Jonathan Van Ness and Julie Murphy have teamed up to write a new young adult novel, "Let Them Stare", which is a heartwarming and uplifting story of a gender-nonconforming teen living in a small Pennsylvania town. The book follows Sully, an 18-year-old who discovers a vintage bag haunted by the ghost of a drag performer from the '50s, Rufus. As Sully tries to help Rufus move on, they realize that their small town might have more to offer than they initially thought.

The Inspiration Behind the Book

Van Ness came up with the idea after impulse buying a "really chic big-ass bag" in 2022 and thinking about what it would be like if that bag was haunted. He pitched the idea to Murphy, and they started working on the book together. Van Ness explained that Murphy was an incredible teacher and allowed him to find his voice, while Murphy brought her own strengths and backgrounds to the page.

Both authors wanted the book to show young readers a different path forward than what they may have seen elsewhere. They wanted to create a "possibility model" for LGBTQ+ youth in small towns or rural areas, where they might feel stifled.

A Message for LGBTQ+ Youth

The authors want the book to serve as an inspiration and a rallying cry for LGBTQ+ youth. Van Ness wants to shout out to LGBTQ+ youth that are already further down the path than their ancestors were at their age. "It's also about just not divorcing ourselves from our expression, not dimming it, not expressing it, because we're afraid of other people's reactions," he says.

Murphy adds that "stories teach us about possibility, so why shouldn't we all have a chance to see what might be possible?"

The Title "Let Them Stare"

The title "Let Them Stare" bears unintentional resemblance to Mel Robbins' viral "Let Them" theory. Murphy explains that "Let Them Stare" means that people are always fascinated (and sometimes scared) by what they don't know. "But the more we see something, the more normal it becomes to us."

Get Inspired

Let Them Stare by Jonathan Van Ness and Julie Murphy is available now. Get inspired by their story and read about the authors' message for LGBTQ+ youth.

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Get ready to be inspired by Jonathan Van Ness and Julie Murphy's new YA novel, "Let Them Stare". The book is available now, and it's a heartwarming story that you won't want to miss.