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book cover for Sam – When Touch Can Heal

Sam – When Touch Can Heal

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Pub Date 28 Aug 2026 | Archive Date 30 Sep 2026


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Description

What happens when your touch can heal but the world wants to own your power?

On an ordinary morning, in the middle of their senior year at high school in Tucson, non-binary Sam discovers something extraordinary: they can heal people with a simple touch. It begins as a miracle: a small injury on their best friend vanishes without a trace. But word of the ability spreads quickly, and suddenly Sam is no longer safe.

When governments and powerful foreign actors become aware of Sam, they are swept into a whirlwind of danger and manipulation that takes them to the other side of the world. !ere, a hostile country awaits, determined to exploit Sam’s power.

Sam has Jasper on their side, a cocky young Air Force sergeant whose mission is to protect Sam at any cost. But it soon becomes clear that their fates are more deeply intertwined than anyone could have imagined.

Sam – When Touch Can Heal is a gripping YA urban fantasy thriller that blends high-octane suspense with themes of identity, sacrifice, hope, and unexpected bonds. A story that stays with you long after the final page.

What happens when your touch can heal but the world wants to own your power?

On an ordinary morning, in the middle of their senior year at high school in Tucson, non-binary Sam discovers something...


A Note From the Publisher

Hans M Hirschi writes hopeful, character-driven stories about ordinary people navigating extraordinary circumstances. Known as “The Queen of Unconventional Happy Endings,” they create fiction that acknowledges life's complexity while holding firmly to the possibility of hope, connection, and renewal.

Across novels, short fiction, children’s literature, and young adult fantasy, Hans explores family, identity, love, loss, resilience, and the many ways queer lives unfold beyond convention. Their characters often face difficult choices, unexpected change, and profound personal challenges. Yet even in the darkest moments, Hans’s stories remain rooted in compassion and in the belief that happiness does not have to look the same for everyone. Hans is the author of twenty novels spanning several genres. They have also contributed to multiple anthologies and written three children’s books. Their work has reached readers around the world, with several titles becoming bestsellers in Australia, Canada, and the United States.

Born in Switzerland and now based in Sweden, Hans brings a broad international perspective to their writing. Their experiences of different countries, languages, cultures, and communities inform stories that cross borders while remaining deeply personal.

Alongside their literary career, Hans works as a tour guide and serves as a lay judge. They are also actively involved in local civic and queer life, reflecting a longstanding commitment to community,
representation, and social engagement.

Hans lives on Styrsö, an island in the Gothenburg Archipelago, with their husband, son, and cats. The island’s landscape and proximity to the sea provide both a home and a source of inspiration. When not
writing or working, Hans enjoys traveling, attending the opera, watching films, experiencing dance and theatre, and taking long walks by the sea.

Hans M Hirschi writes hopeful, character-driven stories about ordinary people navigating extraordinary circumstances. Known as “The Queen of Unconventional Happy Endings,” they create fiction that...


Marketing Plan

Marketing and media enquiries to helenlewis@literallypr.com 

Marketing and media enquiries to helenlewis@literallypr.com 


Available Editions

EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9781786456779
PRICE £9.99 (GBP)
PAGES 259

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Average rating from 3 members


Featured Reviews

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Sam is a typical nearly 18 year old non-binary person in his last year of high school - until he suddenly finds himself able to heal others by touching them. Please note - pronouns are correct and the choice of the character. The social media attention from his fellow students arouse interest in government agencies. He is pulled in for testing, and gets a guard Jasper - and finds himself attracted to someone for the first time. Despite the protection, he is kidnapped and forced to keep healing people. A number of different countries are involved in his rescue. This is the way I always imagined things would go if someone was publicised with such an ability. I personally didn't really feel the characters' emotions, which could be a me thing. The non-binary representation is excellent (from the viewpoint of another enby).
Thanks for the copy via NetGalley, I am happy to leave a voluntary review.

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