Featured Author & Giveaway: Andrew J. Peters

Andrew J. Peters likes retold stories with a subversive twist. He is the author of The Seventh Pleiade, based on the legend of Atlantis, and the Werecat series. A former Lambda Literary Foundation Fellow, Andrew has written short fiction for many publications. He lives in New York City with his husband and their cat Chloë.

Connect with Andrew J. Peters on Twitter @ayjayp or visit his website: http://andrewjpeterswrites.com.

Q&A with Author Andrew J. Peters:

1. Tell us about your cover design. Is there any symbolism from the story reflected in the cover?
   
   I’m really happy with the cover for The Seventh Pleiade. I think it represents really well the setting for the story, which is the last days of Atlantis.
   
   The artwork also hints at the title. The Pleiades are a star cluster that were important in Greek mythology. They were the seven daughters of the titan god Atlas, and an interesting phenomenon is that the seventh star was not always visible to the naked eye depending on the season and other conditions. That made it seem like a disappearing or reappearing star, which inspired legends and auguries.
   
   In my novel, the seventh star appears mysteriously while Atlantis is in crisis. Part of the adventure for the hero – a sixteen year old named Aerander – is solving a riddle about her (the star’s) re-appearance, which he believes is the key to saving his kingdom.


2. In what way is your story unique compared to other books in this genre?
   
   The Seventh Pleiade is a combination of fantasy adventure and gay fiction. There is a rich tradition of Greek mythology-inspired stories. David Gemmell is one of the best known authors in that genre, and Rick Riordan has a huge franchise in the Percy Jackson series. I think The Seventh Pleiade stands out in that field because it takes mythology from a gay point-of-view.
   
   As gay fiction, The Seventh Pleiade is unique in that I tried to stay authentic to an ancient world sensibility. There was no such thing as being “gay” back then, but there certainly were young men who had romantic relationships with other men. There wasn’t the concept of sin or abomination regarding those relationships, but the Greeks held traditional beliefs about the way men and women were supposed to behave. It was still a very sexist and patriarchal culture. Besides the adventure aspect of the story, I wanted to explore what it would be like growing up during that time for a young man who is attracted to other men.


3. Do you believe in Atlantis?
   
   Part of me would like to believe that the ancient legend was real, but in the end I’m too much of a science guy to really believe it. What interested me in the subject was it was such a popular legend across the ancient world, from the specific story of the ancient Greeks to the flood and creation legends of the Bible and Native cultures. There’s an intriguing coincidence that rapid climate change occurred around the time that Atlantis was rumored to have been destroyed; so it’s possible that a flood or earthquake or volcanic eruption wiped out a pre-historic civilization and that story was passed down through generations and the circumstances and their meaning were embellished.
   
   That’s actually what intrigues me about Atlantis the most: how and why the story came to be. I’m drawn to the idea that if Atlantis existed, it must have been inhabited by regular people whose stories were either exaggerated, making them out to be gods, or suppressed. I do have a bit of a conspiracy streak.


4. What did you like to read when you were a teenager?
   
   I grew up before young adult literature really took off so I was reading adult books. I loved mysteries and read everything by Agatha Christie. I read J.D. Salinger, F. Scott Fitzgerald and I also loved Russian novels by Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy.
   
   When I was taking my first steps coming out, I looked for stories with gay characters. In the 80s those tended to be gritty, subculture books by authors like William S. Burroughs and Paul T. Rogers.


5. What other interests do you have outside of writing?
   
   I like to cook, especially baking. I grew up playing the cello and the piano, though my talent there has faded considerably over time. Social justice is an on-going interest of mine. I work at a university, and one of the favorite parts of my job is teaching a course on oppression and human diversity.


6. Is there any LGBT charity or resource that is near and dear to you that you would like to give a shout out to?
   
   Absolutely! The Long Island Crisis Center is a not-for-profit in Bellmore, New York that is doing amazing work for LGBT teens through their Pride for Youth program. I had the great fortune of doing an internship there in the 90s, and it turned into an eighteen year career as a social worker for LGBT kids. Now, I’m a supporter of the organization. There’s a huge need for resources for LGBT teens in the suburbs.


