Steven Gellman
Praise for Somewhere in Nowhere
“…moments of winning humor, and the sincerity of the diverse cast is endearing.”
—Kirkus Reviews
"[Somewhere in Nowhere] is impressively original, deftly crafted, fully engaging, and a fun read from start to finish."
—Midwest Book Review
“…a rewarding reading experience.”
— Jewish Book Council
"An emotive exploration of queer teen life… Readers will root for Simon Bugg as he navigates friendship, romance, and the truth about his past."
—VENESSA VIDA KELLEY, USA Today Bestselling author-illustrator of When the Tides Held the Moon
“ A captivating and heartfelt debut by a new voice that will touch your heart...”
— REX OGLE, award-winning author of Free Lunch
"In a rough world and a rough time, it's lovely to be reminded that family can be forged through friendship, and kindness is always a choice.”
—SARAH PINSKER, author of A Song For A New Day and We Are Satellites
“A funny, nerdy, big-hearted, coming-of-age novel… Teens and adults will love it.”
—BENJAMIN PERCY, author of The Ninth Metal, Thrill Me, The Dead Lands, and Red Moon
"Heartwarming and heartbreaking, beautiful and wise… Keep the tissues nearby. ”
— JOHN LARISON, best-selling author of Whiskey When We're Dry
"As a coming-out story, it is heartwarming; as a tale of resilience it is inspiring. I absolutely loved it. ”
— ALEX GEORGE, bestselling author of A Good American and The Paris Hours and owner of Skylark Bookshop
"…it’s a book that I love for reminding us to accept hope from the people we choose to be our family.”
— ZACH POWERS, author of The Migraine Diaries
“…an emotional rollercoaster, so hang on for the ride.”
— KEITH DONOHUE, bestselling author of The Stolen Child
Steven Gellman is an award-winning songwriter turned author. Inspired by his early love for Judy Blume’s groundbreaking stories, Steven has found his passion for writing coming-of-age fiction that centers LGBTQ+ voices and the real-life challenges of navigating adolescence in an ever-changing world.
Steven has long championed authentic queer storytelling — first through song, now through fiction. Billboard Magazine once praised him as one of the ‘out-queer tunesmiths [...] making waves along the coffeehouse circuit.’ His debut album Photobook was nominated for Debut Album of the Year by the Gay/Lesbian American Music Awards (GLAMA). His latest release, All You Need, was a finalist for four Wammie Awards and earned a silver from the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest for “Twenty-Nine.”
When he’s not writing, Steven can be found sipping a cup of Dark Rose tea and plotting new adventures for his book club, Tea & Peril. Now in its tenth year, the club has hosted a growing number of New York Times bestselling authors including Travis Baldree, Sarah Beth Durst, Emily X.R. Pan, Eleanor Brown, and William Kent Krueger.
Somewhere in Nowhere (NineStar Press, April 2026) took Second Place in The BookFest’s Fall 2026 awards, in two fiction categories: LGBTQ+ Young Adult and YA Boys & Men. Steven was also named an ApollyCon Wordsmith Scholar and will appear at the event in 2027. He lives in Maryland’s Piedmont region with his husband and a houseful of rescued companion animals.
