving. And always consider what you might be losing before you throw away something (or someone) that was once very important to you.

Now Available from Tom Mendicino:

KC, at Bat Charlie Beresford would rather be doing anything this summer than hauling furniture for a moving company. Come September, he’ll be leaving for college, away from the awkwardness of Augustinian Academy, away from his father’s constant hints about prospective girlfriends. Then Kevin Conroy—the Mighty KC—joins the moving crew. A star baseball player bound for the big leagues, Charlie is shocked when cool, confident KC suggests hanging out, especially when KC asks him to stay over—and the happiness their connection brings Charlie. But the summer is changing Charlie—putting muscles on his skinny frame, compelling him to face hard truths, showing him how it feels not just to lose your heart but to break someone else’s. Funny, sweet, and moving, Tom Mendicino’s insightful coming-of-age story perfectly evokes that moment when you stop living life from the safety of the bleachers—and finally step up to home plate.

Recommended Age: 18+

Featured Author & Giveaway: RJ Scott

RJ Scott is the author of sixty gay romance books, including the award winning Christmas Throwaway, and the best selling The Heart of Texas. RJ has been published since 2010 and before that cut her teeth in the world of fan fiction. She welcomes emails from her readers and tries to answer every single one! She can be contacted at rj@rjscott.co.uk.

Connect with RJ Scott on Twitter @Rjscott_author or visit her website: http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/.

Q&A with Author RJ Scott:

1. What part of The Decisions We Make was the most fun to write? The most challenging?
   
   In Decisions, I loved writing the brotherly teasing and fighting, and the things that make a family strong, like talking, and support and love.


2. What did you like to read when you were a teenager?
   
   I loved romance books, and devoured them at a great rate of knots… silhouette romances (het!). I love romances and a big happy ending.


3. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and how would you use it?
   
   Flight… I would LOVE to be able to fly… and be invisible… and read people’s thoughts… Damn, do I have to just pick one?


4. If you could travel back in time and tell the teenage you one thing, what would it be?
   
   Don’t become a trainee bank manager, be a writer, go to University, learn to write and be what you should be. Also, hell, don’t eat so much chocolate!


5. Which authors do you enjoy reading?
   
   LC Chase, Rowan Speedwell, Marie Sexton, Meredith Russell, Diane Adams, Amber Kell, Stephani Hecht… to name but a few.


6. What season do you like to write your stories in most or do you love writing in all of them and why?
   
   Autumn (Fall) I LOVE the Autumn, it is my favourite month. Cool, and golden, and with promises of winter…


7. What would you like young readers to take away from your novels?
   
   The absolute belief that there is a happy ever after out there for all of us. Some of us are lucky to find it early, some have to wait, but we all deserve that happiness.

Now Available from RJ Scott:

The Decisions We Make Daniel Keyes is an orphan, fostered by the Walker’s. The product of a lonely childhood, he is thrown into the chaos of the Walker family and into the life of his new foster brother Jamie.

This story is the journey of Daniel and Jamie finding their place in the world. Through Jamie being a victim of hate crime to coming out to family and friends, there are many decisions the boys have to make before they become men.

Also Available from RJ Scott:

Love is in the Title RJ Scott's first story for Young Adults. Luke requests songs for the late show with Roscoe. Songs that mean something to him and the people around him. Lately he has been requesting songs for the boy he watches from afar. The gorgeous dark haired blue eyed captain of the football team, Cameron. One night, and the last request, and all of Luke's secrets spill. It seems though, that he isn't the only one with secrets.

Featured Author: Johanna Parkhurst

Johanna Parkhurst grew up on a small dairy farm in northern Vermont before relocating to the rocky mountains of Colorado. She spends her days helping teenagers learn to read and write and her evenings writing things she hopes they’ll like to read. She strives to share stories of young adults who are as determined, passionate, and complex as the ones she shares classrooms with.

Johanna holds degrees from Albertus Magnus College and Teachers College, Columbia University. She loves traveling, hiking, skiing, watching football, and spending time with her incredibly supportive husband. You can contact her at johannawriteson@gmail.com or find her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/johannawriteson.

Q&A with Author Johanna Parkhurst :

1. If you could swap places with one of your fictional characters for 24 hours, who would you choose to be? Why? And what would you do that day?
   
