Shades of Gay: The Novel

...not only writes about heartbreak-she's lived it. She grew up as the only Jewish child in her neighborhood, enduring covert anti-Semitism during the annual Christmas concert and the occasional openly prejudiced remark. Her experiences were the basis of her first novel, Winter's Silence, which came out in 2008.

...escaped the suburbs in 1998, landing in Los Angeles. While she was studying to get her MFA, she lived with, and fell for, a recovering alcoholic and addict. She left years of poverty and heartbreak behind in 2006, heading back east to a new life in North Carolina. Shortly after her arrival there, her friend died of a drug-induced heart attack.

...continually moves forward, embracing the Jewish notion of "Tikkun Olam" (heal the world). She is passionate about GLBT rights as well as the rights of disabled children. She is writing a second novel, Shades of Gay, in order to illustrate the way non-heterosexuals are treated in small town America.

...has been writing for and about children for the last five years. Her short story, Before Everything Happened, later won an honorable mention in the 73rd Annual Writer's Digest competition.

...owns her own publishing company, Narrow Path Publishing, along with her two best friends. Together they are demonstrating that "there is enough room in this world for everybody to be successful."

...grew up on Long Island, New York as the only Jewish child in her school district. she has lived on both coasts and now makes her home in North Carolina, where she teaches children with disabilities.

...is an advocate for self-esteem in young people, especially sexual minorities. She is passionate about reducing the suicide rate among GLBT adolescents and young adults through her stories. She has lived on both coasts and now makes her home in North Carolina, where she is involved in the GLBT equality movement.