Special Feature-Q&A with Shorty Daniels

For a very special edition of my blog, this is going to be a Q&A with Sam “Shorty” Daniels, the main character of my upcoming YA LGBTQ+ contemporary romance debut Does Love Always Win? This is as if she was featured in a senior spotlight in her school’s newspaper.

DALE’S DAILY-SENIOR SPOTLIGHT with Shorty Daniels

Shorty, thanks so much for being here with us today!

No probs! I’ve never done this before so I’m kinda nervous, but excited!

No worries, and I can’t tell! So first off, tell the readers a bit about yourself.

Well, my name is Sam “Shorty” Daniels and I just started my senior year at Dale High, clearly since this is a senior spotlight. I play trumpet in the marching band, am president of the student council, write on the newspaper staff, am in the musical and concert band in the spring, and love creative writing!

Wow! That’s a lot to be in. How do you find time for homework?

I don’t have much of a social life because my parents make me come home and do my homework after my extracurricular activities are over. I need to make sure my grades are good for college.

Speaking of college, where are you going and what are you majoring in?

Next year I’m going to Temple University for journalism. I wanted to do creative writing but my parents wanted me to get a “real job” that makes money when I graduate.

That’s tough. What kind of stories do you write?

Right now I’m writing a collection of stories based on all the guys I’ve ever dated. It’s not a memoir before you ask, it’s fictional short stories. My motto is, take what you know and change it up some so you don’t get sued!

Good call! So what subject do you like the most at school?

Oh I loved English class with Mr. T. He knew how to make it interesting and encouraged my writing.

What about least favorite subject?

I have a feeling it’s going to be biology. I’m taking it right now. I hate having to cut up animals and I’ve been told Mr. Paul’s class is super hard…but at least my lab partner, Kristy Davis, is pretty amazing.

What about your extracurriculars? Favorite and least favorite?

Newspaper staff is great! My two favorite teachers run it, Mr. T and Mr. Ricardo. I have an advice column that I write, so if anyone has any questions they need help with, submit them to me at ShortyD23@gmail.com. Least favorite, I have to say marching band because our routines and practice schedules are rough, but as much as I complain about it, that’s where my friends and I have the most fun, especially on the bus for away games.

As we’re wrapping up, what advice do you have for freshmen?

Try not to care about what people think about you. I know it’s hard, but it won’t help you out in the long run if you’re constantly worried about appearances.

Well thank you for sitting down with us today. Best of luck with your senior year!

Thanks for spotlighting me! I’m hoping it will be the best year yet at Dale High.