blog
a place where I write about my experiences as a writer, critical analysis of the books I read, and whatever else I feel like writing
Books
Cemetery Boys
Cemetery Boys
by Aiden Thomas
Cemetery Boys tells the story of Yadriel, a young Latinx transgender teen living in East Los Angeles. Yadriel is part of a community of brujx, his family blessed with special spiritual powers by Santa Meurta (Lady Death). The bruja can heal the injured, sick, and dying, while the brujo can commune with spirits and release them from their tether on earth into the afterlife. Yadriel’s gender identity prevents him from taking his place among the brujo in his family, and he takes measures to fight to be recognized as a brujo.
Visitations
Visitations
by Corey Egbert
Visitations is a graphic novel about the time the author spent living in his mother’s car with his mother and sister. His parents were divorced and his mother believed that his father was a sexual predator. She was desperate to keep her children safe so she ran off with them to avoid the court-mandated visitations they had weekly with their father. This book describes what they all went through, the blind faith and trust the author had in his mother and God, and the separation and confusion he experienced between reality and the things his mom said.
Red, White & Royal Blue
Red, White & Royal Blue
by Casey McQuiston
Red, White & Royal Blue is a queer romance that occurs between the First Son of the United States, Alex, and the “spare heir”, Prince Henry of Wales. When Alex first meets Prince Henry, it doesn’t go well and years later, Alex still holds a grudge, evident by the fact that they argue at Prince Philip’s wedding and fall into a giant $75,000 wedding cake. Bordering on an international incident, their respective families set them up to make several public appearances to improve the public’s image of their families. But their manufactured “bromance” might be more romance and less bro.
Eighteen Roses
Eighteen Roses
by Shannon C.F. Rogers
(AI-generated Description)
Eighteen Roses by Shannon C.F. Rogers is a heartwarming and humorous tale that will resonate with young adult readers who enjoy stories about self-discovery, friendship, and embracing one’s true self, making it a perfect fit for anyone looking for a relatable and uplifting coming-of-age story.
Little Fires Everywhere
Little Fires Everywhere
by Celeste Ng
(AI-generated Description)
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng is an intriguing and emotionally charged novel that will resonate deeply with readers who appreciate complex explorations of motherhood, family dynamics, social class, and identity, making it a perfect fit for those who enjoy character-driven fiction that delves into the intricacies of human relationships and the power of the past to shape our present.
Reflections of Us
Shawn is currently writing his debut novel, Reflections of Us. The story follows David and Lucas, two friends who were separated at age eleven after Lucas and his family move from Rainbow City, Alabama to Mobile. After six years apart, Lucas and his mother move back for Lucas’ senior year of high school and his return should have been a celebration, but when David’s life begins to unravel, both boys are left with questions about themselves and each other.
Cover art by Quinton Singer, a queer artist living in the Seattle, Washington area.
Comics
Shawn has plans to adapt his book to a web comic, titled Rainbow City, and has been spending time working on his art skills so he can publish his best work. His debut novel, Reflections of Us, is still in progress. Shawn hopes to publish in the next two years and ideally would like to release his web comic within the same timeframe.
Artwork
Interested in commissions? Please fill out the form below to discuss what you’re looking for.
Bio
Shawn Stensberg
He/Him/His
Shawn is an MFA student at Antioch University and is a passionate writer and artist. He’s currently living in the Seattle, Washington area with his partner and their dog, River.
He began writing poetry in 1998 and found comfort in being able to put words together in a way that conveyed the deep well of adolescent feelings.
In 2021, he published an article in BuzzFeed about the history of trans people (see it here) and in 2023, began publishing fan fiction for the popular anime/manga, My Hero Academia. It was that fan fiction that paved the way for Shawn re-discovering his love of writing and storytelling.
His first full-length novel, Reflections of Us, is currently in-progress with the hope that it will be published in the next two years.
Reach Out
Reach out to say hi and join the mailing list, which will keep you informed when Shawn publishes his book or web comic.