This week YA Author Danny Freeman took over our Twitter as a part of our weekly Thursday Twitter Takeover. Danny Freeman is the author of The You I See (See YEM’s interview of Danny Freeman here.) See highlights from the takeover below.
Hey everyone – I'm Danny Freeman, author of the upcoming novel, The You I See. I'm excited to be here for this Twitter takeover. Can't wait to talk about writing this book and sharing a few quotes from various chapters. #YAauthortakeover pic.twitter.com/v3KsnUKJF4
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
I was inspired to write The You I See because I wanted to put a little different spin on the 'coming-out, coming-of-novel'. It's more character driven than plot intensive; it's not based in a school setting; and it follows the MCs for 6 of their teen years.
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
The You I See is a big-hearted, humorous novel that functions as both a sweet 'coming-of-age, coming-out' tale and an unapologetic affirmation of queer identity which traces the sexual awakening of two gay teens as they mature through adolescence.#YAauthortakeover pic.twitter.com/jZ0GAz9vA1
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
Set against the backdrop of a fundamentalist Christian context and the changing culture of Houston in the early 1990s, The You I See weaves together faith, politics, shifting social attitudes, the journey to self-acceptance, and the importance of LGBTQ+ allies #YAauthortakeover pic.twitter.com/N2nJ21Dcva
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
Some songs that inspired The You I See… a mix of old and new…🏳️🌈❤️
The Beatles – I Want to Hold Your Hand; R.E.M. – At My Most Beautiful; Nat King Cole – The Very Thought of You; Moss – I Apologize #YAauthortakeover— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
More songs that inspired Alex and Brandon's story… Ed Sheeran – Thinking Out Loud; Dolly Parton – I Will Always Love You; Queen – Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy🏳️🌈; Ella Fitzgerald – Cheek to Cheek; Bleachers – Alfie’s Song (Not So Typical Love Song); #YAauthortakeover
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
A few more songs! Otis Reading – That’s How Strong My Love Is; Goo Goo Dolls – Better Days; Willy DeVille – Storybook Love; Cole Porter – Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall in Love)
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
Thanks!
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
I started writing The You I See just about two weeks after the January 6 insurrection when the pandemic was still raging. I had time on my hands and needed to focus on something positive, hopeful, and life-affirming. #YAauthortakeover pic.twitter.com/DMWiAWXza9
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
I also wanted to portray a set of parents who were 100% affirming. Alex's parents are sensitive, emotionally competent, fearless when talking about sex, and fierce allies for Alex and Brandon… which makes up for Brandon's cretin of a father! pic.twitter.com/SRGTG22Z2A
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
Alex and Brandon are total opposites in so many ways, but they manage to find ways to connect. Even though they are quite young when they meet, they intuitively know they've found something quite special in each other -even before they totally understand. #YAauthortakeover pic.twitter.com/GGClAbmvRD
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
Alex is an avid runner but hopeless at other sports. Brandon is a natural at every sport. They find a shared love in running, and Brandon joins Alex and his dad on weekly runs at Houston's two premier parks – Memorial and Hermann. #YAauthortakeover pic.twitter.com/dCjQwDiQok
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
The boys have their first sleepover at Alex's apartment and watch The Princess Bride together. They fall in love with that charming, enchanted movie… and with each other a little more every day. #YAauthortakeover pic.twitter.com/dufItqQ9L0
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
Brandon is a year older, a good six inches taller, and a lot stronger than Alex, but Alex runs circles around him when it comes to brainpower. #sweetboys #storybooklove #YAauthortakeover pic.twitter.com/RFwlvQxxkm
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
Brandon's family are fundamentalist Christians, but Alex's parents are skeptical agnostics. Alex got baptized just to please Brandon's father and save the friendship. A & B talk about evolution on a trip to the Houston zoo. #YAauthortakeover #sweetboys pic.twitter.com/VsQ9COkhFR
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
Brandon decides he's going to be Alex's personal trainer. Alex likes to moan about it, but he secretly loves it! They bicker back and forth like an old married couple at times! #YAauthortakeover #sweetboys pic.twitter.com/WPeJzDQJIa
