Book Description
Scott Faraday is sixteen and has no idea that his world is about to radically change. Scott is fun-loving, in a small-town rock band, and out—but only to a select few.

Isolated in a high desert town, Scott doesn’t know anyone else who is gay. When Ryan St. Charles, a troubled 17-year-old, moves to Yucca Valley, Scott’s world tilts on its axis.

Ryan is a brash seventeen-year-old who has just severed a long relationship with a man, but still considers himself straight. As Scott and Ryan’s friendship develops, Scott begins to suspect that Ryan might be covering up that he’s gay. When Scott comes out to Ryan, their friendship is transformed into his first real relationship.

Tightly focused on these two characters, Desert Sons follows the thoughts and emotion of the ups and downs of a young adult gay relationship. Filled with first-time wonder, teenage angst, and the swirl of emotions that can only be expressed by youth, readers are pulled headlong into a highly-charged drama.

“In Desert Sons, Mark Kendrick has provided all the ingredients of a good book: solid characterization, a compelling story, and a skillful evocation of place. All in all, Desert Sons is a wonderful read, realistic and moving. Highly recommended.”—Guy Willard, author of Foolish Fire and Mirrors of Narcissus


From the Author
Time: Summer, 1990. Place: Yucca Valley, CA. Scott has just finished his junior year of high school. He works part time at his parent’s restaurant and does sound for the popular rock band Centauri. Isolated in his high desert town, Scott doesn’t know anyone else who’s gay. But that’s about to end. When he meets Ryan St. Charles, a very troubled seventeen year old who comes to live with his uncle in town, Scott’s world is forever changed. Scott, at first, is not at all enamored with this brash new arrival, but is far more attracted to him than put off. Ryan has been hiding the fact that he’s gay for a long time. Even the long relationship he just left with a man twice his age didn’t allow him to fully come to terms with that fact. When Scott initiates their friendship, then transforms it into his first relationship, the kissing begins and the sparks fly. When Scott accompanies Ryan back to his childhood home for his eighteenth birthday, Ryan reveals his mysterious past. Tightly focused on these two characters, Desert Sons follows their thoughts and emotions as they go through the ups and downs of a young adult gay relationship. Filled with first-time wonder, teenage angst, and the swirl of emotions that can only be expressed by youth, you’ll be pulled headlong into this highly-charged drama. Due to overwhelming reader feedback, the sequel ‘Into This World We’re Thrown’, now available worldwide, completes this story.


About the Author
Mark Kendrick lives in Chicago with his partner and their two Westies. Mark's novels include the sequel to Desert Sons, Into This World We're Thrown, and a science fiction novel, Stealing Some Time.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

A coming-of-age novel for gay males ages 15-30.

Scott Faraday is 16, gregarious, talented, never been in a relationship, and is out to only a select few. Ryan St. Charles is 17, hot-tempered, has already has been in a long relationship, yet is barely out to himself. Behind Ryan's carefully fashioned façade is emotional scarring from a past he's never been able to reconcile. When he comes to live with his uncle in Yucca Valley, CA, he meets Scott. An unlikely pair, the boys form a tentative friendship. When Scott starts to suspect that Ryan might be gay, he plans his coming out to him. The result is that he transforms their friendship into his first real relationship. Then, Ryan's hidden past comes into view. Scott is not at all prepared for what he discovers: suicide attempts, past abuse, and loads of denial.

Tightly focused on their new relationship, Desert Sons follows these two teenagers as they plunge headlong through a summer that will forever change them both.

SYNOPSIS