Podcasts about Bold Strokes Books

This week I had the pleasure of talking with Bold Strokes Books author, Kristin Keppler about her most recent release, One Last Summer.  We also talk about her book slated for a March release that includes some of the same characters from One Last Summer.  Can't wait for that release since I loved OLS.  Get to know Kristin and learn about her work.

Author and Activist, Lauren Melissa, shares a powerful story of resilience and creativity. Diagnosed with autism in her twenties, Lauren Melissa turned the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic into an opportunity, hand-writing a novel that was later accepted by Bold Strokes Books. Based in New York City, she passionately advocates for the representation of queer, BIPOC, and disabled individuals in fiction, bringing to life diverse, multiracial, neurodivergent, and queer characters. Her journey is a powerful testament to the strength found at the intersections of identity and creativity.Timestamps08:27 Getting Into Writing16:03 Having Relatable Characters in Fiction21:16 Portraying Neurodiversity in Fiction 25:09 Getting Published As An Independent Publisher33:34 Advocacy on Autism, Race, and Queerness44:12 Social Expectations, Codependence, and Autistic IdentityConnect with Lauren Melissa EllzeyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenmellzey Website: https://laurenmelissaellzey.com/ 

Send us a textMarried authors, Meghan O'Brien and Angie Williams join me to chat about how they met, what their next projects are, who they would want to be stuck in an elevator with, their favorite books of each other's, sexiest characters and much more! To purchase Angie's books: Books | Search Results | Bold Strokes BooksTo purchase Meghan's books: Books | Search Results | Bold Strokes BooksTo support this podcast:sapphiclaura is Bringing you fun chats with the best authors in sapphic fiction. (buymeacoffee.com) Support the show

Join me this week for a chat with the one and only Radclyffe aka L.L. Raand.  We talk about Raand's new release, Primal Hunt, book 9 in the Midnight Hunters Series.  We also talk about Bold Strokes Books upcoming 20th anniversary and the changes they have gone through over the years.  I had a great time talking with Rad.  Join us.

Queerly Recommended is three years old! According to physical development guidelines, this podcast should be able to a) ride a tricycle b) climb stairs and c) walk backwards or side to side. Two out of three ain't bad, and the less we say about emotional development, the better. Speaking of new developments, Kris talks about her new book baby, Dreamer, which is out January 1st from Bold Strokes Books. Kris also has an interesting answer to the time old publishing question, “What comes first, the book or the book cover?” Blow out the candles and make a wish. We hope it's for…. recommendations!!! Official Recommendations From Kris: Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix) This week, Kris really wanted to recommend another queer Christmas movie, but the selection out there didn't deliver. It's very possible a slate of Christmas films were delayed or cancelled due to the writer's strike. So instead, Kris draws your attention to Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix). It has a bunch of queer people in it, it's fun, and there are a lot of very hot, very tight bodies on display. And honestly, what's more Christmasy than that? From Tara: A Flight to Love by Frankie Fyre This week, Tara recommends the novella A Flight to Love by Frankie Fyre. She describes this as “zero-angst” and “utterly Hallmark”. If you're up for a gentle read about exes rekindling their relationship (plus, some pretty hot airport sex) then check this one out this holiday season. Works/People Discussed Tinsel by Kris Bryant Dreamer by Kris Bryant Leave the World Behind (2023) Elf (2003) Candy Cane Lane (2023) While You Were Sleeping (1995) Obliterated (Netflix) The Great Canadian Baking Show, season 7 (CBC Television) Baldur's Gate 3 (Larian Studios) Sea of Stars (Sabotage Studio) Heartstopper, Vol. 2 and 3 by Alice Oseman Bottoms (2023) Highlander (1983) Support & follow the show Buy us a Ko-fi Sign up for our newsletter on Substack Twitter: @queerlyrec Facebook: @QueerlyRecommended Instagram: @queerlyrecommended Blusky: @queerlyrec.bsky.social Get all our links on Linktr.ee Support local animal shelters by joining Kris's Patreon

Jonny interviews Heather O'Malley about the realease of ther new book, Hands of the Morri-- a fantasy adventure that includes a saucy raven as one of the narrators. In the process of discussing the work, they talk about what LGBTQ writers bring to fantasy/SF genres, including a brief reference to the Rainbow Space Magic conference for queer sci fi and fantasy writers. You can pick up a copy of the novel at a book release party at the Rainbow Cafe on Thursday 10/12 at 7:00 or at the the Picnic in the Park: Pride Edition/SI LGBTQ Fest this Sunday (10/15), 1-6 pm in Attucks Park. The book is also available at most online retailers or directly from the publisher, Bold Strokes Books, at: https://www.boldstrokesbooks.com/books/hands-of-the-morri-by-heather-k-omalley-4309-b

The legendary Radclyffe joins me to chat about her latest release, Finder's Keepers, starting Bold Strokes Books, living in New York, which of her couples she would invite to a dinner party, why she chose Radclyffe as her pen name, and much more! To learn more about Radclyffe,and find links to purchase her books, visit Radfic,  Bold Strokes Books Books | Search Results | Bold Strokes Books or Amazon www.amazon.com: Radclyffe: books, biography, latest updateTo support this podcast, you can buy me a coffee at sapphiclaura is Bringing you fun chats with the best authors in sapphic fiction. (buymeacoffee.com)Support the show

Anne Laughlin is the author of seven novels published by Bold Strokes Books. Her work has won four Goldie Awards and been short listed three times for a Lammy Award. In addition to writing novels, Anne reviews books for The Gay & Lesbian Review and the Lambda Literary Review. She is a board member of Mystery Writers of America/Midwest and a member of MWA's Queer Advisory Board. She has attended many writing residencies, including those at Ragdale and Vermont Studio Center. She is currently working on a historical fiction novel set in Berlin before and during WWII.Facebook Page www.facebook.com/annelaughlinWebsite www.annelaughlinwriter.com*****************Sisters in Crime was founded in 1986 to promote the ongoing advancement, recognition and professional development of women crime writers. Through advocacy, programming and leadership, SinC empowers and supports all crime writers regardless of genre or place on their career trajectory.www.SistersinCrime.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sincnational/Twitter: https://twitter.com/SINCnationalFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sistersincrimeThe SinC Writers' Podcast is produced by Julian Crocamo https://www.juliancrocamo.com/

It's good to be back at the mic for the first interview of 2023. This week I'm joined by author David Swatling, whose new book, Corpus Calvin, just released from Bold Strokes Books. You can also find it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and various other retailers. I met David when his first book, Calvin's Head, was nominated for a Lambda Literary Award in 2015, and we've stayed in touch since then. Corpus Calvin takes the lead characters, Dekker and his beloved dog Calvin, to a new location and a very different story. I spoke with David about his life in Amsterdam, his inspiration for writing the Calvin books, and what may come next for them and him.

Wayne Goodman in conversation with Radclyffe, publisher at Bold Strokes Books and former physician

The full interview is up on our Patreon so become a subscriber here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/book-corner-and-66827245 For this special book corner episode, Andrew sits down with Ursula Klein to talk about her debut novel, Enchanted Autumn. Why is it a mixture of lesbian, campy, romantic, and witchy themes? Well, Ursula digs into these themes, her favorite witch themed movies, and even shares Andrew's passionate love for Salem, MA! You can find Ursula's book, Enchanted Autumn on Bold Strokes Books: https://www.boldstrokesbooks.com/books/enchanted-autumn-by-ursula-klein-3692-b While you're at it, make sure to follow Ursula on Facebook, @UrsulaKlein, Twitter, @KleinUla, and IG, @urs.ulaklein. Follow Ivory Tower Boiler Room on Instagram, @ivorytowerboilerroom, TikTok, @ivorytowerboilerroom, and Twitter, @IvoryBoilerRoom! Email us at ivorytowerboilerroom@gmail.com. We love hearing from you about the podcast and are always interested in interview suggestions. Many thanks to the Ivory Tower Boiler Room podcast team: Andrew Rimby, Executive Director; Mary DiPipi, Chief Contributor; Nicole Arguello, Marketing Assistant; Kimberly Dallas, Editor Thanks to Anne Sophie Andersen and Meghan Ames for our theme song, "Loverman." --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/ivorytowerboilerroom/support

On today's episode of Finding the Thing, Shannon and Emily talk with Jackie D., known as the Literary Lesbian from The Weekly Wine Down Podcast. Jackie is a Queer military veteran, award winning author who works with Bold Strokes Books, a wife, and mom. They discuss how Jackie got started with her podcast and writing career! Jackie speaks about how her work amplifies the voices of the LBGTQIA community and what her works means to her. Please listen for more!

Guys! This is so exciting! Radclyffe is here! I'm a huge fan. You won't want to miss this one. You can find out more about Radclyffe at her website: radfic.com Here is a brief bio from her site: Radclyffe is a best-selling romance author and LGBTQ publisher. She has written over fifty novels, dozens of short stories, and edited numerous anthologies. The 2014 Dr. James Duggins Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist Award recipient, she is the president of Bold Strokes Books, founded in 2004, an independent LGBTQI publishing company. Radclyffe is featured in the documentary Love Between the Covers: "A funny and inspiring look into the billion-dollar romance fiction industry and its powerhouse of female writers and readers, a sisterhood that's pioneering the digital revolution while finding fortune, fulfillment, and a global community."

Join me this week for a chat with the Bold Strokes Books author, Meredith Doench.  We talk about crime, serial criminals and romance.  Join the new Dame Doench and learn about her awesome crime series and her latest release, a stand alone novel, Whereabouts Unknown.

