#indie pride

[bookspotlight]

IndiePride2 starts in a few days! Info post on Twitter.

[emshryke]

9. FREE FRIDAY (yes, I know I've fallen behind)

Excerpt from Journey into the Mists of Zaerl (sequel to The Independent Magician): Feeling more than a little tired, the tiger took to his favourite chair, next to the empty, unlit fireplace. He yawned into his paw and leant his head against the ornate, high back of his seat. The next thing that he knew, Bill was back in the room, shaking his arm. ‘Wake up! Wake up!’ He snapped awake with a startled snort, which might have started life as a snore (only it couldn’t possibly have done, because Sherman knew that he never snored) and stared at the bird in confusion. ‘I had trouble sleeping, so I went out to stretch my wings,’ the bird explained in a rush. ‘It’s a good thing I did, believe me!’ ‘Calm down, Billy Bird. You’re going to wake Alfie.’ He shrugged his wings. ‘We might need him! Belle, too. We’re in trouble, Magician! Terrible trouble.’ ‘Billy, calm down. I’m going to make us some tea. Compose yourself.’ ‘No time! This is important. There’s extra police on the gates of Puenta. I saw them at one, so I flew around to see if they were on the others and they are!’ ‘Is it Mead Season already?’ ‘It’s not about crowd control! It’s definitely not about a sport, either. There were hooded creatures in the shadows by every gate and the police were checking the creatures leaving, not just the ones coming in. If they didn’t believe a creature’s reasons for wanting to leave or enter the city, they searched ‘em!’ Sherman shivered. ‘What are we to do?’ ‘Don’t know.’ ‘My shadow cloak will help me to blend in,’ the tiger said. ‘Only the very psychically inclined will see the magic in my energy signature and such. All the same, it should disguise my being a living spirit and make me appear as everybeast else.’ ‘That’s good. Is it warm? Cool? Waterproof?’ ‘It is rather like silk — warm when it is cold, cool when it is hot. Not very waterproof, but we seem to be entering into a heatwave, anyway. Besides, I have my waterproof fur.’ ‘Fair point. Where is it, then?’ The tiger snapped his claws and it appeared on the back of his chair. ‘Ha ha! Here it is.’ ‘Wish I could do that,’ the bird mumbled. ‘I’d love to be a great magician. Or even a passable one.’ ‘It doesn’t solve all of life’s problems, but it helps,’ Sherman chuckled and then frowned. ‘When it isn’t adding new ones, of course. Now…’ he groaned, ‘what am I to do?’ ‘Well, you can’t get caught with anything magical on you,’ the bird told him. ‘You’d be in real trouble — both of you. Back go the potions, spellbooks and all the other stuff, then. You’ll have to leave that staff, too.’ ‘Ha! Oh no, I won’t. I can turn it into a walking stick! Who would suspect?’ ‘Won’t somebeast be able to tell it’s magic?’ He shook his head. ‘The shadow cloak will stop magic from being sensed or spotted.'

[cmrosens]

June Newsletter!

Subscribe to my monthly newsletter, and get all the latest news. You also get interview transcripts from my podcast emailed to you!

In this issue, IMPORTANT PUBLISHING NEWS and discount codes for my books on sale!

[ramshacklefey]

Indie Pride!

After having decided I was gonna do this, I was promptly too overwhelmed with life the last few days to get started. But, better late than never! Here goes! Just gonna through 1-3 in a single post.

June 1: Introduce yourself! What does Pride mean to you? Hi everyone! I'm Ramshackle Fey, your friendly neighborhood ditch-goblin, living in the dry grass and nasty water of roadside ditches and culverts. Recently fled academia to become a youth advocate and sex-ed teacher.

My current writing project is On Burning Wings, a space au My Hero Academia fic.

To me, pride means being able to exist unapologetically as a queer person in a society that would rather I didn't exist at all. It means solidarity and camaraderie with everyone else whose mere existence challenges and threatens the hegemony of the toxic gender and sexuality norms that the USA is currently built on. It means embracing my role as someone who stands outside the accepted system of values in my society, calls them into question, stands them on their heads, and laughs while doing so.

June 2: Free Friday - Share anything! Anything at all? Well, most of my adult life has been spent as a bit of a wanderer. I've moved across the US multiple times, and spent several months a year in Austria for four years. I've been married twice, and divorced one and a half times. Turns out it's basically impossible to serve divorce papers to someone who lives in another country, so I've been working on that one for a bit.

June 3: What are common themes in your books? One thing that I'm really interested in is looking at masculinity and the ways it effects everyone who interacts with it. I like to write about men who have been warped by the society they live in, and the ways they find of making connections with the people around them and growing into something better.

It's a very personal thing for me, because these are some of the same questions that I've struggled with in my journey towards coming to grips with my own masculinity and finding out what being a man really means to me.

[edhelwen1]

2. Free Friday

My newest book Crushing It is available to mark as "want to read" on Goodreads now. Go check it out!!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123264614-crushing-it

[miguxadraws]

tadc coming to netflix so i drew pomni

[inside0ut-dotnet]

