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Robin Reardon

Goodreads Author

Website

http://www.robinreardon.com

Twitter

therobinreardon

Genre

Literature & Fiction, Gay & Lesbian, Religion & Spirituality

Member Since

May 2008

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/therobinreardon

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I'm an inveterate observer of human nature, and my primary writing goal is to create stories about all kinds of people, some of whom happen to be gay or transgender—people whose destinies are not determined solely by their sexual orientation or identity. My secondary writing goal is to introduce readers to concepts or information they might not know very much about. On my website, robinreardon.com, see individual book pages for “Digging Deeper” sections that link to background information and research done for the novel.

My motto is this: The only thing wrong with being gay is how some people treat you when they find out.

Interests outside of writing include singing, nature photography, and the study of comparative religions. I write in a bu ...more

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Congrats, Robin, I do enjoy reading what you write and how you phrase it! And my question is: How can you understand gay teens in such a deep and clear way?

Robin Reardon Great question. The answer is rather complex, but I’ll do my best to explain. Once I began to take writing seriously, which meant I devoted time and e…moreGreat question. The answer is rather complex, but I’ll do my best to explain. Once I began to take writing seriously, which meant I devoted time and effort to refining my craft, I realized very quickly that my best fiction-writing voice is that of a teenager. Whenever I tried to write in a more adult style in my exercises, it came off as either pedantic (yuck!) or a little too melodramatic. But then it occurred to me: who are the most melodramatic people we know? Teens, of course. Everything is always the most important thing in the world, or it’s “whatever.” And I love that teens between 15 and 17, depending on the person, tend to bounce between “I have everything figured out, and adults know nothing” and “I’m stupid and unimportant, I don’t know anything about anything, and nothing in my life is working.” That dovetails nicely with melodrama.

The next part of the question is why gay teens. As an author, I think the most enthralling stories to write are those where there is emotional conflict, and the cognitive disconnect between what science and human compassion tell us about sexual orientation/identity and the stubborn refusal of those who say, “My mind’s made up; don’t trouble me with facts” is fertile ground for stories. I’ve had many gay friends throughout my life, men and women, and some of the ways in which they’ve been treated by people who won’t open their minds have horrified me enough for me to have done some research into the subject. Add into that mix the fact that while the percentage of people who are gay is probably not higher than 10%, about 33% of teen suicides are teens who are gay or who were bullied because they were believed to be gay.

I write about gay boys for two reasons: 1. I was a real tomboy as a kid, and I had three brothers. 2. I’m not gay myself, so as a woman, I know what it feels like to want a man. A lesbian friend once asked me if I would ever write about lesbian teens, and all I could say was that I’ll need to be a better writer first so I can put myself in that mindset.

Sorry this is so lengthy, but I hope it gives you a little insight into my work. Thanks so much for asking. Keep reading!
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I know you write about gay teens (quite well!), and I also know your publisher doesn't classify them as "young adult." Do you see yourself writing YA? Does it bother you you're not in that category? Or do you find it freeing? Does this make it less likely to find your books in school libraries? Similarly, how do you see your audience?

Robin Reardon There's no doubt this question came from another author! From one of my favorite authors, in fact. And it's a fascinating question.

When I finished my …moreThere's no doubt this question came from another author! From one of my favorite authors, in fact. And it's a fascinating question.

When I finished my first book, A SECRET EDGE, I thought I had written a book for the YA market. After all, before starting to write, I had decided that my fictional characters would be just like real teens. But my agent and my publisher both said, "No; this will go out to the adult market." At the time, I wondered about your point that perhaps there was just a little too much sex in the story for school libraries.

As it turned out, though, rather than being too much for the school librarian, the real-life quality appealed to older readers, and teenage readers found it on their own. So it was a canny decision that captured both markets for that and future books. And, yeah, it is kind of freeing.