Romance, Representation, and Publishing  Andi and Lise discuss what's known as the lesbian fiction publishing industry (as distinguished from “mainstream” publishers that publish LGBTQ+ fiction) and the role of books that feature romance as a main plot in the industry. They unpack the scarcity of genre fiction in lesbian fiction that isn't romance-driven (but may include romance as a subplot) and discuss the pros and cons of being defined by a particular genre. They're excited to see more books that include asexual, trans, and non-binary characters in romance, but they'd like to see more characters like that in genre fiction that may or may not have a romantic sub-plot.  Links of interest:  About Naiad Press  Obituary/bio of Barbara Grier, one of the founders of Naiad  Lise MacTague's list of publications  Andi Marquette's list of publications  A small list of lesbian fiction publishing houses: Bold Strokes Books, Bella Books, Bedazzled Ink Publishing, Bywater Books, Dirt Road Books, Flashpoint Publications, Launch Point Press, Sapphire Books Publishing, Ylva Publishing  Shout-outs: Lise got an electric bike for her birthday, and she's super-stoked about how it makes riding uphill so much easier! Highly recommend! Andi just finished the first in Tasha Suri's Burning Kingdoms series, The Jasmine Throne, which features two female protagonists thrown together in extremely difficult circumstances. Gorgeously written, political intrigue, excellent world-building, and F/F rep.

Join me for another great chat with Suzie Clarke, author with Bold Strokes Books.  She talks about her soon to be released, Shadow Dancers, from the Moon Shadow series.  Look for it on January 1st.  Ring in the New Year with my Ohio connection, Suzie Clarke!

Critic, writer, and editor Jerry Wheeler discusses small press collections, the joy of good titles, the business of editing, among other things, and answers our questions. He brings a joyous voice and intelligent eye, and has advice worth listening to. … Continue...Episode 128 – Interview with Jerry L. Wheeler

This week, we're continuing our Trailblazer episodes with Radclyffe—author of lesbian romances and founder of the LGBTQIA+ publisher, Bold Strokes Books. We talk about her path to romance as a reader and an author, and a publisher, about the early days of queer romance, about the importance of independent booksellers to the queer community, and about how readers find themselves in books.Thank you to Radclyffe for taking the time to talk to us, and share her story. S04.05: Radclyffe: A Trailblazer EpisodeOur next read along is Uzma Jalaluddin's Hana Kahn Carries On. Find it at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, or at your local indie. This episode sponsored by Radish: Bottomless content; one cute app. Visit radish.social/fatedmates for 24 free coins and to read your first Radish story.Show NotesWelcome Radclyffe, romance author and founder of Bold Strokes Books. The internet archive has preserved her fanfiction site. Bookstores mentioned: Giovanni's Room in Philadelphia, Womancrafts in Provincetown, and an article about the current state of Queer bookstores in America. Publishing and Distributors Radclyffe mentioned: Naiad Press, founded by Barbara Greer, Sarah Aldridge, and Muriel Crawford; Regal Crest Enterprises is now Flashpoint Publications; Fawcett; Bella Booksfounded by Linda Hill; and Alyson Books.Awards mentioned: Lambda Literary Awards, and the RWA Prism awardFurther Reading: Creating a Literary Culture: A Short, Selective, and Incomplete History of LGBT Publishing, Part I, Part 2, and Part 3 by Michael Neva in the LARB,

Be sure to check out this awesome visit with Rad.  She talks about writing, publishing, working with authors and Captaining the Bold Strokes Books ship!

This week I've been talking with Bold Strokes Books debut author, Lyn Hemphill.  She discusses her soon to be released, Not Broken, a contemporary romance. 

Wayne Goodman in conversation with David S. Pederson, mystery writer at Bold Strokes Books

We're back with more goodness from the folks involved with Best Lesbian Erotica of the Year Volume 5. In this episode, you'll hear highlights from our conversation with some of the contributors and editor of the anthology. We cover whether kink is the norm in queer and lesbian relationships, why lesbian erotica matters, and whether erotica equals sex or something greater. - Rain Degrey, a writer, advice columnist, podcaster and educator whose work has taken her from Kink.com to Harvard University. - Mary P. Burns whose first novel, Forging a Desire Line, was published by Bold Strokes Books in May 2020. - June Amelia Rose, an anarchist leatherdyke fiction writer and submissive transsexual femme living in Brooklyn. - Sinclair Sexsmith, “the best-known butch erotica writer whose kinky, groundbreaking stories have turned on countless queer women” according to AfterEllen.com. Follow Feminist Erotica on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and email us with questions/comments/concerns at feministerotica@rebelliousmagazine.com. This episode is sponsored by Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast.

My guest this week is the Bold Strokes Books author, Jaycie Morrison.  Join us while Jaycie talks about her epic saga that transformed into three novels with more to come. 

Hear excerpts from three stories found in the Best Lesbian Erotica of the Year, Volume 5, as well as a bonus excerpt from the anthology editor, Sinclair Sexsmith. You'll hear from: - Rain Degrey, a writer, advice columnist, podcaster and educator whose work has taken her from Kink.com to Harvard University. - Mary P. Burns whose first novel, Forging a Desire Line, was published by Bold Strokes Books in May 2020. - June Amelia Rose, an anarchist leatherdyke fiction writer and submissive transsexual femme living in Brooklyn. - Sinclair Sexsmith, “the best-known butch erotica writer whose kinky, groundbreaking stories have turned on countless queer women” according to AfterEllen.com. Stay tuned next Friday for highlights from our interview with these writers.

Ep:058 Anne Laughlin has written six novels for Bold Strokes Books. She is the recipient of four Goldie Awards and has been short-listed three times for a Lammy Award. She's attended writing residencies at Ragdale, Vermont Studio Center, and others. Anne's short story, It Only Occured to Me Lately was a finalist in the Saints and Sinners short fiction contest. She has been previously named an emerging writer by the Lambda Literary Foundation. Her most recent novel is Money Creek.Anne's websiteMoney Creek by Anne LaughlinAnne on FacebookAnne on TwitterOut of Shadows by Michelle ArnoldThe Death of a Constant Lover by Lev Raphael Brad's Website: https://bradshreve.com/requeeredtales.comInstagram: @gaymysterypodcastFacebook: Gay Mystery-Thriller-Suspense Fiction GroupQuestions or comments can be emailed to info@gaymysterypodcast.com

Wayne Goodman in conversation with Lee Patton, educator, playwright, and author with Bold Strokes Books

Book Appreciation with Justine Saracen The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 63 In the Book Appreciation segments, our featured authors (or your host) will talk about one or more favourite books with queer female characters in a historic setting. The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters Fingersmith by Sarah Waters A Woman in Berlin by Anonymous A transcript of this podcast may be available here. (Transcripts added when available.) Links to the Lesbian Historic Motif Project Online Website: http://alpennia.com/lhmp Blog: http://alpennia.com/blog RSS: http://alpennia.com/blog/feed/ Twitter: @LesbianMotif Discord: Contact Heather for an invitation to the Alpennia/LHMP Discord server The Lesbian Historic Motif Project Patreon Links to Heather Online Website: http://alpennia.com Email: Heather Rose Jones Twitter: @heatherosejones Facebook: Heather Rose Jones (author page) Links to Justine Saracen Online Website: Justine Saracen at Bold Strokes Books

Wayne Goodman in conversation with Sam Ledel, author with Bold Strokes Books who likes to chase her Jack Russell Terrier around the apartment, watch way too many movies, or stare out a window with a cup of coffee in hand

Wayne Goodman in conversation with Barbara Ann Wright, Texas native and speculative fiction author at Bold Strokes Books

Angie Williams and the Emotionally Vulnerable Butch Les Do Books with Tara and guest Angie Williams When Angie first joined the podcast she was but a humble reader, but now she has returned a seasoned author! Her first book, Mending Fences is out now from Bold Strokes Books and her second, Last Resort, is set to come out this September.   This week, Tara and Angie talk about butch women in lesfic, how they are portrayed, and what they’d like to see going forward. For a treat, Tara grapples with the possibility of a cross-over dog character between series, something I think we can all agree on we need to see more of.   Topics and Works Discussed: The Last Place You Look by Aurora Rey Blue Skies by Ali Vali Stormy Seas by Ali Vali Justice Served by Radclyffe (Book 4 of Justice Series) A Matter of Trust by Radclyffe (Prequel to Book 2 of Justice Series) Love at Cooper’s Creek by Missouri Vaun Her Best Friend’s Sister by (The) Meghan O’Brien Complex Dimensions by Brenda Murphy Find Angie Williams online: Website Twitter Facebook Instagram More info If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please consider contributing to the Patreon for TLT. You can see all of our reviews, top 10 lists and author profiles on TheLesbianReview.com and don’t forget to send your emails, questions and more to Tara@TheLesbianReview.com.

