Diamonds from Darkness

Some kids grow up knowing exactly where they fit. Thomas wasn't one of them, but his story will stay with you long after the last page.

Born in the autumn of 1968, Thomas enters a world full of warmth and complications. His mother's struggle with postpartum depression casts an early shadow, but the love of his grandmother lights the way. He celebrates his first birthday, welcomes a little brother, and begins to understand that joy and jealousy often arrive together.

In kindergarten, Thomas discovers something about himself: he loves to learn, but the words on the page don't behave the way they should. Dyslexia makes school harder than it has to be. Then his family moves to Glenburn, a quieter town, but one where Thomas suddenly feels like an outsider among wealthier kids who've never had to try as hard.

What keeps him going? His best friend, Steven. Shared pranks. Small acts of courage. And a stubborn, growing sense that he belongs somewhere, even if he hasn't found it yet. In seventh grade Steven was gone. His parents had switched him to a new school and Thomas lost his only real friend. He turned to the horses at the farm for comfort.

Thomas struggled with life and learning to understand himself even when the world wasn't making it easy. Written by an author who lived it, this deeply personal debut carries the authenticity of real experience on every page.

Once Thomas graduated at the top of his class from high school, he moved to Philadelphia to attend the prestigious University of Pennsylvannia.in their veterinary science program. While he is living there, he stays with his cousin Casey. Both are gay men living in the big city. One night when they are out, Casey is brutally attacked by a group of men.

Instead of alerting the authorities of the attack, Thomas and Casey hatch a plan to exterminate these guys. They have a very unique way of disposing of the bodies and Thomas gets an idea of how to turn these incredible Darkness to Diamonds.

Perfect for readers who love character-driven stories of childhood, perseverance, vilgilante justice, and finding ones place in the world.

If you've ever felt like you didn't quite fit, Thomas's story is yours too.

The second book in this series, The Darkness Shines, is also available now.