   Emmitt, from Here’s to You, Zeb Pike. I heart Emmitt. He’s the best character to write, because he’s so well-intentioned in everything he does, and in many ways he encompasses the kind of high schooler I wanted to be but never was. What would I do? I would do athletic stuff, like play hockey, because Emmitt is very athletic and I am very much not. I would enjoy being a popular high school student, because Emmitt is a popular high school student, and I definitely never was. And even though I would be super popular, I would still be friendly and kind to everyone, because that’s just how Emmitt rolls, and that’s the main reason he is so awesome. And then I would go hang out with Dusty, the main character in Here’s to You, Zeb Pike, because Dusty is pretty awesome, too.


2. If you could reenact a scene from any book (not necessarily your own), what would it be? Who would you choose for your scene partner(s)?
   
   I’ll reenact pretty much any scene from The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton, anytime, anywhere. My middle school students will tell you that I often have, and I usually make them my scene partners. My favorite scene is the one where Ponyboy breaks a bottle to threaten someone and then starts cleaning up the glass. That moment in the novel says so much about Ponyboy’s ability to be both who the world requires him to be and who he really is at the same time.


3. Tell us something we’d be surprised to learn about you.
   
   I have mad dairy farming skills. No, seriously. I grew up on my parents’ dairy farm, so I know a lot about dairy cattle. I can milk cows, feed, handle basic animal illnesses and injury. It’s a skillset that has become totally useless in my adult life, but I like to think that years of milking cows at weird hours like 4 a.m. built me some character. And an appreciation for sleeping in.


4. If you could travel back in time and tell the teenage you one thing, what would it be?
   
   I would love to tell teenage me to stop worrying so much what everybody thought of me. Who am I kidding—I still need to tell myself that on a near-daily basis. It’s just so easy to get caught up in believing that who you are is dependent on what other people think of you, and I think that goes double for teenagers, who’ve had less time to realize that not everyone will always appreciate you, and there will always be people who do appreciate you. The thing is, though, that I know teenage me wouldn’t have listened. So it would be a total waste of time travel.


5. Is there anything from your own teen years that has been placed into your books?
   
   I’ve recently noticed that I keep accidentally setting my books in Vermont. I say “accidentally” because I often try to set them in Colorado, where I live now, and they seem to end up in Vermont. I blame this on the fact that I was a teenager when I lived in Vermont, so it just feels natural to set my teenage characters there. Here’s to You, Zeb Pike is a primary example of this problem. I started the book out in Colorado Springs, but it ended up being set almost entirely in Vermont.


6. What would you like young readers to take away from your novels?
   
   Great question. I think Jed, one of the characters in Here’s to You, Zeb Pike, puts it best: “The best you can do—the best any of us can do—is to figure out when you’re going in the wrong direction and find the right one. That’s all you can ever do.” My books tend to be about very real teenagers who are dealing with difficult situation both in their control and out of their control. I want my teen readers to remember that life is about figuring out what is within your control and worrying less about the things that aren’t.

Now Available from Johanna Parkhurst :

Here’s to You, Zeb Pike Fact: When Zebulon Pike attempted to climb what is now known as Pikes Peak, he got stuck in waist-deep snow and had to turn back.

That’s the last thing Dusty Porter learns in his Colorado history class before appendicitis ruins his life. It isn’t long before social services figures out that Dusty’s parents are more myth than reality, and he and his siblings are shipped off to live in Vermont with an uncle and aunt they’ve never met.

Dusty’s new life is a struggle. His brother and sister don’t seem to need him anymore, and he can’t stand his aunt and uncle. At school, one hockey player develops a personal vendetta against him, while Emmitt, another hockey player, is making it hard for Dusty to keep pretending he’s straight. Problem is, he’s pretty sure Emmitt’s not gay. Then, just when Dusty thinks things can’t get any worse, his mother reappears, looking for a second chance to be a part of his life.

Somehow Zebulon Pike still got the mountain named after him, so Dusty’s determined to persevere—but at what point in life do you keep climbing, and when do you give up and turn back?

