#GLBTQ YA fiction

[booksquoteslove]

The stars dust gold leafing on his skin. And we are looking at each other, just looking, and I swear there are whole lifetimes lived in those small, shared moments.

Mackenzi Lee, The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue

[melaniem54]

A Caryn YA Release Day Review: Driven by MB Mulhall

A Caryn YA Release Day Review: Driven by MB Mulhall

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

I found this book a frustrating combination of a nice spin on the hurt/comfort trope, but with frequent sections that bothered me: long boring inner monologues by the main character, Oliver, and moments of incredible stupidity that literally made me want to DNF the book several times. I persevered because I was reading it for this review, and in the end I was glad I did,…

[mkecountyteenbookaward]

If you knew the world was going to end but you could prevent it, would you? That’s the dilemma for Henry Denton, who’s been abducted by aliens he calls the “sluggers” several times since he turned 13. Now 16, Henry is dealing with a lot. His boyfriend committed suicide a year ago, for which Henry blames himself. He’s involved in a self-destructive relationship with a boy who bullies him. His single mother has put her dreams on hold to take care of him, his screwed-up older brother Charlie, Charlie’s pregnant girlfriend, and their grandmother with Alzheimer’s. And since Charlie outed him at school as an alien abductee, Henry is called “Space Boy” and frequently bullied. All this means that when the aliens show Henry that the world will end in 144 days, unless he pushes a button to undo it, he’s not sure he should bother, even after a new friend and possible love interest at school, Diego, makes a compelling case for a world worth saving.

Throughout this dark but funny novel, Henry posits multiple ways the world could end, everything from World War III, the death of bees, the invention of nanobots, even an abuse of time travel. You may need a few tissues, but Henry’s nihilistic, witty, vulnerable narrative is hilarious as well as heartfelt, with an uplifting end. His search for a reason hope for the future and to find meaning in a life that is sometimes painful but sometimes beautiful will resonate with readers.

[garlique]

LITERALLY LOOK AT ALL THE FUCKING QUOTES I’M ANALYZING IN TWO OF THREE SOURCES LEFT FOR TONIGHT 

The 1980s

“...bisexuality would not be treated until M. E. Kerr’s 1997 novel ‘Hello,’ I Lied and transgender issues would not be addressed until the 2004 publication of Julie Ann Peters’ Luna)”

“The temptation to deny oneself, either by discounting one’s same-sex attraction...or by denying one’s own emotional needs… is of course, a recurring theme in gay and lesbian literature. It is all part of the larger issue of—first—discovering one’s sexual identity, then—second—struggling to come to terms with it and then—third—sharing the truth about oneself with others.”

“While this lack of sexual detail is evident throughout most YA literature, fictional gay and lesbians seem to have extremely limited sex lives. Too, the consensus seems to be that homosexuality is a phase, a crush, a passing fancy.” 

The 1990s

“Placing an intermediary heterosexual character between the reader and the gay/lesbian character can reduce the reader’s likelihood of reader’s identification with that character. On the other hand, the presence of a heterosexual protagonist may well provide an easier point of access to the story for straight readers, who are also an important audience for these stories.” 

“Unfortunately, the images of GLBTQ people in many of the YA novel to date are limited and/or stereotypic… Whether such negative depictions are preferable to invisibility is subject to debate, but, happily, some books have included realistic GLBTQ characters who are integral to the plot  and whose stories even provide the novel’s central narrative.”

“However, no matter how widespread or unremitting the disease at that time, AIDS-related literature has remained a very modest sub-genre of GLBTQ literature. As previously noted, only three novels (out of 40) from the eighties...dealt with the subject in any way. In the nineties, only thirteen novels (out of 70) included any character who was HIV-positive or had AIDS.”

