In Steven Gellman’s YA novel SOMEWHERE IN NOWHERE (Ninestar Press, 2026), high school senior Simon Bugg moves to a new home, balances old friends with new friends, and experiences an unexpected crush on a classmate. He is a layered character whose emotional depth is tested throughout the novel. Readers will root for Simon throughout the challenges he faces, from relatable social struggles to life-changing traumas. It’s a pleasure to welcome Steven to chat about his terrific novel.

Welcome, Steven!

Simon Bugg is a likable, relatable protagonist. He juggles family dynamics, a big move including changing schools, a crush at his new school, and more. When things get to be too much for Simon, he experiences what he calls the “alien” in his stomach. Despite support from friends, a mentor, and even his cat – this alien seems too much for Simon to handle. What do you hope your readers take away from Simon’s experiences? 

At the risk of sounding cliché: it’s okay to not be okay. This is a lesson I’ve had to learn more than once in my life, and I wanted to share this message with readers who may be going through their own mental health struggles. (Spoiler alert: the alien isn’t real.)  Simon’s challenge is my challenge. And it may be yours, too. Though his story is fiction, the anxiety Simon experiences is very much my story and my truth. I was in the throes of crippling anxiety and panic attacks while writing this book. I would be up all night. Then, in the morning, I would lay my experiences bare on the page. What Simon was feeling and going through was what I was feeling and going through. Anxiety and mental health disorders are at near-crisis levels for young people. Simon (and I) need you to know… it’s okay to not be okay.

Were any of the characters (human or animal) in the book inspired by your own friendships?

Surprisingly, no… but also, yes. Simon, PJ, his moms and dad, and his colorful array of friends came to me nearly fully formed. I knew who they were immediately, as if they were flesh and blood. I gave Simon my anxiety, but the similarity ends there. A few other characters include elements I plucked from real life and wove into the fabric of their personalities.

For example, Simon and Mags’ playful argument over whose culture exhibits more guilt, Taiwanese or Jewish, comes straight from conversations with my friend Raymond. Paul is loosely based on someone I didn’t know well but with whom I had mutual friends. His quirky disposition stayed with me, and I borrowed a few of his mannerisms to shape the character.

For Mags, I was inspired by the spitfire personality of my high school friend, Laurie.

Then there’s Simon’s rescue cat. He’s a stand-in for every rescue animal that’s been an important part of my life. His namesake is Sammy, my friend Susan’s beloved rescue cat. A little wink to my BFF of over thirty years.

There are a lot of fun scenes in the book, especially with Simon and his friends. But there are also some hard topics, especially in the latter half as Simon begins to understand himself and those around him.  As a writer, how did you balance these emotional shifts?

This was the core challenge of the book, for sure. I knew I wanted to address the dark alongside the light. I wanted to give readers all the feels. For me, the books and movies that stay with me, the ones I enjoy the most, are those that take me on an emotional journey. I wanted readers to laugh and cry. I think dark-meets-light has become my M.O.

I just finished writing my second novel, and it takes the same approach up a couple of notches. You will laugh and cry, even harder this second time around. Ha! 

Simon’s Jewish identity plays a role in religious holidays and rituals. Do you think his Jewish identity is important in his day to day life as well?

Simon is Jewish, but his family isn’t overtly religious on a day-to-day basis. It’s a pattern I saw in my own family growing up, especially after my grandparents passed away. But when challenging events unfold in the book, Simon and his family fall back on, and find comfort in, Jewish customs and rituals.

Simon struggles with some of the traditions at first but eventually comes away with a deeper appreciation for his religion and his family.

Can you tell me a bit about how you chose the title SOMEWHERE IN NOWHERE?

When I decided to write my debut novel, three things were evident:

1. It was going to be a classic LGBTQ+ coming-of-age novel.
2. It would channel real-life troubles in the vein of Judy Blume.  
3. It was going to be called Somewhere in Nowhere.

The seed for writing the book was planted at the Gaithersburg Book Festival. As I passed The Writer’s Center booth, someone asked if I was a writer. When I said no, they probed further, asking what I did for a living. When I replied, “singer-songwriter,” they said: You’re a writer. It’s in your title.

When the pandemic wiped out my work as a performing songwriter, I remembered that conversation from the year before and decided to sit down to write the novel. Somewhere in Nowhere is the title of one of my songs. I suppose I could say that four-and-a-half-minute tune was the first draft of the novel. I simply took the concept from the song—finding yourself in-between—and expanded it.

What were your thoughts when you saw the cover art for the book?

Bliss. Joy. Pride. I instantly fell in love with the beautiful color palate the artist chose to use. I had very few changes to request. It was nearly perfect the first go around. I did have them add a cat to the cover, which I adore. I truly love my cover so much.

You write music as well as books. How is the creative process different for you?

It feels very different in my head but reflecting on it now, the creative process is very much the same. The tools are what change. I trade my guitar and ukulele for my laptop and a pot of tea. Both require sitting in a quiet space (surrounded by my dogs and cat) and accessing the creative part of my brain. One comes out as melody, and one comes out as prose. Each has its own rewards and challenges.

In one form, you have to say a lot in a small amount of time, using very few words and letting the music amplify mood, texture, and feeling. In the other, you have more space for rich detail and emotion, but it’s harder to make people feel something through written word alone.

I love both mediums, and I’m enjoying learning and growing as I continue to write both songs and novels. I have a limited-edition vinyl record coming out, featuring songs inspired by the novel as a companion to the book. It’s another way of bridging my two worlds together, and I couldn’t be more excited.

I’d also like to thank Jewish Books for Kids for these thoughtful questions and for the opportunity to share Simon’s story. Readers who would like to learn more about me, the book, and my music can visit hiddenpoet.com and sign up for my newsletter.

Thank you, Steven!

Steven Gellman is an award-winning songwriter turned author whose stories hum with the same heart and honesty found in his music. Inspired by the books of Judy Blume that once kept him company through his own adolescence, Steven now writes coming-of-age fiction that gives voice to LGBTQ+ teens finding their way in an ever-changing world. When not writing novels or performing music, Steven can be found in a comfy chair with a book in one hand and a cup of tea in the other. Steven lives in Maryland’s Piedmont region with his husband and a houseful of rescued companion animals. Somewhere in Nowhere is his first novel.

Tagged Ninestar Press, Steven Gellman, YA