By: Daniel P’Lopez
Long before he became the author of multiple published books, Daniel P’Lopez was an 18-year-old high school senior trying to make sense of loneliness, heartbreak, and his place in the world. While many teenagers were focused on graduation and the future, P’Lopez found himself turning inward, using writing as an escape and as a way to process emotions that were often too difficult to express out loud
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That deeply personal journey eventually became The Story of Myles, a coming-of-age novel that blends fiction with emotional truth. Although the story is largely fictional, P’Lopez admits that pieces of his own life found their way into its pages.
“I never looked at Myles as being me,” he explains. “He was more like a reflection of me—or almost like an imaginary son.”
That distinction is important. Rather than writing an autobiography, P’Lopez created a character who could experience many of the same emotions he was facing while allowing the story to grow into something uniquely its own.
At the time he began writing the novel, P’Lopez was navigating his first relationship with another young man. When that relationship ended, the heartbreak became the emotional spark that fueled the manuscript.
“I was living in a lonely world,” he recalls. “I didn’t have a lot of friends, and when my first relationship ended, it broke my heart. Looking back, I think those life experiences helped shape this novel. Had I never experienced that heartbreak, the story probably would have been very different.”
Set in the mid-1990s, The Story of Myles follows a teenager searching for acceptance while dealing with family trauma, friendship, first love, and questions surrounding his sexuality. Although decades have passed since P’Lopez first wrote the manuscript, he believes its themes remain just as relevant today.
“Many young people still struggle with their sexuality because of family, religion, or society’s expectations,” he says. “Even though the story takes place in the 1990s, I think readers—especially those from small towns—can still relate to Myles.”
Unlike many coming-of-age novels, The Story of Myles refuses to guarantee a happy ending. Instead, it embraces life’s complexities, exploring difficult subjects including physical and verbal abuse, depression, suicide, rumors, family conflict, and the emotional uncertainty surrounding bisexuality and identity.
“I think everyone wants a happy story or a happy ending,” P’Lopez says. “But life isn’t always happy. I wanted to approach it differently. It was important for me to write honestly about certain issues instead of pretending those struggles don’t exist.”
Writing those scenes came at a personal cost.
“There were many difficult scenes to write,” he admits. “But the ending was the hardest. Without giving anything away, it ends tragically. It felt like watching someone you love go through something terrible and not being able to help them.”
Despite the novel’s emotional weight, P’Lopez hopes readers walk away with empathy rather than despair.
“I hope readers enjoy the story and that it brings out their emotions—even their tears—because it is an emotional story. I also hope non-LGBTQ+ readers approach Myles with an open mind and an open heart. This isn’t simply a story about sex. It’s a story about relationships, family, identity, and the love Myles feels for both Stacie and Seth. Those relationships shape who he becomes, and even when life changes, they’re never forgotten.”
Although P’Lopez has continued to grow as a writer through classes, experience, and years of publishing, he intentionally preserved much of the original manuscript’s voice when preparing this new edition.
“My writing has improved over the years,” he says, “but I wanted to keep the original writing style and emotional feel as much as possible. I didn’t want to lose the heart of the young man who first wrote it.”
That young man could never have imagined where the journey would lead. Today, P’Lopez looks back with gratitude and encouragement.
“If I could talk to my 18-year-old self,” he says, “I’d tell him, ‘Things can and will get better. Keep writing. Keep dreaming your dreams, because it’s never too late to live happily and make those dreams come true.’”
With the release of this updated edition, P’Lopez also has his eyes on the future. The Story of Myles is only the beginning of what he calls The Forbidden Love Series, which will include both a prequel and a sequel, following many of the same beloved characters through new chapters of their lives.
He also dreams of seeing Myles’ story reach an even wider audience through film or television.
For now, however, his greatest hope is much simpler.
“I want readers to remember that they should never give up on themselves.”
Perhaps that is why The Story of Myles resonates beyond its coming-of-age premise. It is a novel about love, loss, identity, resilience, and hope. It reminds us that while heartbreak may shape our stories, it does not have to define our own endings.