7. What would you like young readers to take away from your novels?
   
   For any readers of my books, my greatest hope is that they feel it was time well-spent, whether that means the book allowed them to escape for a little while, be entertained, or that they liked the story because it made them think about the world in a different way.
   
   I do have young readers in mind when I’m writing. I worked with LGBT teens for almost twenty years. For LGBTs, it often feels like everything around you is catered to people who are different from you. My hope for young readers in particular is that the places I write about seem like somewhere that they would fit in. I love turning a familiar story around from an LGBT point-of-view.

Now Available from Andrew J. Peters:

The Seventh Pleiade 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 suspicions of lunacy. The only way 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.

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The Seventh Pleiade Giveaway!

Andrew J. Peters has generously donated a free copy of The Seventh Pleiade for one lucky winner. To enter the drawing, please leave a comment below along with your email address. A winner will be chosen on DATE.

New Releases for February, 2014

Featured New Releases:

Cevin's Deadly Sin by Sally Bosco

Published by Queerteen Press

Cevin’s worst nightmare comes true when he and his mom move to a small Florida town where high fashion is a flannel shirt with the sleeves chopped off, and the only entertainment is the Friday night football games. Cevin wants nothing more than to blend in and get through the year so he can graduate and leave Tilapia forever. When he meets Tessa, an introverted Goth girl, his plans to “not have a life” are forever ruined. She’s friendly to him, and he’s at first suspicious, but her poetic nature draws her to him, and he starts to believe she might be the only one who can accept him for what he is ... if he could just get up the nerve to tell her about his cross-dressing. Cevin, though, has a problem: two of the local bullies have discovered his proclivity for wearing women’s clothing. One of them is Tessa’s brother, who threatens to “out” him if he doesn’t stop seeing his beloved sister. Cevin will do nothing of the kind, and when their bullying escalates, Cevin has to figure out how to survive their viciousness while still seeing Tessa and preserving his own identity -- whatever that is. To add to his problems Cevin has an evangelical mom who thinks he’s doing “that thing the Lord despises” and is determined to set him straight by sending him to gay deprogramming camp. A former biker chick, she found religion after her drunk driving caused a serious motorcycle accident that severed her left hand and killed his sister. A chance meeting with Amy, the school's only outed lesbian, has him joining the rock band Chemical Sandwich that has to get ready for a major competition in just six short weeks. Never mind that Cevin can’t play bass; he’s going to have to learn. When Cevin’s friendship with Tessa develops into something more, he finds someone else who doesn’t fit in and who shares his love of music and poetry as well as his hatred for jocks and bullies. But Tessa has secrets, too. Will her friendship lead Cevin to the fulfillment of his dreams, or to his own demise?.

Hat Trick Overtime by Jeff Adams

Published by Queerteen Press

Continuing the adventures of Simon and Alex from the best-selling book, Hat Trick, this free story follows the boys into college. They have settled into their freshman year playing hockey for the University of Michigan. After an outdoor game in Detroit, the two break away from their teammates to enjoy time alone under the magical Christmas lights. .

Lessons on Destroying the World by Gene Gant

Published by Harmony Ink

Micah McGhee has struggled all his life against prejudice and abuse. Forced to drop out of school after the death of his mother, Micah works full time to support himself and his alcoholic father. One night, on his way home from a party, Micah’s hard life ends when he’s beaten to death by a street gang. Three days later, Micah awakens with godlike abilities granted by the alien device that resurrected him. His work helping the downtrodden and performing miracles soon earns him worldwide attention—including the notice of conservative Reverend Vaughn Titus. Micah’s friends, devout Christians Antonio and Monica, along with Reverend Titus, urge Micah to use the power of the artifact to impose Biblical rule on the world. But Micah is all too familiar with how Christian law treats LGBT people, and he opposes the idea. When Antonio, Monica, and Reverend Titus gain access to the device, Micah must risk everything to stop them from forcing their religion onto everyone on earth.

