Across The Bridge
A Queer, Anti-Suicide/Pro-Living Coming-Of-Age Story
As a queer teen in a small American town in the 1980s, Ryder purposely stays in the shadows. At high school he meets friends, including his first crush, Nate, who unconsciously showed him a road to being proud of who he is. A pride that stays with him for life. But growing up in this small, queer-phobic town wasn’t easy, and along the way Ryder will battle to overcome thoughts of suicide. Queer youth (no matter what the decade) have to deal with high school heteronormative expectations that do not match who they are. How did Ryder, Nate and friends…
IMPACTFUL & POSITIVE
“The author bravely tells his story, which is vital for so many to read. It provides a glimpse into how lonely and isolating it can be to just simply be your authentic self. It’s an important lesson for all of us…we are all so much more similar than we are different. Human beings want to feel safe, be loved, respected, and valued for our true selves. His message of positivity and hope makes a difference.”
Darla Tyler-McSherry (Reader)
A Different Kind Of Boy
A story about inclusion and making friends
When Michael starts school, he discovers that he doesn’t enjoy the same things as the other boys, like playing ball. Some of his classmates bully him for being different. Can Michael overcome the bullying and find a friend like him? Developing healthy social skills when entering the school-age years is critical for all children. This includes those who are developing with “different” interests to what society expects. As a child, Michael Simones had little interest in sports, and bases his story on how he handled his exclusion and bullying growing up. He hopes that his own experience will inspire healthy…
“A Different Kind of Boy is an inspiring story that will touch the hearts of both children and adults. It sheds light on the challenges that people face when they are trying to persue their interests and be true to themselves…a valuable resource for parents who want to teach their children how to make friends and respect each other’s preferences.”
Luwi Nyakansaila for Reader's Favorite
Across the Bridge 2
I am so excited to announce that the sequel to Across the Bridge, Across the Bridge 2, will be available in the Fall of 2026. I am getting this page ready. More to come…
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Welcome
Please Explore!
Hello! My name is Michael Simones. I want to welcome you to my author website! Here, you can learn about my self-published books and upcoming content. I’m sharing lore about the individual books, my mission statement, why I started writing, music, and movies that have given me a sense of pride over the years, along with accolades, contact information, and much more!
Latest updates
Posted on 13th April, 2026
Graphic Illustrator Wins Best Overall Design
Eminence System, the graphic illustrator for all three of my books, has won the finalist award for Best Overall Design Non-Fiction for 2026 from the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. https://www.indiebookawards.com/winners.php?year=2026
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Posted on 13th April, 2026
Across the Bridge 2-Coming October 1, 2026
My team and I are working on completing the new sequel to Across the Bridge, Across the Bridge 2. Here is a small blurb about the upcoming book: Ryder is back to share the hurtful and hateful experiences he endured as a queer teen growing up in a rural American…
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About
Here you can find out about myself, my mission statement, publishing source, illustrator and contact information.
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Rocky Horror
I want to share with you, the reader, how I keep Rocky Horror alive and current in the 2020s!
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Teachable Moments
Teachable Moments from the author on thinking for yourself and thriving as an LGBTQIA+ person.
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Suicide Prevention
Contact information for thoughts of suicide support, parent support, latest queer suicide statistics, coming out support, and advice on choosing life.
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