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LGBT Upper YA Urban Fantasy
*CAUTION : This title contains cursing, graphic violence, and references to sex.*
Abandoned as a baby and left in an orphanage for supernatural children, Octavian Julius McKellter— “Jay” to everyone who doesn’t want a punch in the face—now seventeen, is working full-time as a zookeeper at the Bayou Zoo and Aquarium while struggling to finish his GED.
The Bayou Zoo, staffed entirely by supernaturals, is one of many zoos across the country secretly housing magical creatures deemed too dangerous by the supernatural community to remain in the wild.
Jay ‘s job is made more complicated when accidents start happening too often to truly be accidents and habitats in Area Five—the covert section of the zoo which houses the magical creatures— are sabotaged, allowing some of the creatures to escape.
Working closely with Colin, a fellow zookeeper, to determine who’s causing the problems and why, is both a dream come true and a nightmare for Jay. Being gay isn’t something Jay’s prepared to accept with enthusiasm. Colin’s the first male he’s ever been attracted to, and the guy doesn’t even have the decency to be effeminate, which Jay thinks would somehow be easier to accept. Colin’s tall, strong, and everything that’s masculine. And Jay can’t stop thinking about what it would feel like to press their lips together or draw his fingers down Colin’s tightly-packed abs.
Because someone’s bent on exposing supernaturals to the world by releasing the Bayou Zoo’s magical creatures, even if it means a little death and destruction in the process, there’s little time for Jay to worry about the ramifications of his shifting sexuality or the way Colin looks without his shirt on.
Keeping his sexuality a secret seems like just as big a job as keeping the entire Supernatural community and its captive magical creatures shrouded from the human world. As the sabotage attempts escalate, Jay must juggle his budding relationship with Colin, discovering who’s behind the disruption in Area Five, and staying alive while capturing loosened, deadly Gryphons, Gnomes and Harpies.
J.T. Fairfield |
About the author
Former zookeeper turned author S.J. Drum writes Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance Novels, each with a bit of Steampunk flair. She also writes an erotic series with tattooed heroes, first-in-series is SINFUL SOUTHERN INK (Ellora's Cave 7-6-12).
S.J. has a terribly expensive and utterly useless BA in Studio Arts with a minor in Psychology and currently lives near Yellow Springs, Ohio with her husband and two small children.
When she’s not changing diapers or writing, she enjoys scuba diving and has been known to make an elephant do a headstand.
Very happy to have author J.T. Fairfield (S.J. Drum) with me on StuckInBooks today!
Welcome to StuckInBooks.
I understand this is your first YA book, but you have written other things. Tell us about what else you have written.
I write a romance series, The Sinful South, published by Ellora's cave under the pen name S.J. Drum. The first book in the series is Sinful Southern Ink and I'm proud to say it has done very well for a newbie-ish author.
I also write an adult Urban Fantasy series, published by Eternal Press under the pen name S.J. Drum. The first book in the series is Surprisingly Supernatural.
What made you decide to try YA?
This is a tough question because I don't think I ever actually decided to write YA. Jay, the main character in CAGED IN MYTH, just sort of pushed his way inside my brain and demanded attention.
Why a supernatural theme?
While I worked as a zookeeper and elephant handler in real life, I used to daydream about what it would be like to care for mythological creatures instead of simply exotic animals. I took a mythology course in college, which I blame for my mind wandering off in this direction.
Tell us about Jay.
Jay is seventeen, but living the life of an adult. In his world, the supernatural kids mature early and usually bow out of high school around age sixteen. He shares a crappy trailer with his two best friends, who also work at the zoo, as everyone in the clan does.
Jay finds himself in a serious bind when, not only can't he suppress his growing feelings for his male clan member Colin, but suddenly Colin starts to reciprocate this interest ten-fold. Being gay isn’t something Jay’s prepared to accept with enthusiasm. Colin’s the first male he’s ever been attracted to, and the guy doesn’t even have the decency to be effeminate, which Jay thinks would somehow be easier to accept. Colin’s tall, strong, and everything that’s masculine. And Jay can’t stop thinking about what it would feel like to press their lips together or draw his fingers down Colin’s tightly-packed abs.
Jay is seventeen, but living the life of an adult. In his world, the supernatural kids mature early and usually bow out of high school around age sixteen. He shares a crappy trailer with his two best friends, who also work at the zoo, as everyone in the clan does.
Jay finds himself in a serious bind when, not only can't he suppress his growing feelings for his male clan member Colin, but suddenly Colin starts to reciprocate this interest ten-fold. Being gay isn’t something Jay’s prepared to accept with enthusiasm. Colin’s the first male he’s ever been attracted to, and the guy doesn’t even have the decency to be effeminate, which Jay thinks would somehow be easier to accept. Colin’s tall, strong, and everything that’s masculine. And Jay can’t stop thinking about what it would feel like to press their lips together or draw his fingers down Colin’s tightly-packed abs.
Because someone’s bent on exposing supernaturals to the world by releasing the Bayou Zoo’s magical creatures, even if it means a little death and destruction in the process, there’s little time for Jay to worry about the ramifications of his shifting sexuality or the way Colin looks without his shirt on.
Describe this story in 5 words, if you can.
Desire, Danger, Magic, Discovery, Louisiana
If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?
I've always wanted to be able to run really fast for a very long time.
What are you plans for the next book?
Jay is going to have to put his feelings aside and work with someone who betrayed him in the first book in order to save the object of his desires from a fate worse than death. (Is this vague enough?? Ha!)
Anything else you'd like to tell my readers?
Though CAGED IN MYTH is technically a Gay YA book, I believe readers will enjoy and identify with the story no matter their age or orientation.
Where to find J.T. Fairfield (S.J. Drum)
www.SJ-Drum.com
facebook.com/AuthorS.J.Drum
@AuthorSJDrum
sarajanedrum @ gmail.com
http://www.goodreads.com/
Thanks for being with me on StuckInBooks today.
****GIVEAWAY****
The author is giving away an eBook copy of the Caged in Myth to one of you lovely peeps out there!! International. Mobi, ePub or PDF copy
Fill out the rafflecopter below.
I haven't heard of this before. It sounds interesting though. Great interview. I love hearing how authors come to write their books.
ReplyDeleteI initially thought Caged in Myth would be a book that I would not enjoy, but after reading the blurb and interview, it sounds really good. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, Val!
ReplyDelete