Who among us hasn't started a project and then realized that you've inadvertently wandered into a longstanding and contentious debate? I enlist the help of two experts to unravel why I started the Shelf Love Modern Romance Canon project. First, Katrina Jackson helps me unravel some of the ways my professional and educational background made me think this was a logical thing to do. Then, Eric Selinger gives some backstory into the academic and institutional reasons canons exist, and why those who study, read, and write the popular romance genre have been circling this question for decades and will continue into the future.It's a story of nostalgia, red tape, gatekeeping, search engine optimization, and my unquenchable thirst for knowledge.Show Notes:Shelf Love:Sign up for the email newsletter list | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Email: Andrea@shelflovepodcast.com58 Romance Novellas For A Quick Hit of HopeCheck out Shelf Love’s updated website including the transcript for this episodeLow-Cost Mental Health Resources & Alternatives recommended by Hannah Hearts Romance - link to blog postGuest: Katrina JacksonTwitter | Instagram | Kat’s Email newsletter | Beautiful & DirtyKat's other episodes: An Unconditional Freedom | Polyamory/Financial Conversations | Kink | Angst | Religion | History | Blind Date With A Book Boyfriend by Lucy EdenGuest: Eric SelingerTwitter | JPRStudies.org | The Routledge Research Companion to Popular Romance FictionThe Current (and growing) Shelf Love Modern Romance Canon Nomination List (Whoa, watch out controversy)Notes:Notes from Katrina's sectionBeverly Jenkins on The Turn On PodEH Carr's What is History - a commonly-used text to introduce students to historyAlisha Rai's Serving PleasureKit Rocha's Beyond SeriesChinua Achebe's Things Fall ApartDorothy Allison's Bastard Out of CarolinaNotes from Eric's Section:EM Hull's The SheikThe Rosary by Florence L. Barclayaffective reasoning - I looked it up"How can you talk about contemporary fantasy if you don't know The Silmarillion?Noah Berlatsky - There is no Romance Canon (Well that's just your opinion, man.)Jodi McAlister - down (under) in Australia (it's a tired joke, but sorry, I'm tired.)Len Barot, the publisher of Bold Strokes Books, who publishes lesbian romance as Radclyffe.

Wayne Goodman in conversation with Renee Roman, community organizer, proofreader, and author at Bold Strokes Books

Wayne Goodman in conversation with Kathleen Knowles, health and safety specialist, novelist with Bold Strokes Books

Join me this week when I talk with the marvelous Bold Strokes Books author, Dena Blake.

This one's from way back in 2014. I was living in New York City then and had just co-edited and published an anthology of LGBT writers over 50, Outer Voices Inner Lives. Lee Lynch was among the contributors, and we subsequently developed an enduring friendship. Her Amazon Trail columns are a monthly regular at LGBTSr, and I'm about a big a fan of Lee's as she can get. Listen in as we chat about our lives at the time, writing, aging, and embracing life. About Lee Lynch Lee Lynch is the co-curator, with S. Renee Bass, of the recent collection, Our Happy Hours, LGBT Voices From the Gay Bars, available from Flashpoint Publications. Her  novel, Rainbow Gap, is available from Bold Strokes Books and other outlets. Her book, An American Queer, a collection of "The Amazon Trail" columns, was presented with the 2015 Golden Crown Literary Society Award in Anthology/Collection Creative Non Fiction. This, and her award-winning fiction, including The Raid, The Swashbuckler, and Beggar of Love, can be found at http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com/Author-Lee-Lynch.html.

We are very pro health care workers these days — we love all of you…doctors, nurses, EMTs, home health aides…if you know how to work a stethoscope, we’re into you. This week, we’re taking about some of our favorite medical romances. Listen for Jen getting thoughtful, and Sarah getting wildly inappropriate. We’re all just doing our best.We love having you with us! — subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform and like/review the podcast, please!Next week, we’re reading Susan Elizabeth Phillips’s Nobody’s Baby But Mine, and we cannot WAIT. We know it’s tough to get it in print, but find it in e at your local library or at: Amazon (free in Kindle Unlimited!), Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, or in print, mailed from your local indie (which is probably still shipping!).Show NotesAs we all shelter in place, romance twitter has been very entertaining. Julia Kelly posted a thread where she posed her pets as romance novel covers, and everyone had fun with it. Sarah also loved this one about a dog who howls along with the Law and Order theme song.We forgot to tell you last week when we talked about Devil's Bride that Stephanie Laurens has a new book out, The Inevitable Fall of Christopher Cynster. We also have added information about how to pronounce Honoria and details about peach silk.Now is the time to get the BookBub daily romance email. Here's Sarah's Bookbub page.The nurse and doctor books were the backbone of early Mills and Boon romances, and the forerunner of the modern Harlequin Medical Romance; whereas Americans often find big, soapy hospital dramas on TV.Budleigh Salterton looks like a very nice place to hang out unless you are a bored American 12 year old.The roots of American and British romance are different, as proven by this absolutely WRONG LitHub romance essay. (They're wrong about romance a lot.)Sarah has talked about Radclyffe and the origin of Bold Strokes Books, but many of her romances are about doctors or set in hospitals.Jen doesn't really care too much about job details. Sorry not sorry.No one likes a Bloodletter. We want our historical doctors to be foreward thinking. Or as Eloisa James does in When Beauty Tamed the Beast, use a modern TV character like House as model for a hero.In Tempest, Jen spoke out inequities in acess to medical care for black patients, and that's still true today.If you're looking to see some "don't fuck your doctor" romances that definitely fall somewhere on the Simone Scale. Wrong by Jana Aston and Medicine Man by Saffron Kent.Jurgen Klopp wants you to put your hands away, and this amazing thread by comedian Laura Lexx and support all the Liverpool fans out there (especially Jen's brother).Jen's cool TikTok project is up and running, she's interviewing YA authors and hoping to get kids to read while they are sheltering in place.You can order buttons from Kelly and t-shirts from Jordandene.Next time, we'll be reading Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

We promised we’d get to the rest of our Holiday AMA questions eventually, and Sarah’s on deadline, so this seemed like the perfect week to do it! Join us for a freewheeling hour during which Sarah cannot remember Tessa Thompson’s name, we talk about how much we’d like to meet Sandra Brown, and how romance really does have something for everyone, including an entire series about romance during power outages.Also, we forgot to mention that Tuesday was Derek Craven Day! Lots of fun was had by all goofballs who joined us on the Internet to celebrate, and Lisa Kleypas herself even got involved! If you haven’t read Dreaming of You, you can get it for $2.99 right now in ebook! Also, do not miss this incredible Craven Day thread on Twitter from Steve Ammindown and the Browne Pop Culture Library. And if you want Derek Craven t-shirts? Those exist now!Next week, the book is in and we’re back in business! Lorraine Heath’s Waking Up With the Duke is our next read—a book that blooded Sarah. Get it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, or Kobo.Full Show Notes @ FATEDMATES.NET- Question 1: Weird but true: the more specific the request, the more likely we are to come up with a recommendation. So if you just need "enemies to lovers" and you've already read Her Best Worst Mistake, or "friends to lovers" and you've already read Scoring Off the Field, then you just need to google it.- Question 2: Who are we fancasting? These beautiful people: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Henry Cavill, Tessa Thompson, and Tom Hardy. Also, listening to Henry Cavill and Tom Hardy grunt is one of our favorite things.- Question 3: Who do we want to have lunch or tea with? Kresley Cole, obviously! Sarah said Joanna Lindsey. Jen says Julie Garwood. We'd both love to meet Sandra Brown. Jen still can't believe the people she's met, and hopes she was cool like Yolanda.- Question 4: Do we have recommendation for lesbian and f/f romance? Is it more difficult to find? Check out Bold Strokes Books. strands of f/f, and others have different roots. We will keep looking for some history of f/f romance and link to them if we find one. But in the meantime, YA author, critic, and expert Malinda Lo wrote about "The Invisible Lesbian" in YA, and it's right on point and worth your time. But we do have lots of great f/f romances that we love in the photo array below.- Question 5: What about steampunk? Is that ever coming back? We don't know! But all we can do is recommend these ones we do know. Sorry!- Question 6: What is like Harry Potter for grown-ups? Burn For Me by Illona Andrews (Jen also liked the Kate Daniels series). That's it. That's the answer.- Question 7: Books with power outages? Read this Naima Simone series called Blackout Billionares.- Question 8: How to get started with reviewing and NetGalley? You should look at lists that big reviewing clearinghouses make--Kirkus (Jen writes that one!), Booklist, and PW. Just trying to look at some of these lists will give you a sense of what books will be coming out. The Book Queen is keeping a list of 2020 new releaes. But Estelle from Forever Romance wrote a great piece about how to get started with NetGalley.- Question 9: Looking for hardcore enemies to lovers with kids in the mix. Jen recommends Wait For It by Molly O'Keefe. Lord of Scoundrels is great for this, too!- Quesiton 10: Books that made us literally laugh out loud. Jen recommends I Think I Might Love You by Christina C Jones. Sarah recommends It Takes Two by Jenny Holiday. Christina has a huge backlist, and Jenny's newest book, Mermaid Inn, came out last week.- Question 11: Looking for books with a heist plot and polyamory. Jen thinks Katrina Jackson has cornered the market on this request and we have all been blessed by it.- Quesiton 12: A question if there are any romances with a Muslim hero and heroine with on-page sex. Jen couldn't think of any, but asked author Farah Heron. Farah also couldn't think of one, but we do recommend her book The Chai Factor.- Quesiton 13: Jackie from Elyria Ohio (where Jen went to high school!) is looking for historical with a murder and a twist. We recommend Kelly Bowen and Sarah's book No Good Duke Goes Unpunished.- Quesiton 14: Sarah is looking for books with virgin heroes--but hot!- Question 15: A book with a grovel so unconvincing that the character has to do it again. Oh, we have suggestions but also you should check out Jen's treatise on groveling.- Quesiton 16: What are some museums we love? Sarah talked about these in England: The Museum of London, The Foundling Museum, The Soane's Museum, and The British Library. She also loves the Museum of Sex in New York, and the Isabella Gardner Museum in Boston. Jen doesn't research, but in Chicago, she recommends The Art Institute and the National Museum of Mexican Art. If you're ever in Cleveland, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is so cool, and in Houston, check out the most meditative place Jen has ever been, The Rothko Chapel.(when this aired in Feb 2020, the chapel was temporarily closed for renovations! Please check the website).

