Me Time
Why Are There Pumpkin Flavored Lattes and Halloween Decorations in Stores in August?
I hope everyone's feeling good and enjoying these last few weeks of summer despite the fact that those people who want to sell us stuff are rushing us into fall.
Jenny and I spent a bit of our time on Fire Island in the community of Cherry Grove where the welcome message on the fence of one house can be seen in this fun photo.
This week I'm geeking out on the Democratic National Convention. First night speeches were incredible--AOC, Hilary, Rankin, Jasmine Crockett, and of course President Biden. With both Obamas slated for tonight, I'm sure not to be disappointed. And then there's Pete on Wednesday and Kamala to cap it off! I'm a bit fired up as you can tell.
Any Swifties here? I actually signed up for the Swifties for Kamala call next week. Really curious to see what that's like. At this point I've attended calls for just about all my identity groups!
In the world of books I'm still working my way through a list of ARCs from Net Galley. Three new 5 star books I've read are A Thousand Times Before by Asha Thanki, The Summer List by Katia Rose, and Her Golden Coast by Anat Deracine. I try to make sure my ARC reviews appear before (for Goodreads) and at publication date (for Amazon), so I've been prioritizing them. But I'm eager to get back to my KU pile as well as the books I actually paid for.
Finally, welcome to new subscribers most of whom signed up after seeing my ad in the I Heart SapphFic newsletter. Kudos to TB and Miranda for putting out such a valuable resource for the community.
OK, that's a bit too much Me Time so go on and enjoy the great links below.
Sapphic Lit and Other Book Stuff
Choosing Story Perspective: Direct Versus Indirect POV | Jane Friedman
Strong, clear, well-chosen point of view serves as a powerful guiding force for readers: inviting us into the story, setting the tone for the journey, and subtly directing how we experience it and how we react.
How to Write a Story Retelling | Jane Friedman
Retellings are also empowering because writers can bring fresh perspectives to age-old stories.
Mary Wings, Pioneering Creator of Queer Comics, Dies at 75 - The New York Times
She was the first openly gay woman to write a comic book about lesbians. She went on to write detective novels with a queer woman in the lead.
The Collapse of Romance Writers of America - The New York Times
the R.W.A. has filed for bankruptcy. What happened?
Attention, Please! 7 Drug-Free Concentration Boosters for Writers with ADHD | Jane Friedman
Fortunately, there are methods and strategies to help you mitigate your neurodivergence—and even harness it to your advantage. Here are some tips for writing with ADHD
Is AI the Bitter End—or the Lucrative Future—of Book Publishing?
Are writers doomed by “the biggest rip-off in creative history” or could AI offer new ways of making a living?
How to Tell If What You're Reading Was Written By AI | Lifehacker
Because chatbots have been trained to look for the relationships between words, they tend to use certain words and phrases more often than a person would. There's no specific list of words and phrases that serve as red flags, but if you use a tool like ChatGPT enough, you may start to pick up on them.
All the Ways to Tell a Picture Was Made With AI | Lifehacker
But while fingers are what AI is most famous for getting wrong, its issues don't stop at the hands. Any repeating patterns, especially when it concerns details with humans, can be generated incorrectly with AI art. Take a look at a subject's teeth in an image
Association of American Publishers Backs Senate NO FAKES Act
would give people a federal property right to approve the use of their voice, appearance or likeness—and expose those who create or distribute an unauthorized replica to legal liability
9 New Agents Seeking Literary and Genre Fiction, CNF, Nonfiction, Irish Fiction, Kidlit, Graphic Novels, and more | by Erica Verrillo | Jul, 2024 | Curiosity Never Killed the Writer
Here are nine new literary agents actively seeking clients. New agents are a boon to writers. They are actively building their lists, and will go the extra mile for their clients.
News You Can Use
When Will Straight Culture Take Queer Women Seriously? | by Ashely L. Crouch | BELOVED | Apr, 2024 | Medium
This is my personal story as a queer woman in a straight world, but I know countless other queer women can relate. It’s also a call to action for broader society to move past the invalidating and harmful myths and mentalities surrounding queer women.
