Books with author Scott russell Sanders

High school senior Neil Darrien is a budding musical theater star. He has it all―a beautiful girlfriend, a scholarship at a prestigious school, and plenty of chances to showcase his talent. But when Zane Jeffrey comes to town and immediately lands a spot in the school show choir, Neil is jealous. What Neil didn’t count on, though, is Zane’s charm and humor, and the two soon become friends. Melissa, Neil’s girlfriend, notices Zane monopolizing Neil and draws Neil into her church. There Neil discovers a situation he knows he needs to fix, but if he does, a deep, dark secret that could cost him his future career might come out. When his relationship with Melissa becomes rocky, Neil is drawn to Zane in a way that is more than friendship.

Gabe Dillon’s life changes when he gazes across his new school’s commons and spies handsome Kerem Uzun, and he wants to know more. Kerem is senior class president and is very well-liked. He comes from a family of doctors, is of Turkish heritage, and he is Muslim. At first, Gabe doesn’t understand the ritual he sees Kerem performing. But as the boys bond, Gabe is eager to learn about Islam. He’s falling in love with a boy who may or may not be gay, a boy whose religion may condemn Gabe’s open homosexuality. Complicating the budding relationship is Timur, Kerem’s cousin, who has grown up alongside Kerem after a family tragedy left Timur homeless. But as Kerem grows into his identity and learns how it fits into his devout practice of faith, Timur becomes more rigid and fundamental. And he isn’t the only one opposed to the friendship between Kerem and Gabe. Can they forge a lasting relationship amid so many challenges?

It’s 2015, and teenage Jake Hardy is hiding something. During a summer trip to the Titanic Mecca of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Jake’s father makes a confession, and though Jake feels upset and confused, he also wants to be understanding. But he feels deceived―much like he’s deceiving those he cares about. Jake is gay, just not ready to tell the world. Jake and his father are far from alone in their secrets, as Jake discovers back in Texas, where the fight for and against the Equal Rights Ordinance rages. He’s surprised to learn how much the outcome will affect his friends, and he’s torn between standing with them and the wishes of his religious fanatic mother. Being true to himself won’t be easy or painless, and it will come with sacrifices―and rewards.

Prophet’s End by Scott D. RussellProphet’s End is a compelling story which brings together characters that you will love and admire. Russell writes with wit and the passion of a romantic, creating a resonant work that will have you more fully appreciating the courageous heroes that surround us every day. Most of all, it presents us with two powerful gifts that many of us can use on an ongoing basis: inspiration and hope. -Matthew J. Goldberg, author of Hot Ice Cream: Inspiring Life Lessons from Our Children A great imaginative story with characters I really cared about. I finished this book with a lump in my throat, I love it. I absolutely love it. Prophet’s End has tremendous imagination, tremendous heart and a story that really resonates. -Bill Hall, author of McCallandia Prophet’s End is a tale for our times, bringing together two individuals with unusual powers, a young man who has the gift of seeing into the future, and the young woman who inhabited his dreams and holds his heart from the age of 6 years. That young woman has a power of her own, to take the world and all that it brings with an unbridled optimism. Mr. Russell’s story has the heart of a modern day Chasidic tale, with a magical ending. -Dr. Sandra Price, JD, PhD, School of Community Resources and Development, Arizona State University Billy Farrell is a typical 1950s New York City kid. He loves the Brooklyn Dodgers and egg creams from the soda shop. He’s an okay student. Then one day Billy begins having strange dreams—dreams that are anything but typical. Prophet’s End is a tale of hope and faith, even from the rubble of despair; a magical story which demonstrates that we cannot change what will be, let alone alter the here and now. Yet even against the odds, Billy’s story offers hope for a better future, shining like a beacon just beyond the present.About the Author Scott D. Russell was born in the Bronx in the year 1945. He resides in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, with Peggy, his bride of 32 years, and their assorted felines. Scott is the author of Joey, a biography of Joey Giardello, a hero of his as well as the former middleweight champion of the world. Scott was a huge fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers in his youth and served as Bill “Spaceman” Lee’s personal statistician during his successful playing career for both the Red Sox and Montreal Expos. The author is of the belief that civil discourse is imperative if we are to survive as a society. At seventy-one years of age, he remains steadfast that there is hope for mankind.

In the era of the Woodstock Festival and the Stonewall Riots, 1969, Dewey Snodgress is in high school in Fort Worth, Texas. He might be far from many of the changes taking place in the world, but they still affect his life. For one, as his school's theater star, Dewey takes part in a production about a young gay man protesting the Vietnam War. During the play, he meets another uninhibited young actress, Lucretia "Lulu" Belton, and their performances are a hit, changing attitudes about the war--especially the attitude of Dewey's dad.It's also the year Dewey meets Jeep Brickthorn, the school's hippie and a local musician. They quickly become friends, and although Dewey tries to suppress it, they start to fall in love. Though he knows his father won't condone their relationship, Dewey can't resist his feelings for Jeep.The times are changing, and maybe the time has come for Dewey and Jeep to escape their repressive town for somewhere more open-minded. Somewhere they can pursue their interests in acting and music. Somewhere they'll have the freedom to be in love.

