Instead of trying to find your perfect match in a dating app, we bring you the “Author-Reader Match" where we introduce you to authors you may fall in love with. It's our great pleasure to present Markus Harwood-Jones!
Writes:
Romance novels rich with queer, trans, and non-binary characters that are unafraid to break away from “the normal” for a chance at something extraordinary.
About:
Author, artist, and academic – Markus Harwood-Jones (he/they) is always up to something! The author of The Haunting of Adrian Yates and Confessions of a Teenage Drag King is taking a break from writing YA fiction to deliver a steamy yet sweet polyamorous romance titled Really Cute People.
Published with Harlequin imprint, Carina Adores, Really Cute People follows the story of Charlie—a burnt out, non-binary thirty-something who unexpectedly finds themselves snowed-in (and tangled-up) with a charming couple, Buffy and Hayden.
Markus lives in Toronto with his husband, their platonic co-parent, and their beloved toddler. He can be found on TikTok and Instagram, or via his website.
What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match:
I’m looking for someone who wants to be swept away into an effortlessly queer world, where trans and non-binary characters get to take centre stage. My ideal reader knows that life isn’t always roses but still holds out hope that it is possible for people like us to find love, happiness, and make our own kind of family.
If we’re a match, you can expect to:
- Stay up late together, reading “just one more chapter” (or two)
- Snuggle up with all warm fuzzy feelings, finding the love you never realized you needed.
- Wrap up with a happy ending, even if it wasn’t the one you expected.
A little domestic bliss never hurt anyone…right?
Charlie Dee is headed for burnout. They’ve been burned before, both by their bio family and the now-defunct queer collective they once called home. So when they’re asked to take a work trip outside the city, they jump at the chance. Sure, it’s additional work with no additional pay, but it’s also an excuse to get out of town—and out of their own head.
That dream is shattered when Charlie opens the door to their supposedly private rental. There’s a bird on the loose, circling the living room as it’s chased by a cat, who is chased by a small child. The girl’s parents, Hayden and Buffy, only manage to add to the chaos. They promise to leave first thing in the morning, but when a massive snowstorm rolls in, this overnight trip becomes a weeklong affair.
Reluctantly charmed by this unfiltered—if forced—look at a loving, healthy family, Charlie begins to develop feelings for both Hayden and Buffy. And they both seem to be flirting back. But when a potential promotion lures Charlie back to the city, all three will have to decide where they go from here—and what it means to truly feel at home.
Romance Comedy [Carina Adores, On Sale: March 12, 2024, Trade Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781335621955 / eISBN: 9780369735218]
Markus ‘Star’ Harwood-Jones is an author, artist, and academic based in Toronto.
Markus holds a BA in Sociology (Toronto Metropolitan University), an MA in Gender Studies (Queen’s University), and he is currently a Ph.D. candidate under the supervision of Dr. Trish Salah (Queen’s University). He has published multiple academic articles on the topics of trans identity, LGBTQ2S+ inclusion, creative writing, and the power stories.
He is the author of YA novels including In a Heartbeat (2021), Confessions of a Teenage Drag King (2020) and We Three (2019). He has also produced several zine series and the documentary film Mosaic. Markus maintains an active Tiktok with over 140,000 followers.
Markus also works as a public speaker and workshop facilitator, specializing on the topics of gender, sexuality, creative writing, community research, zine-making, and collective storytelling. Original art and associated merchandise are available at the Starkiss Creations storefront.
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