Brent Hartinger
Encyclopedia
Brent Hartinger is an American author and playwright, best known for his novels about gay teenagers
.
in Spokane
, Washington, and also studied psychology at Western Washington University
.
His first novel was Geography Club, about teenagers who secretly start a gay-straight alliance at their high school, which was challenged
in some American schools, including schools in Hartinger's home town of Tacoma. The novel has two sequels. The Order of the Poison Oak describes the main characters' experiences at summer camp. Split Screen is published as two novels; the reader can turn the book upside down to read the story of a boy trying to choose between two boyfriends ("Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies") or the story of an openly bisexual girl who falls for a closeted classmate ("Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies"). Hartinger has written a stage version of Geography Club as well as a screenplay for a possible film version of the novel.
Hartinger is the author of fifteen plays that have been performed around the country and that have been included in more than thirty-five playwriting festivals. He has also been recognized for his screenplays, although none of his screenplays has yet been filmed.
He is a sometime-member of the faculty of Vermont College's MFA
program. At one time, Hartinger taught creative writing at Tacoma School of the Arts. He has also been a counselor at a youth group home
.
Hartinger is also the editor of a fantasy-themed website called TheTorchOnline.com.
writer Michael Jensen. In 1990, he was a facilitator of Oasis, a support organization for gay
teens. He is a co-founder of AS IF! Authors Support Intellectual Freedom, a group of Young Adult authors supporting intellectual freedom
. For example, see "GEOGRAPHY CLUB Under Fire Again: My Reponse (sic)," by Brent Hartinger, AS IF!, 10 April 2009.
Gay teen fiction
Gay teen fiction may refer to:*Gay male teen fiction*Lesbian teen fiction...
.
Early life
Hartinger was born in Washington State. His family moved to Fircrest, Washington when he was an infant. He attended a Catholic (Order of Saint Francis) grade school and middle school, and a Catholic (Jesuit) high school, Bellarmine Preparatory. He earned a bachelor's degree from Gonzaga UniversityGonzaga University
Gonzaga University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington, United States. Founded in 1887 by the Society of Jesus, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is named after the young Jesuit saint, Aloysius Gonzaga...
in Spokane
Spokane
Spokane is a city in the U.S. state of Washington.Spokane may also refer to:*Spokane *Spokane River*Spokane, Missouri*Spokane Valley, Washington*Spokane County, Washington*Spokane-Coeur d'Alene-Paloos War*Spokane * USS Spokane...
, Washington, and also studied psychology at Western Washington University
Western Washington University
Western Washington University is one of six state-funded, four-year universities of higher education in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located in Bellingham and offers bachelor's and master's degrees.-History:...
.
Career
Hartinger has published seven novels.His first novel was Geography Club, about teenagers who secretly start a gay-straight alliance at their high school, which was challenged
Challenge (literature)
The American Library Association defines a challenge to literature as an attempt by a person or group of people to have materials, such as books, removed from a library or school curriculum, or otherwise restricted. Merely objecting to material is not a challenge without the attempt to remove or...
in some American schools, including schools in Hartinger's home town of Tacoma. The novel has two sequels. The Order of the Poison Oak describes the main characters' experiences at summer camp. Split Screen is published as two novels; the reader can turn the book upside down to read the story of a boy trying to choose between two boyfriends ("Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies") or the story of an openly bisexual girl who falls for a closeted classmate ("Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies"). Hartinger has written a stage version of Geography Club as well as a screenplay for a possible film version of the novel.
Hartinger is the author of fifteen plays that have been performed around the country and that have been included in more than thirty-five playwriting festivals. He has also been recognized for his screenplays, although none of his screenplays has yet been filmed.
He is a sometime-member of the faculty of Vermont College's MFA
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
program. At one time, Hartinger taught creative writing at Tacoma School of the Arts. He has also been a counselor at a youth group home
Group home
A group home is a private residence designed or converted to serve as a non-secure home for unrelated persons who share a common characteristic.-Types of group homes:...
.
Hartinger is also the editor of a fantasy-themed website called TheTorchOnline.com.
Personal life
Hartinger lives in Seattle with his partner, novelist and AfterElton.comAfterEllen.com
AfterEllen.com, founded in April 2002, is a website that focuses on the portrayal of lesbian and bisexual women in the media. AfterElton.com, its brother site for gay and bisexual men, was launched in January 2005. The websites were founded by Sarah Warn, who initially served as the editor in...
writer Michael Jensen. In 1990, he was a facilitator of Oasis, a support organization for gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
teens. He is a co-founder of AS IF! Authors Support Intellectual Freedom, a group of Young Adult authors supporting intellectual freedom
Intellectual freedom
Intellectual freedom is the right to freedom of thought and of expression of thought. As defined by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it is a human right. Article 19 states:...
. For example, see "GEOGRAPHY CLUB Under Fire Again: My Reponse (sic)," by Brent Hartinger, AS IF!, 10 April 2009.
Works
- Geography Club (2003)
- The Last Chance Texaco (2004)
- The Order of the Poison Oak (2005)
- Grand & Humble (2006)
- Split Screen: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies (2007)
- Dreamquest (2007)
- Project Sweet Life (2009)
- Shadow Walkers (2011)
Honors
- Book SenseBook SenseBook Sense was a marketing and branding program of the American Booksellers Association, in which many independent bookstores across North America participated in order to better compete with the large book chains. Bookstores participating in the Book Sense program were expected to display the Book...
pick (four times) - Teenreads.com Best Book (five times)
- IRA Notable Book
- Lambda Literary AwardLambda Literary AwardLambda Literary Awards are awarded yearly by the US-based Lambda Literary Foundation to published works which celebrate or explore LGBT themes. Categories include Humor, Romance and Biography. To qualify, a book must have been published in the United States in the year current to the award...
winner - Scandiuzzi Children's Book Award winner, 2007 (Washington State Book AwardWashington State Book AwardThe Washington State Book Awards are presented annually in recognition of notable books written by Washington authors in the previous year.This literary awards program was established in 1967 as the Governor's Writers Awards. The program was based at the Washington State Library in Olympia...
s) - New York Public LibraryNew York Public LibraryThe New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
Book for the Teen Age (four times) - BooklistBooklistBooklist is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. It is geared toward libraries and booksellers and is available in print or online...
Top Ten First Young Adult Novel - ALAAmerican Library AssociationThe American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers - SCBWI/Judy BlumeJudy BlumeJudy Blume is an American author. She has written many novels for children and young adults which have exceeded sales of 80 million and been translated into 31 languages...
Grant for a Contemporary Young Adult Novel - Bookspan Book Club Main Selection (twice)
External links
- Homepage - Brent's Brain
- Interview with AfterElton.com - Attack of the Gay Teen Zombies
- TeanReads.com Profile - Brent Hartinger
- Interview with The Feast Of Fools Podcast