Getting To Know Me

Daz James

I grew up in a small country town in Australia where being different wasn't always understood or celebrated. Like many young people searching for where they belonged, I often felt like an alien on my own planet.

Books became my escape.

Every time I opened one, I discovered worlds where ordinary people could become heroes, imagination had no limits, and somewhere out there was the possibility of finding a place to belong. Yet, despite everything I read, I rarely found characters who reflected my own experiences as a young gay person. I longed for stories that would have reminded me I wasn't alone.

So I decided to write them.

Storytelling became my way of making sense of the world and creating places where outsiders, dreamers, and wonderfully imperfect people could finally feel seen. My characters don't always fit the worlds they were born into, but they never stop searching for the places—and the people—who accept them for exactly who they are.

Finding a publisher wasn't easy. At a time when LGBTIQA+ stories were still considered a risk by many publishers, rejection letters became a familiar part of my writing journey. There were moments when giving up would have been easier.

But stories have a funny way of teaching us resilience.

My first breakthrough came when one of my short stories was accepted into an anthology. It wasn't just a publication—it was permission to keep believing in myself. It reminded me that every "no" was bringing me one step closer to the right "yes."

Today, my books span colourful country towns, intergalactic adventures, dystopian futures, and gloriously camp comedy. While the settings may be wildly different, they all share one thing in common: they're stories about hope, belonging, and the courage to keep going when the world tells you that you don't fit.

If my writing helps just one reader feel a little less alone than I did growing up, then every rejection letter was worth it.

Welcome to my worlds.

I'm so glad you've found your way here.

Daz James

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