About
I’m Josh Marcus, a queer Jewish author writing at the intersection of love, politics, and what it means to be human.
My debut novel, Yitzy & Samir, follows two young men — one Jewish, one Palestinian — whose chance encounter in occupied Palestine in 2006 becomes an unlikely story of freedom, resilience, and love.
Across Instagram, TikTok, and my newsletter Desire Lines, I share the full world around the work: the writing process, the sociopolitical context, creativity, identity, and the conversations that the novel opens up.
Themes
01
Forbidden Desire
Love that exceeds the categories built to contain it — tender, defiant, and profoundly human.
02
Faith & Shame
The weight of inherited belief and the long, difficult work of choosing yourself anyway.
03
Identity & Belonging
What it means to occupy multiple marginalised identities at once — and to find community there.
The Debut Novel
Their yearning is all that matters.
A chance encounter in occupied Palestine, 2006. Two young souls from worlds apart, both reaching for freedom, connection, and each other.
Chapters and process notes are shared through Desire Lines, with a community built around the conversations the story starts.
Follow the story on Desire Lines →On why fiction
“Tenderness needs space. Fiction is how I give it room to breathe.”
Get in touch
For press enquiries, speaking opportunities, collaboration, or to connect as a reader — I’d love to hear from you.
Thank you — I’ll be in touch soon.