Me Time
The Next Chapter Awaits
I'm one consulting project away from fully retiring and I have to say I'm thinking a lot about this next chapter and what it will include. I seem to be ready to let go of some of what I call, for lack of a better term, the business commitments, mostly board memberships, and really buckle down and get back to writing.
Since so much of my life has been focused on my left-brain tasks and commitments--aka business stuff--maybe it's time for my right-brain--aka intuitive and creative--to take the wheel. We'll see. All I know is that change is a-comin' and I'm eager to see where it takes me.
Of course, I don't feel it's a good time to abandon all important commitments, given the challenging times we find ourselves in. So I'm doing what I can when I can, including working with the Sapphic Action Support Squad (SASS), which is involved in a number of projects to help our community of book folks survive and thrive in the face of growing authoritarianism. The first issue of their newsletter, to which I contributed, is coming out on May 8. Subscribe here!
Meanwhile I'm reading lots of Net Galley ARCs and other books on my TBR list, which is ridiculously long. A few of these books are great 5-star reads, most sit in the in between 3-4 star rating, and a few are just terrible and really hard to finish. I'm usually not one of give up on books, even badly written ones, but for the first time recently I had to do it and right now I'm plodding through another badly written book trying to get through the last 30%. I'm hoping the next one will be a 5-star palate cleanser. We'll see.
Sapphic Lit and Other Book Stuff
Fee-Free Writing Residencies - Erika Dreifus
Massive thanks to Erika Dreifus for this: The stars must have aligned. Someone in one of my online groups asked if anyone knew of a list of residencies that both 1) charge no application fees and 2) charge no fees for participation.
American readers are worried books will get pricier thanks to tariffs
Most books sold in the United States are printed domestically, but the necessary raw materials are still imported, as well as machine parts needed to maintain the printing equipment itself.
AI Rip-offs Targeting Sapphic Books
Massive thanks to Jae for this: The sapphic fiction community is under attack by scammers using AI to churn out rip-off books based on real sapphic novels.
129 suspicious titles were identified, mostly published within the past month, likely all by the same person under 17 different pseudonyms.
This blog post shares a list of red flags to help identify possible AI rip-offs.
Getting Down to Business – Writer Unboxed
The most uplifting news from the book ban headlines was a study that found book bans actually led to an increase in readership.
Bringing Diverse Voices to Book Publishing - The New York Times
Her mission is to lift up undiscovered voices who were being ignored — Southern voices, Latinx and writers of color, different forms of identity and orientation.
The Hidden History of Lesbian Phone Lines | Autostraddle
Thank You For Calling the Lesbian Line documents Lovatt’s process of researching and writing about the history of volunteer-run lesbian phone lines in the U.K
Op-ed: How we save the U.S. and the world from fascism
New books by Sarah Schulman and the late Urvashi Vaid offer a blueprint for a common movement to fight against American authoritarianism and the rise of fascism worldwide.
For Lesbian Visibility Day: The Story of the Very First Picture Book With a Lesbian Mom - Mombian
the 1979 picture book that was the first to depict an LGBTQ character—a lesbian mom.
Build These Seven Growth Milestones into Your Character’s Arc - WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®
Once the character decides to change course, they’ll start moving the right direction. But they won’t always stay on the straight and narrow. Their old responses may be ineffective, but they’re comfortable and familiar. And change is hard. So the path to success (or failure, if your story showcases a failed arc) will be messy, alternating between forward progress and regression.
The 5-4-3-2-1 of Creating a Good Setting – Writer Unboxed
there is a method called the 5-4-3-2-1 method. You list 5 physical things around you that you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. The trick to being able to create a realistic setting
Beyond the Accent: Writing Speech Patterns Authentically | Jane Friedman
Speech patterns—whether accents or impediments—quickly establish background, personality, and history without exposition. However, as writers, we carry a significant responsibility: to represent diverse voices authentically rather than falling into the trap of stereotype or caricature.
Book Publicity Isn't a Contest - by Kathleen Schmidt
Something that’s been on my mind lately is how often authors compare their publicity to someone else’s. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, “But (insert author’s name here)’s book was reviewed in (insert media outlet) and they were interviewed on (insert media outlet).” This is an easy trap to fall into, and you must work hard to avoid it.
News For A Challenging Time
Angie Craig, Who Fought to Be a Parent, Announces Senate Campaign - Mombian
U.S. Representative Angie Craig (D-MN), the first out lesbian mom—and grandmother—in Congress, announced her campaign for Senate Tuesday and cited her legal struggle to be a parent as evidence of her ability to fight despite long odds.