Silent by Sara Alva

Silent by Sara Alva

Published by Amazon Digital Services
352 Pages

Blurb: Alex’s life as a teenager in South Central L.A. is far from perfect, but it’s his life, and he knows how to live it. He knows what role to play and what things to keep to himself. He’s got it all under control, until one lousy pair of shoes kicks him out of his world and lands him in a foster care group home. Surrounded by strangers and trapped in a life where he could never belong, Alex turns to the only person lower on the social ladder than he is: a “special” mute boy. In Sebastian, Alex finds a safe place to store his secrets—those that sent him to foster care, and the deeper one that sets him apart from the other teenagers he knows. But Sebastian has secrets of his own, and when tragedy rips the two boys apart, Alex will stop at nothing to find the answers—even if it means dragging them both through a past full of wounds best left buried. It might just be worth it, for the slim chance at love.

Review: I thought Sara Alva's Social Skills was one of the best stories I'd read in a long time, but her latest release, Silent, is in an entirely different category. As I was reading this gripping story, I felt intensely disappointed that the gay fiction genre is so small. A story as beautifully written and well-crafted as this deserves mainstream distribution. Though we often see reviews where the reader lauds the book as being a riveting page-turner, I can assure you, it is without hyperbole that I sing this story's praises. In fact, I almost don't know where to begin.

Silent is the emotional story about this incredible foster kid named Alejandro. He prefers to be called Alex, and in the beginning he's facing a dilemma. He's fifteen, and he's outgrown his shoes. His mother will not buy him new ones and his mother's abusive boyfriend Hector hates him. Alex takes matters into his own hands and steals some of Hector's weed, then sells it on the street and uses the money for new shoes. When Hector discovers what Alex has done, he uses a lighter to burn Alex's arm, right after torching the new shoes. The injury is severe, and when a teacher at school discovers it, it sets in motion a chain of events that drastically change Alex's life.

He's taken into protective custody and placed in a foster home. Now, at this point in the story (about 20% into the book) I was ready to hurl my Kindle against the wall. I didn't like the social worker and I hated the foster parents. I couldn't believe how callous and unsympathetic they were to Alex after what he'd been through. Actually, I still sort of feel this way, at least about the foster parents. On the other hand, I think they did care about the boys they fostered and did the best they knew how.

The beauty within that environment wasn't so much the relationship any of those kids had with those foster parents, though. It was the relationship they developed with each other. They became a loving family, perhaps less dysfunctional than many conventional families. And it is at this point that the story really grabbed hold of my heart.

Alex becomes friends with one of his foster "brothers", a boy his age named Sebastian. Seb is mute, and everyone assumes he is mentally handicapped. Oddly enough, Alex bonds with him, and they become close. They become VERY close as Alex begins to discover a Seb that no one else knows exists. Alex learns to communicate with Seb, and he uncovers some secrets within Seb's past that are startling...and unbelievable. 

There is so much more to this book than what I've shared in this review. It's an epic story that at times made me laugh. It also infuriated me at points and even made me cry. Silent is a book I really don't want to remain silent about it. It's one of those books that is going to stay with me a long, long time, and it very well may remain one of the best books I've read in my lifetime

"I tried not to think about all the horrible things that could happen to a little boy when no one could hear him scream."

Review by Jeff

Featured Authors: Jennifer & Sarah Diemer

Jennifer Diemer shares a purple-doored cottage in upstate New York with her wife, fellow author Sarah Diemer, and a menagerie of four-legged furchildren. Jennifer and Sarah co-author the Sappho's Fables: Lesbian Fairy Tales series and collaborate on Project Unicorn, a collection of young adult, speculative fiction short stories featuring lesbian heroines.

When not writing, Jennifer can probably be found watching Doctor Who with her wife, several cats in her lap and a mug of tea close at hand.

Connect with Jennifer Diemer on Twitter @jenniferdiemer or visit her website: http://www.oceanid.org/jenn.

Sarah Diemer is an award-winning author of young adult fiction. She lives in New York with her beloved wife, several furred creatures and a few mischievous pixies. She loves coffee, My Little Pony, graveyards, and glitter.

Her debut novel, The Dark Wife, a young adult, lesbian retelling of the Persephone myth, won the 2012 Golden Crown Literary Award for Speculative Fiction. She co-writes Project Unicorn, a collection of young adult, speculative fiction short stories featuring lesbian heroines, with her wife, Jennifer Diemer.

Connect with Sarah Diemer on Twitter @sarahdiemer or visit his website: http://oceanid.org/.