Nadine's Voyage by Kim Flowers

Published by Queerteen Press

Sequel to Two-Spirit's Red Road In this alternate version of history, newly-freed slave Nadine is enjoying yet another night of celebration after successfully defeating the British delegate Sir Pickett, his traitorous brother, and low spies plotting to overthrow the budding American government. But now Nadine hears rumors that Queen Victoria herself is on the way to America to set up a new reign. Nadine isn’t as worried about this news as she is about the rest of her family. Before being forced to join Sir Pickett on a voyage to America, she and her family had planned to stow away on the Lady Dervish, but instead of a successful escape, now only half her family is in the New World. Her mother and younger brother were left behind. Nadine’s new friends Spirit Warrior and Strong Arrow along with her girlfriend Amelia travel with her on a steam engine to New York. There they rent a fishing boat in hopes of intercepting the Lady Dervish, because a blockade has been set up to keep all foreign vessels from American waters. Amelia vows to help Nadine reunite her family no matter what, and longs for them to have a future together. But Nadine has a block upon her heart that won't be lifted until she finds the rest of her family. Will she be reunited with them? And will she be able to love someone who so resembles those who once persecuted her?

Onsen by Tam MacNeil

Published by Queerteen Press

Hyabusa Jao needs a holiday. It’s winter, he’s tired, and his ribs are busted from his last job with the Good Men assassins. Jao’s boyfriend Hitori Masahiro wants to get out of Okatsu, as well, to rid himself of his opium dependency. Since money isn't an object with Masahiro, he can afford to book them into the exclusive Okina Kibou Onsen, a warm water spa in the mountains. Unfortunately Jao has been there before, for a job, and the place carries bad memories. But he can't tell Masahiro that, so they set off with family, friends, and servants in tow. When they arrive, the problems begin. First Jao runs into his least favorite person in the world, his ex-boss Kazematsuri. Then he thinks he sees the ghost of the man he killed at the onsen, and Masahiro becomes ill from opium withdrawal. Also, the two sons of the Daimyo of Okatsu, Kazuya and Daijiro, are there to hunt, or so they say. Jao tries to stay out of their way, but the two VIPs are disturbingly interested in both Jao and Masahiro, for different reasons. Then Kazuya, the younger and slightly nicer of the two brothers, is discovered torn almost to shreds by something big and catlike, an animal the like of which does not occur in the wilds around the onsen. While Kazuya is recovering, Jao is determined to find out what beast is sneaking around at night ... and keep it from killing anyone else.

The Red Sheet by Mia Kerick

Published by Harmony Ink

One October morning, high school junior Bryan Dennison wakes up a different person—helpful, generous, and chivalrous—a person whose new admirable qualities he doesn’t recognize. Stranger still is the urge to tie a red sheet around his neck like a cape. Bryan soon realizes this compulsion to wear a red cape is accompanied by more unusual behavior. He can’t hold back from retrieving kittens from tall trees, helping little old ladies cross busy streets, and defending innocence anywhere he finds it. Shockingly, at school, he realizes he used to be a bully. He’s attracted to the former victim of his bullying, Scott Beckett, though he has no memory of Scott from before “the change.” Where he’d been lazy in academics, overly aggressive in sports, and socially insecure, he’s a new person. And although he can recall behaving egotistically, he cannot remember his motivations. Everyone, from his mother to his teachers to his “superjock” former pals, is shocked by his dramatic transformation. However, Scott Beckett is not impressed by Bryan’s newfound virtue. And convincing Scott he’s genuinely changed and improved, hopefully gaining Scott’s trust and maybe even his love, becomes Bryan’s obsession.

