The Mind of TJ Klune

The TJ Klune Story

The author I selected for this blog is TJ Klune, an active LGBT voice in the community and activist. As an asexual man with ADHD, his work often centers on fictional stories featuring LGBT/neurogdivergent characters and are often inspired by real world events and personal experiences (1). Considering our current social climate, TJ’s novels give insight into the LGBT and neurodivergent communities along with their history while crafting stories that many can relate to regardless of whether they are fictional characters. His landmark works include House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door.

TJ Klune is a 44-year-old American author from Roseburg, Oregon. His writing began at the age of 8 after completing the video game Metroid. His discontent with the ending of the game prompted him to create a Metroid story of his own to send the publisher/developer Nintendo (2). Growing up in rural Oregon as an LGBT child, along with undiagnosed ADHD was difficult especially in the 80s and 90s. For TJ, reading and writing were an escape from rhetoric and an unsupportive household (1). He attended a community college for one semester and found work as an insurance claim examiner for Geico, but still felt determined to be a writer. His first novel, Bear, Otter and the Kid was released in 2011 while still at Geico, saying that it "sold extremely well" (1). In 2016, he made the decision to become a writer full time. His reasoning for quitting after 10 years is his disillusionment with the insurance field; "I had to take a chance. I had to take a risk" (1).

The House in the Cerulean Sea (2020)

One of TJ's most well known literary works is The House In The Cerulean Sea

released March 17th, 2020. Inspired by the real life Canadian 60s Scoop, which ended in controversy over the novel's use of the story (3). House In The Cerulean Sea follows Linus Baker, a caseworker for the Department in Charge for Magical Youth. The story takes Linus to an orphanage in search of 6 extraordinary children identified by the DICOMY as dangerous. As the book progresses, Linus becomes more and more suspicious of how the orphanage is being run and the quality of the caretakers (4). Linus' tumultuous romance with a character named Arthur carries as an important driver for the story and Linus himself. Over the course of time that Linus is at the orphanage, he eventually understands that the reason he was sent had a deeper and more personal reason with the DICOMY as opposed to nullifying true danger (4).

Critics and Public Reception

While The House In The Cerulean Sea is mostly regarded as a positive message and representative story for those in the LGBT community. However, it was initially marred with controversy centering on his inspiration for the book, the aforementioned 60s Scoop. Many thought using such a tragic story to create something of the books nature and genre was romanticizing horrible real life events (3). Indigenous children (the magical youth) being taken and sanctioned by a corporate overhead (Department in Charge of Magical Youth). This was compounded by the Kamlops Indian Residental School discovery of over 200 first nation children, and 751 unmarked graves found at the Marieval Indian Residential School (3).

Personal Reflection 

Personally I find TJ's novels to be positive works to create stories inclusive with people in communities marginalized by current systemic and social mediums, and making them positive in nature. The controversy around The House In The Cerulean Sea is understandable to me, and I am not sure where I fall with it. I agree that sugar coating dire situations like the residential schools is diminishing the importance, but he isn't doing that directly. Simply his inspiration with personal experiences included, which can be seen in Linus and Arthur.

Works Cited:

1. Malinsky, Gili. “At 19, He Dropped out of College-at 42, He’s a Bestseller: ‘My Last Novel Just Debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times.’” CNBC, CNBC, 25 Nov. 2024, www.cnbc.com/make-it/2024/11/25/nyt-bestselling-author-tj-klune-on-finding-success.html. 

2. TJ Klune, www.fantasticfiction.com/k/tj-klune/. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

3. Posted byA Naga of the Nusantara. “The Controversial Politics of Fantastical Wish Fulfillment: A Review of T. J. Klune’s the House in the Cerulean Sea.” A Naga of the Nusantara, 6 July 2021, nusantaranaga.wordpress.com/2021/06/30/the-controversial-politics-of-fantastical-wish-fulfillment-a-review-of-t-j-klunes-the-house-in-the-cerulean-sea/.

4.  LitCharts. “The House in the Cerulean Sea Summary.” LitCharts, 8 Dec. 2025, www.litcharts.com/lit/the-house-in-the-cerulean-sea/summary.