Q&A with Authors Jennifer & Sarah Diemer:

1. If you could swap places with one of your fictional characters for 24 hours, who would you choose to be? Why? And what would you do that day?
   
   J: I’d pick Juliet from my story “Solitary Birds.” She’s one of the first human inhabitants of a planet called Emerald, and I’m a total space junkie, so I’d leap at the chance to fill her shoes for a day and experience another world, sitting beneath the Quipa trees and watching the fuzzy nulas--winged cat-like creatures--flying in the strange green sky.
   
   S: To be perfectly honest, I really struggled with this question. I very much enjoy putting my characters in HEARTBREAKING AND TERRIBLE SITUATIONS, though they always (usually) use their courage and bravery to get out of said situations. But still...I wouldn’t want to have to go down to the Underworld to get some peace and quiet, and combatting demons may not be the best way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Well. If the demons come armed with coffee and good conversation, sure. I would have to say that, if I could be any of my characters, I would be Persephone from The Dark Wife, because Persephone gets to spend eternity with her beloved.


2. How did you create Project Unicorn?
   
   We were both total bookworms growing up and basically lived at our local libraries. But, as teenage lesbians, we found very few novels featuring characters that we could relate to--especially in our favorite genres, fantasy and science fiction. Even as adults now, the selection of genre books with lesbian main characters is extremely limited.
   
   One day we joked with each other that finding a lesbian protagonist in a science fiction or fantasy story is as rare as finding a unicorn… And the concept of Project Unicorn was born. :) We decided to do something about this obvious and frustrating lack by writing a series of genre stories about girls who fall in love with other girls--and have fantastic adventures.
   
   Project Unicorn: A Lesbian YA Extravaganza! is an ongoing fiction project hosted on our blog, MuseRising.com. Each short story features a lesbian heroine and is a work of genre fiction (fantasy, science fiction, horror, dystopian, etc.). And--this was of critical importance to us--every story is available online for free. We remember how tough it was to find lesbian-centric tales when we were young adults (practically impossible!), so we wanted to make these stories super-accessible to the kids who need them most.


3. What has it meant for you two to write Young Adult together?
   
   Writing is our full-time job, and it’s awesome, rewarding, humbling, and emotional work. The great thing about being married to another writer is that we can help each other through the tough spots, bounce ideas off of each other...and just be total word nerds together 24/7. :) We both love to read young adult novels, and creating stories for young adults is an honor and a responsibility that we never take lightly. We cherish every comment and email we’ve gotten from readers who have enjoyed Project Unicorn and our other stories.


4. What would you like young readers to take away from your novels?
   
   There’s a decades-old epidemic in lesbian literature of unhappy endings and disempowered lesbian characters. It’s incredibly disheartening, even depressing, when there are so few stories available to lesbian readers (of any age) and the majority of these stories are tragedies. The fact is...the two of us are lesbians, and our lives are not tragedies. Far from it! We’re really, really happy and really, really in love! Growing up as a queer young adult is hard, no question. So the most critical thing for both of us in all of our writings is to communicate a message of hope and empowerment to young (and old!) lesbian girls. Most of our Project Unicorn stories have happy endings for this very reason, and all of them feature strong, brave, capable young lesbian heroines who are the authors of their own fates, who find love and joy and adventure in school hallways and in deep, dark forests, on spaceships and far beneath the sea. Our characters live big, exciting, anything-is-possible lives because that’s what we want for our readers: all the magic this incredible world has to offer.

Now Available from Jennifer Diemer and Sarah Diemer:

Project Unicorn: Volume I PROJECT UNICORN, VOLUME ONE is a collection of thirty young adult short stories featuring lesbian heroines. As ghosts and witches, aliens and vampires, the characters in this extensive and varied collection battle monsters and inner demons, stand up to bullies, wield magic, fall in love, and take action to claim their lives--and their stories--as their own.

Written by wife-and-wife authors Jennifer Diemer and Sarah Diemer, this volume of stories, with genres ranging from science fiction and fantasy to the paranormal, is part of Project Unicorn, a fiction project that seeks to address the near nonexistence of lesbian main characters in young adult fiction by giving them their own stories. PROJECT UNICORN, VOLUME ONE contains the full first three collections of Project Unicorn stories: The Dark Woods, The Monstrous Sea and Uncharted Sky.

