1. Why do you write?
I write because I have stories to tell, because the voices (characters) in my head are anxious to get out and tell their tale. I write because I love to read and I love when people enjoy reading my stories. It’s a win/win situation for all!
2. Have you always enjoyed writing?
No! I started writing a fantasy/sci-fi story when I was in middle school or so. My mom ran it through one of those computer programs that tells you the reading level of your writing. Mine was 6th or 7th grade and I felt really insulted (even though that was probably the grade(s) was in at the time!) and it put me off of writing for years.
3. What books did you love growing up?
My mom started me off early with Little Women and the books that followed (Little Men, Jo’s Boys, Little Cousins?) but then she gave me Trixie Belding and the Bobbsey Twin books which lead to my love of Nancy Drew. I would devour three or four Nancy Drew mysteries a week and all my allowance would go to buying new ones! I loved when she teamed up with the Hardy Boys because the books would double in size. A bookworm’s dream!
4. Do you find it hard to share your work?
I have a few tried and true folks who get to see early work. I trust them that they will be truthful on whether something sucks or not, but when it comes to telling other people; acquaintances from school, relatives, etc., I find it really hard to tell them I’m a writer and talk about my books. Then I often get strange looks when I finally do break down and give them a blurb.
5. Do you plan to publish more books?
Of course! I’ll keep writing until the voices go silent!
6. What else do you do to make money, other than write? It is rare today for writers to be full time…
I’m a direct support professional with the ARC. I work in one of their residential homes; helping developmentally disabled adults lead more independent lives.
7. What other jobs have you had in your life?
I’ve worked for Six Flags amusement parks, and for two companies that specialized in title insurance and home closings. I have built computers, worked for a security company (CCTVs), supervised an order entry department for a company that made pet products, and have worked for a marketing firm putting together PowerPoint presentations for their clients. I have worked in retail, been a nanny and a substitute teacher. I am now a direct support professional. You can say I’m a well-rounded employee.
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, defriended, 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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Genre - LGBT, YA
Rating – PG-13
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