LIKE CAN I JUST BE EXHAUSTED IN PEACE

[sazvariboy]

Thank y'all so dang much! I'mma a country boy with a bunch of stories in my head and y'all have made this dream come true for me. I love ya, BUT there is still so much that has to be done. I'm only one person, I have the skills, networking as much as I can, along with create content; books, pitch videos, concept projects for other folks, I need eyes and ears in the industry. I need a Literary Agent, Blood Brother Chronicles- adult to NA (New Adult) 3014 A.D. Sciencr fiction, epic fantasy, Adventure, Mystery, Intrigue, Sex and Violence - Very much in the flavor of Quentin Tarantino but with heart- GLBTQ - Straight -Bisexual romance and erotica. This is a hot project y'all! Thanks Again y'all 💋😚💞 #theriverbooks ********************************************#televisionproduction #indiantelevision #televisioncentre #televisionpersonality #televisionproducer #kingoftelevision #télévision #televisionhost #televisionactor #televisiondominicana #prilaga #tctelevision #televisions #poptelevision #televisione #television #televisionsworld #televisionstudio #vijaytelevision #televisionespañola #televisionshows #televisionacademy #televisionpresenter #televisionseries #televisión #televisioneitaliana #televisionshow #televisiontowerberlin https://www.instagram.com/p/BtD8-05BxhB/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1h5pzuos5u1fu

[biandlesbianliterature]

[image description: a graphic with 18 of the books listed below in the background. Overlaid is the text Lesbian & Bi Lit: Lesbrary Links Jan 19 - Feb 4]

[image description: the covers of Falling In Love With Hominids by Nalo Hopkinson, The Salt Roads by Nalo Hopkinson, In Another Place, Not Here by Dionne Brand, The Heart Does Not Bend Makeda Silvera, and Dreadnought by April Daniels]

Autostraddle posted

Lez Liberty Lit: The New Comics Sans

Drawn to Comics: 8 Queer/Feminist Comics to Get Your Friends Into Comics

Lez Liberty Lit: Wonder and Humility

BCLA LGBTQ Interest Group posted 2017 LGBTQ+ YA.

Casey the Canadian Lesbrarian posted Introducing “Interview with a Queer Reader” and A Recap of My First Month on Patreon and Four Queer Black Canadian Women Writers You Should Be Reading for Black History Month.

[image description: the covers of Two Moons: Stories by Krystal A. Smith, A Darkly Beating Heart by Lindsay Smith, Don’t Explain by Jewelle Gomez, (You) Set Me On Fire by Mariko Tamaki, Lez Talk: A Collection of Black Lesbian Short Fiction edited by S. Andrea Allen and Lauren Cherelle]

LGBTQ Reads posted New Releases: February 2017.

Read Diverse Books posted Books With LGBTQIA Asian Protagonists – #ReadDiverse2017.

Women and Words updated their Hot off the Press and Coming Attractions page.

Ylva Publishing posted A Fine Romance: What Lesfic Readers Really Want.

“10 Works of Black Lesbian Short Fiction” was posted at WOC Reads.

[image description: the covers of First Position by Melissa Brayden, Blind Side of the Moon by Blayne Cooper, As I Descended by Robin Talley, Queerly Remembered: Rhetorics for Representing the GLBTQ Past by Thomas R. Dunn, Huntress by Malinda Lo]

Malinda Lo posted At the Women’s March on Washington.

Robin Talley was interviewed at LGBTQ Reads.

First Position by Melissa Brayden was reviewed at Frivolous Reviews.

Blind Side of the Moon by Blayne Cooper was reviewed at Lambda Literary.

Queerly Remembered: Rhetorics for Representing the GLBTQ Past by Thomas R. Dunn was reviewed at Lambda Literary.

[image description: Under Her Spell by Bridget Essex, Queer & Trans Artists of Color: Volume 2 by Nia King and Elena Rose, Venous Hum by Suzette Mayr,  Upstream: Selected Essays by Mary Oliver, DNA Hymn by Annah Anti-Palindrome]

Under Her Spell by Bridget Essex was reviewed at Friend of Dorothy Wilde.

Queer & Trans Artists of Color: Volume 2 by Nia King and Elena Rose was reviewed at Lambda Literary.

Venous Hum by Suzette Mayr was reviewed by Casey the Canadian Lesbrarian.

Upstream: Selected Essays by Mary Oliver was reviewed at Lambda Literary.

DNA Hymn by Annah Anti-Palindrome was reviewed at Lambda Literary.