Now Available from Sarah Diemer:

Twixt You wake upon the cold ground.

As you struggle to rise, as your breath exhales like a ghost, you know only two things: You can’t remember who you are.

And you’re being hunted.

No one sleeps in Abeo City. The lost souls gather indoors at night as Snatchers tear through the sky on black-feathered wings, stalking them. But inside the rotting walls of the Safe Houses comes a quieter, creeping danger. The people of Abeo City have forgotten their pasts, and they can trade locks of their hair to sinister women known only as the Sixers for an addictive drug. Nox will give you back a single memory–for a price.

Like the other lost souls, Lottie wakens in this harsh landscape and runs in terror from the Snatchers. But she soon comes to realize that she is not at all like the people of Abeo City. When she takes Nox, her memories remain a mystery, and the monsters who fill the sky at night refuse to snatch her. Trying to understand who she is, and how she ended up in such a hopeless place, Lottie bands together with other outcasts, including a brave and lovely girl named Charlie. In the darkness, and despite the threat of a monstrous end...

Love begins to grow.

But as Lottie and Charlie plot their escape from Abeo City, Lottie’s dark secrets begin to surface, along with the disturbing truth about Twixt: a truth that could cost her everything.

The Dark Wife Three thousand years ago, a god told a lie. Now, only a goddess can tell the truth.

Persephone has everything a daughter of Zeus could want--except for freedom. She lives on the green earth with her mother, Demeter, growing up beneath the ever-watchful eyes of the gods and goddesses on Mount Olympus. But when Persephone meets the enigmatic Hades, she experiences something new: choice.

Zeus calls Hades "lord" of the dead as a joke. In truth, Hades is the goddess of the underworld, and no friend of Zeus. She offers Persephone sanctuary in her land of the dead, so the young goddess may escape her Olympian destiny.

But Persephone finds more than freedom in the underworld. She finds love, and herself.

The Dark Wife is a YA novel, a lesbian revisionist retelling of the Persephone and Hades myth. It won the 2012 Golden Crown Literary Award for Speculative Fiction.

Featured Author & Giveaway: Sara Alva

Sara Alva is a former small-town girl currently living in big-city LA with a husband, two cats, and an avocado tree. She recently discovered—after a year in her house—that she also has a fig tree in her backyard, which might mean she needs to get out more. But sometimes the stories waiting to be told demand more attention, and when she puts fingers to keyboard, it’s usually to write about journeys of self-discovery, heartache, personal growth, friendship and love. When she isn’t writing, she’s teaching or dancing. For more information, free short stories and news on upcoming releases, visit Sara’s website at http://saraalva.com.

Connect with Sara Alva on Twitter @SaraAlvaStories or visit her website: http://saraalva.com.

Q&A with Author Sara Alva:

1. Where is the book Silent set? Is it a place you’re familiar with in real life or is it imagined?
   
   Silent is set in Los Angeles, California, where I currently live. So far in my writing career, I’ve taken on settings I know well. I like throwing in those little details that allow people who’ve “been there” to catch the local references. And for those who haven’t been, if they ever do visit, maybe they’ll spot some things they’ve read about!
   
   I have an upcoming guest post on Madison Parker’s blog with some more insight into the specific locations of Los Angeles. It’s such a huge, diverse area that it really allowed me take Alex on a significant journey without leaving the city, and the changing setting plays a significant role in the story.


2. One of your writing strengths is creating authentic dialogue. The characters really come alive through their speech. Ironically, one of the characters doesn’t speak at all (hence the title, Silent). What challenges did you face in developing a non-speaking character?
   
   The concept of Seb as a character had been floating around in my head since my high school days (wow, so long ago!) but bringing him to life on the page was a different story (oops, I punned). In my head I could see the facial expressions he would make, the very subtle gestures he could use, but I had to work carefully to represent those in text without getting repetitive or too heavy-handed. Then again, I couldn’t be too light, either, or his presence would barely be felt. My betas were a great resource and helped me fine-tune those parts of the novel until I was satisfied with the end result.


3. I have no personal experience with the foster care system, but reading Silent made me feel like I was right there, experiencing the emotional upheaval along with the main character as he’s placed in a group home. It’s interesting that adults tend to view foster care as a positive thing, whereas the children placed in foster care often don’t. If given the choice, sadly, many would choose to return to their abusive environments. What type of research did you do to help portray the foster care experience so realistically?
   