This is a reading from my debut novel, Aspen in Moonlight, available in print and ebook from Bold Strokes Books and available everywhere books are sold, including Powell's, The Tattered Cover Bookstore, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon. I hope you enjoy it!

Romance! Elizabeth Andersen has a co-host, author Kris Bryant. We will be talking with authors Georgia Beers and Melissa Brayden. All three authors are with Bold Strokes Books and are at the top of their writing game. We will talk not only about the romance genre, but about their inspirations, writing process, and individual books.

This is an exciting week for Clare. Why you ask? It’s launch week for Made in London. The ARC team has given it an enthusiastic thumbs-up. Grab your copy on October 16th! Clare has been manic prepping for the book release, and the 30k she hoped to write last week didn’t get written. Also, she took on a project that ended up with much swearing, including her favorite curse word (the one that can’t be written here). But she’s heading to Kent for a writing retreat, so hopefully she’ll bash out some words. Monday, Clare will be rubbing elbows with the bigwigs at the Amazon Storyteller Awards. TB is in awe. TB will be heading to Provincetown on October 18th to attend some of the Bold Strokes Books events during women’s week in Ptown. On the 19th, she’ll be back in Beantown (not to be confused with Ptown) for the Boston Book Festival. There’ll be books and food. TB can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday. Later that night, she plans to head to Salem to go on a ghost tour and then have ice cream at a shop with witches in the name. She may never be seen again. The duo moves on to the ever-burning question: how long does it take to write a book? TB outlines how long it would take in a perfect world from the first blank page to publication. While jotting down the time for each stage, TB has an epiphany, and they both realize why they average publishing 3 books each during the year. It takes time to write a book. Clare shares how her first book took 5 years, but the amount of time gets drastically shorter the more you do it and build your confidence. Since turning full-time, neither of them works on only one project at a time but constantly juggles several projects. It comes down to what works for you, and a book takes as long as it takes. Also, don’t miss out on all the UK speak that befuddles TB, but we all know she’s easily confused. Made in London: www.clarelydon.co.uk/2019/09/made-in-london-cover-reveal/ Bold Strokes Books schedule of events for Women’s Week in Ptwon: www.facebook.com/events/364138801129852/ Boston Book Festival: bostonbookfest.org/ Chris Fox Writes: www.chrisfoxwrites.com/   Stop back next week for another hilarious conversation about how they read and if they think you can be a good writer without reading. If you’d like to leave a comment on the episode, head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com. They’d love to hear from you. Or you can email them at: lesbianswhowrite@gmail.com. Happy listening! Clare and TB

'Nathan Burgoine is a Canadian writer. His debut novel Light was a shortlisted Lambda Literary Award nominee in the Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror category at the 26th Lambda Literary Awards The novel was published by Bold Strokes Books in 2013. He lives in Ottawa, Ontario with his husband Daniel and their dog Coach. Subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/talkingbooksandstuff1

Join me for the first anniversary podcast of Lez Talk About Books, Baby! with Bold Strokes Books author, Carsen Taite

WE ARE BACK! Sorry for the hiatus. We took a much-needed trip to vegas to get our chakras back in order and we are happy to come back at you this week with an interview we did with Fred Smith and Chaz Lamar, the authors of In Case You Forgot. During the interview, we discuss the book and it's parallels to dating in the 21st century. So sit back and grab your favorite glass of wine as we journey into the fictional world of In Case Your Forgot :). Follow the authors: Fred Smith: @Fsmith827- Instagram & Twitter Chaz Lamar: @Chzcruz- Instagram & Twitter Purchase In Case You Forgot at the links below: Bold Strokes Books: https://www.boldstrokesbooks.com/books/in-case-you-forgot-by-frederick-smith-and-chaz-lamar-2991-b Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Case-You-Forgot-Frederick-Smith/dp/1635554934/ref=sr_1_1?crid=LJDYSXXZAAZH&keywords=in+case+you+forgot+frederick+smith&qid=1562887870&s=gateway&sprefix=In+Case+You+For%2Caps%2C1044&sr=8-1 Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-case-you-forgot-frederick-smith/1131390450?ean=9781635554939

