It could start anywhere…
At a summer vacation at the lake, just before heading off to college. In a coffee shop, when the whole world is new. In a dragon's cave, surrounded by gold. At a swim club, with the future in sight.
In Short Stuff, bestselling and award-winning authors dial down the angst in four meet-cute LGBTQ young adult romances.
About the Authors
An editor and award-winning author, Alysia Constantine was also a professor at an art college. Before that, she was a baker and cook for a caterer and before that, she was a poet. She is the author of Sweet and Olympia Knife.
Julia Ember currently lives in Seattle with her wife and their city menagerie of pets with literary names. She is the author of The Seafarer's Kiss and The Navigator's Touch published by Interlude Press. The duology was heavily influenced by Julia's postgraduate work in Medieval Literature at the University of St Andrews. The Seafarer's Kiss was named a "Best Queer Book of 2017" by Book Riot, and was a finalist in the Speculative Fiction category of the Bisexual Book Awards. Her upcoming novel, Ruinsong, will be published by Macmillan Kids (FSG) in Fall 2020. Julia also writes scripts for games, and is the author of several published novellas and short stories.
Kate Fierro spent ten years translating, editing and reviewing other people's words before making an impulse decision to write down some of her own. She hasn't been able to stop ever since. Kate lives in Europe and is bilingual, with more love for her adopted language than her native one. her debut novel, Love Starved was published by Interlude Press in 2015.
Jude Sierra is a Latinx poet, author, academic and mother working toward her PhD in Writing and Rhetoric, looking at the intersections of Queer, Feminist and Pop Culture Studies. Her novels include A Tiny Piece of Something Greater (Foreword INDIES Finalist, 2019), What it Takes (Starred Review, Publishers Weekly ), and Idlewild, a contemporary LGBTQ romance set in Detroit's renaissance which was named one of Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of 2016.
Longtime friends and writing partners Tom Wilinsky and Jen Sternick's debut novel, Snowsisters (Duet Books, 2018) was the recipient of and finalist for multiple YA fiction awards, including the Foreword INDIES, the Feathered Quill, and the NYC Big Book Awards. Tom lives in New York with his partner and the world's most beloved orange tabby cat, Newky. Jen lives in Rhode Island with her husband, two kids and a cranky seven-toed cat named Sassy.
Industry Reviews
"This collection of four short stories celebrates the magic of the meet-cute! Edited by Constantine, this anthology featuring LGBTQ+ characters, specifically those who identify as lesbian, gay, and bisexual, includes stories from five authors: Julia Ember, Katie Fierro, Jude Sierra, Tom Wilinsky, and Jen Sternick. Wilinsky and Sternick set the tone for the collection with "I Ate the Whole World to Find You," a story featuring Will, a budding chef stuck working at a poolside snack bar, and Olympic hopeful Basil, who is tired of the constant comparison to Michael Phelps. Readers will be charmed as the two headstrong characters overcome misunderstandings, finding common ground and romance. In Sierra's "August Sands," readers are transported to a small, lakeside town in Michigan where college-bound Tommy expects to spend the summer babysitting his much younger siblings, but finds the cottage next door rented to new friends, including one boy who might even be more than a friend, leading to a summer of firsts. Fierro's "Love in the Time of Coffee," a friends-to-lovers romance, follows best friends Gemma and Anya from their meeting as kids through college, exploring the complexity and nuance of falling in love with someone you've known your whole life. And finally, Ember's "Gilded Scales," a loose retelling of Beowulf and the only fantasy contribution, tells the tale of Fenn, who chafes against the expectations and limitations set upon her as a woman. Determined to rescue a maiden and slay a dragon to earn a place among the male warriors, Fenn soon discovers that the maiden and the dragon are one in the same, challenging her to forge an entirely new path. A strong, memorable collection of short stories, readers will be happy to discover that each of the contributing authors have published full-length novels featuring LGBTQ+ characters!" Shelf Unbound
"Lighthearted romances kick off in Short Stuff, a young adult LGBTQ+ anthology that raises the stakes with each story. ... The entries of Short Stuff are diverse, complex, and packed with the butterflies of young love." Tashina Rule, Foreword Reviews
" Short Stuff is a big breath of fresh air. Filled with stories exploring friendship, family, courage, and swoon-worthy romances, this collection has something for all readers. From start to finish, it's a vibrant reminder that everyone deserves a happy ending." Julian Winters, award-winning author of Running With Lions
"If you're looking for an unabashedly romantic, entirely imaginative, and super queer collection to inhale this summer, look no further: Short Stuff has you covered!" Tom Ryan, author of When You Get the Chance
"The collection goes well beyond LGBTQ problem stories and handily centers budding relationships. Breezy tales of first crushes and kisses." Kirkus Reviews
"A strong, memorable collection of short stories, readers will be happy to discover that each of the contributing authors have published full-length novels featuring LGBTQ+ characters!" Shelf Media Group
