Join me in welcoming Jamie Mayfield to my blog!
I have been very fortunate in my life as of late, to cross paths with some truly amazing people. One is a college student from Birmingham, Alabama whom I met at Atlanta Pride. At first, I was reluctant to sit and talk with him because he’s just a stunningly beautiful guy, and I thought for sure he’d know it—if you know what I mean. To my utter disbelief, he had no idea. Smart, sweet, kind, and funny, he has become a constant in my life ever since, and I could not be more thankful for his friendship.
One day not too long ago, I was having a bad day. As anyone who struggles with depression knows—those kinds of days can be triggered by anything or nothing at all. I happened to be talking to my Alabama friend at the time, and he sent me the YouTube link to a song he wanted me to listen to. He said “whenever you’re down like this, I want you to listen to this song and know I’m always there with you”. I had never heard Michael Buble’s Lost before, and as I sat listening to it, thinking about his words, I found that it did truly help. Since that time, whenever the depression hits, I open that link, bring up this guy’s picture and remember that I may be lost, but I’m not alone.
People have asked me if I had a playlist when I wrote the Waiting for Forever series. I don’t write to music, because I’m easily distracted. Generally, when I’m writing or coding for my day job, I’ll listen to classical music or movie soundtracks (like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, or Star Trek) because they’re mostly instrumentals. As I listened to Lost one rainy afternoon, I got a powerful image in my mind of Brian and Jamie. I could absolutely see Brian saying these same things to the boy he loved, especially in the second and third books. Tears were streaming down Jamie’s pale face, and Brian swept them away, and then kissed Jamie’s forehead.
"Life can show no mercy
It can tear your soul apart
It can make you feel like you've gone crazy
But you're not
Things have seemed to change
There's one thing that's still the same
In my heart you have remained"
This verse seems to be written specifically for Brian and Jamie. With everything that changed in their lives from book to book, the one thing that remained constant was their love for each other. Heartfelt music stirs up powerful emotions, and often captures the mood or feel of words on the page. In this case, the song captured the spirit of Brian and Jamie’s loss and their triumph.
So as you read the Waiting for Forever series, always remember the words of this song because you’re not alone either. There is an entire community of your LGBT family standing beside you, waiting to get lost together, and let the light come shining through.
Waiting for Forever
Book I: Choices
(Released June 6, 2013)
A Harmony Ink Young Adult Title
Part One: The Throwaway Boy As the country’s religious and secular leaders battle over equality in the abstract, Brian McAllister and Jamie Mayfield live in the crossfire. In their little town of Crayford, Alabama, loving another boy is the worst kind of sin. Best friends since childhood, they explore their love and each other in Jamie’s backyard tree house as they hide from the world. They happily plan for the future together—until their lives are rocked when their secret is exposed and Jamie’s family intervenes.
When hatred turns to violence in their sleepy little town, Brian tries to cope with the loss of his best friend, who is stolen in the night. In desperation, he turns to Adam, a new friend with a shared pain. Can Adam fill the hole left by Jamie’s absence? The answer will change everything.
Adapted from the award-winning Little Boy Lost series by J. P. Barnaby. 100% of the author's royalties are being donated to help homeless LGBT kids find safe shelter.
Waiting for Forever
Book II: Destiny
(Coming July 4, 2013)
A Harmony Ink Press Young Adult Title
Preorder from Dreamspinner Press
Part Two: Fallen AngelSan Diego is so much more than Brian McAllister ever expected. He’s found friends, acceptance, encouragement, and an entire world of sexual adventure he never dared to imagine back in his little Alabama town. The only thing missing is Jamie. Encouraged by new friends Mike and Emilio, Brian builds a life for himself, haunted by a beaten and bruised boy no one seems to want to help.
Dumped into gay rehab, blond-haired fallen angel Jamie Mayfield has been shunned by his parents and forced to find his own way. When Brian McAllister, the other half of his ravaged heart, explodes back into his precarious life, Jamie is astonished and dismayed. In the two years they’ve been apart, not a day has gone by that he hasn’t longed for Brian. How can Jamie protect Brian from the pain and brutalization of his life when he can’t even protect himself?
Brian and Jamie put every bit of themselves into saving each other, but obstacles keep them apart. Jamie’s own self-hatred may prove to be their undoing.
Adapted from the award-winning Little Boy Lost series by J. P. Barnaby. 100% of the author's royalties are being donated to help homeless LGBT kids find safe shelter.
Waiting for Forever
Book III: Determination
Book III: Determination
(Coming August, 2013)
Part Three: Waiting for Forever
Brian McAllister and Jamie Mayfield have risked everything in a desperate escape and are finally together. Jamie is free of his tormentor … for the moment. But Brian and Jamie know that one wrong choice could lead him to their door.
The long, lonely hours in their safe house leave Jamie with nothing to do but think. He thinks about Brian, about the direction their lives should take. He thinks about his parents. Mostly, he thinks about drugs. Jamie wants to feel good again, forget about his self-hatred, and stop the gnawing cravings that prey upon his mind and body.