The State Of Queer America 100 Days Into Trump: Where Do We Go From Here? - GO Magazine
Iowa Rep. Aime Wichtendahl says her advice is to check on each other and to be unafraid to live your life. “When you have authoritarian governments, they want you to be afraid, so don’t give them that pleasure. The greatest act of resistance in these dystopian times is to declare to the world that I’m happy. And do what you can to find that happiness,” she says.
Every Move the Trump Administration has Made on LGBTQ Issues in Its First 100 Days
In President Donald Trump’s first 100 days since taking office for a second term on Jan. 20, he has signed a litany of anti-trans and anti-Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) executive orders (EOs) and has ramped up his anti-LGBTQ rhetoric.
Kennedy Center cancels week of events celebrating LGBTQ rights - CBS News
Multiple artists and producers involved in the center's Tapestry of Pride schedule, which had been planned for June 5 to 8, told The Associated Press that their events had been quietly canceled or moved to other venues. And in the wake of the cancellations, Washington's Capital Pride Alliance has disassociated itself from the Kennedy Center.
Culture and Joy
Jennifer Beals Kept Everything From ‘The L Word.’ Now, She’s Sharing Her Archive | Them
The actress also reveals who she’d want to see make cameos in an L Word reboot, including Chappell Roan.
Images From ‘The L Word: A Photographic Journal’ by Jennifer Beals | Them
A selection of images from the forthcoming photo archive.
Lucy Dacus and Katie Gavin Paid Tribute to an Iconic Moment in Lesbian History | Them
the duo recreated photographer Herb Ritts’ famous 1993 Vanity Fair cover featuring supermodel Cindy Crawford shaving lesbian superstar k.d. lang
Billie Jean King Day: A Star For A Legend Who Changed The Game - GO Magazine
the first female athlete to receive a star in the Sports Entertainment category.
Congratulations to HRC President and Wife on Their Second Child - Mombian
Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson and her wife, Becky George, have announced the arrival of their second child, Nina, and vowed to keep fighting for her future and those of all LGBTQ+ families and kids.
Jill Sobule was as much a Jewish icon as a queer one – The Forward
While most obituaries and appreciations have noted that Sobule’s song topics were often autobiographical, including depression, eating disorders and queerness – not the typical fare of pop songs, especially when Sobule was starting out in the early-to-mid 1990s – Sobule also often wrote about her Jewish background and concerns. In this manner, she was a serious Jewish artist as much as she was a queer icon who described herself as bisexual.
A Look at What Happened When Dusty Springfield Outed Herself | by Rand Bishop | Prism & Pen | Apr, 2025 | Medium
And how far the LGBTQ+ music community has come since then.
Megan Thee Stallion Was 'Bodyguarded' by Renée Rapp & Cara Delevingne at Coachella 2025 | Teen Vogue
The trio was spotted at Coachella 2025 this year, walking through the festival grounds, keeping an eye on the talent (Megan). Delevingne shared two photos on Instagram showing her and Rapp flanking Megan on either side, with the caption, “The Lesbian Bodyguards.”
JoJo Siwa No Longer Identifies As A Lesbian - GO Magazine
“I’m switching letters! I’ve dropped the L and I’ve gone to the Q, baby! That’s what I love about sexuality.”
Siwa first came out in 2021 and had previously described herself as a lesbian. In interviews over the past year, she spoke openly about her relationships and her process of understanding her sexuality.
Siwa is currently in a relationship with Kath Ebbs, an Australian influencer who is non-binary.
JoJo Siwa’s Ex Reveals They Were ‘Dumped’ at ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ Afterparty
"I flew across the world to support and be there and hold that person in whatever they would be experiencing, leaving such a wild experience, and instead, I was dumped at the afterparty, with Chris [Hughes] in the next room,” Ebbs said.
JoJo Siwa On Kath Ebbs Split, Chris Hughes Relationship
Here’s absolutely everything JoJo just said about breaking up with Kath Ebbs, and her relationship with Chris Hughes.
Meet ToGetHer, The New Korean Sapphic Dating Show -
Seven women live in a shared house (with roommates they choose in the first episode) on Jeju Island off the southern coast of South Korea. The premise is that the women write each other love notes which are anonymously delivered to their mailboxes so they can get to know one another and ask each other on dates by passing letters.
Helpful Tools
How to Remove Malware From Your PC | Lifehacker
You'll want to address any suspicious behavior as soon as you catch it.
