An interview with Julie Anne Peters, author of Luna for the September 2007 GLBT Month.

Oh gosh, I can’t pick one. Every book and every author. The whole body of literature influences me.

Compared to when you started writing, how do you feel the YA market treats GLBT lit today? How about GLBT authors?

Another hard question because when I started writing, 18 years ago, the YA market was miniscule and nichey. Everything about YA lit is progress. Except, maybe, the glut.

I feel extremely well treated as a queer author. Honored, actually. And celebrated. I have lost all my income from school visits, but that’s not a downside for me. Now I get to speak at Gay/Straight Alliances and conferences where I can advocate diversity in literature and in life.

Name and describe 3 must-read books for GLBT teens (and yes, one of your books can be in there!).

I can’t pick just three. Read them all.

If you weren't an author, what would you be doing?

Scrubbing floors in the poorhouse. Oh wait. I do that now.

Has a fan's story ever touched you as much as your stories have touched them?

Every single one of them. That’s why I cherish every letter I receive and every person I hear from. The canon of our stories is the representation of human experience. (Bet David Levithan wishes he’d said that.)

Not only am I moved by my readers’ stories, I’m actually inspired. My new book, grl2grl, is dedicated to all the young people who’ve shared their stories with me.

Do you have any advice for young GLBT writers? Teen writers in general?

Write. Read and write. Read more and write more. Believe that what you have to say is relevant. It’s important. People are waiting to hear your stories in your own voice. Never be afraid to tell the truth. Never be scared to go there.

Early GLBT YA books were often categorized as "problem" novels and primarily featured characters that were white. Today's books feature many minorities and, in many ways, can be looked at as more "mainstream". What do you think will happen in GLBT lit in the next five to ten years?

I can’t predict what’ll happen tomorrow. Yesterday is a dim memory. What I hope is that LGBTQ characters will show up more frequently in books for younger readers; that literature will embrace difference of every kind. I hope the fear of us goes away.

Even today, there seem to be fewer books published about lesbian or bisexual teens than about male homosexual teens. Why do you think that is? Do you think this will change?

So true. I wish I knew the answer. Part of it is timing, I think. We’re still at the beginning stages of publishing gender queer voices in the mainstream, and discovering where the holes are. This is exciting for writers who have authentic stories to tell featuring lesbian and bisexual characters. My feeling is that we’ve barely skimmed the surface of our rich, unique, fascinating lives.

Many straight teens devour and enjoy GLBT YA lit just as much as the GLBT teens it is ostensibly targeted towards. As an author, has this surprised you? What do you think it means for our future and the future of today's GLBT teens?

It did surprise me at first to receive so much mail from straight readers. And older readers. And boys. I hear from readers who are male and female, gay and straight, and everything in-between. I love that our stories have universal appeal.

What I believe it means are more accepting, supportive environments where young people coming out in middle or high school won’t experience the same hostility, harassment or isolation they do today. Young people give me tremendous faith that tomorrow’s world will advance more peaceful coexistence.

Is there anything you wish I'd asked? If so, what is it...and what would your answer be?

Why don’t people ever ask what books or authors have influenced me? Ha!