   I had betas with some insight into foster care, which was a great help. Along with that, my other profession has brought me into contact with many children like Alex, and I already had a sense of how they felt about their homes, and how they felt about leaving them. They don’t usually stand on the outside of their lives and see the “bigger picture” of how leaving a troubled environment could be for the best. They’re living in their own shoes; they see their personal worlds, they see the way the people around them live and that’s often the way they expect to live as well.
   
   I wanted to be as realistic as possible with Alex, and having him eager to leave behind all he knows for a totally different life just wouldn’t have felt plausible.


4. The main character has a strong sense of loyalty. I’d even go so far as to describe him as a caregiver. Where does that come from, or why is it so important to him?
   
   Alex grew up without very much parental guidance. Because of that, he and his sister found they could often only count on each other. As the older sibling, she was his main support system. He tried to be the same sort of support for her, but when he wasn’t able to, it left a void in his life, waiting to be filled. Through the course of the novel he finds a new place to put his loyalty and affection.


5. What would you most like people to take away from the story?
   
   Books are often a means by which people become aware of different circumstances. I never set out to write with a “message,” but I do like to present less-seen worlds, whether they be inside a character’s mind, or in a literal setting. Silent presents a way of life that not everyone gets to see on a daily basis, and all I’d really like is for readers to get a chance to experience it through Alex’s eyes.

Now Available from Sara Alva:

Silent Alex’s life as a teenager in South Central L.A. is far from perfect, but it’s his life, and he knows how to live it. He knows what role to play and what things to keep to himself. He’s got it all under control, until one lousy pair of shoes kicks him out of his world and lands him in a foster care group home.

Surrounded by strangers and trapped in a life where he could never belong, Alex turns to the only person lower on the social ladder than he is: a “special” mute boy. In Sebastian, Alex finds a safe place to store his secrets—those that sent him to foster care, and the deeper one that sets him apart from the other teenagers he knows. But Sebastian has secrets of his own, and when tragedy rips the two boys apart, Alex will stop at nothing to find the answers—even if it means dragging them both through a past full of wounds best left buried.

It might just be worth it, for the slim chance at love.

Social Skills Music is the only form of communication Connor Owens controls. No matter how badly he wishes to fit in, friendly banter and casual conversations have never been his thing. College is yet another social universe he has no clue how to navigate—until he meets Jared, a football player with chestnut eyes and a cocky grin that holds the power to shatter his self-imposed prison.

Jared's attention opens Connor up to a new realm of emotional and physical intimacy. But as Connor's self-confidence grows, so does his fear that everything will fall apart. Because in this socially stratified world, how long can a relationship between an introverted violinist and a closeted football player really last?

Pura Vida Simon has found himself in an open relationship for the summer—though not by choice. Instead of wallowing, he’s decided to make the most of a family vacation to Costa Rica by hooking up with the first hot guy available. Trouble is, he has no clue how to go about doing that.

Luckily, he runs into someone with a little more experience. But when the moments of lust turn into something more, Simon isn’t so sure he’ll be able to return to his old relationship. And there’s no way to hold onto this new one, either, as thousands of miles will separate them in only a few short weeks. Either way, he’ll have to learn to let go.

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Silent Giveaway!

Sara Alva has generously donated a free e-copy of Silent for one lucky winner. To enter the drawing, please leave a comment below along with your email address. A winner will be chosen November 3, 2013.

New Releases for November 2013

Featured New Releases:

Blood Moon by MJ O'Shea

Published by Harmony Ink

Zack met his best friend, Noah, at Harper Lake when they were five years old. Summer after summer, his feelings grew, but he assumed Noah didn’t feel the same. But one night when they were seventeen, Zack kissed Noah… and Noah kissed him back. Zack was sure he did. But the next morning, Noah put an end to their friendship and walked away, leaving Zack with a broken heart. A year has passed, and Zack goes back to the lake—where every leaf, rock, and turn in the road remind him of the biggest mistake he ever made. He hates thinking about what he lost, and more than anything he wants his best friend back. He figures it’ll be the longest summer ever. But then Noah shows up out of the blue, apologetic and more gorgeous than ever. Noah is sweet and attentive, and Zack can almost believe nothing had ever gone wrong. But there’s something different about his old friend, something not quite right. Zack doesn’t want to ruin the fragile new bond between them, but he has to know… What secret is Noah hiding?.