The Queer Liberation Library (QLL) is a digital treasure trove of over 1,200 LGBTQ books, providing a valuable resource for individuals across the country to access. This unique collection offers a diverse range of literature that celebrates and explores the LGBTQ experience in all its complexity. QLL has attracted over 50,000 readers, providing safe access to queer literature regardless of location or circumstances. Unlike traditional libraries, the Queer Liberation Library is specifically curated to center LGBTQ voices and experiences. With a focus on inclusion and representation, this digital catalog offers a wide range of genres, from fiction and poetry to memoirs and academic texts. While the collection is extensive, here are a few notable titles: "A Burst of Light" by Audre Lorde “One Last Stop” by Casey McQuiston: A contemporary novel with LGBTQ themes. QLL continually adds new titles to enrich its catalog and cater to diverse interests QLL was founded by a team of nine volunteers in response to state laws and school policies challenging books with LGBTQ themes. By providing access to a wealth of LGBTQ literature, the Queer Liberation Library offers readers the opportunity to explore diverse perspectives, gain insight into different lived experiences, and foster a greater understanding of the LGBTQ community. It offers free digital access to over 1,200 LGBTQ books for readers across the United States. Whether you are looking for resources for research, personal enrichment, or simply to broaden your literary horizons, this digital library has something to offer everyone. Representation matters, and the Queer Liberation Library plays a crucial role in amplifying LGBTQ voices and stories. Unlike many public libraries, QLL specifically curates books with queer themes or written by queer authors. By providing a platform for LGBTQ authors and their work, this digital catalog helps to create a more inclusive literary landscape and promotes greater visibility for the LGBTQ community. With over 1,200 books to explore, the Queer Liberation Library is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to learn more about LGBTQ history, culture, and identity. Whether you are a member of the LGBTQ community or an ally looking to educate yourself, this digital library is a rich source of knowledge and inspiration. 🌈 📚 Check it out HERE: www.queerliberationlibrary.org

@queerliblib

[alienbycomics]

Comic where Superman teaches Batman about Kryptonian trans healthcare

[celestial-games]

Pride butterflies :]

Usually I like making real species, but once I had this idea I couldn't resist making these, just for fun

[gr00vyvampiregrrrl]

Dyke Night 2 06/29, with soap wrestling

[monkey-wrench-series]

She's HERE!

We've partnered again with the folks over at Makeship to produce a Queen Tyneen plush for pride month!

A portion of sales will go towards various LGBTQ+ charities as well as going to fund episode 5 of Monkey wrench!

So what are you waiting for? Go support your QUEEN!

[emshryke]

2. FREE FRIDAY: reblog this post with #Free Friday, #Indie Pride and #Indie Pride 2 tags for your chance to win a free download of The Independent Magician.

Do the same on Twitter (@EMShryke) to double your chances.

https://www.emshryke.com/

[spacepancakesart]

FIFTH SHIP IS PEARLINA!!! THE CUTEST LITTLE SQUID GALS IN SPLATOON AGSHHAA 😭❤️ 💝

Comment which LGBT+ Ship should be THE SIXTH AND FINAL SHIP I should animate!! >:D 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

[ramshacklefey]

4. What LGBT+ book influenced you growing up?

Hmm.... this is a tricky one for me, actually. If we're limiting "growing up" to any time under the age of 18, I don't think there was one. Growing up Mormon meant that I was categorically forbidden from reading anything with queer themes or characters, or even with suspected queer themes or characters (legit, I remember Mum telling us that Happy Feet wasn't something we were allowed to watch because the dancing penguin was a metaphor for gay people).

If we expand things a bit, then it would be Jamison Greene's autobiography. Just before I came out as trans, I went looking to see if I could find any books about trans men, and it was hard to find anything.... and then I found his story, and things just kinda clicked for me.

5. Do you read queer nonfiction?

Absolutely! My background in academia led to me reading a lot of queer nonfiction: philosophy and autobiographies mostly, but also as much about queer history as I've managed to get my hands on. I've loved learning about how other queer people think about themselves and our history!

6. Share something from your WIP

Enji brok off his lecture when Usagiyama appeared at the gymnasium door, followed by Hawks. He looked even more bedraggled than usual, wearing old sweatpants and a sleeveless top. His eyes were only half open, and his hair was mashed flat on one side.

"Is this really necessary sir?" he asked petulantly. "I was just getting some good sleep. Beauty rest is important you know." He squinted at Enji for a moment. "Well. May you don't. You should try it sometime."

There was a snort somewhere among the privates. Enji glared in their direction but saw only rows of expressionless faces. Sergeant Togata's lips were tightly pursed, and he looked slightly pained.

"I can't say I have ever tried it," Enjy said scornfully, "But you could clearly do with a bit less of it." Really, the man's vanity was beyond belief.

Togata was suddenly wracked with a fit of coughing. By the looks on the privates' faces, Enji thought he must have scored a point. Hawks bent his head as he moved to stand next to Major Aizawa, clearly put in his place for the moment.

7. Who's your favorite queer character?

Anyone who tries to tell me that Niklaren Goldeye was a cishet man is either a fool or a liar.

8. Rec a sapphic novel!

Absolutely adored The Dark Wife by Sarah Diemer. It's a retelling of the Persephone myth where Hades is a woman, and Persephone goes to seek refuge with her voluntarily in order to escape the overtures of Zeus. (cw for a scene involving rape near the beginning)

9. Free Friday!

I spent nearly 10 years unable to write anything at all because I was terrified of online cancel culture in the early '10s. I really got caught up in feeling like I was supposed to be writing stories that hit on representation for everyone except myself, and I was afraid of the backlash I might get for writing or publishing anything that wasn't up to the standards I thought other people would expect from me.

10. Rec an mlm novel

Kai Ashante Wilson's The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps absolutely rocked me to my core. Absolute recommendation for poetic writing and delightful characters.

[edhelwen1]

1. Introduce yourself and tell us what Pride means to you

I'm Jen (she/her) and I've published one book, Assassins! Accidental Matchmakers, with my second book coming out September 2023, Crushing It.

Pride means to be seen. We're here, we're normal (as normal as I can be lol), we're your children, parents, siblings, neighbours, friends.

[mushroomyhouse]

Happy Trans Day of Visibility 💖💙

A collection of trans pride creations by diverse artists on Mushroomy celebrating Trans Visibility 

💙 mushroomy.house/tdov 💖