Immediate Release from Pen Name Publishing:
The Before Now and After Then
by Peter Monn
“Danny Goldstein has always lived in the shadow of his identical twin brother, Sam. But when a hurricane of events forces him into the spotlight, he starts to realize that the only thing he’s truly afraid of is himself. With the help of his costume changing friend Cher, a famous uncle with a mysterious past of his own, two aging punk rocker parents and Rusty, the boy who will become his something to live for, Danny begins to realize that the music of the heart is truly the soundtrack for living.”
“We’ve been talking up Peter Monn’s The Before Now and After Then for the past few months as we gear up for his release on 7-29-2014.
Today, we bring you the much anticipated cover. We elected to stick with current trends of simplistic design centered around a symbolic element from the story. In this case, an unlabeled B-Side of a mix tape. The background is a nice and vibrant green, evoking the school bag of a very important boy who becomes the narrator’s reason for living.
Every now and then a publisher comes across their dream manuscript. We knew we would find many that we loved, but we never expected our third release to be such a powerful and moving title. We truly believe that The Before Now and After Then has the power to transcend genre’s and bridge gaps that span between social stigmas and social acceptance.
This YA Novel deals with issues that begin during adolescence and often haunt people well into their adult years. However, the loveable main character, Danny Goldstein, takes a turn and in exchange, turns the tables on life by conquering himself and those that challenge him along the way.
It is extremely hard to talk about this book without giving away the farm. All we can say is to trust us and give this book a chance. We have never felt so strongly about a piece and it’s potential to be a positive force for change. We truly believe that Peter Monn has the ability to be one of the strongest voices of his generation and bring LGBT or Diverse literature across lines, past social stigma, and into the hearts of readers worldwide.
Yes, the lead character is gay. Yes, the lead character falls in love. But this is not merely a gay love story. It is a beautiful tapestry that is carefully woven, will touch your soul, inspire you to be better to those you come in contact with, stand up for those who are being held down, and reach out a helping hand to those around you. It just so happens to be a story about a boy who is struggling and along the way, finds his first love. In a boy.
Our goal is to bring you bold stories by bold authors. To push boundaries, to bring stories to life that will challenge, create, and inspire.
If there is any book that truly embodies this set of goals within its pages, it is The Before Now and After Then.
Reviews and ARC copies will be available on 7-1-2014 and we are taking review requests for this title. Furthermore, Peter Monn is available for interviews and more information about the author can be found on his website at http://petermonn.com“
Please visit the Goodreads page to add this book to your shelf!
You may also contact Peter directly at peter@raannt.com for further information, media requests or interviews. He personally responds to each message.
Check out all of our other book releases and writers interviews in our Interview section!
Pictured: Anna Paquin – Credit: Tony Rivetti/HBO
Pictured: Nathan Parsons, Nelsan Ellis – Credit: James P. Johnson/HBO
Pictured: Sam Trammell – Credit: John P. Johnson/HBO