Gods (Dreams of Fire and Gods, Book Three) by James Erich

Published by Harmony Ink

Long ago, two factions of gods, the Stronni and the Taaweh, nearly destroyed the Kingdom of Dasak in a great war. The Taaweh vanished when their queen was imprisoned, and the Stronni declared victory. A thousand years later, a young nobleman named Sael and his lover Koreh have rescued the Taaweh queen. In the process Koreh was killed, and now an injured Sael struggles to heal from both injuries and grief. Unknown to him, Koreh embarks on a journey across the land of the dead, trying to make his way back to Sael—and to life. But time moves differently in the underworld, and decades pass while Koreh travels. In the living world, tensions between the emperor and Sael’s father, Vek Worlen, who is regent of the eastern kingdom, have soured beyond repair. Worlen conspires with the assassin Donegh to break into the imperial palace and challenge the emperor to a duel to the death. But the goddess Imen has chosen a young priest named Gonim as her champion. Through him she discovers the Taaweh have returned, and her enraged king threatens to destroy Dasak and all its human inhabitants. Sael must save his world, must confront the gods and persuade them not to destroy humankind. But it seems hopeless. If only Koreh were at his side… Young Adult Age Range: 14 to 18 years old.

The Missing Juliet by Sam Cameron

Published by Bold Strokes Books

Summer’s sizzling in the Florida Keys and Robin McGee should be planning for college. Instead, she’s passionately in love with beautiful movie starlet Juliet Francine. Too bad it’s a one-way crush shared by millions of others. Robin’s better off sticking to her summer job and fighting for the equal treatment of GLTBQ teens everywhere. But when Juliet is kidnapped from a film set in Key West, Robin turns amateur sleuth and recruits her friends to help in the search. Soon the FBI, police, and paparazzi are hot on the case as well. As time ticks down and the ransom notes grow dire, Robin will get just one chance to pull off a Hollywood happy ending—and maybe a shot at true love after all..

The Seventh Pleiade by Andrew J. Peters

Published by Bold Strokes Books

Atlantis is besieged by violent storms, tremors, and a barbarian army. For sixteen-year-old Aerander, it’s a calamitous backdrop to his Panegyris, where boys are feted for their passage to manhood. Amid a secret web of romances among the celebrants, Aerander's cousin Dam goes missing with two boys. With the kingdom in crisis, no one suspects the High Priest Zazamoukh, though Aerander uncovers a conspiracy to barter boys for dark spiritual power. Aerander's proof— an underground vault that disappears in the morning—brings shame on his family and charges of lunacy. The only way for Aerander to regain his honor is to prove what really happened to the missing boys. Tracking Dam leads Aerander on a terrifying and fantastical journey. He spots a star that hasn’t been seen for centuries. He uncovers a legend about an ancient race of men who hid below the earth. And traveling to an underground world, he learns about matters even more urgent than the missing boys. The world aboveground is changing, and he will have to clear a path for the kingdom’s survival. Author: Andrew J. Peters.

Zirkua Fantastic by Voss Foster

Published by Prizm Books

Zirkua Fantastic has been running steadily since 1753, amazing its patrons with acts of otherworldly skill and prowess. But that talent comes at a steep price: each artist must give a year of his or her life to the circus. None of them know why, only that the circus' owners will go to whatever lengths are necessary to ensure it. Toby, the hoop dancer at Zirkua Fantastic and son of one of the owners, is content with his life: he enjoys performing and Zirkua's wandering life, and even has a boyfriend among the circus' hawkers. But when a new artist arrives, bringing with him a strange flask and a number of odd occurrences, Toby falls face-first into the truth behind the circus: Its contracts bind King Jester, the immortal embodiment of chaos. Zirkua's performances and contracts have held King Jester prisoner for centuries, but now something's amiss. King Jester's sister, Dragon, has escaped her own bonds and is working to free her brother, and his power is growing. If he is loosed on the world, it will mean the worst war in human history and the end of civilization... unless Zirkua Fantastic can find a way to stop him..

