About the Author

D. Alexander is an author whose literary mission is as vital as it is personal: to ensure that queer people see themselves not just as side characters or subtext, but as the true heroes—and sometimes the villains—of compelling stories. Growing up with a voracious appetite for books, D. Alexander often found himself searching for protagonists he could relate to, for stories that reflected his own experiences, desires, and struggles. Too often, those stories were absent from the shelves, and when they did appear, queer men were relegated to the margins, their narratives imbued with tragedy, caution, or invisibility.

This lack of representation didn’t just shape D. Alexander’s reading life; it ignited his resolve to make a difference. With a Master’s in Library Science and years of experience as a librarian in southwest Nevada, D.  Alexander understands firsthand how critical representation is to the development of self-worth and empathy in readers. Every day in his library, he witnesses the power of seeing oneself reflected in the pages of a book—the validation it brings, the conversations it sparks, and the sense of belonging it fosters. For queer people, and for all those who’ve ever felt unseen, the stakes are especially high.

D. Alexander’s commitment to representation extends beyond his own writing. He mentors emerging writers, speaks at literary events and LGBTQ+ organizations, and works to widen the scope of queer stories in mainstream fiction. He is passionate about breaking down barriers in both publishing and librarianship, fighting for stories that are as diverse and dynamic as the people who read them.

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About the book

Take the blind leap and fall into true love, even if you fall to your death.

Over a century ago, God’s United Reich, a tyrannical religious ideology, conquered the American Republic, transforming it into a holy utopia. The heart of this oppressive regime is the Divine Leader and his unwavering military force called the NiBorr, which demands unquestioning obedience from its flock.

Leon Grady has the perceived holy life: he’s the star of his high school baseball team and is surrounded by adoring friends and a family who love him, all while dating the girl next door. Yet, deep inside, he knows he can never really be happy because of who he is and what his heart wants. He must hide the truth behind towering walls or risk being cleansed on the church steps.

Despite the possibility of his death, his heart craves to be free. A still, small voice urges Leon to forsake everything when the reigning divine leader passes in order to take a leap of faith and fall into true love when Theodore Dawn enters his life.

In pursuit of happiness, Leon and Theodore must navigate the complexities of their emotions for the other, with the understanding that if they are exposed, it will result in their deaths by the commander of NiBorr, Leon’s Father.

Genre: YA | Dystopia | Alt History
Published: Feb 29 2024
Format: Paperback | Ebook | Audio (links to amazon.com)
Pages: 472
Publisher: Belltower Books