The Life of Barbara Grier by Joanne Passet was reviewed at ALA GLBT Reviews.

[image description: Oath, An Anthology of New (Queer) Heroes edited by Audrey Redpath, The Next Girl & Other Lesbian Tales by Tawanna Sullivan,  The Year of Needy Girls by Patricia A. Smith, The Kissing Booth Girl and Other Stories by A.C.Wise, Forward: A Memoir by Abby Wambach]

Oath, An Anthology of New (Queer) Heroes edited by Audrey Redpath was reviewed at Okazu.

The Year of Needy Girls by Patricia A. Smith was reviewed at Omnivore Bibliosaur.

Close to Home by Rachel Spangler was reviewed at Lesbian Reading Room.

The Next Girl & Other Lesbian Tales by Tawanna Sullivan was reviewed at Omnivore Bibliosaur.

Forward: A Memoir by Abby Wambach was reviewed at ALA GLBT Reviews.

The Kissing Booth Girl and Other Stories by A.C.Wise was reviewed at Friend of Dorothy Wilde.

This post has the titles linked to their Amazon pages. If you click through and buy something, I might get a small referral fee. For even  more links, check out the Lesbrary’s twitter! We’re also on Facebook, Goodreads, Youtube and Tumblr. (And, of course, the Lesbrary!)

Thank you to the Lesbrary’s Patreon supporters! Special thanks to Kim Riek, Martha Hansen, Emily Perper, Chiara Bettini, and Adelai McNeary.

Support the Lesbrary and Fuck Yeah Lesbian Literature on Patreon at $2 or more a month and be entered to win a lesbian/queer women book every month!

(This post was originally posted at the Lesbrary)

[hub-pub-bub]

To anyone that’s been paying attention to recent trends in young adult (YA) over the last four or five years, the line-up of books slated for 2019 is both timely and highly anticipated. With the push for diversity in literature and media still going as strong as ever (perhaps even stronger than ever), it seems that publishers have finally started to seriously answer the call. Young adult (and middle grade) lists are heavy with POC leads, and the number of books about LGBTQ characters has doubled since the last few publishing seasons (and that’s just looking at books coming out—pun intended—between January and April! The list for May through June is even longer!). This is extra important when you consider that as recently as 2012, just over 1 percent of YA books had any LGBTQ content at all.

Personally, I’m delighted by this statistic, not only because I’m excited to read all the sweet, sweet diversity of POC and LGTBQ content (especially when they happen in the same book), but also because the mere existence of these books confirms a tangible change in the publishing industry. Publishing is a notoriously (and glacially) slow process, so it’s exciting to finally see the response of publishers to the public outcry for more diverse representation, which has been an ongoing social conversation since, well, forever. Or so it feels.

Of particular interest to me are books that feature protagonists who identify as part of the gorgeous rainbow spectrum that is the LGBTQ community. Not only is 2019 chock-full of queer content, but it’s also filling in some gaps in representation from years before, with a happy increase in trans characters compared to the almost nonexistent quantity from 2018, as well as another welcome increase in aro/ace characters. It is, in short, going to be a blissful year of reading for book-loving queers and queer-loving readers.

Still, with of all this new content (on top of all of the great and fabulous content from the last few years), how is a reader supposed to find the books they’re truly interested in without reading the back cover copy of a million books? Fortunately for everyone, there are several great places to start looking for all this good queer content.

Databases of Books with LGBTQ Characters and Themes

Rainbow Books List: An annual list created by the Rainbow List Committee of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table of the American Library Association presented as a “bibliography of quality books with significant and authentic GLBTQ content,” catered to kids aged birth to eighteen.

LGBTQ Reads: Perhaps the most comprehensive database, LGBTQ Reads has lists for everything. They’ve broken down the LGBTQ diaspora into genre and then subdivided it several times over for unique searchability. The YA section is broken down by subgenre, pairing, setting, state/province, trope/theme, and YAs with queer parents.

YA Pride: (Previously Gay YA) This organization has compiled a series of masterlists organized alphabetically by author. They have lists for seven broad categories within LGBTQ representation: gay, lesbian, bisexual/pansexual/polysexual, transgender (including nonbinary identities), intersex, asexual, and aromantic.

