Press Kit

(Photo Credit: Jen Quinlan. Click here to download.)

SHORT BIO

Skye Quinlan (they/them) is a queer, autistic author of YA fiction. They’re an avid reader, have an absurd amount of crystals and gemstones, and if they’re not tending to their garden, you can usually find them playing Animal Crossing. Skye lives in Ohio with their wife, two dogs, a snake, and two lizards.

LONG BIO

Skye Quinlan (they/them) is a queer, autistic author of YA fiction. Their debut novel, FORWARD MARCH, was an ALA Rainbow Book List Pick for 2023 and was described by the School Library Journal as, “A wonderful ace rom-com bursting at the seams with representation.” Quinlan’s sophomore novel, DON’T BE A DRAG, is forthcoming from Page Street YA. They’re an avid reader, have an absurd amount of crystals and gemstones, and if they’re not tending to their garden, you can usually find them playing Animal Crossing. Skye lives in Columbus, OH with their wife, two dogs, a snake, and two lizards.

BOOKS BY SKYE

FORWARD MARCH (Page Street YA)

DON’T BE A DRAG (Page Street YA)

SOCIAL MEDIA

Two rival drag kings competing for a crown might just win each other’s hearts.

When eighteen-year-old Briar Vincent’s mental health takes a turn for the worst, her parents send her to spend the summer in New York City with her older brother, Beau, also known as the drag queen Bow Regard.

Backstage at the gay bar where Beau performs, Briar just wants to be a fly on the wall, but she can’t stand by when the cute but conceited drag king Spencer Read tries to put down another up-and-coming performer. To prove to him that even a brand-new performer could knock him off his pedestal, Briar signs up for the annual drag king competition.

There’s just one flaw in her plan: Briar has never done drag before.

With the help of her brother and a few new friends, Briar becomes Edgar Allan Foe, a drag king hellbent on taking Spencer down. But unless she can learn how to shake her anxiety and perform, she doesn’t stand a chance of winning Drag King of the Year, overcoming her depression and inner demons, or avoiding falling for her enemy, who might not be so bad after all.

REVIEWS:

“Briar’s mental health journey is at the core of the story, which accurately and unflinchingly depicts her experiences with anxiety and depression. The endearing Briar is realistically drawn, and the supporting characters are all lovable in their own ways […] A joyful celebration of identity and community.” ― Kirkus Reviews

“Quinlan’s portrayal of Briar’s mental health struggles may strike a chord with some readers, and their description of drag competitions will enthrall Drag Race fans.” ― Booklist

“Honest, hopeful, and full of sparkle, Don’t Be a Drag shows that sometimes the best way to find your truest self is to let the sides of your personality shine that you’ve kept hidden from yourself and others.” ― Jason June, New York Times bestselling author of Out Of The Blue

“A realistic and raw portrayal of living with depression and anxiety. Don’t Be a Drag introduces a fun, messy, memorable found family that I couldn’t stop cheering for. Quinlan beautifully shows how we all have the power to face our demons, step into the spotlight, and slay!” 

― Jenna Miller, author of Out of Character

“Tender, fierce, and full of big feelings, Briar’s story of self-discovery and self-compassion is just as captivating as the bold contour and bright lights of the drag stage. But where Quinlan really shines is in their trio of complicated kings who come together in a time-honored queer tradition: accepting each other for exactly who they are and supporting each other joyously. Don’t Be a Drag is a tale of courage and community fit for a king.” ― Christen Randall, author of The No-Girlfriend Rule

“Don’t Be a Drag achingly captures the tumult of mental anxiety―that human wrestle between the terror in the imagined world and the magic in the real world. Drag brings the magic and pours in light, and Quinlan does not miss a shimmering detail. A stunning journey!” ― Debbie Rigaud, author of A Girl’s Guide to Love & Magic

Title: Forward March

Publisher: Page Street Kids

Publication Date: March 22nd, 2022

Buy Links: Amazon | B&N | The Book Loft

Synopsis: What’s worse? Someone using your face for catfishing or realizing you actually do have a crush on the catfished girl?