The guys talk about the television they’ve been watching so far this summer, including American Ninja Warrior on NBC, FX’s Pose, American Masters: Terrence McNally: Every Act of Life on PBS, Grand Hotel on ABC, Good Trouble on Freeform and What/If on Netflix. Jeff reviews In Case You Forgot by Frederick Smith & Chaz Lamar. Jeff interviews Roan Parrish about Raze, the latest book in the Riven series. They talk about the research she did for the series, including going on tour with a band, as well as the eclectic music she enjoys. The origin of Roan’s collaboration with Avon Gale is also discussed along with what got Roan started with writing gay romance. Complete shownotes for episode 196 along with a transcript of the interview are at BigGayFictionPodcast.com. Interview Transcript - Roan Parrish This transcript was made possible by our community on Patreon. You can get information on how to join them at patreon.com/biggayfictionpodcast. Jeff: Welcome, Roan, to the podcast. It is so great to finally have you here. Roan: Thank you. I'm so happy to be here. Jeff: And it's a perfect opportunity because just last week, you released raise "Raze," just the third book in the "Riven" series. And for those who don't know, tell us about the series and, of course, this latest installment. Roan: Sure. So "Riven" starts out with the book, "Riven," also the series title. And it's kind of an anti-rock star romance. It's about Theo, who's the lead singer of the band, Riven. And they've suddenly hit it big and are super famous. And everyone in the band loves being famous and their success. And Theo hates it. He hates being famous. He hates being the center of attention. He hates, like, people knowing things about him or looking at him when he leaves the house. So he loves the music, but he finds fame, like, the worst thing ever. And so he's about to go off on a new leg of the tour and is sort of, like, wandering the streets of New York, feeling a little bit sorry for himself. When he hears this song coming from a bar, like, someone just strumming guitar, and it's one of the most beautiful things he's ever heard. So he goes in the bar to see who's playing this or what the song is. And he meets Caleb, who is the one playing the music. And Caleb, we learn later, has been a musician for a long time, a working musician, but has sort of gone away from the scene and hidden himself away in his uncle's house out of town because he's had some addiction issues, and he's trying to stay clean by staying away from everything that reminded him of the scene, including music. So they start to talk to each other and they bond over music. And then little by little, they fall in love. The problem being, of course, that for Theo being in the scene and being public is kind of part of his thing. And for Caleb, everything about that just brings back a lot of bad memories. So they have to sort of work together to figure out how that's gonna impact their relationship and if they can get through it. And then it kind of takes a hard left, I feel like this is the thing that I should say for people who haven't read the series, is that the series really does hang together. It has the same secondary characters. It deals with a lot of the same themes, like, the themes of ending up someplace that you never thought you would be. But then in book two, we met Reese, or we've met Reese in book one, but we have a book about Reese who was Caleb's best friend and Reese's husband, Matt. And Matt has nothing to do with the music scene. And the book is told from his perspective. So for people who go in expecting that the whole series is about music, it is in some ways, like, music as a through line. And certainly, this idea of fame and this idea of struggling with fame is a through line. But book one is sort of anti-rock star. And then book two is like working musician and person who's not involved with music at all. So I feel like that's the thing I should say. Jeff: Well, they it does hang together because you've got the working musician. Roan: Yeah, totally. And Reese, who is the working musician is someone who toured with Caleb when Caleb was still playing music. So the characters all hang together and the series hangs together, but it's not a kind of musician book, if that make sense. Jeff: Yeah, that makes sense. Roan: And then "Raze," which is book three, it also hangs together. "Raze," it's similarly about characters ending up someplace that they never thought they would be. And in this book we meet Huey, who was in the first two books, and has been a sort of a little bit of a shadowy figure who we never knew his backstory, we didn't know who he is, he just pops in and dispenses wisdom, and pops out again, he doesn't say much else. And so he was Caleb's sponsor in Narcotics Anonymous. And he's still been working as a sponsor. And he is so used to taking care of everyone else being a sponsor, helping people work through their own addiction issues, dealing with his own, that he doesn't really ever focus on his own life. He's built up this kind of wall of focusing on everyone else, so he never has to think about himself. And we meet Felix, who is doing the same thing, taking care of everyone else but him himself, but through his family instead of through NA. So he grew up and help take care of his younger brothers and sisters, and always helped his sister get whatever she wanted, and has now found himself as his sister goes off to do her music thing, found himself kind of like, "What the hell am I doing with my life? Who am I? I kind of forgot to ever notice what I wanted." And so the two of them come together. And two people who are so used to looking out for everyone except themselves, as you can imagine, when it comes down to trying to make a relationship, they kind of don't know how to do it. They don't know how to ask for what they want. They don't even know what they want from each other. And so feelings kinda bubble up and nobody knows what to do with them. And then it ends really happily. Jeff: As all romance must. Roan: That's a must. And there's even a kitten. So, yeah. Jeff: What attracted you to writing this series? Roan: I think that there's themes that go together. I love music. And I've always been a huge music fan. And one of the things that I've always thought was interesting is that music is so personal, to me, anyway. And I know for many other people, like, each of us, listens to music and feels something - has associations that are deeply personal. And something about the weirdness of something so personal, experienced on a large scale of fame has always struck me as really odd. So you can be at a concert with the band and have thousands and thousands of people there. And each person has been hit with his music in a really personal way. And yet, we're all there together in a super public space, having kind of a personal experience, like, smooshed up together with each other. And I've just always found that really strange. And I know for people who make music, the process of making music is really personal. And it's really different than the process of performing music. And so I think I was interested in what would it feel like to do something really personal in front of a lot of people and then watch as this thing that you've made gets loose on the world, and you no longer have any control over it or what people think of it. And to me being famous seems like absolutely the worst thing I can imagine outside of, like, actual torture. And I know that for some people, that's not the case. But, yeah. So I was interested in writing, like, the genre of rock star romance is a thing. And I was interested in looking at it from the perspective of what would a rock star romance look like, if instead of rock star being a desirable thing, it was a terrible thing or a thing that caused a lot of problems for the rock star. Jeff: What was the process around some of the research, because, like, you talk about this very personal thing. How do you research that? And then how do you try to read and put it in a book so everybody else gets it? Roan: You know, I mean, I don't know. I can't really claim that I did it correctly. I've never been a musician. I like singing karaoke to Paula Abdul once with five other people very drunk in college. And that's about my performance level. But my sister-in-law, my sister's wife is a musician. And she's very personal and writes very personal music and then performs it. And, you know, I've been to many of her shows, obviously. And I went on tour with her in Europe once, like, carrying her stuff and hanging on for the ride. And one thing that struck me was, like, people would come up to her after the show and tell her like, "Your music has meant so much to me. I was going through such a hard time and your music spoke to me in these really hard moments." And so I would see that and I know that people are having these personal responses and have personal relationships with the music. And I know that my sister-in-law does as well. And then, like, the moment that the two of them would be having together would be personal. But there was still this whole performance element that I kinda…yeah, just seems like a very strange crucible of the personal and the public smooshed together, and maybe the performativity of that, in some way, like, hides the personalness…or not hides necessarily, but, like, you need a little bit of distance, like, the lights and the smoke machine, and the darkness, and the space between the stage and the crowd to insulate you a little bit in order to take something that's so personal and project it out in public. Jeff: I love how you kinda had the personal research going on there that you actually went on this tour and got to see all of it kinda go down about as close to it as you could without being the actual performer. Roan: Yeah, yeah, which is awesome. And I mean, like, I've had many friends who do music. So I knew that if I had, like, specific questions, you know, I had some questions about, like, the studio stuff and how you laid out tracks that I was able to ask friends about. But I really do think it's, like, the feeling of performing that I was trying to capture and the sense of what it felt like to have something that was yours, like, the music, and then watch other people make it theirs. And although I've never been a performer in any way, I mean, that's a little bit, like, what happens with books is that I sit at home in my pajamas, like, with cat hair all over me, and I write these books. And then when they're published, it's not mine anymore, it belongs to the people who read it. And I don't really have any control over it. So that part was easy to kind of understand. Jeff: Of course, you mentioned your love of music. And your bio actually mentioned that you listen to torch songs and melodic death metal. Now, I get eccentricity because my playlists are, like, wildly, you know, strangely hooked together in some way. But these two seem very different. What attracts you to these two individual styles? Roan: I think I was trying to write my bio in a way that was, you know, like on dating sites, you wanna say the two things that seem most opposed. So you can be like, "Listen, this is what you're getting as a human being who is essentially at odds with himself," maybe that's just me. Anyway, yeah, I love both of those genres. I think they're both simultaneously really raw and really beautiful. Like, torch songs, I love because they are heartbroken, and tender, and they tell a story, and they're so vulnerable, and beautiful. And melodic death metal is like, doing the same thing, only it can't be vulnerable, or, like, it needs a really harsh bass riff, and loud guitar, and loud drums in order to do something that's that tender and that personal. And I find not like screamy death metal, but yeah, melodic death metal. I find it like one of those puppies that growls at you until you get a little bit closer, and then little by little it sorta lets you pet it. And then by the time you're petting it, it's like, "Oh, no, I really do love this. Please don't ever stop petting me," but then, like, someone else walks in the room and they're all growly again. Jeff: I love that analogy. So awesome. Jeff: Now, speaking of music, with the "Riven" series seems such an obvious thing to perhaps you write to music if you're a writer who does that. Was there a particular playlist that sort of pushed you along in the writing of the series? Roan: You know, I actually didn't listen to music at all writing the series, which is sort of strange when you say it like that. I go through phases of whether I like to write with music on or not. And there have been books that I've written where I listened to the same music over and over. Like, when I wrote...what book was it? Oh, "Out of Nowhere," which is the second book "In the Middle of Somewhere" series, I listened like obsessively to "The Civil Wars" just over, and over, and over. And for some reason, the mood of those albums was, like, exactly the mood that I needed to be in to write that book. But with the "Riven" series, I didn't listen to music at all. Jeff: Interesting. Okay. Roan: Yeah. And none of the music in the books is real. Like, I made up all the band names and all of the music. And I wonder if maybe part of it was like, I didn't want real music in my head because I was making it up. Jeff: That would make sense. Yeah. If you're having to write any kind of song lyrics or anything inside the book, I could see where you would wanna, like, accidentally just pick up something. Roan: Right. Well, it was super adorable actually because one of my best friends who reads all my stuff first is, like, she likes music a lot, but she's like a top 40 radio kind of tastes music person. And so she thought that all of the musical references in my books in the "Riven" series were real, because she knows that I like lots of different kinds of music, and she just didn't know that they were fake at all, which is totally adorable. Jeff: Oh, that's awesome. So you could have an extra career then as a songwriter if you're writing