Unity (The Divide: Book Two) by Kim Flowers

Published by Queerteen Press

Sequel to The Divide Book 1: Uprising The revolution has begun, and 18-year-old Malaki Cheyenne is spying on the U.S. government. In the midst of training on a rebel military base, Malaki can’t decide whether she wants to be in infantry or intelligence. She is also torn between her feelings for three girls, including Serenity Blackwater, who left on a refugee plane to The Nation of California Islands. Malaki is impatient at being low-ranked, but raises her status by creating a program to deactivate U.S. military drones. The base gets attacked after the government finds out members have allied themselves with the revolutionary Human Equality Organization. Malaki is captured and taken to a detainment center, where the same man who tortured Serenity last year says he’s going to convert Malaki from Gay to Normal. Malaki is beaten and starved, and forced to undergo experimental injections which are supposed to change her mind and body so she fits into the mold of what the government says is “normal.” The rebels who survived the raid at the military base are imprisoned in the crumbling remains of an old Gay Community, living under the watch of guards with no means of contacting the outside world. Meanwhile, Serenity and the other California refugees are under nuclear assault, waiting out the attack in underground bunkers. Malaki learns secrets about government which will end The Divide, if only she can get out of prison ... and if she doesn’t go insane from brutal torture. Will Malaki be able to free herself from her captors? Will any of her friends survive this war?

Valhalla by Ari Bach

Published by Harmony Ink

Violet MacRae is one of the aimless millions crowding northern Scotland. In the year 2330, where war is obsolete and only brilliant minds are valued, she emerges into adulthood with more brawn than brains and a propensity for violence. People dismiss her as a relic, but world peace is more fragile than they know. In Valhalla, a clandestine base hidden in an icy ravine, Violet connects with a group of outcasts just like her. There, she learns the skills she needs to keep the world safe from genetically enhanced criminals and traitors who threaten the first friends she’s ever known. She also meets Wulfgar Kray, a genius gang leader who knows her better than she knows herself and who would conquer the world to capture her. Branded from childhood as a useless barbarian, Violet is about to learn the world needs her exactly as she is.

Featured Author & Giveaway: MB Mulhall

MB Mulhall has been reading and writing since childhood; her love of stories so great it pushed her to earn a BA in Comparative Literature and Languages from Hofstra University. Wanting to share that love and inspire young writers, she also has an Elementary Education background from Georgia Court University.   Currently, her full-time job is working with developmentally disabled adults, and she gets her writing time in before or after hours.

  She has dedicated much of her time not only to writing great stories but also to navigating social media and educating herself in the industry. She runs a successful blog sharing her writing challenges and advice with other authors.

  Born and raised a Jersey girl, MB is often inspired by the beauty of her state and the people who visit its shores, snapping pictures and making up stories in her head to writing down at a later date. When not writing, she’s plowing through her cascading to-be-read piles, crafting, doing her nails, or watching Doctor Who.

Connect with MB Mulhall on Twitter @MBMulhall or visit her website: http://keystrokesandwordcounts.wordpress.com .

Q&A with Author MB Mulhall:

1. Tell us about your cover design. Is there any symbolism from the story reflected in the cover?
   
   The beautiful cover represents the main character, Ian, at his heaviest, which puts him into the bottom of the heavyweight wrestling class, not a good place to be when his opponents weigh much more. The title though, not only refers to his sport, but to the heavy weight of the secrets that he carries around with him.


2. In what way is your story unique compared to other books in this genre?
   
   It deals with the stresses of a sport and what some athletes are willing to do to themselves, mentally and physically, in order to succeed. Ian struggles with an eating disorder, but it’s different than what most people would expect. Many think of those who are anorexic or bulimic as having body dysmorphic disorder, but that’s not really Ian’s issue. He’s more concerned with being the best he can be at his sport, and that means either starving himself or binging and purging in order to remain at the top of his weight class, regardless of the strain it puts on his heart and the rest of his body.


3. What did you like to read when you were a teenager?
   
   As a teen I pretty much devoured everything of Stephan King’s I could get my hands on. Horror was kind of my go to genre followed by adult romance/smut such as Jackie Collins. The Young Adult genre, sadly, didn’t really exist at the time.


4. Tell us something we’d be surprised to learn about you.
   
   Even with a comparative literature and languages degree, I pretty much hate most English lit. Pride and Prejudice? Not even the addition of zombies made me want to read that. Bronte sisters? Snooze-fest. Shakespeare? Well, most of his stuff gets a pass, especially A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Prankster Puck turns Nick Bottom’s head into a donkey’s head! How can you not enjoy that?


