If I didn’t like the way a storyline ended, how a TV series portrayed a character, I’d change it.

My first foray into writing was fanfiction. I realized late I wanted to be an author, but I’ve secretly always been a writer. When did you realize you wanted to be an author, and what was your first foray into writing? Do you still look back on it fondly? We mess up, fall down, get our hearts broke, and slay dragons. LGBTQ+ people being recognized as more than just a sexuality. That’s what I draw my inspiration from when I write-things that I want and hope to see more in everyday life. They deserve to be the hero instead of the stereotypical sidekick or comic relief. Something other LGBTQ+ teens can see and know they deserve the happy ending. I also wanted a story with an LGBTQ+ protagonist that wasn’t about coming out or tragedy. And if there were, they weren’t inclusive and usually the queer character ends up being bullied or shamed. I was inspired to write Running with Lions because there just weren’t any YA sports books available, especially not any starring LGBTQ+ characters. What inspired you to write Running with Lions? And where do you draw your inspiration from in general? BUT I’ve been fortunate not to break anything or have any major surgical procedures. I can’t eat anything without spilling crumbs or ketchup on myself. I fall, trip, accidentally bump into things all the time. And I read them all-DC, Marvel, everything.

Running with Lions is his first novel.įirst of all, can you tell us 3 random things about Julian Winters. When he isn’t writing or using his sense of humor to entertain his young nephews, Julian enjoys reading, experimental cooking in the kitchen, and watching the only sports he can keep up with: volleyball and soccer. Julian Winters is a former management trainer who lives in the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia and has been crafting fiction since he was a child, creating communities around his hand-drawn “paper people.” He began writing LGBTQ character-driven stories as a teen and has developed a devoted fan fiction following.

Running With Lions by Julian Winters