lyrics. Roan: Maybe a band-namer. I like the band names more. Jeff: So I have to ask for the audio book then that you've got song lyrics - does that mean your narrator is actually singing the lyrics? Did you make Iggy sing and Chris sing? Roan: No. And, you know, I don't think that I have a chunk of lyrics long enough to be sung. They're like a couple snippets. But I didn't even think about the fact that I could have written a song of it for the audio book. That would have been awesome. Too late. Jeff: Something to think about maybe for a future book or another installment in the series. Roan: Yeah, yeah. I could do it as like an extra or something, I guess. Jeff: And speaking of the series, is there more to come in this series? Roan: There's not. Like, The Good Place that we were talking about earlier, I have decided that book three is the end. Jeff: Okay. Time to wrap up that universe. Roan: Yeah. And, you know, I say that and obviously maybe I would go back in the future and write another one. But I think the fact that the last book is about a character whose story we've kinda been wondering about for the whole series, it felt like a good place to stop because it's sort of the wrap up of, like, solving the last interpersonal mystery. So that felt like the right place to stop. And there are definitely tendrils. Like, people who've read a bunch of my books will notice that Riven, the band, is mentioned in another book, and that some characters from the "Middle of Somewhere" series are briefly alluded to in "Riven." So there's, like, little Easter eggs for people who have read all the books because I sort of think of everything as being connected in that way. So it'll pop back up, I'm sure. Jeff: I love that. I love the broad interconnected universe thing. Roan: Yeah, yeah. Secretly in my head, all of the books are connected in lots of ways that I don't necessarily put on the page. But, like, I like to get a couple in there. Jeff: Nice. Now, you also co-write with Avon Gale. What got that collaboration going? Roan: You know, that collaboration happened completely by accident, or on a whim, I should say. And I'm so glad it did. So I was living in New Orleans a couple years ago. And Avon and I were friends on the internet. And she offered when I was moving back from New Orleans to Philadelphia, she was like, "I love a road trip. What if I fly to New Orleans and drive with you," because it's a many day drive and you have a cat. I had like my truck and then I had my car hitched to the back of the truck, and it was a whole big thing. So I was like, "Oh, great. This will be fun." So we started driving from Louisiana to Pennsylvania. And it was, like, a torrential downpour. And we couldn't hear the radio. We couldn't do anything. And so Avon was like, "Okay. Well, I'll just tell you about this book that I've been working on. And I am really stuck on it. I can't get the plot right." So I was like, "Okay." And I'm pretty introverted and Avon is very extroverted. And we going in... Jeff: And it's very true, she is. Roan: Yes. And, you know, I really just love a clear communicator, so I loved it. She was like, "Basically, I talk constantly. And if you want me to stop, you have to tell me to stop." And I was like, "Oh, that's amazing. I run out of steam socially in approximately two-and-a-half hours, and I'm still listening to you, but I won't respond." And she was like, "Okay, great." And thus, it was. And so she basically narrated to me the entire plot of this book that she was trying to write, and she was having trouble with it. And I kept doing this probably obnoxious thing where I was like, "Oh, what if you did this?" Or, "What if you did that?" Or, "Oh, my gosh, it's so funny, because if that were me, I would totally do this." And she, instead of being annoyed, was like, "Well, you should obviously write this book with me." And that book was what it turned into "Heart of the Steal," which is the first book we wrote together. And it was so fun because then as we were driving, we just plotted the whole book. And she had her little, like, computer that she was typing on while we drove. And I drove the truck the whole way. And so I would like yammer at her and she would take notes, and then in the hotel rooms at night, we would kinda hash it out. And so it happened on a total whim, and then turned out to be really fun. And so we planned it on that trip. And then I went and visited her months later, I guess. Yeah, some months later, and we actually wrote "Thrall," which was the second book that we co-wrote together, like, in the same place. So we wrote it, like, together, even though we don't live in the same place. So it was two very different writing experiences, but both equally awesome. Jeff: That's fantastic. And I have to imagine it's a nice way to kill the time in a road trip to just write a book. Roan: Oh, yeah, totally. And it's really fun because I don't know about you or about other writers in general, but, like, I find that traveling is one of the best, like, brain, what do you call it? Like, catalyzers, brain catalyzers, something about moving through space constantly, whether it's, like, on a train or just walking or whatever. It's, like, the rhythm of moving through space makes my brain also work in a forward rhythm. And I find myself, excuse me, getting so many ideas when I'm just, like, walking a long distance, or on a train, or on a bus, or something. And so something about driving and plotting the thing together was, like, super, some word… Jeff: Awesome. Roan: Yeah, awesome. Jeff: Probably better than awesome, but awesome was the first thing that popped into my head. Roan: Yeah, yeah. Jeff: And then I totally get what you're talking about there, too, because I've done a lot of plotting and some writing on planes. Because it's like, yeah, there's something about just that that just you've got the time, and, like, the brain is working, so use it. Roan: Yeah. And it's, like, looking out the window of something moving through that kinda space with everything passing so quickly, it almost feels like it changes the rhythm of thoughts or something. Jeff: Yeah. And kudos to Avon for being able to type in a moving vehicle because I don't know that I could do that. Roan: Oh, my God, she has, like, motion sickness proof. I swear to God. Jeff: That's just crazy. Roan: Oh, I know. Jeff: But we definitely got to talk a little bit about "Thrall." I reviewed it back in Episode 157. I was just blown away by it. For folks who don't know, tell us about what that book is and what in fact does make it so special? Roan: So "Thrall" is our modern "Dracula" retelling, basically. And for anyone who's read "Dracula," you'll remember that "Dracula," it's an epistolary novel, so it's told through letters, and diary entries, and, like, newspaper clippings, telegram, stuff like that. And so we did "Thrall" in the same way, we made it an epistolary novel. But since ours was modern, and that one was 19th century, instead of letters and journal entries, and stuff like that, we have emails, and g-chats, and tweets, and podcast descriptions, and stuff like that. So the whole thing is written in that way, this combination of different print media. So we have the main characters that people will recognize from "Dracula." And Mina, and Lucy, who are the two characters that people will know from "Dracula," in our version, have a podcast, a true crime podcast in New Orleans. And they get caught up in basically trying to solve the mystery of Lucy's brother who seems to have disappeared. And so in getting caught up in that mystery, they stumble upon this a role-playing game kind of thing, where they use an app, and they go to different places, and they try to solve clues, hoping that it will take them to Lucy's brother. And so in addition to it being an epistolary form in general for the whole book, then kind of within that epistolary form, there's this mystery that they're trying to solve on a computer, I mean, on a phone app. So it's like a game inside an epistolary novel that's an adaptation of another epistolary novel. Jeff: And epistolary just not something you see very much. At least I don't, especially in the romance genre that I tend to read in general. What was it like as a writer, and just plotting to take on such a different narrative format? Roan: Yeah, it was awesome. It was really, really cool. I love form, like, I'm super interested in what different things you can do with form. And one of the things that, like, when I'm reading other things I'm always interested in is what form did this author choose, whether it's something simple, like, short chapters, or long chapters, or, like, flashbacks versus telling everything in order, all of that stuff, I think, has such an impact on the way the story gets delivered. And so I was really excited to play with the form. And I think that with the genre of romance, one of the reasons why we don't see epistolary stuff so often is that it's, like, an additional level of remove between the two characters. And romance seems, to me, to be all about intimacy and connection. And sure, it can be really romantic or sexy to write a love letter or love email, I guess, in 2019. But there's still something where you're not in the moment. There's no, like, tracking a touch as it happens, or a kiss, or whatever it is. And so I think that going into "Thrall," we were like, "How the hell do we make a romance happen when the characters essentially are never in the same scene?" Like, in order to be texting each other, they probably aren't together. In order to be chatting each other, they're probably not together. And so any evidence of an encounter, which is all we could show, also demonstrated their distance. So that was a challenge. And we got around it in a couple of different ways, including characters literally writing out sex scenes that they wished would happen like fantasies, having chats that were more intimate. But yeah, the romance part, I think, was actually the hardest to portray via the epistolary form because it introduces that necessary distance, which is sort of the anti-romance. It was much easier, for example, for the mystery, or the suspense parts because those things can be portrayed that way no problem. But, yeah, the romance part was tricky. Jeff: Well, as I said the review, I think you guys pulled it off so amazingly. If people have not read "Thrall," they should really pick it up and give it a try. Roan: Oh, thanks. Jeff: Because maybe a little much to call it a breath of fresh air, but it's certainly gonna be something very different than what I think most people tend to read. Roan: Yeah, it definitely is different. And it's one of those books that Avon and I knew going in, but it's not everyone's cup of tea. It's an adaptation. It's an adaptation of "Dracula." It's an adaptation of "Dracula" without vampires. It's a romance where you don't ever see the characters touch necessarily. But like, I feel, like, for people who are interested in form for people who are interested in Dracula or interested in suspense, and all that stuff, we were really excited to just do something totally new for us. Jeff: Yeah. It was super cool. Please do more of that sometime. Roan: I would love too. Jeff: So laying a little bit of your origin story, how did you get involved in writing M/M romance? Roan: You know, at the risk of making, it sound completely accidental, it was kind of accidental. My good friend from graduate school, got a job in Phoenix, and didn't know very many people. She didn't have many friends. And she and I both started reading both young adult and M/M mysteries in grad school. And so I went to go visit her and she was having a hard time. Like, I said she didn't know very many people, didn't have any friends, and she just wanted like, escape reading. And we were, like, in the kitchen cooking dinner or something, and she was saying that she just wished that there was, like, a romance novel that she could read about someone who was in her situation. So someone who was a new professor in a new place, didn't know very many people and was kind of struggling to fit in. And because she's my friend and I wanted to make it all better, I was like, "Oh, no worries, I'll write you a story. Everything is gonna be okay." So on the plane home from Arizona, I wrote the first chapter of what would eventually be "In the Middle of Somewhere," my first book, thinking that, like, I would send it to my friend, and she would read it and be like, "You are such a nerd. I can't believe you actually wrote me this story. I was just complaining. You're weird." But instead, she read it and wrote back and was like, "Oh, a story. Oh, my gosh. What happens next?" And, of course, I didn't know what happened next because there was no next. I thought that it was going to be a little one-off thing. But then I wrote the next chapter and I emailed it to her, and she wrote back and was like, "What happens next?" And I actually wrote the whole first half of the book that way just chunking out a chapter, emailing it to my friend, and I was really writing it for her. I never thought I would show it to anyone. I never intended to send it to a publisher. I didn't even have a plot, I just was writing these little sections. And around halfway through the book, I suddenly realized that, like, it was getting kinda long, and I should probably figure out how it was gonna end. Otherwise, I would just end up writing this, like, email missive to my friend forever, which was really fun. But also, I thought she would get sick of it eventually. And then when I finished the book, I thought that was gonna be the end of it. And it was my friend who was like, "No, you should totally try to publish it." And I owe it all to her, I never occurred to me to send it to anyone. And I would never have done it if she hadn't made me. Jeff: Well, kudos to her for making that happen. And that's the best accident story ever. I mean, just amazing. Were you writing before that at all? Or was this just really like, "Hey, I could write. I'll write you something. No worries." Roan: Well, you know, I've