Print copies of my book No Going Back are now available from Zarahemla Books and Amazon.com
No Going Back is a coming-of-age novel about a gay Mormon teenager who is torn between his feelings and his desire to stay in the Church. The cover blurb reads:
“A gay teenage Mormon growing up in western Oregon in 2003. His straight best friend. Their parents. A typical LDS ward, a high-school club about tolerance for gays, and a proposed anti-gay-marriage amendment to the state constitution. In No Going Back, these elements combine in a coming-of-age story about faithfulness and friendship, temptation and redemption, tough choices and conflicting loyalties.”
(A side-note: Does anyone know the logic that Amazon.com uses in deciding on the size of the discount it offers? My book is now selling for $11.53. Rift, by Todd Robert Petersen, released just a few weeks ago by Zarahemla Books, is selling for $13.22. Both have a cover price of $16.95. Chris Bigelow says he doesn’t know the logic, either.)
A Motley Vision 
Do you have any links to online reviews? I know that Ben Christensen reviewed it here.
Two other posted reviews that I know of so far:
– A positive review from the perspective of a believing SSA Mormon at Reaching Upward.
– A rather mixed review that led to a rather odd discussion at Main Street Plaza.
Yay! Can’t wait to get my print copy!
Congratulations, Jonathan!
Way to go! How exciting for you! Who’s reviewing for AMV? I hope their review comes up soon; I’ve been dying to compare notes with someone.
Yeah. I’m hoping to see a good discussion here, too.
Back when I was getting comments on the MS, it was interesting seeing how different readers reacted differently to the same elements in the story. I’m looking forward to getting a broader pool so I can understand better what makes things work for some readers but not for others.
Okay. My book copies just arrived. I’m hyperventilating now…
Guess who just received a signed copy hand-delivered by the author?
Thanks, Jonathan!
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I got mine yesterday, sans author. Thanks! I wasn’t intending to start it, but before I knew it I was done with chapter one. Which I had already read. Weird.
More updates…
– I’ve also been reviewed–very fairly I think–at Mormonhermitmom’s Book Blog, together with a follow-up interview about inspirations and other resources that are out there.
– William: It was fun. We’ve lived only an hour away ever since you moved out here, and finally met in the flesh…
– Theric: I hope the first chapter was at least somewhat more polished than the version you read earlier.
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It was, actually. I was talking it up to be wife.
I will be very interested to see what those who read it in manuscript think of it now. To me, it doesn’t seem like it’s changed very much. But it could be that the many small changes (and a few medium-sized ones) that we made (Chris and I) will have a bigger impact than I realize on the reading experience–like that last bit of sanding that removes the irritating splinters.
I’ll be particularly interested (and pleasantly surprised, to be honest) if it changes any of the opinions of those who didn’t care for the book that much or felt ambivalent about it the first time around.
Can’t wait to read your book! Just a side note…Richard Peck’s new Christmas book is also $11.55, and he’s a Newbery winner! So don’t feel too sad. You’re in good company.
I just received word from Jonathan that No Going Back was featured on the front page of today’s edition of BYU Universe. Here’s a link to the online version of the story.
Congratulations, Jonathan!