Q is for Queer/LBGTQ Themes

I don’t know if this post is proper, or whatever, but when it came to Q, I immediately knew what to blog about. I’ve always been a very open person, probably because my mom was so accepting of everything. I support gay rights/marriage, though I’m not an activist or anything. It’s just something I agree with.

Love is love is love; gender, race, and color shouldn’t matter. Everyone has their opinions and beliefs–and that’s mine.

Some of my favorite books deal with LBGTQ characters/themes: Julie Ann Peters’s books are fantastic, my favorite being Keeping You A Secret with Luna being a close second. Then of course there’s Will Grayson, Will Grayson, by John Green and David Levithan, which is amazing and beautiful and made me laugh out loud and almost cry.

Likewise, I tend to write similar themes in my own novels; it happens during the writing process–the characters decide for themselves and no amount of straining will change their minds. Greyson from Wolfsong burst into that first scene, loud and clear, and there was no doubt he was gay. My upcoming science-fantasy novel, Souljacker, also has LBGTQ side characters. I have a couple of future novellas that star gay and lesbian leads.

The way I see it: I haven’t read or heard of many YA fantasy/paranormal books with gay leads. Every book I’ve read with gay leads has been contemporary YA with coming-out as a plot device. Doesn’t anyone think LBGTQ teens want to read fantasy with characters and couples like them?

The Nightshade trilogy by Andrea Cremer, one of her side-couples is gay and just adorable. I’ve heard that Malinda Lo’s novels, Ash and Huntress, are YA LBGTQ fantasy (though I’ve yet to read them, they’re on my to-read list!).

But yeah I understand that my books with queer characters/themes might not be as well-received as my straight novels, but that’s okay. I love them and write them in hopes they’ll reach who they need to reach, gay or straight.

Any favorite YA LBGTQ books? Indie or traditionally published works!