WONDERLAND Receives Rave Reviews

"Some books just beg to be screenplays...they're so visual and create such vivid pictures in their readers' minds that you naturally want to see them on the big screen. That's what you get with David-Matthew Barnes' new YA book, Wonderland...if you pass this by because it's for young adults, you'll be missing one of the most intensely filmable pieces I've read in a long time. Almost every scene here would look wonderful in IMAX."
Out in Print: Queer Book Reviews

"After her mother's death from cancer, Destiny is sent to the tiny South Carolina island of Avalon Cove to live with her uncle and his partner... there are plenty of warm moments between Destiny and her new family."
Kirkus Review

"Barnes is known for his unique and creative fiction, and this novel, appropriate for teens and adults, continues in that vein. It's valuable for all as a look at LGBT teens, tolerance, embracing differences in each other, as well as an interesting perspective on fate and the hereafter. Absolutely loved it and you likely will too. Five stars out of five."
Bob Lind, Echo Magazine

"The plot and general concept of this was great and quite refreshing after so much angsty YA stuff...I also really loved the relationships and pairings in this...there was this recurring idea about what truly makes a family come to life."
The Perks of Being a Bookworm

"I have been waiting for this book since the author announced it would be coming out. I was intrigued by the concept and it did not disappoint."
Jennifer Lavoie, Author of Andy Squared

Read an excerpt from Wonderland.

Available in paperback and eBook from all major retailers!

Book Tour/Road Trip: Days 5 and 6

Sunday morning, Edward and I met Stacy and Mindy at Ruby's Diner to have breakfast together and to say our good byes.

We were then back on the road for a five-hour drive to Las Vegas. One of my very best friends (and fellow writer) Rena Mason lives there with her husband Rob. To say Rena hooked us up in an understatement. We met her in the lobby of the Suncoast Hotel and Casino. We then headed upstairs with luggage in tow. Our hotel room wasn't a room, it was a palace. I don't think Edward and I ever wanted to leave.

After getting a personal tour of Rob and Rena's gorgeous house, the four of us had a wonderful steak dinner (one of the best I've ever had) at SC Prime Steakhouse and Bar. Edward and I did some gambling and then finally caught up on some sleep.

We met Rena the next morning at Café Siena for a delicious breakfast and to say our good byes.

We were then back on the road for a twelve-hour drive home to Denver. The last two hours were scary as the road coming over the Rockies was treacherous due to a snow storm. Thank goodness Edward was the driver.

Our trip was wonderful and fun-filled, one of the best we've had. We're already counting down the days until our return to Palm Springs.

Book Tour/Road Trip: Day 4

Saturday began with another poolside breakfast at our hotel. We then headed over to Casitas Laquita Resort to listen to a panel discussion on Bright Lights, Big City, moderated by the ultra popular and hilarious Ashley Bartlett (who's originally from and writes about El Dorado Hills for all my Sactown friends). I was super bummed that Rebekah Weatherspoon didn't show but Lisa Girolami and Nell Stark had great things to say about writing about the rich and famous and Diane Anderson-Minshall told one of the funniest stories I've ever heard. The second discussion of the day was Flashing Back: Playing with Time, moderated by the wonderful Connie Ward. This was followed by the annual (and always anticipated) BSB Skit, featuring many of the BSB authors - me included. I portrayed one of my characters (Diego Delgado from The Jetsetters) in a spoof of The Dating Game. Good times.

That afternoon I was honored to be among a fantastic group of male authors selected to read at the Palm Springs Public Library. I was in stellar company: Felice Picano, Ken O'Neill, Eric Andrews-Katz, Joel Gomez-Dossi, and Jerry L. Wheeler. The reading was moderated by Nell Stark who asked each author terrific questions about their work and creative process. I read an excerpt from Wonderland and an excerpt from The Jetsetters. The audience was wonderful. Overall, it was one of my best readings to date.

One of my favorite moments occurred when we were asked to choose a book we wish we would've written. Naturally, I answered with "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume."

After drinks and conversation at Wang's in the Desert, we (Mindy, Stacy, Edward, Kathy Knowles, and I) headed over to Hamburger Mary's for dinner.

By the time I got back to the hotel room, I was exhausted. I returned some emails and read the first chapter of my autographed copy of I, Rhoda.

Book Tour/Road Trip: Day 3

Santa Monica. Love.

What a wild day Friday was. After a poolside breakfast with writer, editor, and friend Jerry L. Wheeler, Edward and I headed over to a yummy place called Koffi, where I discovered a delicious drink called Vanilla Bean Supreme. To say it was one of the best thing's I've ever had is an understatement. Unfortunately, Koffi is a local business, so I'll have to wait until next year to enjoy another one.

We then headed back to the beautiful Casitas Laquita Resort where I was a member of a literary panel. Our topic of discussion was 'Other Worlds.' Our moderator, writer and editor Shelley Thrasher, assigned each of us an excerpt written by another member of the panel. We read the excerpt to those in attendance and then answered questions about the work. I read an excerpt from Belvoed Gomorrah by the brilliant Justine Saracen. Trinity Tam read an excerpt from my novel Wonderland and Nell Stark answered questions (and spoke very highly) about the novel.

By that time, my best friend Mindy and her wife Stacy had arrived from Sacramento. The four of us jumped in my car and headed to Los Angeles. First stop: the Santa Monica Pier! For any fans of my novel The Jetsetters, I stood in the very spot where the final scene of the book takes place. After some required cotton candy, discovering a wonderful singer named Clare Means who was playing accoustic guitar and singing on the pier, and taking lots of photos, we headed over to Westwood Village, where we explored the UCLA campus.

Next up was Rodeo Drive (even prettier at night) where each of us did more than enough window shopping and wishing.

We then hit Sunset Blvd and headed over to Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles for an awesome dinner! Best chicken I've ever had, hands down. The waffles were to die for.

We didn't make it back to Palm Springs until after mdnight. We were exhausted, but it was well worth it.

Book Tour/Road Trip: Day 1 and 2

We left Denver on Tuesday and headed south to Albuquerque. En route (Edward was driving, thank God), we hit some near-blizzard conditions in Pueblo and Trinidad.

In Albuquerque, we had a wonderful dinner with Edward's longtime friend Sylvia and her husband Matthew (also a writer). It was great to meet them.

We were back on the road early the next morning, heading west. Except for stopping in Flagstaff for a quick lunch, we drove non-stop for eleven hours.

We got to Palm Springs last night, checked in, unpacked, had dinner at a restaurant with horrible service (and mediocre food). But we were so happy to be here. It's such a beatiful town.

Today, the Bold Strokes Books LGBT Palm Springs Book Festival kicks off. I'm moderating a panel discussion this morning (called The Hook: First Scenes) at the beautiful Casitas Laquita Resort. The panel will feature readings by some terrific authors: Ashley Bartlett, Yolanda Wallace, Cari Hunter, M.L. Rice, Joel Gomez-Dossi, and Ken O’Neill.

Later tonight, Edward and I are heading over to meet Valerie Harper at a book signing.