By Kellan McDaniel

I’ve long wanted to work on a gay vampire novel, though only if it addressed some of my hang-ups about the genre. I’ve never bought that a vampire who had lived a century or more would fall in love with a teenager. What would they talk about it? How could the vampire put up with the teen’s naivete or emotional outbursts? Lust and hunger—sure. A deep emotional connection? Not so much. Then Harold and Maude came to mind—those characters’ connection felt very real to me. As Kellan and I developed the story, we took inspiration from that relationship.

What starts as a typical romance—vampire’s life partner is dying of dementia; vampire meets cute boy at retirement home; vampire and teen get to know each other—turns into something much darker. George, the vampire, has lived through generations of trauma against the LGTBQ+ community; Howard, the teen, is fighting to be seen. Together, they seek to level the playing field.

“The use of vampire fiction to metaphorically address homosexuality, AIDS references, and hidden love is done with sensitivity and a light hand. . . . This novel bridges the gap between YA and new adult fiction, offering a powerful read of representation through genre-defying means.” —School Library Journal

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