"Hero" Author (and "Chronicles of Narnia" Producer) Perry Moore Found Dead at Age 39

Perry Moore, the out author of the Lamdba Award-winning gay teen novel Hero and an executive producer on The Chronicles of Narnia movie franchise, was found dead in his SoHo apartment yesterday, reportedly as a result of a drug overdose.

I knew Perry slightly, having met him doing publicity events for my own gay teen novels. In fact, just last month, the two of us had even talked casually about writing a gay teen novel together. Whenever we spoke, I always found him to be enormously supportive and encouraging.

Perry lived an impressive life. In addition to his book (and other still-unpublished works) and the Narnia movies, he and his partner Hunter Hill co-wrote and co-directed a very underrated movie, Lake City, starring Sissy Spacek and Rebecca Romijn.

Moore had been working on a TV adaptation of Hero for Showtime, which had fallen through, although he had been in the process of bringing the project to another network.

Moore was instrumental in the creation of the Narnia movie franchise, based on books that he loved with a passion. He was credited as an executive producer, but he was also the Walden Media reader who originally pushed the producing company to adapt the books, championing the project in the very early stages. He was also influential in the memorable casting of Tilda Swinton as the White Witch.

Moore has been out for years, even once appearing in People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" issue, as the Sexy Man of the Week.

I didn't know Perry well, but I find this terribly sad news. He will be greatly missed.