Preliminary Reading Lists for 2019 (Please enjoy the irony of me making a list of lists)

Barnes & Noble Teen Blog: 29 of Our Most Anticipated LGBTQAP YA Books of 2019 (January–April)

Barnes & Noble Teen Blog: 35 of Our Most Anticipated LGBTQAP YA Books of 2019 (May–June)

Goodreads: Most Anticipated 2019 LGBTQ Reads

Booklist Reader: A Trans* and Gender Nonconforming Reading List for All Ages

“Straight” from the Source

Great news for anyone with unpublished LGBTQ content! There are many publishers that cater specifically to LGBTQ authors and books with LGBTQ characters and themes. Below are five of said publishers. Another more comprehensive list lives here.

Bella Books: The largest lesbian-owned press publishing books written by, for, and about women who love women.

Bold Strokes Books: Accepting general and genre fiction, BSB offers a wide selection of LGBTQ content in every conceivable genre and subgenre.

Dreamspinner Press: Publishes gay male romances that end in gay or gay polyamorous relationships.

Interlude Press: Publishes well-crafted LGBTQ-focused titles ranging from short stories to novels and encourages submissions from authors of all backgrounds.

Riptide Publishing: Has three distinct imprints, including Riptide Publishing (adult genre fiction with a romantic or erotic focus), Triton Books (YA genre and literary fiction), and Anglerfish Press (literary fiction with little to no romantic or erotic focus).

[sazvariboy]

Thank y'all so dang much! I'mma a country boy with a bunch of stories in my head and y'all have made this dream come true for me. I love ya, BUT there is still so much that has to be done. I'm only one person, I have the skills, networking as much as I can, along with create content; books, pitch videos, concept projects for other folks, I need eyes and ears in the industry. I need a Literary Agent, Blood Brother Chronicles- adult to NA (New Adult) 3014 A.D. Sciencr fiction, epic fantasy, Adventure, Mystery, Intrigue, Sex and Violence - Very much in the flavor of Quentin Tarantino but with heart- GLBTQ - Straight -Bisexual romance and erotica. This is a hot project y'all! Thanks Again y'all 💋😚💞 ************************************************** #televisionproduction #indiantelevision #televisioncentre #televisionpersonality #televisionproducer #kingoftelevision #télévision #televisionhost #televisionactor #televisiondominicana #prilaga #tctelevision #televisions #poptelevision #televisione #television #televisionsworld #televisionstudio #vijaytelevision #televisionespañola #televisionshows #televisionacademy #televisionpresenter #televisionseries #televisión #televisioneitaliana #televisionshow #televisiontowerberlin https://www.instagram.com/p/BtBaEgBBEZt/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=42mcnsykc4p8

[sazvariboy]

Thank y'all so dang much! I'mma a country boy with a bunch of stories in my head and y'all have made this dream come true for me. I love ya, BUT there is still so much that has to be done. I'm only one person, I have the skills, networking as much as I can, along with create content; books, pitch videos, concept projects for other folks, I need eyes and ears in the industry. I need a Literary Agent, Blood Brother Chronicles- adult to NA (New Adult) 3014 A.D. Sciencr fiction, epic fantasy, Adventure, Mystery, Intrigue, Sex and Violence - Very much in the flavor of Quentin Tarantino but with heart- GLBTQ - Straight -Bisexual romance and erotica. This is a hot project y'all! Thanks Again y'all 💋😚💞 ************************************************** #televisionproduction #indiantelevision #televisioncentre #televisionpersonality #televisionproducer #kingoftelevision #télévision #televisionhost #televisionactor #televisiondominicana #prilaga #tctelevision #televisions #poptelevision #televisione #television #televisionsworld #televisionstudio #vijaytelevision #televisionespañola #televisionshows #televisionacademy #televisionpresenter #televisionseries #televisión #televisioneitaliana #televisionshow #televisiontowerberlin https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs-1Hvsh6hE/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=qda0cb32ut1l

[sazvariboy]

