Meet Holden Sheppard ( @V8Sheppard), a talented Aussie storyteller whose debut INVISIBLE BOYS has won several awards. People I trust tell me it's an outstanding read. Important too: a YA tale centring the oft-hidden experiences of gay teens. Give Holden a follow. (Thread)

INVISIBLE BOYS is "a confronting work of YA fiction tackling themes of homosexuality, masculinity, anger & suicide." Set in regional Western Australia, it follows three 16-year-olds coming to terms with their homosexuality in a town where it is invisible: https://www.thebookshop.com.au/books/gay-men/fiction/young-adult/invisible-boys/

Back in August, Holden won the Western Australian Premier’s Prize for an Emerging Writer for INVISIBLE BOYS. The judges lauded his "powerful" debut as "funny, yet devastating with vividly imagined characters and dialogue." Full story: https://www.outinperth.com/holden-sheppard-wins-the-wa-premiers-book-award/

Then it was announced INVISIBLE BOYS was being adapted for the screen. "This particular story is almost a dissident gay story and resisting a lot of the cultural stereotypes we have about gay people," said Holden on choosing the producer and director: https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/books/invisible-boys-author-holden-sheppard-has-sold-the-film-and-television-rights-to-his-debut-novel-ng-b881642091z

Holden's deservedly doing well. So why am I devoting a thread to him? Well, because this weekend after what should have been a great experience where he keynoted at an @ETAofWA conference, he was treated like shit by a bookseller: https://twitter.com/V8Sheppard/status/1335170993648619520 #OwnVoice #LGBTQIA

I love the books world. The vast majority of people in it are awesome. Stuff like this tears my heart. Here's a bloke who's put his heart, soul, and courage into a tale to help struggling kids. Despite his accolades he's submarined by homophobia. So let's rally behind @V8Sheppard

I've never met Holden ( @V8Sheppard), but I've heard good things from #Ozlit folks I know. And I imagine pals of mine like @valmcdermid, @stellduffy, @mariwriter, @CollinsJacky and ors have suffered similar bigoted treatment too often along the way #OwnVoices #LGBTQIA @ETAofWA

Since a conference Bookshop wouldn't stock an award-winning tale from a keynote speaker here's some places you can buy it:

Booktopia: https://bit.ly/3lIP9rZ 
Readings: https://bit.ly/39LJCP2 
Whitton Books (UK): https://bit.ly/3mKqhSg 
Hedleys Books (NZ): https://bit.ly/3qxPIsw