always written different things. I was a poetry major in college of all the super useful things to pursue. And so I wrote poetry or some short fiction. And then I did my PhD in literature. So, you know, I wrote a dissertation, I wrote nonfiction for years, and years, and years. But I've always loved to write. And I love reading novels. And so sitting down to write a novel, I think it actually helps that I wasn't thinking of it as writing a novel. I just thought of it as writing the story for my friend. So I didn't have any of the self-consciousness or like that internal editorial voice that I'm sure if I had planned to send it out, would have like, killed me as I was trying to start. And in terms of, like, as we get back to your original question, which I don't know that I actually answered in terms of, like, why M/M romance specifically. I hate misogyny, and sexism, and can't deal with stories where I read female characters and feel intensely alienated from them. And I find often in romance, not all by any means, there are some amazing, amazing, like, revolutionary really amazing people writing romance with women, but I've often found that reading romance novels that are, like, heterosexual romance stories make me feel alienated, and angry, and the opposite of anything that I associate with romantic. And so, yeah. Jeff: Who are sort of your author influences? Roan: Oh, man. Well, you know, growing up, I read everything. I'm a real, like, moody reader. So I go through phases. And when I'm in that phase, that's all I read. So, like, when I was in elementary school, I was obsessed with S. E. Hinton Hinton, "The Outsiders" and "Rumble Fish," those books. And she writes with this very kind of, like, spare style, but lots of sensory detail. And I think that that's definitely something that I've always really admired was the ability to evoke feeling even while being very spare. And then when I was in middle school, I was obsessed with Anne Rice, obviously, because middle school. And I read her books over, and over, and over. And I think that she is like the master of the kind of Baroque sentence structure that when you're deep in, reading one of her books, you don't notice that she's, like, in a strange Yoda way, like, flipping a subject and predicate to make things sound, more flourishy and purple prosy. You don't notice it because you're so deep in it that, like, of course, that character would talk that way. But if you go and you read another author or another book, you realize suddenly what she was doing. And so I think from her, I got just, like, I really respected this immersive detail-rich all the senses engaged kind of writing. Also, I really love long books, and the ability to sustain a story over 800 pages, and keep going with this level of detail. I mean, I know it's not everyone's bag, like, some people really like a short one and done, but I mean, I will read a series that goes on forever if I'm still engaged. And I just think that she does that incredibly well. Then, oh, gosh, I'm taking you on a tour. I don't know if this is actually answering your question, but I do think... Jeff: It is actually. Yeah. Roan: Oh, okay, good. The real answer is, like, I learned things from every single author I read. And sometimes, it's things that I don't ever wanna do. And sometimes, it's things that my mind is blown because I'm like, "Holy crap, I didn't even know you could do that." Sometimes it's like I feel like I'm weak in one area at a moment. And so I wanna go read someone who I think does something really well and try to learn it. Oh, Francesca Lia Block was a huge influence when I was a teenager. She writes this kind of magical realism that is, like, very urban set - in LA, deals with real world problems, but has this, like, pink fog over the entire thing. And I was really, really taken by that. That way of combining urbanity with fantasy, and so that's definitely something that I took from her. I went through a really deep, like, epic historical fiction kick, which maybe is that same kind of, like, very immersive detail, huge cast of characters, all that stuff. And, oh, gosh, I'm totally blanking on her. Oh, Sharon Kay Penman is her name. Okay. Sorry, this is maybe a tangent. But this story blows my mind and is, like, one of the more impressive things I've ever heard in my life, if you'll indulge me for a moment. Jeff: Of course. Roan: So Sharon Kay Penman writes these, like, hugely epic, 1,000-page long, British Isles historical fiction. And she wrote this book called "The Sunne in Splendour," in, like, I wanna say the early 80s, maybe mid-80s. And the book is epically long, and just detail, and hundreds and hundreds of characters, and like tons of things translated into Welsh. It's about Welsh civil wars, or wars with England. Anyway, she wrote the book and, like, on a typewriter, and had it in one of those, you know, the boxes that reams of paper come in…you would put your manuscript in this box. So she was going to drive her book to her publisher. And she stopped at the bank to, like, deposit a check or something. And when she came back out, her car had been stolen with the copy of the book inside, the only copy of the book, which I don't even know how that happens. So the car stolen, she's just sure she's never gonna get it back. And whereas, like, I don't know, I would probably immediately go home and, like, order seven pizzas, and you wouldn't see me for a month. She drove home and started writing the book again. Jeff: Wow. I would have done the seven-pizza thing and then walked away for, like, at least a week. Roan: Yeah. Like, I would have told every single person who would listen that my life's work had been ripped from me. And it was the worst thing that ever happened to me and which, you know, I think that's actually speaking pretty well of my life that that would be the worst thing. But, yeah, I just, like, that level of tenacity and dedication to a project, it just blows my mind. Anyway, she's amazing. Jeff: Yeah, that's awesome. And just, like, I can't even imagine, it speaks so well to these days where we're like, "Did you back that up on Dropbox?" Roan: Yeah, at least someone's like, "Oh, man, I just spent, like, 20 minutes writing that email and it got wiped." And I'm like, "Sharon Kay Penman." Jeff: So what's coming up next for you? What's yet to come this year? Roan: Well, do wanna be the first person to know because I actually just found out yesterday? Jeff: Oh, breaking news. Roan: Breaking News. Yeah, I just sold a new book, which I'm pretty excited about. Okay. The concept is, there is a guy who has a bunch of animals. He's like, kind of antisocial, kind of pissed off at the world for reasons that I will not divulge yet. And he likes animals better than people. So he has all these rescue dogs and a bunch of cats that hang around. And basically, all he wants to do is take his dogs on these long rambling walks and think about how fucked up his life has gotten. It's the only thing keeping him sane, it's just, like, rambling walks with these dogs. And one night he is walking with the dogs and one of them starts chasing something. And he starts chasing the dog and falls down a hill and breaks his ankle. So all of a sudden, he can't do the one thing that he's liked, which is walk his dogs. So he goes online, and he finds this app that, like, match makes pet owners with people who wanna hang out with animals, but can't have pets of their own, because he's looking for someone who could help him walk his dogs, since he can't do it anymore. Then you have this other character, who's super shy lives with his grandma is, like, husband saving up to try to, like, get a new apartment so that he could have a dog. And then his grandfather dies, he has to move in with his grandmother, and he can't have an animal because she's desperately allergic. So he goes on the matchmaker app, and gets matched with this dude who needs someone to walk his dogs. And so the Meet Cute is a dog walking app, and a grouchy meets a shy guy, and lots of animals, and love. Jeff: Well, this sounds awesome. When do we get to see this? I'm guessing 2020 sometime? Roan: I think so. I don't have a date on it. I'll start working on it soon. But, yeah, I think it's gonna be, like, cute-ish in tone. And I don't know, I keep, like, accidentally writing animals into every single one of my books. And I don't even mean too. And this time. I was like, "Well, I mean, I keep doing it by accident. Maybe this time, I'll just, like, actually do it on purpose." Jeff: And what's the best way people can keep up with you online and find out when this next thing comes out? Roan: Well, they can check out my website, roanparrish.com, where I post all things that exist. And then in terms of social media, I've been very active on Instagram stories lately. I just bought a house, my first house, like the first non-one-bedroom apartment that I've been living in. And I've been doing all these, like, garden planting, and baking, and projects, and stuff. So I've been really liking Instagram stories. So people should follow me there and tell me all the things that I'm doing wrong in my garden. Jeff: They may not think you're doing wrong. Roan: I mean, it's my first time and I feel, like, I'm doing everything wrong. But we'll see, it might grow. Jeff: I bet it does. And congratulations on the first house. That's such a huge thing. Roan: Oh, thank you. I really went, like, in the space of one month from a person who thought that they would always live in one-bedroom apartments to a person who bought a house. And so it was very shocking for me. I keep wandering to the extra room and being, like, "What's gonna go in here? I don't know." Jeff: It's part of the fun of home-ownership. Roan: Yeah. Mostly, it's like my cat goes in there. And that's what happened. So I mean, I'm on all the social media things. I'm everywhere as Roan Parrish and people can find me. But Instagram stories is totally the most fun. And for people who, like, wanna know about when books are coming out, but don't dig the social media vibe, BookBub is a great place to find me because they'll just get emails when I have books coming out or on sale. Jeff: Fantastic. Well, we will link up to everything we talked about in the show notes. We wish you the best of luck with the release of "Raze." And thanks so much for hanging out with us. Roan: Oh, thanks so much. It was a blast. Book Reviews Here's the text of this week's book reviews: In Case You Forgot by Frederick Smith and Chaz Lamar. Reviewed by Jeff Frederick Smith and Chaz Lamar are new to me authors and I loved reading their first collaboration, In Case You Forgot. Frederic and Chaz are two black gay men writing about two black gay men living in West Hollywood. This year in the life story left me wanting sequels because I want to read even more about these two interesting characters. Zaire James and Kenny Kane are in similar positions. Coming up on his 30th birthday, Zaire decided it was time to separate from his husband, even though a lot of his family and his friends thought Mario was perfect for him. Kenny, approaching 40, was dumped by Brandon-Malik via text as he was en route to his mother’s funeral. Both of these guys need a reboot. For Zaire that means moving into WeHo--it happens that he moves in across the street from Kenny. He’s got a new job at a social media firm and he’s looking for what comes next. He’s got a family that wants him to find it too--the James Gang siblings--brother Harlem and sisters Langston and Savannah--are always on him to get his life together and find his happy. Kenny, on the other hand, is working on getting his consulting business off the ground since he’s recently finished his doctorate. He’s trying to mostly focus on the business, but he also wants to find Mr. Right. Kenny also carries the weight of having watched his first boyfriend, Jeremy, die after a stabbing. He’s working on his life with some therapy. So what happens in this book? Life. Kenny and Zaire, at times together and at others separate, look for a good date that may lead to more, celebrate birthdays, experience success and failures. The last line of the book’s description captures this perfectly: “...they hope new opportunities, energy, mindsets, and connection will reinvigorate what is missing in their lives--drama and all.” That’s exactly what I liked about In Cast Your Forgot, the slice of life feel. It’s happy, sad, angry, messy and full of great triumph and really bad mistakes. It takes a lot to make this kind of loose plot work, especially since the two lead characters aren’t always together as the year progresses. Frederick and Chaz made it work though. One of the reasons it works is the cast of supporting characters from family, friends, roommates and co-workers. Among my favorite parts of the book was the use of social media to plan their lives and sometimes even to stalk their exes, at times to the chagrin of the friends trying to help them move on. There’s also a Labor Day trip to Palm Springs that was one of my favorite parts of the book because of the realness of how it unfolded and how it tweaked Kenny and Zaire’s relationships. The characters reminded me of Noah’s Arc, a show I loved that ran on Logo in 2005 and then was a movie in 2008. The show focused on queer men of color in various states of life and relationships. Kenny and Zaire would fit right in there. I do want to set some expectations around this book. As you may have figured out, it’s not a romance. It’s categorized that way on the Bold Strokes Books site as well as at retailers. I think that’s wrong. It doesn’t have any of the typical romantic story beats and, most importantly while Kenny and Zaire date for a bit in the middle of the book they don’t get an HEA or HFN as a couple….although the book does end with both characters in good places. If you want a great look at a year-in-the-life of some terrific characters who are trying to get their lives together, I highly recommend In Case You Forgot. And I’d love to see sequels to this book. Frederick, Chaz, please write romances for these guys...

