Me Time
Age Rap
A good friend told me that when you reach a certain age the Check Engine light comes on and doesn't go off.
I gotta say, I'm living proof. Right as I blew past my 68th birthday last month, all kinds of weird health things showed up in a very circuitous way. What this has meant for me are two surgeries (or "medical procedures" as they are known more politely) in the month of March. The first, a "dress rehearsal" day surgery last week and tomorrow something a bit more involved that requires two nights of inpatient delights. Fingers crossed that all goes well and no doubt an update in the April issue of this little newsletter.
Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, what did you think of the play?
Sapphic Lit and Other Book Stuff
Congrats to author Rachel Lacey for the inclusion of her book, Stars Collide, by Gail King's story on romance novels! Representation is so important!
Tropes: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly | Jane Friedman
Tropes are a staple of genre fiction. Some folks love to hate them; they even use “tropey” as a derogatory term.
And yet, writers still use them.
And many readers still celebrate them.
Why?
Don’t Make These 10 Self-Publishing Mistakes - Part 2 - WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®
In part one, we looked at a few production mistakes new authors can make. Today, we’ll focus on mistakes to avoid while finalizing your files and publishing your book.
Why Is No One Making Space for Strictly Sapphic Romance?
Why is sapphic romance so often overlooked and undervalued even by true advocates? Why can’t sapphic romance break through in the same way gay (m/m) romance has? Why are strictly sapphic romance authors always scrapping for the last seat at the table rather than being welcomed in one of the most expansive and diverse genres in the world?
From Boston to Chicago, romance bookstores are popping up
Driving the trend: Data from consumer research firm Circana show print sales of romance novels as of last summer were up 52% year over year.
Industry experts say the growth is fueled in part by TV adaptations and #BookTok bringing new and younger readers into the fold.
Yes, your home can be sexy, according to romance authors. Here’s how. - The Washington Post
If you want to be close to someone, make sure the design of your home isn’t keeping you apart.
3 Elements That Make Historical Romance Successful | Jane Friedman
My interest—as a historian and historical novelist—is in romances set in the past. But minus the historical setting, I think most of my observations apply to any good romance.
In a nutshell, here’s what I found.
Audre Lorde Ain’t Here for Your Hopelessness: How Her Words Are Fueling a New Generation of Queer Rage | Them
a new biography of Lorde, titled “Survival Is a Promise: The Eternal Life of Audre Lorde.” Gumbs is one amongst many Black and brown LGBTQ writers whose work is directly influenced by Lorde, furthering the legacy that the late writer had long established.
2 New Memoirs of Lesbian Moms Coming Out Late in Life - Mombian
Two recent memoirs by two women who came out late in life—one Jewish, with young children; one Christian, with grown children—remind us that there are many paths to queer parenthood and many ways to follow even a similar path.
Mombian Database of LGBTQ Family Books Hits Milestone of 1500+ Entries - Mombian
Even as children’s books with LGBTQ representation continue to be banned, more and more continue to be published. I’m thrilled to announce that the Mombian Database of LGBTQ Family Books now has more than 1500 items in it, with nearly 300 added in the past year. Search and filter for what you want, and read my in-depth reviews!
News You Can Use
"Desert Hearts" Sex Scene Celebrates Patience and Persistence | Autostraddle
Vivian’s hunger takes over. Cay has let her take control and that established trust frees her to do so.
4 Queer Age-Gap Couples on What They’ve Taught Each Other | Them
LGBTQ+ people have a tendency to form romantic bonds within a broader age range. According to 2021 census data, same-sex spouses are more likely to have larger age gaps, with 5% who were 20 years or more apart, compared to 1% of opposite-sex couples.
Kristen Stewart Talked About Playing a “Little, Dykey Sister” in Love Lies Bleeding | Them
Stewart spoke with Rolling Stone about her upcoming movie, her relationship to femininity, and more.
"Drive-Away Dolls" Is a Raunchy Lesbian Caper | Autostraddle
I went into the film knowing it was the work of a famous male director and his queer wife, but I didn’t expect the film to embrace those dueling energies with such a delightful gusto. The film transfuses a queer fluidity into its filmmaking and, as a result, is the best film either Coen has made in over a decade.
Apple TV+ Cornered the Market on Lesbians in Sci-Fi
science fiction – a genre that often explores the theme of otherness but hasn’t included as many queer characters as it should – that Apple TV+’s cadre of lesbians and queer women really shine
Reneé Rapp on Mean Girls, The Sex Lives of College Girls, Beyonce
The ‘Mean Girls’ actor turned pop star dishes on her love for Justin Bieber, getting flowers from Beyoncé and how playing a lesbian on 'The Sex Lives of College Girls' changed her life: "I don’t see a character. I’m like, 'That’s me.'"
The legacy of “Fast Car”: How Tracy Chapman gave voice to a generation of Black lesbians (and everyone else) – Reckon
Chapman’s identity as a queer Black woman adds dimensions to the song that accentuates its melancholy
Meet Tagg magazine’s new editor and owner
“As a Black lesbian woman, I know how hard it is when you’re shouting and no one’s willing to listen,” she said. “Tagg’s the place where women, non-binary and trans folks can go to be heard, that’s really the point.”
Why Do Lesbian Divorce Rates Seem So High? | Autostraddle
A closer look at the numbers reveals they’re not quite as alarming or definitive as they seem at first glance — but they definitely do seem to suggest, at the very least, that lesbians are more likely to divorce than gay male couples are. So let’s get into that data!
18 Queer Divorce Horror Stories | Autostraddle
Yes, there’s the mythic (yet somehow real) “conscious uncoupling,” the amicable divorce, but sometimes there’s also bitter fighting or even abuse. But as the theme for Divorce Week goes: you may be divorced, but you’re not alone.
Study shows threefold rise in bisexual behavior among Americans ｜ PsyPost
A study published in The Journal of Sex Research uncovered a significant rise in the number of Americans identifying as bisexual or reporting bisexual behaviors, especially in recent years. The findings shed light on the evolving landscape of sexual orientation in the United States.
What Is a Nonbinary Gender Transition? | Autostraddle
There isn’t one way to be non-binary, and non-binary social transitions run the whole range of possibilities because they’re not restricted to an existing framework.
Helpful Tools
Embrace RSS: These Are the Best RSS Reader Apps in 2024 | Lifehacker
Don't miss anything—and escape the algorithm at the same time.
A Terrific Quote
Daily Inspiration | Inspiring Quotes
It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.