Harper “Band Geek” McKinley just wants to make it through her senior year of marching band—and her Republican father’s presidential campaign. That was a tall order to start, but everything was going well enough until someone made a fake gay dating profile posing as Harper. The real Harper can’t afford for anyone to find out about the Tinder profile for three very important reasons:

1. Her mom is the school dean and dating profiles for students are strictly forbidden.

2. Harper doesn’t even know if she likes anyone like that—let alone if she likes other girls.

3. If this secret gets out, her father could lose the election, one she’s not sure she even wants him to win.

But upon meeting Margot Blanchard, the drumline leader who swiped right, Harper thinks it might be worth the trouble to let Margot get to know the real her.

With her dad’s campaign on the line, Harper’s relationship with her family at stake, and no idea who made that fake dating profile, Harper has to decide what’s more important to her: living her truth or becoming the First Daughter of America.

REVIEWS:

“This puts a new spin on the fakedating trope in YA, tackling big issues that are still present for queer teens today like family acceptance in conservative spaces, while hitting all the sweet beats of any YA romance. Quinlan’s debut is the perfect read for proud band nerds and anyone who’s learning to accept themselves, no matter what.” — Booklist

“[…] Satisfyingly hits the beats of many queer teen rom-coms […] It is immensely refreshing to see an asexual romantic lead whose sexuality isn’t a point of conflict in either her relationship or the broader narrative. Readers will welcome this addition to the ace YA canon.” — Kirkus Reviews

“I ate up Skye Quinlan’s prose like candy. Forward March is a fun, inclusive, gloriously band geeky romance that tugged hard at my heartstrings.” — Robbie Couch, author of The Sky Blues

“Fresh, full of heart, and gloriously queer. Skye Quinlan hits all the right notes.” — Tobias Madden, author of Anything But Fine

“Forward March is a wonderfully warm, funny and tender story and Margot is a feisty, take no prisoners love interest that I would die for.” — Ciara Smyth, author of The Falling In Love Montage and Not My Problem

“Timeless and irresistibly charming, I’m starry-eyed for this book.” — Cale Dietrich, author of The Love Interest and co-author of If This Gets Out

AWARDS / HONORS / TRADE REVIEWS

• FORWARD MARCH is an ALA Rainbow Booklist Pick for 2023
• Kirkus Review for FORWARD MARCH
  • “[…] Satisfyingly hits the beats of many queer teen rom-coms […] It is immensely refreshing to see an asexual romantic lead whose sexuality isn’t a point of conflict in either her relationship or the broader narrative. Readers will welcome this addition to the ace YA canon.”
• Booklist Review for FORWARD MARCH
  • “[. . .] This puts a new spin on the fakedating trope in YA, tackling big issues that are still present for queer teens today like family acceptance in conservative spaces, while hitting all the sweet beats of any YA romance. Quinlan’s debut is the perfect read for proud band nerds and anyone who’s learning to accept themselves, no matter what.”
• School Library Journal Review for FORWARD MARCH
  • “[. . .] A wonderful ace rom-com bursting at the seams with representation, this is a must-buy for all collections.”
• Kirkus Review for DON’T BE A DRAG
  • “Briar’s mental health journey is at the core of the story, which accurately and unflinchingly depicts her experiences with anxiety and depression. The endearing Briar is realistically drawn, and the supporting characters are all lovable in their own ways [. . .] A joyful celebration of identity and community.”
• Booklist Review for DON’T BE A DRAG
  • “Quinlan’s portrayal of Briar’s mental health struggles may strike a chord with some readers, and their description of drag competitions will enthrall Drag Race fans.”

MEDIA COVERAGE

• Book Riot: Marching Band Teens in YA
• The Buckeye Flame: Queer Band Geeks, Rejoice! The Debut YA Novel From A Columbus Author Has You Covered
• Buzzfeed: 32 Great LGBTQ+ Young Adult Novels to Warm Up Your Winter
• Experience Columbus: LGBTQIA+ Authors of Columbus
• Geeks OUT!: Interview With Author Skye Quinlan
• RT Book Reviews: The 20 Best WLW Young Adult Books (Lesbian Fiction)
• School Library Journal: All The Swoons: 32 YA Novels for Romance Awareness Month
• The Toledo Blade: Book Festival Celebrates Authors