Hear what's happening at Women's Fest in Rehoboth Beach, DE with the Golden Crown Literary Society and Bold Strokes Books.

This week on For Love & Money, we're honored to have Radclyffe from Bold Strokes Books as our very special guest! She discusses: The platforms Bold Strokes uses to sell their work. How Bold Strokes promotes new releases. Diversifying book formats to increase sales. Several upcoming events that Bold Strokes is participating in! Please check out the following links discussed on the show: Bold Strokes Books Radclyffe's Website Also, we have a special study this week for those of you who live in the United Kingdom! It's to help gather information on women who have sex with women: LGBT Foundation National Survey.

How Technology Changed Lesbian Fiction with Ruth Sternglantz The Lesbian Review Podcast Sheena is joined by Ruth Sternglantz to talk about how technology changed lesbian fiction. Ruth is an editor of LGBT fiction for Bold Strokes Books, academic focused on medieval England, history of drama, lesbian romance and a lawyer focused on IP, torts and queerlaw. In this episode we talk about: How the internet has revolutionised lesbian fiction Communities of interest How people talk about stories On demand The responsibility that comes with being global Technology changes have also affected plot points Why being a professional still matters About The Lesbian Review The Lesbian Review is a website dedicated to helping people find excellent lesbian and queer women content. This podcast is created by the same people who create the website, --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/tlr-podcast/message

Book Appreciation with Justine Saracen The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 24c In the Book Appreciation segments, our featured authors (or your host) will talk about one or more favourite books with queer female characters in a historic setting. In this episode Justine Saracen recommends some favourite queer historical novels: The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters Fingersmith by Sarah Waters A Woman in Berlin by Anonymous More info The Lesbian Historic Motif Project lives at: http://alpennia.com/lhmp For further information on Justine Saracen see her Bold Strokes Books web page or the show notes for the previous episode of the Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast when she was interviewed. If you have questions or comments about the LHMP or these podcasts, send them to: contact@alpennia.com No transcript is available for this episode. If you enjoy this podcast and others at The Lesbian Talk Show, please consider supporting the show through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLesbianTalkShow

In this episode, Mike Chin discusses his short story, "Moonshine," originally published in the Saints and Sinners Anthology from Bold Strokes Books.

Book Appreciation with Kathleen Knowles The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 18c In the Book Appreciation segments, our featured author talks about her favorite books with queer female characters in a historic setting. In this episode Kathleen recommends some favorite queer historical novels: The Persian Boy by Mary Renault (gay male fiction) The Friendly Young Ladies by Mary Renault (contemporary to when Renault write it in the ‘40s) The Locket and the Flintlock by Rebecca S. Buck Truths by Rebecca S. Buck Tyger, Tyger, Burning Bright by Justine Saracen The Witch of Stalingrad by Justine Saracen More info The Lesbian Historic Motif Project lives at: http://alpennia.com/lhmp For further information on Kathleen Knowles see her entry at Bold Strokes Books or the show notes for the previous episode of the Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast when she was interviewed. If you have questions or comments about the LHMP or these podcasts, send them to: contact@alpennia.com No transcript is available for this episode.

Ashley Bartlett gets into how she started writing Les Fic. Her childhood surrounded by fabulous queer people in suburban Northern California. Our experiences at UCLA. The domestic bliss of being married. Learn about “lovebians.” Meeting her hero, her publishers Bold Strokes Books and getting into editing. The biphobic schism in lesbian fiction. Reading the reviews of her novels. She talks about her Dirty Trilogy. The moral ambiguity of the character, Cash Braddock, in her newest trilogy. The question: “Are straight people okay?” (e.g. Kim Davis, high school homecoming queens and their value judging mothers). Contemporary high school coming out and gender expression. The transphobic politics of Ally McBeal. Reading Kim Harrison novels. We pontificate on sexual harassment, #balancetonporc and Audre Lorde. Find out more about her on www.ashbartlett.com.

Ashley Bartlett gets into how she started writing Les Fic. Her childhood surrounded by fabulous queer people in suburban Northern California. Our experiences at UCLA. The domestic bliss of being married. Learn about “lovebians.” Meeting her hero, her publishers Bold Strokes Books and getting into editing. The biphobic schism in lesbian fiction. Reading the reviews of her novels. She talks about her Dirty Trilogy. The moral ambiguity of the character, Cash Braddock, in her newest trilogy. The question: “Are straight people okay?” (e.g. Kim Davis, high school homecoming queens and their value judging mothers). Contemporary high school coming out and gender expression. The transphobic politics of Ally McBeal. Reading Kim Harrison novels. We pontificate on sexual harassment, #balancetonporc and Audre Lorde. Find out more about her on www.ashbartlett.com.

Women and Words  22-28 April 2017  Jove got herself a new electronic device that she’s totally in love with (but it’s not what you think!!!!). Also, lesbian erotic fairy tales is a thing. Oh, and both really like it when the young folks talk to the old(er) about their perceptions of queer culture and community and they think it’s such a good idea to share experiences and ideas.  22 April: Author Anna Larner joined us to discuss her debut novel with Bold Strokes Books, Highland Fling. She also did a giveaway, because we are big into giveaways.  Women and Words link HERE Anna Larner’s website ALSO, call for submissions, hashtagqueer.com. Keep them in mind for future reference, too.  23 April: Author and editor Sacchi Green joined us to chat about her latest edited anthology through Cleis Press, Witches, Princesses, and Women and Arms: Erotic Lesbian Fairy Tales. And she did a giveaway!  Women and Words link HERE  Sacchi Green’s website  24 April: Author and Women and Wordster Yvonne Heidt shared a bit of her creative process, and we think it’s super cool when authors do that.  Women and Words link HERE  Yvonne Heidt’s website  25 April: Author, Women and Wordster and national lesbian treasure Lee Lynch did something really cool and posted an interview with a young woman in high school who is working on a project about being a gay activist in the 1960s. Give this one a read, friends, because the more community we build across generations, the better for all.  Women and Words link HERE  Lee Lynch’s website  27 April: Author and Women and Wordster Renée Bess joined us to discuss language – a “pulsing, living, changing entity that adjusts itself to fit new environments.”  Women and Words link HERE  Renée Bess’ website  28 April: Author and Women and Wordster Andi Marquette fangirled over a discontinued Marvel comic, Fearless Defenders. But she sure dug the 13 issues of a team of women superheroes with lots of WOC rep and some lesbian rep.  (special thanks to horror/bizarre author Gina Ranalli for telling me to read it),  Women and Words link HERE  Andi Marquette’s website  And fangirl with Andi on Tumblr  Also, Jove would like readers out there to know that if they’re interested in writing a blog from a reader’s perspective to please hit her up. We love it when readers share their thoughts on books they’re reading.  And author and publisher Amanda Radley (who recently launched Heartsome Publishing) has a lesbian and bi women fiction questionnaire she’d like you to participate in, to get a sense of the lesbian and bi women’s fiction market. Results will be collated and made available to publishers and indie authors with a view to help improve the lesbian and bi fiction market for all. 

**Content warning: There is a brief mention of slurs in the episode.** Richard Comspon Sater retired from the US Air Force Reserves having served twenty-four years under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." His debut M/M romance novel "Rank" deals with a second lieutenant in the Air Force falling in love with a brigadier general. Richard talks about writing, serving under DADT, how its repeal changed the book, and it's determined that Austin's father is the personification of a soft, old sweater.

**Content warning: This episode of THR features some discussion of transphobia and dysphoria and other potentially triggering subjects.** The third episode of The Hopeless Romantic, "You and Me Could Write a Trans Romance," features the podcast's first guest, author Sam Schooler. Amanda and Austin ask about Sam's experiences as a genderqueer author, discuss ways cis authors can respectfully represent trans characters, and how presses can better market trans books. Other topics include writing contemporary vs historical trans literature, not writing trans characters to meet a diversity quota, and Sam and Austin's favorite trans books. Follow Sam Schooler on twitter: [@samschoolering](twitter.com/samschoolering) Trans submission calls: (Please review the submission guidelines thoroughly. Please note that these calls may not be romance-specific.) [Topside Press ](http://topsidepress.com/call-for-submissions-short-speculative-fiction/) [Trans-Genre Press](http://trans-genre.net/trans-genre-press/submissions/) As mentioned in the episode, many LGBTQIA romance presses accept trans romance. Below is a partial list: [Riptide Publishing](http://riptidepublishing.com/call-for-submissions), [Less Than Three Press](https://www.lessthanthreepress.com/submissions.php), [Bold Strokes Books](http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com/submission-guidelines.html), [NineStar Press](http://ninestarpress.com/submissions/), [Dreamspinner Press](https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/pages.php?pID=6&CDpath=0) *, [Torquere Press](http://www.torquerepress.com/submissions.html), [LooseID](http://www.loose-id.com/submissions/), [Pride Publishing](http://www.totallyboundpublishing.com/submissions/) * trans m/m only

We chatted via Skype with Annameekee Hesik, author of The You-Know-Who Girls: Freshman Year. It's a smart, funny read about basketball, girls in love with girls, and self-discovery. We were charmed by Annameekee, and we know you will be, too!Want to download this podcast? Click here for an mp3 or find us on iTunes.Learn more about Annameekee at her website, and visit her publisher, Bold Strokes Books.Podcast hosting courtesy of archive.org. Intro music by 46bliss. Special thanks to our sound engineer, Marc Conrad Tabula, for his awesome audio editing skills. Please subscribe to Authors are ROCKSTARS! on iTunes so you'll never miss an episode. Thank you for listening!