5. If you could travel back in time and tell the teenage you one thing, what would it be?
   
   Ooh there’s lots I’d probably tell myself, but I think the two main things would be to have more confidence in myself and plan to travel after high school before college. I think a lot of kids are going right into college without a clue of what they really want to do with their lives. It leads to dropping out, wasting money or being stuck in a profession you don’t really enjoy. In my opinion, there’s nothing wrong with taking some time off to learn more about yourself and what you really love. Traveling is a learning experience and once you’re settled into school or a job, you find you don’t really have the time for it. Do it while you’re young. Acquiring student loans can wait!


6. What would you like young readers to take away from your novels?
   
   I would love for them to walk away knowing: to change your goals does not equal failure, that everyone deserves love and acceptance, and that true friends will stand by your side, regardless of the circumstances.

Now Available from MB Mulhall:

Heavyweight Secrets. Their weight can be crushing, but their release can change everything—and not necessarily for the better. Ian is no stranger to secrets. Being a gay teen in a backwater southern town, Ian must keep his orientation under wraps, especially since he spends a lot of time with his hands all over members of the same sex, pinning their sweaty, hard bodies to the wrestling mat. 



When he’s trying not to stare at teammates in the locker room, he’s busy hiding another secret—that he starves himself so he doesn’t get bumped to the next weight class.



Enter Julian Yang, an Adonis with mesmerizing looks and punk rocker style. Befriending the flirtatious artist not only raises suspicion among his classmates, but leaves Ian terrified he’ll give in to the desires he’s fought to ignore.



As secrets come to light, Ian’s world crumbles. Disowned, de-friended, and deserted by nearly everyone, Ian’s one-way ticket out of town is revoked, leaving him trapped in a world he hates—and one that hates him back.

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Heavyweight Giveaway!

MB Mulhall has generously donated a free copy of Heavyweight for one lucky winner. To enter the drawing, please leave a comment below along with your email address. A winner will be chosen on 2/23/14.

Featured Author: Zoe Lynn

Zoe Lynn strives to give LGBT youth stories they love with heroes they can relate to. Zoe Lynne began in October of 2012, with the sole focus being to create books with LGBT youth in mind. It is my hope to deliver characters who are both real and fantastic, characters you love and love to hate, but more so, characters you can relate.

Connect with Zoe Lynn on Twitter @ZoeLynneBooks or visit her website: http://www.zoelynnebooks.com.

Q&A with Author Zoe Lynn:

1. What part of the story was the most fun to write? The most challenging?
   
   Writing Freeing Stella as a whole was a major challenge for me. It’s about a Transgender youth who hasn’t come out of the closet yet, who lives as a boy at school, but as a girl away from home. I’ll be the first to admit I don’t, or rather, didn’t know much about being transgender going into this book. I had the pleasure of getting to know a transgender youth through my time with a local gay youth group. I spent hours talking to this child and learning what it was like to live a day in his body, to be in a house with parents who didn’t understand him. One of the most profound things he said to me was he often wondered why God would do this to him—this meaning put him in a body he didn’t belong in. The child touched my soul and I learned so much from him.


2. Which of your characters is most like you?
   
   I think it’s a combination of Ashlynn from Being True and Brynn from That Witch! I have Ashlynn’s desire to help people, with Brynn’s shyness.


3. What other interests do you have outside of writing?
   
   I have a secondary love for Graphics. Making book covers is my Zen. Beyond that, I have a love for music. It doesn’t really matter the genre—though I can’t stand listening to country.


4. Is there any LGBT charities or resources that are near and dear to you that you would like to give a shout out to?
   
   Yes, MAGY—Memphis Area Gay Youth. Being in the Bible belt, Memphis isn’t exactly known for it’s gay community. Since moving back home, I’ve found that not only do we have a Gay Community Center, but the Unitarian church down the street allows MAGY to have their weekly meetings there.