Relationship status influences heterosexual women’s sexual prejudice towards lesbians ｜ PsyPost
The findings indicate that heterosexual women tend to distance themselves more socially from single lesbians compared to those in relationships
A visual history of lesbian activism from around the world
here’s a look at some very visible lesbians in parades and protests
Please—I Beg You—Stop Calling It a “Lesbian Renaissance”
In this summer of Chappell Roan, here’s your healthy reminder that pop culture wouldn’t even exist without queer women.
Tips for Traveling Solo Safely With @thelesbianpassport - Tagg Magazine
Queer full-time solo traveler and creator of travel Instagram account, @thelesbianpassport, Allyssa Leaton shares tips on how to be safe during solo adventures by picking the right destinations, seeking out queer-inclusive events, and creating intentional connections along the journey.
Lesbian Travel Influencers Get Engaged In Bora Bora -
Travel influencers Kirstie Pike and Christine Diaz are headed for another adventure: marriage.
Airline bans lesbian traveler "for life" for craziest, most insane reason ever - Queerty
“How I got permanently banned from flying American Airlines for having sexual relations with a man on a plane even though I’m a lesbian” — has received over 2.7 million views.
55 LGBTQ+ Women Athletes Won Medals In the 2024 Paris Olympics | Autostraddle
Overall, we counted 55 LGBTQ+ women athletes going home with medals.
This Jewish Lesbian Activist Starred in the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony - Hey Alma
In the Opening Ceremony, Barbara DJ’ed and stood proudly at the center of a drag show and fashion show that celebrated the Greek God Dionysus above the River Seine. (According to Greek mythology, Dionysus is the father of Sequana, the Goddess of the Seine.) Representing a Goddess of Music, Barbara wore a blue dress with silver sequins, a headset customized with a crystal-encrusted silver halo and crystal bracelets on each wrist.
Fire Island Volleyball Tournament Apologizes for Excluding a Trans Man From Competition | Them
“We don’t take this lightly and hope this can be a teachable moment for us and others in the community,” they wrote, adding that they are planning on having a town hall conversation about inclusion at the competition soon. “This has always been an event for women, trans women, non-binary and gender non conforming individuals.”
Women’s Sports Bars Are on a Winning Streak | Them
When Jenny Nguyen opened The Sports Bra in 2022, she started a movement: Bars that only show women’s sports. Now, fandom and pay are rapidly growing
Who Is JoJo Siwa's New Girlfriend Dakayla Wilson? | Autostraddle
dancer Dakayla Wilson of Tampa, collides with JoJo on the dance floor and the two women share a passionate, exhausted embrace
Why Sarah Paulson And Holland Taylor Aren't Married
The L Word alum, 81, has been dating the American Horror Story star, 49, since 2015.
Brittney and Cherelle Griner Welcome a Perfect Baby Boy | Autostraddle
Griner revealed that they’d be naming their kid Bash Raymond Griner. “I’m super excited for this next chapter of my life. Anybody who knows me knows I love kids.
Meshell Ndegeocello Could Have Had Stardom but Chose Music Instead - The New York Times
For now, the pronouns are less crucial than how Ndegeocello experiences gender, as kaleidoscopic as much as telegraphic: “I’m here to show you another way. I don’t need the language.”
Decoding the Sapphic Internet: A Crash Course in Online Lesbian Lingo | Them
We’re here to explain the basics like “stud,” “femme,” and “girly pop masc.”
What Are “Hey Mamas” Lesbians and Why Are They All Over TikTok? | Them
“Hey mamas” lesbians can be distinguished by their fashion (think snapback, sports jersey, and long hair in a bun to show off their undercut) and exaggerated masc swagger, i.e. posting thirst traps on social media of them biting their bottoms lips and saying “hey mamas” to a theoretical femme on the other side of the camera
Helpful Tools
10 Websites that will completely change your life forever. | by Yourchatgptguide | Medium
There are more than 1,930,000,000 websites online. Here are 10 of the most useful websites you‘ve probably never heard of:
A Terrific Quote
Daily Inspiration | Inspiring Quotes
There is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it.