Brent Hartinger

The Order of the Poison Oak, the sequel to Geography Club, has a pretty steamy cover. What's that about?

Ha! I was a little surprised by that, too. Then again, the sequel is steamier than Geography Club, so I guess it's just truth-in-advertising. But, hey, the book's set at summer camp'some skinny-dipping seemed required! Plus, the sex scenes gave me a chance to talk a little about safer sex, which I think is a really pressing issue for gay teens and twenty-somethings.
Speaking of which, I'm currently working on an online safer sex project aimed at gay teens and twenty-somethings involving the characters from Geography Club and some other gay novels. I think it's a great project, but the Bush administration has public health agencies terrified of anything that actually mentions sex. This country has so gone down the rabbit hole.

What's up for your future?

I have wa-a-ay too much going on. I have another Geography Club sequel in the works, and some more non-gay teen books, too. I have some children's fantasies that will be out next year. Plus, there's the stage adaptation of Geography Club, and a possible movie adaptation. And I'm about to leave on a 20-city book tour! Be careful what you wish for, huh? But I am trying hard not to complain, because I know how that sounds. Honestly, I get paid to do what I love, so I'm a pretty happy camper.

For updated info, check out Hartinger's Web site, 'Brent's Brain,' at www.brenthartinger.com.

See Brent Hartinger on his 'Rainbow Crow' World Author's Tour 2005:

Puyalup, Washington: Wednesday, March 16, 3 p.m., Puyallup Public Library, 324 South Meridian, (253) 841-5454

Tacoma, Washington: Wednesday, March 23, 7 p.m., King's Books, 218 St. Helens Ave., (253) 272-8801 (with Michael Jensen)

Online Chat: Tuesday, April 5, 8:30 Eastern U.S. time (5:30 Pacific). YA Authors' Cafe. Topic: 'YA Comes Out: Queer Themes in Teen Lit'

Bellingham, Washington: Sunday, April 10, 5 p.m., Village Books, 1200 11th St., (360) 671-2626 (with Michael Jensen)

Vancouver, British Columbia: Wednesday, April 13, 7 p.m., Little Sisters Books, 1238 Davie St., (604) 669-1753 (with Michael Jensen)

Seattle: Thursday April 14, 7 p.m., Bailey-Coy Books, 414 Broadway Ave. E., (206) 323-8842 (with Michael Jensen)

Portland, Oregon: Sunday, April 24, Wordstock Festival, 3 p.m.

Boston: Date and time TBA

Shrewsbury, Massachusetts: Wednesday, April 27, 6 p.m., Shrewsbury Public Library, 609 Main St., (508) 842-0081

Albany, New York: April, 29-30, Got Books? Let's Read! Conference sponsored by Hodge Podge Books

New York: Sunday, May 1, signing books from 3-5 p.m., Books of Wonder, 18 W. 18th St., 10011, (212) 989-3270

Philadelphia: Tuesday, May 3, 5:30-7 p.m., Giovanni's Room, 345 S. 12th St., (215) 923-2960 (with Michael Jensen)

Baltimore: Wednesday, May 4, 2 p.m., Howard County Library, venue TBA

Baltimore: Wednesday, May 4, 7 p.m., Lambda Rising Books, 241 West Chase St., 21201, (410) 234-0069 (with Michael Jensen)

Washington, D.C.: Thursday, May 5, 8 p.m., time and place TBA

Norfolk, Virginia: Friday, May 6, 5:30, p.m., Lambda Rising Books, 322 West 21st St. 23517, (757) 626-0969 (with Michael Jensen)

San Diego: Sunday, May 8, 5 p.m., Obelisk Bookstore, 1029 University Ave. 92103, (619) 297-4171 (with Michael Jensen)

Los Angeles: Date and time TBA.

San Jose, California: Date and time TBA

San Francisco: Wednesday, May 11th, 7 p.m., A Different Light Bookstore, 489 Castro St. 94114 (with Michael Jensen)

Menlo Park, California: Thursday, May 12, time TBA, Kepler's Books, 1010 El Camino Real, 94025

Sacramento: Friday, May 13, 7 p.m., The Open Book, 910 21st St. 95814, (916) 498-1004 (with Michael Jensen)

SEATTLE: Friday, June 3, University Books, 4326 University Way NE, 98105, (206) 634-3400

Chicago: July, date and time TBA

Minneapolis: July, date and time TBA

Milwaukee: July, date and time TBA

Green Bay, Wisconsin: July, date and time TBA

Spokane, Washington: August, date and time TBA