Roeder, Mark A

The boys at school think James is a freak and he isn?t sure they?re wrong. He?s fifteen and possesses a genius level IQ. He has no friends and his grandmother thinks it?s the 1960?s, but none of these are his biggest problem. James is gay and totally incompetent with social interaction. He?s also attracted to a man old enough to be his father. His situation seems hopeless until he meets Lincoln and Taylor, two boys who begin to teach him how to interact with others and deal with being different.

A collection of four short stories about a private investigator who helps others experiencing strange occurrences.

Percy Deforest Spock has just moved back to his hometown of Bloomington, Indiana. When a teenage boy knocks on his door, Percy is floored by the uncanny resemblance between the boy and his lost love of twenty years before. As the two grow closer, Percy relives the days when he was young and in love but is disturbed by his growing feelings for Tyler. Realizing that Tyler?s resemblance to his lost love is the source of his attraction, he?s able to push his desires aside and act as a mentor to his young friend. There is a secret hidden in Bloomington, Indiana; however, and as young Tyler learns more about Percy, he begins to put the pieces together. Yesterday?s Tomorrow is a tale of love lost and found, of romance, of friendship, and of undying hope.

WWII. 1942. Will?s brother is fighting the war in the Pacific, but Will is forced to remain behind. Will takes his brother?s place in the academic world of Indiana University, where he meets two students and two soon-to-be-legendary men who will change his life forever. Will thought he was the only boy attracted to other males, but when he sneaks into Professor Kinsey?s marriage course he realizes his mistake. Will meets Ben, who he suspects is not unlike himself. When his suspicions are confirmed, the pair begins an awkward, halting relationship of self-discovery and love. Will is shocked that Negroes attend IU. He?s leery and afraid of Adam, but becomes ashamed of his prejudice when he comes face-to-face with the discrimination Adam faces daily. Together, Will, Adam, and a powerful ally join to subtly and surreptitiously integrate IU. But, just as changes for the better come, Will is faced with prejudice much closer to home, prejudice that can only be banished by tragedy. A Will to Triumph is a story of friendship, ignorance, fear, and the power of knowledge and love to make the world a better place.

Elijah has a dream, to follow in the footsteps of his brothers and make the VHS football team. But, for Elijah it?s an uphill battle. Unlike his tall, muscular brothers, Elijah is small and weak, but he pushes on, determined to realize his dream. Elijah?s faith is a source of comfort and strength, but when his new pastor begins to preach out against gays, Elijah feels increasingly unwelcome. While his church seems increasingly un-Christian, Elijah is exposed to the gay boys of Verona, boys who care about each other and reach out to those in need. Why are those who are called abominations acting more Christian than the Christians? When Elijah admits to himself that he is gay his faith is weakened. His belief is further shaken when he becomes sick. Is it a punishment from God? How could God create him gay and then punish him for it? As Elijah?s troubles and doubts increase, a very special boy comes into his life and helps him find his way. Elijah learns that much of what he has been taught in church is wrong, but that he shouldn?t turn his back on his beliefs. He learns that sometimes, those who present themselves as moral leaders are anything but. They are the Antichrists.

Bastien is now the man of the house. His mom has given up everything to give him a new life and he?s determined to do everything in his power to take care of her. Verona, Indiana is Bastien?s chance to start over and he?s not about to waste the opportunity. The grumpy old man next-door is most certainly not one of the more attractive features of Bastien?s new hometown, but Bastien?s opinion of him slowly begins to change. More intriguing is another neighbor. Viktor is a wrestler for Verona High School and mows his lawn shirtless. Viktor stirs Bastien?s passion, but he tries desperately to hide his desires. He doesn?t want Verona to be Chicago all over again. As he settles into his new life Bastien discovers that Verona is different from what he has known before and not in the boring, watching-corn-grow-for-entertainment way he anticipated. The little town of Verona is odd, perhaps even bizarre, but maybe here he can forget the friends who turned on him and the father who tried to kill him. The Lawn Boy is a tale of friendship, love, lust, and acceptance.

Julian is ugly. He knows it. Everyone knows it. He is also a boy with secrets. He?s gay, his family owns the local funeral home, and he?s not certain which secret he more desperately desires to keep. Julian is a wallflower, but tries out for the soccer team to please his father. Beyond all hope he makes the team and there he meets boys who change his life forever and a coach he suspects is trying to kill him. Julian?s greatest love is music. He slips off at lunch and after school to play the grand piano in the music room. His music attracts the attention of a secret admirer and for the first time ever someone sees beauty in Julian; his music. The tragic death of teammates forces Julian to realize that he might not have as much time as he believed and leads him to take a desperate chance. Julian is determined to stop sitting on the sidelines of life. Friendship and love is worth any risk.

Skye Mackenzie, the protector of gay boys and virtual superhero, is faced with a new danger that seems unreal. For the first time Skye tangles with a foe who is more than his match and is saved only by the quick thinking of Devon, his former nemesis. Marshall, Verona?s resident expert on the supernatural, summons help and Skye cannot believe his eyes when the promised aid comes in the form of two young boys. Skye?s concept of reality is about to change forever. Devon is a sixteen-year old boy?again. Now mortal and human, he?s back in high school, facing a life both familiar and strange. His former enemies have forgiven him, but can they ever forget? Devon seeks redemption, but his own memories stand in the way. A special boy crosses Devon?s path, giving him hope that he may find self-forgiveness and happiness despite his horrific past.

Dane is a sixteen-year-old runaway determined to start a new life of daring and love; no matter the cost to himself, or others. His actions bring him to the brink of disaster and only those he sought to prey upon can save him.

A tale that breaks the stereotypes of the ignorant and peers into the soul of two boys who want what we all want; to love and be loved. The story of Mark and Taylor, two sixteen-year-old high school athletes, is a tale of love and happiness torn asunder by a world that understands too late.