Featured Local Author

Alyus Vasquez

Queer YA Mystery / Supernatural Thriller  ·  Notable Work: Valley of Wolves

Authentic queer voices. Gripping stories. Spokane-grown.

Alyus Vasquez is a queer trans author, artist, and designer living in Spokane, Washington. He brings an authentic, fiercely imaginative voice to the YA genre, blending emotional depth with sharp-edged suspense — writing the kind of story that grips you by the throat while speaking directly to the experiences of queer youth navigating identity, danger, and self-discovery. He is the founder of the Rainbow Alphabet Collective, a grassroots organization connecting trans people with life-saving medical and mental health resources. Alyus' work — both creative and community-led — champions visibility, survival, and connection. His storytelling emerges from those same values, offering representation wrapped in gripping, page-turning tension. He is also opening Penny's Paw Spa, a queer-friendly dog grooming salon in Spokane, in September 2025.

Selected Works

About Valley of Wolves

A Queer YA Mystery / Supernatural Thriller

Alissa Auerbach had it all — popularity, beauty, wealth — and was considered a shoo-in for homecoming queen. But just days before the dance, her lifeless body is discovered deep in the woods, shattering the calm of West Bend, Washington. What seemed like a tragic accident quickly reveals something much darker at work. Quincy Villalobos, a transgender Mexican-American teen, is already grappling with the chaos of his own shifting identity. Each passing full moon pulls him deeper into a terrifying transformation — one that's becoming increasingly harder to control. When evidence suggests Alissa was attacked by a wolf-like creature, Quincy begins to question everything he thought he knew about himself. With each new clue, the line between what's real and what's possible blurs, leaving Quincy to wonder: is he the key to solving Alissa's murder — or the one responsible for it?

Perfect for fans of: The Raven Cycle, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Wilder Girls

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Alyus Vasquez brings powerful queer trans representation to the YA genre, creating stories that speak directly to the experiences of marginalized youth while delivering the kind of gripping, supernatural suspense that keeps you turning pages late into the night.

His debut novel Valley of Wolves is more than just a mystery — it's a profound exploration of identity, transformation, and the courage it takes to face the darkest parts of ourselves. Through the character of Quincy Villalobos, Alyus crafts a narrative that's both thrilling and deeply authentic.

Beyond his writing, Alyus is a community builder and advocate. As the founder of the Rainbow Alphabet Collective, he works to connect trans people with life-saving resources, bringing the same commitment to visibility and connection that defines his creative work.

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