Lightward Home

Lightward Home is an epic YA fantasy about a young castaway drawn into sea-borne peril, ancient magic, and the hard work of choosing found family over fear. Set against restless oceans and far-flung islands, the story follows a survivor whose journey toward a fragile refuge-"home" in more than just name-forces confrontations with buried trauma, corrupt power, and the cost of love. Blending rich worldbuilding, shipbound danger, and a slow-burning, hard-won romance, Lightward Home invites readers who enjoy character-driven adventure and emotional stakes to sail beside a hero learning what it truly means to belong. A former Peer Support Specialist with a B.A. in Psychology from Sonoma State University, and a diagnosis of schizophrenia, David Cleofas Avila writes and makes art & music to better square away the sequelae of life.Residing in the Susan Fleming family collection, curated by L. Marx, David's art has been priced by Ames Gallery, recognized at the National Arts and Disability Center UCLA, and published in Peatsmoke Journal, Gabby & Min, NUNUM, The Words Faire, È-phemeros Project, Harpur Palate, Eleventh Hour Literary, and Reservoir Road Literary Review. His music is highlighted in Wordgathering. The artist's poetry has been published in Oddball Magazine, eMerge Magazine, The Poetry Cove, Flora Fiction, Breath & Shadow, Poetry for Mental Health, Braver Collective, and Assignment Literary Magazine.