In the era of the Woodstock Festival and the Stonewall Riots, 1969, Dewey Snodgress is in high school in Fort Worth, Texas. He might be far from many of the changes taking place in the world, but they still affect his life. For one, as his school’s theater star, Dewey takes part in a production about a young gay man protesting the Vietnam War. During the play, he meets another uninhibited young actress, Lucretia “Lulu” Belton, and their performances are a hit, changing attitudes about the war―especially the attitude of Dewey’s dad. It’s also the year Dewey meets Jeep Brickthorn, the school’s hippie and a local musician. They quickly become friends, and although Dewey tries to suppress it, they start to fall in love. Though he knows his father won’t condone their relationship, Dewey can’t resist his feelings for Jeep. The times are changing, and maybe the time has come for Dewey and Jeep to escape their repressive town for somewhere more open-minded. Somewhere they can pursue their interests in acting and music. Somewhere they’ll have the freedom to be in love.

Prophet's End is a compelling story which brings together characters that you will love and admire. Russell writes with wit and the passion of a romantic, creating a resonant work that will have you more fully appreciating the courageous heroes that surround us every day. Most of all, it presents us with two powerful gifts that many of us can use on an ongoing basis: inspiration and hope. -Matthew J. Goldberg, author of Hot Ice Cream: Inspiring Life Lessons from Our Children A great imaginative story with characters I really cared about. I finished this book with a lump in my throat, I love it. I absolutely love it. Prophet's End has tremendous imagination, tremendous heart and a story that really resonates. -Bill Hall, author of McCallandia Prophet's End is a tale for our times, bringing together two individuals with unusual powers, a young man who has the gift of seeing into the future, and the young woman who inhabited his dreams and holds his heart from the age of 6 years. That young woman has a power of her own, to take the world and all that it brings with an unbridled optimism. Mr. Russell's story has the heart of a modern day Chasidic tale, with a magical ending. -Dr. Sandra Price, JD, PhD, School of Community Resources and Development, Arizona State University Billy Farrell is a typical 1950s New York City kid. He loves the Brooklyn Dodgers and egg creams from the soda shop. He's an okay student. Then one day Billy begins having strange dreams--dreams that are anything but typical. Prophet's End is a tale of hope and faith, even from the rubble of despair; a magical story which demonstrates that we cannot change what will be, let alone alter the here and now. Yet even against the odds, Billy's story offers hope for a better future, shining like a beacon just beyond the present. About the Author Scott D. Russell was born in the Bronx in the year 1945. He resides in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, with Peggy, his bride of 32 years, and their assorted felines. Scott is the author of Joey, a biography of Joey Giardello, a hero of his as well as the former middleweight champion of the world. Scott was a huge fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers in his youth and served as Bill "Spaceman" Lee's personal statistician during his successful playing career for both the Red Sox and Montreal Expos. The author is of the belief that civil discourse is imperative if we are to survive as a society. At seventy-one years of age, he remains steadfast that there is hope for mankind.

Ethan Harker is the son of The Prophet, the stern, demanding leader of a small Southwestern polygamous community. Ethan has been groomed to one day take his place as the leader of this isolated cult. But things happen that compel Ethan to flee his stifling community and find his way in the world beyond it. Totally out of his depth, he is sheltered by a remarkable group of people from a loving and accepting church. From them, he learns what family truly means and begins to construct a life free from the restrictions he’s grown up with. Little by little he dismisses the assumptions he was taught about the “evil” people in the outside world. Amid all this, Ethan realizes something about himself when he meets rapper Kyan, a boy his age. Although he’s been brought up to fear and hate members of Kyan’s race, he can’t help falling in love with Kyan. Fueled by a new understanding and new friends, Ethan gains the strength and courage to conquer the confusing world he has been thrust into.

Graduating senior, theater lighting wunderkind, and closeted gay, Nick Fortunati volunteers with The Streetwise Players in the dark corners of The Laughton, a creepy old movie palace decorated in Grand Guignol style. But his father wishes Nick would use his intellect and his scholarship to become a biotech engineer and earn a prosperous living for his future family. Nick loves his dad and wants to please him, but he dreams of a career in theater. And he wants a male lover. Unfortunately, his homophobic father won’t approve of either. When Nick’s at his loneliest, out of the corners of the theater and into his life comes trouble-laden Steve Stripling, a man with little memory of his past other than his name. Meanwhile, Nick’s introduced to the dashing Wash Vitek and is torn between the two men. His situation is further complicated because he doesn't know if Wash is gay. Nick resolves to solve the mystery surrounding Steve and help the young man recover his memories, even though by doing so, he risks losing the first love he’s ever found.