This week we are joined by TJ Klune! TJ Klune is the #1 New York Times and #1 USA Today bestselling, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of The House in the Cerulean Sea, Somewhere Beyond the Sea, Under the Whispering Door, In the Lives of Puppets, the Green Creek Series for adults, the Extraordinaries Series for teens, and more. Being queer himself, Klune believes it's important—now more than ever—to have accurate, positive queer representation in stories.This week, TJ Klune shares his journey from a challenging childhood in Oregon to becoming a successful author. He discusses the impact of his upbringing on his writing, the importance of finding one's voice, and the shift from contemporary to fantasy literature. Klune emphasizes the need for advocacy within the literary community, particularly in response to rising transphobia, and reflects on the moments that defined his success as an author. In this engaging conversation, TJ Klune shares his journey as an author, detailing the challenges and unexpected successes of releasing his book during the pandemic. Klune also discusses his writing process, the role of ADHD in his creativity, themes of alienation and belonging that permeate his work, and how finding solitude in nature has inspired his writing. Give this episode a listen!Recommendations From This Episode:The Bones Beneath My SkinPoseHeaven’s Gate PodcastThe InstituteFollow TJ Klune: @tjklunebooksFollow Carly: @carlyjmontagFollow Emily: @thefunnywalshFollow the podcast: @aloneatlunchpodPlease rate and review the podcast! Spread the word! Tell your friends! Email us: aloneatlunch@gmail.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.