One moment of weakness may prove fatal for them both.
After being reunited with his father, Jamie attempts to put his life back together amid rehab, seizures, and the gutting loneliness of Brian’s rejection. As he tries to cope, he finds that relying on his friends isn’t as difficult as he’d imagined, and soon he can stand on his own feet. Jamie starts college, working to become the man Brian needs. Unless he earns Brian’s forgiveness and wins back his trust, their love will be sacrificed on the altar of Jamie’s demons.
Adapted from the award-winning Little Boy Lost series by J. P. Barnaby. 100% of the author's royalties are being donated to help homeless LGBT kids find safe shelter.
~*~
Jamie is celebrating the release of Waiting for Forever: Choices with a 12-week blog tour and giveaway. View the full tour schedule HERE. Comment on any blog tour post or tweet using hashtag #WaitingForForever to enter to win a Kindle! Drawing will be held on 8/15/2013. You must be 18 to enter and have a valid US mailing address. No purchase necessary.
About Jamie Mayfield:
A survivor of the ex-gay residential institution The Sunshine Center, fictional author Jamie Mayfield went on to find his voice in novels. Always a great lover of books, Jamie found his passion as he began to pursue a liberal arts degree in creative writing. An avid reader, he’s a fan of gay romance, suspense, and horror—though not all in the same novel.Jamie lives in San Diego with his fictional husband, Brian. He writes YA fiction as a way to let kids know that they have an entire LGBT family all around them. Above all, he wants them to know that they are not alone. It does get better.
Jamie Mayfield is a fictional character from the acclaimed Little Boy Lost series by female author J. P. Barnaby.
You can find Jamie on his Website on Tumblr on Facebook and Twitter.
The books/series sound like an emotional read. The fact that - 100% of the author's royalties are being donated to help homeless LGBT kids find safe shelter - is just another reason to get behind these books, buy them, and support a great cause.
ReplyDeleteHey Kazza K! This series IS an excellent read and won't leave you disappointed! And, you're right, with a hundred percent of the proceeds goin to help homeless LGBT youth, you can't not buy and read them to support a great cause! Thanks for dropping by! It's always great to see you hear!
Deletekazzak - Thank you so much. While I was researching homeless gay teens for the Little Boy Lost series, it stuck in my heart how horrifying their situation was. So, when Harmony Ink opened its doors, I decided to find a way to help. :)
DeleteWhat a wonderful thing you are doing by donating all of the royalties to help homeless LGBT youth. To all those kids struggling - there are people who care about you.
ReplyDeleteJust reading your blurb on book 1 brought tears to my eyes. CHOICES is at the top of my to-buy list.
Thank you Cody, aand Jamie for working to raise awareness for the LGBT youth. You have my attention!
Hi, Kerry! Spread the word. We're doing everything we can to raise money for homeless LGBT youth. And this series is a terrific way to do it. It's a great series! Thanks for stopping by. It's always great to see you here!
DeleteThe above comment is from KerryP. Did not intend it to be anonymous. :)
ReplyDeleteI was having a conversation with my daughter tonight about parents who disown/kick out their kids when they are told their kids are gay. The first word out of her mouth was "rage." Then, we talked about parents she knew who would not accept their child, and that was hard to think about, let alone talk about. It's just wrong on so many levels for her that she just didn't know what to say about parents who would do that. It does leave you speechless for a moment, but you do have a voice, by donating to a cause that can help these kids. Easy way: buy the books. Just as easy way: find a shelter in your area and donate directly. No kid should be on the street. No kid should feel unloved because of who they are.
ReplyDeleteThank you for what you're doing J! Also, thank you for hosting, Cody.
Carolyn
caroaz [at] ymail [dot] com
Carolyn, first, thank you for dropping by and for commenting.
DeleteYou raise a very important issue in addition to the critical issue of abandonment of GLBTQI kids: "What is the effect on their friends?"
Children like your daughter can't perceive the concept of rejection and, to attempt to do so, breeds fear in them. They are left to look at parents who they love and rely on and wonder if they will be abandoned if they "turn out to be/do something their parents don't approve of" or "make a mistake" —it is snothing short of devastating to trust in myriad ways.
As adults, we have an unquestionable duty to our children to provide an environment where their immutable rights to safety, security, to grow and learn, and to be loved, are protected. When we fail, our children aren't the only tragic victims. Their friends are as well.
Your comment is not only insightful, but a testament to your fine parenthood and your perceptive daughter. I am honored that you’d drop by and comment.
As you point out, Jamie’s series isn’t only important for the story it tells and what it represents, but what it contributes to homeless GLBT kids. Thank you for supporting Jamie, this series, and those who are not as fortunate as your daughter to have a parent like you.
My hat’s off to you! Rock on!
~Cody
This is a great cause! Thanks :) bobbyehopebooth at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more! Thanks for dropping by Bobbye! It's great to see you here!
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