Debut Novel Out Now!
Our Summer at Camp Sunnywood:
Seasons of Us, Book 1
XANDER is on the mend from his recent break-up that ruined his self-esteem. He carries the memories of trauma leftover from his ever-present ex-boyfriend. As an attempt to leave everything behind and find solitude, and also remember who he is independent of another person, he’s returning to one of his favorite places: Camp Sunnywood. Being a seasoned counselor, Xander knows just what to expect when it comes to the job, but not everything always goes as planned.
ZACH is recovering from a loss that destroyed him. Four years ago, the unthinkable happened and Zach has never truly healed, shutting himself off from the world and losing track of who he is after his loss. In an attempt to come back to life, and rekindle the spark for life he once felt, he picks up a summer job at a camp for teens, and Camp Sunnywood sounds like a nice place to resuscitate his lifeless existence.
TOGETHER they are assigned to the same cabin for the duration of the summer, cohabitating Cabin 6 at Camp Sunnywood while they both try to regain their senses of self that they lost over the years, and maybe, just maybe, find something they hadn’t thought possible. When feelings that they try to bury end up coming to the surface, both Xander and Zach struggle to overcome their past traumas and be who the universe wants them to be. It will surely be a summer that they both remember for all time.
Our Autumn at Sunnywood University:
Seasons of Us, Book 2
Coming out on September 9th!
About the Author
J Anthony Mendez has been writing fiction for as long as he’s had access to the modern typewriter at his grandmother’s house. Starting with The Ring fan-fiction, he delved into original works in his teenage years, mostly romantic fantasy involving vampires because it was 2008. In 2017, he started what would become — after many restarts and reworkings — the Seasons of Us series. It wasn’t until 2022 when he finally came up with the outline for all four novels that he put pen to paper (metaphorically) and began working on the first in the series, whilst also using the time during writer’s block while writing Our Summer At Camp Sunnywood to begin working on the sequels. For more informaton, feel free to follow him on any of the social media links below!
About the Artist
Hayden James is a traditional artist and digital illustrator known for his evocative style. Based in Pennsylvania, he works primarily in oil paints, graphite drawings, and digital pieces, creating artwork that blends imagination with emotional depth. His personal work often explores themes of femininity, drawing inspiration from queer culture. His collaborative work with bright minds, such as J Anthony Mendez, focuses on the interests and passions of who he is working with to bring their vision to life. For Our Summer at Camp Sunnywood, he designed the cover illustration closely from Mendez’s ideas and sketches, aiming to capture the spirit of the story. The result is a literal gateway into the world of the book, under the arch of the camp, inviting readers to step inside. You can find more of Hayden James’ work at @createdbyhaydenjames on Instagram.