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
Alex is an only child; Brandon is the overlooked youngest of four brothers. Their friendship is a kind of re-birth for both of them. They spend nearly every minute together in summer 1988. It comes to a tender close. #YAauthortakeover pic.twitter.com/PQ5ZHCbqGL
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
Brandon is loud, impulsive, and extremely tactile. His body language, close proximity to Alex, and over-the-top comments draw the wrong kind of attention at a high school football game. #YAauthortakeover pic.twitter.com/iVW2MDa50K
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
The boys begin to get a clearer sense of what they feel for one another in 8th grade. The You I See is told from Alex's perspective, and here's a little of his musings as he thinks about trying to say something to Brandon as the year rolls on. #YAauthortakeover pic.twitter.com/8LAo2a0qRa
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
Alex and Brandon live in Houston. Brandon's family has a pool in the backyard. Kids growing up in Houston spend as much of their summer in a pool as they can! #YAauthortakeover #sweetboys #storybooklove pic.twitter.com/UwxruFji94
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
Alex and Brandon take a trip to Hawaii with Alex's parents the summer after 8th grade. A LOT has already happened by this point, and they are very much a couple. They have to keep so much hidden. #YAauthortakeover pic.twitter.com/tCgFmf6ZKL
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
Brandon gives Alex a special necklace for his birthday just before they start 9th grade. pic.twitter.com/wftR9NhAbq
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
Alex's parents end up doing a lot of parenting for Brandon. There's no doubt Brandon's parents love him, but they are not open to his sexuality at all. Here are some lovely words from Alex's mom to the guys. #YAauthortakeover pic.twitter.com/03HYynDzgH
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
Alex and Brandon get separated for a couple of years… no spoilers beyond that. Here's a little scene from their teary goodbye… #YAauthortakeover #sweetboys #storybooklove pic.twitter.com/bzbEpiJa0N
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
Alex and Brandon have a bad experience at a Christian youth camp the summer before their senior year. Again, no spoilers, but you can imagine some of it. They engineer a prison break in anticipation of Alex's parents arrival. #YAauthortakeover pic.twitter.com/j7rLHGdjIP
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
Alex gets a little worried at one point that he and Brandon have used up all their good luck and some cosmic account is asking for payment in arrears. A poem from Emily Dickinson comes to mind. #YAauthortakeover pic.twitter.com/VIqoiwUVpg
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
At the end, Alex muses back over six years of friendship with Brandon the summer before college. He thinks about their shared love of The Princess Bride movie. #YAauthortakeover #sweetboys #storybooklove pic.twitter.com/AJD7rgXbdQ
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
Nearing the end here…
To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best day and night to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight and never stop fighting.
e.e. cummings#YAauthortakeover pic.twitter.com/Ci7ZPSbcWn— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
We want a world where boys can feel, girls can lead, and the rest of us can not only exist but thrive. This isn't about erasing men and women but rather acknowledging that man and woman are two of many stars in a constellation that do not compete but amplify one another’s shine.
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
That previous tweet is from @alokvmenon#YAauthortakeover pic.twitter.com/NzcL1EyAs0
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
The You I See is already available in Kindle format. You can get the paperback on Amazon starting Tuesday, July 12. Or you can get it from your local independent bookstore. Shop local! Just them they can order it through Ingram! #YAauthortakeove pic.twitter.com/5gIethIc6y
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
It's been a real pleasure! Keep reading, keep loving, keep being you, keep learning, keep being open-minded and open-hearted, and keep your eyes open to the people around you who need a friend and a kind word. pic.twitter.com/ncbCWuiYUi
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
Take care, happy reading, and enjoy your summer wherever you are… And pick up a copy of The You I See by Danny Freeman! #ownvoices #YAauthortakeover pic.twitter.com/ir5r2UcTCd
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) July 7, 2022