Camp Spartacus by Laura Hughes

Published by Prizm Books

Cadet Lieutenant Mike Ruggiero loves Future Servicemembers of America summer camp: fresh air, exercise, tactical training, wilderness survival… and cute guys. But he’s trying not to think about that. Here, he’s just a normal soldier. But when a rumor gets out that someone in Ruggiero's squad is gay, it looks like all the coming out drama from back home is about to come crashing back..

Where No One Knows by Jo Ramsey

Published by Musa Publishing

After almost setting an attacker on fire, Kellan McKee is thrown out of his home and travels across the country to find safety with a group of young psychics. Kellan McKee has been forced to leave his home and is traveling to find a place to belong. Sixteen years old and transgender, Kellan has felt out of place in his family since his mother married Gene. Now Kellan must keep Gene and his friends from tracking him down to get “justice” for the man Kellan accidentally set on fire. Kellan has psychic powers, including pyrokinesis, and when he’s threatened he loses control.On the run, Kellan meets Shad, a young man who also has psychic powers, who steers Kellan to Boston where a group that protects psychic teens is ready to take him in. But will Kellan find a safe haven, or will he bring danger to his new friends? - See more at: http://musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=24&products_id=670#sthash.9Zgts1FS.dpuf.

What We've Been Waiting For by Louis Stevens

Published by Queerteen Press

From the age of three, Tim Baily wanted to marry Tom Watkins. Many changes occurred during their formative years, but Tim’s love for Tom remained rock solid. Even when Tom temporarily broke up with him to date girls, Tim never stopped loving Tom. Because his father walking out on his family, Tim doesn’t trust easily. His friend Tom’s bisexuality makes him uneasy. Tom is a popular high school football player who can have anyone he wants, boy or girl. So why would he choose nerdy Tim? The fact Tom won’t come out at school further feeds Tim’s insecurities and suspicions. Tom has always felt the pressure from his dad and his friends to be the typical jock. This means hiding the gay side of his bisexuality and only acknowledging Tim in private. Tom has promised once they’re at college in New York, he and Tim will be able to live openly as a loving gay couple. Tim just needs to be patient. Things come to a dramatic head at an event everyone has been waiting for, their end of year graduation party. Many truths are revealed, old scores are settled, and everyone’s lives are changed. Can Tom keep his promise to always love and protect Tim, or will previous lies and secrets kill off what has been growing between the boys for fifteen years?.

The Weeping Willow by Hayden Thorne

Published by Queerteen Press

A woodland shadow and a mortal fall in love, and a tragic cycle begins, haunting the steps of their daughter, Aeldra. At a young age, Aeldra finds herself pregnant, abandoned, and standing at a precipice, her child’s future hanging on a balance. Already physically weakened for having shadow and mortal blood in her veins, she remains defiant when her shadow kin demand her child’s life. She presses her faithful servant, Halfrith, to stand by the boy and make sure he remains unnamed, as it’s through his name that the shadow world will find the means by which they can claim him. Hope comes in the shape of Helena Butcher, a seventeen-year-old seamstress who brings shame to her family by getting pregnant out of wedlock. From beyond the grave, Aeldra looks to Helena and her unborn child to save her own son, who’s now cursed to remain caught between two worlds after a woodland shadow’s attempt at taking the boy away is thwarted by Halfrith. Though tragedy marks the births of Crispian Butcher and Aeldra’s son, who’s been turned into a weeping willow by the woodland shadows, something much deeper and more enduring will shape the curious friendship between a ragged boy and a mournful tree. And something stronger and more resistant to hate and prejudice will ultimately break a curse, end a dark cycle, and bring two lonely boys together..

Silentby Sara Alva

Published by Amazon Digital Services

Alex’s life as a teenager in South Central L.A. is far from perfect, but it’s his life, and he knows how to live it. He knows what role to play and what things to keep to himself. He’s got it all under control, until one lousy pair of shoes kicks him out of his world and lands him in a foster care group home. Surrounded by strangers and trapped in a life where he could never belong, Alex turns to the only person lower on the social ladder than he is: a “special” mute boy. In Sebastian, Alex finds a safe place to store his secrets—those that sent him to foster care, and the deeper one that sets him apart from the other teenagers he knows. But Sebastian has secrets of his own, and when tragedy rips the two boys apart, Alex will stop at nothing to find the answers—even if it means dragging them both through a past full of wounds best left buried. It might just be worth it, for the slim chance at love.