5. What would you like young readers to take away from your novels?
   
   A sense of pride and self worth, and that warm, fuzzy feeling people get after reading or watching something so intense it impacts them. I want them to feel like they have an ally, whether it be my characters or me as the author. I want them to feel like there are people in the world who understand their plight and won’t judge them.

Now Available from Zoe Lynn:

Freeing Stella Stella Marshall feels invisible to everyone but her sister Jessica and best friend Jenna. Thanks to their Friday night LGBTQ youth group meetings, she can be true to herself and cast aside the boy she was born as, Steven. The rest of the time, she locks herself away, because if her super conservative, Christian parents ever found out…. 



When her little sister admits to liking a girl as more than a friend, it becomes ten times harder for Stella to keep up the charade. She wants to stand by Jess and take some of the heat away, and that means coming out of the closet—even if it costs Stella her family and the girl of her dreams, Lillian Nelson. Unfortunately, it’s too frightening to give up the security of hiding behind Steven. But Stella knows she has to be brave, for herself and her sister.

Love in the Spotlight There's nothing in the world Steven won't do for his best friend Becca, including ditching his schoolwork -- something he would never do -- just to escort her to some club so she can chase down her dream boy who happens to be the drummer in some kind of band. He didn't expect to set eyes on the most godly creation under the stars, and sure didn't expect that gorgeous hunk of man to have the voice of an angel.

While Becca and Mr. Dreamboat drummer boy get to know each other better in the diner parking lot after the big show, Steven and Thorne discover a mutual love for pancakes and hot maple syrup -- not that flavored crap -- that opens doors to a relationship Steven never expected to find when he agreed to go out with Becca that night. But will Thorne ever be able to stand-up to his homophobic bandmates and come out so he can finally find love?

That Witch! Cassidy Ryan and Brynn Michaels attend the same high school, but they live in different worlds. Cassidy’s a popular cheerleader, and Brynn’s the social leper. One is all sunshine and rainbows, while the other could’ve been carved from an Edgar Allan Poe book.

Both girls have their problems, though. Cassidy is coming into her birthright—a long line of ancient magic Cassidy isn’t ready to have. Brynn is coming into her sexuality—something that will definitely cause problems with her very conservative family.

When a teacher assigns Cassidy and Brynn to work together on a project, the girls find themselves in a heap of trouble, because what they feel for each other can’t be denied. If they have any hope of changing ignorant and frightened minds, they’ll have to listen to their own hearts first.

Being True 1: Finding Ashlynn Every Friday night, Jenna and her best friend, Stella, attend their local LGBTQ youth group meeting. It’s a great place for support and friendship, but Jenna wants to fall in love. In walks Ashlynn, a purple-haired girl who wants to know how bad coming out of the closet can be.

Living in two different worlds, Jenna and Ash have vastly different ideas about the difference between sex and love, the definition of virginity, and how to face a world out in the open where they can admit their true feelings… whatever they may be.

Featured Author: MJ O'Shea

MJ O’Shea Mj O’Shea grew up, and still lives, in sunny Washington state. She loves to visit other places but can’t imagine calling anywhere else home. She spent her childhood writing stories. Most of those were about her, her friends, and of course Leonardo DiCaprio. She hopes she's come a long way since then...

When she's not writing, she love to play the piano and cook and paint pictures…and of course read. She like sparkly things, owns at least twenty different colored headbands, and has a little white and black dog who sits with her when she writes. Sometimes he comes up with ideas too…when he’s not napping.

Connect with MJ O’Shea on Twitter @MjOsheaSeattle or visit her website: http://mjoshea.com.

Q&A with Author MJ O’Shea:

1. Tell us about your cover design. Is there any symbolism from the story reflected in the cover?
   
   I'll start with this question since I drew the covers:) I named the books after actual names of full moons that take place during different seasons, so having the moons on the cover seemed very appropriate. Also, each book has a tree in it, the first one the boys meet under a tree on a dock at night to talk, the second one features a huge tree tattoo, and the third one a character who lives in a tree, so there were my main elements.
   
