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?