Winter Blogfest: Diane Billas

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a digital copy of my queer YA superhero book Superficial. No shipping restrictions. 

Tis the Season to…Read?

I never used to be a seasonal reader. I didn’t even consider matching my reading to what season it was. I’d request books at the library and would just read whatever came in for me, but this year I can’t get enough of reading seasonal books. It first started at Halloween; I was devouring all of the spooky and horror books, but I didn’t think this seasonal reading habit would translate into holiday reads because I’ve never been a big Christmas book person. I would maybe read one for the entire season and call it a day. And if I was lucky, I’d watch one holiday movie.

But this year, I don’t know what it is, I want all of the holiday books with all the feels. I’m on my third holiday book of the season and loving it. It also might be because now there are so many more queer holiday books, the kind of books that I like to read, and write. The last one I read is a YA sapphic romance book called I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm by Mariama J. Lockington and it was absolutely adorable, but it wasn’t as cheesy as I remember holiday books being. The characters had backstories that were a bit tragic but believable and I enjoyed that it was in a dual perspective, one written in prose and one written in verse.

Now that I have found these amazing queer holiday books, I can see many more in my future. I already have a whole lineup of holiday reads for the rest of December. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll write my own queer holiday novel.

Embark on a thrilling adventure with Lea and Jake as they navigate the unexpected twists and turns at the biggest superhero fan convention of the year. When Lea finds herself trapped in an elevator during the event with superstar Jake, also known as The Amazing Boy, they realize something sinister is afoot. With everyone at the convention frozen, including Lea’s friends, Lea and Jake must team up to unravel the mystery behind the villainous acts plaguing Philadelphia. As they race against time, Lea grapples with whom to trust, while Jake uncovers startling truths about his own identity. A pulse-pounding journey filled with friendship, betrayal, and the ultimate quest for justice, will Lea and Jake save the day, or will supervillains prevail? Dive into this gripping tale that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Diane Billas is an award-winning author of the YA sapphic contemporary romance novel DOES LOVE ALWAYS WIN?, featured in Parents Magazine, and the YA superhero novel SUPERFICIAL, both with Creative James Media. Her sapphic short stories are featured in Wild Ink Publishing’s PROM PERFECT anthology and Of the Publishing Persuasion’s JINGLE THESE BELLS spicy holiday anthology.

Diane Billas lives in Philadelphia with her husband and son. When she’s not writing she can be found reading multiple books at once, performing the French horn and piano, or dreaming of the next country she’s going to visit. Diane can be found on Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @dianebillas, on Instagram/Threads @dianebillaswrites, and at dianebillas.com.

Website | Blog | Facebook | X | Instagram | Goodreads

Buy the book at Books2Read.