Thank y'all so dang much! I'mma a country boy with a bunch of stories in my head and y'all have made this dream come true for me. I love ya, BUT there is still so much that has to be done. I'm only one person, I have the skills, networking as much as I can, along with create content; books, pitch videos, concept projects for other folks, I need eyes and ears in the industry. I need a Literary Agent, Blood Brother Chronicles- adult to NA (New Adult) 3014 A.D. Sciencr fiction, epic fantasy, Adventure, Mystery, Intrigue, Sex and Violence - Very much in the flavor of Quentin Tarantino but with heart- GLBTQ - Straight -Bisexual romance and erotica. This is a hot project y'all! Thanks Again y'all 💋😚💞 ************************************************** #televisionproduction #indiantelevision #televisioncentre #televisionpersonality #televisionproducer #kingoftelevision #télévision #televisionhost #televisionactor #televisiondominicana #prilaga #tctelevision #televisions #poptelevision #televisione #television #televisionsworld #televisionstudio #vijaytelevision #televisionespañola #televisionshows #televisionacademy #televisionpresenter #televisionseries #televisión #televisioneitaliana #televisionshow #televisiontowerberlin https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs9RjyQhEE-/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1f61hczau8bpc

[sazvariboy]

Thank y'all so dang much! I'mma a country boy with a bunch of stories in my head and y'all have made this dream come true for me. I love ya, BUT there is still so much that has to be done. I'm only one person, I have the skills, networking as much as I can, along with create content; books, pitch videos, concept projects for other folks, I need eyes and ears in the industry. I need a Literary Agent, Blood Brother Chronicles- adult to NA (New Adult) 3014 A.D. Sciencr fiction, epic fantasy, Adventure, Mystery, Intrigue, Sex and Violence - Very much in the flavor of Quentin Tarantino but with heart- GLBTQ - Straight -Bisexual romance and erotica. This is a hot project y'all! Thanks Again y'all 💋😚💞 ************************************************** #televisionproduction #indiantelevision #televisioncentre #televisionpersonality #televisionproducer #kingoftelevision #télévision #televisionhost #televisionactor #televisiondominicana #prilaga #tctelevision #televisions #poptelevision #televisione #television #televisionsworld #televisionstudio #vijaytelevision #televisionespañola #televisionshows #televisionacademy #televisionpresenter #televisionseries #televisión #televisioneitaliana #televisionshow #televisiontowerberlin https://www.instagram.com/p/BsyJp7nB9Gt/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=pgo0xjw53t42

[sazvariboy]

Thank y'all so dang much! I'mma a country boy with a bunch of stories in my head and y'all have made this dream come true for me. I love ya, BUT there is still so much that has to be done. I'm only one person, I have the skills, networking as much as I can, along with create content; books, pitch videos, concept projects for other folks, I need eyes and ears in the industry. I need a Literary Agent, Blood Brother Chronicles- adult to NA (New Adult) 3014 A.D. Sciencr fiction, epic fantasy, Adventure, Mystery, Intrigue, Sex and Violence - Very much in the flavor of Quentin Tarantino but with heart- GLBTQ - Straight -Bisexual romance and erotica. This is a hot project y'all! Thanks Again y'all 💋😚💞 ************************************************** #televisionproduction #indiantelevision #televisioncentre #televisionpersonality #televisionproducer #kingoftelevision #télévision #televisionhost #televisionactor #televisiondominicana #prilaga #tctelevision #televisions #poptelevision #televisione #television #televisionsworld #televisionstudio #vijaytelevision #televisionespañola #televisionshows #televisionacademy #televisionpresenter #televisionseries #televisión #televisioneitaliana #televisionshow #televisiontowerberlin https://www.instagram.com/p/BsvTrgZBR3N/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=360c2i93ywp

[melaniem54]

On Tour with Will Parkinson and Wet Paint!

On Tour with Will Parkinson and Wet Paint!

✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍

  Will Parkinson is here with his sequel to Pitch, the YA release Wet Paint.  I had some questions for Will and he nicely agreed to spend time in my author spotlight!  He also brought along a contest for all of you to enter and a poignant video trailer for you to watch.  Don’t miss out on any of it.  Now on to our interview…

  STRW: What made you want to tell this type…