   For the first one of course I thought a blood red moon would be cool. For the second and third books, we wanted to keep the look the same, but I changed it to an orange moon since Hunter's Moons are autum/harvest moons. I also added the wolf as a very clear symbol since one of the main characters is a lycan. For the third one, I went blue since it's a winter moon and added a sword with a vine for my warrior dryad character (who I kept picturing as legolas even when I tried to fight it lol)


2. What part of the story was the most fun to write? The most challenging?
   
   There were a lot of fun parts. I always like making up twists to traditional lore when it comes to paranormal creatures. That will always be the most fun for me in any paranormal or sci-fi book. I like to make things just a bit different than they've been before. My vampires have different rules for what blood they like and don't like, my lycan comes with a full royal court of pain in the butt elders and vampire friends, and my forest world in the third book might not be totally unique, but I haven't come across something exactly like it anywhere else. I loved working on that.
   
   The most challenging part of writing a book like this, where there's a romantic plot and an adventure plot is to keep both going and developing at once. It takes a lot of hashing out and thinking ahead!


3. Do you believe in ghosts?
   
   My answer to that kind of stuff is never say never!! I think out of all of them, ghosts are the easiest for me to believe in but I think the world is a lot bigger and more complex than we know, and the human mind is capable of things that we can't even imagine so who knows what's out there that we haven't gotten proof of yet?


4. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and how would you use it?
   
   Oh, I'd love to be able to fly! And well, that's exactly what I'd do. Fly:) I have dreams where I can fly all the time, and they're amazing.


5. Is there one genre of YA that you would love to write but haven’t?
   
   Of course! I'd love to write a big urban fantasy, or a full treasure hunt adventure, which I hopefully will be doing soon, more ghosts, creepier vampires (mine are awfully fuzzy and sweet). There are a ton of things I'd love to do that I haven't had a chance yet!


6. What would you like young readers to take away from your novels?
   
   First of all I want them to have fun reading! If they were entertained and had a good time and maybe fell a little in love with my characters then I'm happy. Other than that, every book has a different message, maybe about acceptance or adventure, or finding happiness within themselves and others. It really depends!

Now Available from MJ O’Shea:

Blood Moon 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?

Hunter’s Moon New York City has been calling Miles Hunter for as long as he can remember, but he’s sure the imaginary monsters in his stories are all the adventure he’ll experience—until a mugging and daring rescue leave him wondering what else is out there that he had never believed in before.

PC has spent eighteen years doing the opposite of what everyone expects. He hunts supernatural troublemakers, hangs out with vampires, and refuses to settle down—to the disapproval of his respectable parents and the stuffy lycan council. Then one confusing night, his instincts turn him to wolf form to save a stranger.

Miles and PC must learn to live together, because even minutes of separation mean extreme pain. Miles falls for the unpredictable PC, the wolf’s strange friends, and their nightly adventures, but his reluctant lover is determined to break their bond. As they are drawn into a mystery involving werewolves, rogue vampires, and a lot of dead humans, finding the truth might mean the hunt of PC’s life—especially if he wants to keep Miles alive.

Cold Moon Charlie Fitzgerald is sick of being the kid nobody takes seriously. His older brother Colin is fighting vampires and other troublemakers in New York City, and Charlie wants in on the action—but no one will listen. Then he overhears the lycan council is looking for a human emissary to take a message of peace to a werewolf in the forests of Romania, and Charlie decides he’s the man for the job.

Xan is furious: his best friend, Charlie, one of the Fitzgeralds he’s vowed to protect, is walking into danger, and Xan chases him all the way to the freezing Romanian forest to save his stubborn butt. When Charlie is almost killed, Xan realizes he feels much more than friendship for his charge, and emotions that have been bubbling under the surface of his calm façade threaten to boil over and flood them both.

They end up in the middle of a political mess involving lycans, werewolves, and nosy vampires, and if they make it out alive, the friendship between the headstrong hunter and his bullheaded protector might turn into a love neither can live without.