Alexandra McCollum
author of queer fantasy romance
Alexandra McCollum is the author of INTO THE MIDNIGHT WOOD. They grew up in rural northeast Ohio and now live in Nevada. Among other jobs, they’ve worked in a bakery in Austria, managed a coffee shop in Ohio, and taught high school in Las Vegas. When not writing, they can be found studying languages and exploring local coffeehouses in search of the perfect americano.
Into the Midnight Wood
A whimsical fantasy romance about two mismatched roommates whose fragile—and definitely not romantic at all—balance is upended by an impending family wedding and an otherworldly danger in the nearby enchanted wood.There are at least 100 things wrong with Meredith Schwarzwelder. In fact, keeping track of these things is the only way David Carew has managed to remain living with him for as long as he has. Meredith is an irredeemable eccentric who flirts with everyone in his path (#3 on the list), cries at anything (#35), makes the worst coffee in the world (#70), and talks to mice, or imagines he does (#50).It’s bad enough living with such a person on the edge of the Midnight Wood, but when magic starts to seep from the wood and a dark being emerges with a sinister plan involving Meredith, David decides that it’s time to leave the cottage, and his roommate, behind. Then Meredith’s brother gets engaged to the daughter of David’s boss, and David sees an opportunity: If he can insert himself into the festivities, maybe he can advance his career and get himself out of a personal rut.With wedding bells sounding and the dangers of the Midnight Wood encroaching, David realizes there’s much more hiding beneath the surface of his roommate’s seemingly carefree charm, and that perhaps his own exasperation carries more fondness than he’d like to admit.Cozy, sharp, steamy, and poignant, Into the Midnight Wood is a contemporary queer fairy tale about the masks we wear, the stories we tell, and the powerful need for true, honest connection to heal old wounds and new.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of book is INTO THE MIDNIGHT WOOD?
INTO THE MIDNIGHT WOOD is a queer contemporary fantasy romance that is intended for adult readers.
What, specifically, do you mean by queer? What are the identities of the main pairing?
The main character, David, is a cisgender gay man. With the love interest, Meredith, that question is a bit more tricky to answer. In-story, he rejects the use of identity labels, but falls generally under the nonbinary umbrella and experiences romantic attraction to all genders.
What is the tone of the book? Is it a romcom?
The tone is frequently comedic, but the story also touches on heavier topics, including family estrangement, grief, bigotry in various forms, and mental health challenges.
What is the spice level?
There are multiple open-door scenes.
Is there a playlist?
You can find the short version here, which is a partial combination of the longer playlists for both David and Meredith.