In my heart, I write for teens and for the teenager in everyone. And, in fact, I'm almost ready to announce the release date for my next book, THROWING STONES. You heard it here first!(less)

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Robin Reardon’s books

Average rating: 4.0 · 4,928 ratings · 510 reviews · 23 distinct works • Similar authors

	Thinking Straight 4.01 avg rating — 1,653 ratings — published 2008 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Secret Edge 3.94 avg rating — 1,564 ratings — published 2007 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Evolution of Ethan Poe 3.95 avg rating — 514 ratings — published 2011 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Question of Manhood 3.87 avg rating — 230 ratings — published 2006 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Throwing Stones 4.13 avg rating — 181 ratings — published 2015 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Educating Simon 4.28 avg rating — 170 ratings — published 2014 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	And If I Fall 4.12 avg rating — 150 ratings — published 2013 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Waiting for Walker by Robin Reardon (Goodreads Author), C. Kennedy (Goodreads Author) (Foreword) 4.22 avg rating — 134 ratings — published 2017 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Giuseppe and Me 4.02 avg rating — 133 ratings — published 2014	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	On Chocorua 4.11 avg rating — 35 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Robin Reardon's Blog: Robin Reardon: Speaking of writing...

Making pie out of picked cherries

The only thing wrong with being queer is how some people treat you when they find out.

A bold statement, I agree. But I stand by it, using it as a lodestone for my novels and other fiction. And as I’ve observed or participated in debates about whether it’s true, I’ve been fascinated by what appears to be a pretty clear delineation between flawed assumptions that are not based on religious be

Series by Robin Reardon

Trailblazer (2 books)
by

Robin Reardon (Goodreads Author)

4.08 avg rating — 53 ratings

Blessed Be (1 book)
by

Robin Reardon (Goodreads Author)

4.17 avg rating — 24 ratings

Robin is Currently Reading

Robin is currently reading

Red, White & Royal Blue

by Casey McQuiston (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Robin said: " TWO PEOPLE IN LOVE

Confession: I had read only part of the book when the film became available. I watched the film but haven’t yet finished the book.

In my own writing career, a major goal has been to tell stories about people—people who just happen t ...more "

Aug 12, 2023 10:50AM · see review

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Awake

by Tracey Pennington

bookshelves: books-i-wrote, currently-reading

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Aug 20, 2013 01:10PM

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The Storyteller

by Jodi Picoult (Goodreads Author)

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Nov 14, 2015 01:06PM

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Robin’s Recent Updates

Robin Reardon wrote a new blog post Making pie out of picked cherries The only thing wrong with being queer is how some people treat you when they find out. A bold statement, I agree. But I stand by it, using it as a lo Read more of this blog post »
Dec 04, 2023 12:38AM · like

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Quotes by Robin Reardon (?)

“The only thing wrong with being gay is how some people treat you when they find out.”
― Robin Reardon

tags: homophobia

40 likes

“Ty, my boy, here's what you tell them. Say it quietly, and sincerely, and like it's the most important thing anyone ever uttered. Tell them, 'Jesus loves you. But I'm his favorite.”
― Robin Reardon, Thinking Straight

tags: religious

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“The police move around again, and the crowd gets just quiet enough so that we can hear the guy holding the sign calling Pagans Athiests say, "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." Mom pops up out of her seat, turns in that direction and shouts, "Professing themselves to be Christians, they commit violence.”
― Robin Reardon, The Evolution of Ethan Poe

tags: ethan-poe, robin-reardon, the-evolution-of-ethan-poe

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Polls

Which book should the YA LGBT Books Group read for our August 2014 Book of the Month?

Educating Simon

by Robin Reardon

21 votes 34.4%

I am J

by Cris Beam

20 votes 32.8%

Gone, Gone, Gone

by Hannah Moskowitz

18 votes 29.5%

The Little Black Dress

by Linda Palund

2 votes 3.3%

61 total votes

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Topics Mentioning This Author

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Queereaders: reconciling faith and sexual orientation	7	55	Oct 23, 2011 01:03AM
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ZAM I AM...: Adults who love Y/A and the teens who love them	41	58	Sep 22, 2013 05:46PM
YA LGBT Books: August 2014 Book of the Month - POLL UP - A TIE- 2 winners	8	58	Jul 31, 2014 10:27AM
YA LGBT Books: * August 2014 BotM 2 - Educating Simon spoilers	8	104	Sep 03, 2014 12:01AM