New novel The Big Summer explores issues experienced by LGBTQ+ youth

Jamie B. Laurie marks his debut in the literary limelight with the release of “The Big Summer” (published by iUniverse), a young adult fiction dealing with issues experienced by LGBTQ+ teenagers.

The easy-to-read and quirky novel follows a closeted gay teenager named Will, who takes back control of his life from his bullies at school and sets out to change it for the better. Guided by a summer bucket list, he embarks on a journey to reinvent himself, finding genuine friendship, love and happiness along the way.

Inspired from Laurie’s personal coming out process at age 16, “The Big Summer” offers inspiration and hope for struggling LGBTQ+ youth, and promotes acceptance from the people around them. He highlights how the book can be a tool for family members, friends and even educators of LGBTQ+ youth who are looking for a fun way to bring the prevalent issues into discussions.

In addition, the book includes resources for struggling LGBTQ+ youth, and a candid foreword by a renowned Montreal psychiatrist specializing in these issues.

“Books in this genre are becoming more and more relevant and mainstream, yet young LGBTQ+ people continue to experience tremendous difficulties related to coming out,” Laurie says. “I feel it's important to continue the discussion, to continue showing representation of LGBTQ+ narratives in books, and also to offer a message of hope through light-hearted books with happy endings.”

To purchase and know more about the book, readers can visit https://www.amazon.com/Big-Summer-Jamie-B-Laurie/dp/1532029918.

“The Big Summer”
By Jamie B. Laurie
Softcover | 5.5 x 8.5in | 246 pages | ISBN 9781532029912
E-Book | 246 pages | ISBN 9781532029929
Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author
Jamie B. Laurie is a young writer and poet whose work has been published in numerous collections. He lives in Montreal, Canada, where he enjoys spending time with the people he loves, reading as many books as possible and performing in community theatre. Laurie is currently pursuing a degree in psychology at McGill University. “The Big Summer” is his first novel.

iUniverse, an Author Solutions, LLC, self-publishing imprint, is the leading book marketing, editorial services, and supported self-publishing provider. iUniverse has a strategic alliance with Indigo Books & Music, Inc. in Canada, and titles accepted into the iUniverse Rising Star program are featured in a special collection on BarnesandNoble.com. iUniverse recognizes excellence in book publishing through the Star, Reader’s Choice, Rising Star and Editor’s Choice designations—self-publishing’s only such awards program. Headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, iUniverse also operates offices in Indianapolis. For more information or to publish a book, please visit iuniverse.com or call 1-800-AUTHORS. For the latest, follow @iuniversebooks on Twitter.

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