The Black Mountain Institute invites creative writers to apply for the BMI-Kluge Fellowship
Deadline: Monday, March 16, 2026
“Writing Your Queerness” Online Course with Off Assignment
As queer writers, we are
Books Not Bans sends LGBT books – for free
Books Not Bans sends beloved
Lambda Literary Receives MacArthur Foundation Grant
We are honored to receive
2025 In Memoriam
These are some of the
2025 at Lambda
What a year it’s been!
December at Lambda Literary: A Note from the Executive Director
December 4, 2025 To Our
Introducing Lambda Literary’s 2026 Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices: Exciting Updates Abound & Meet the Faculty
The Writers Retreat for Emerging
Announcing the Winners of the 2025 Lammy Awards
The winners of the 2025
5 Questions with Samuel Prize Winner Amy Beth Sisson
We sit down with 2025
Nat Rivkin Wins the 2025 Karla Jay Prize for Emerging Writers in Gender and Sexuality Studies
Lambda Literary is pleased to
5 Questions with Jay Prize Winner Nat Rivkin
We sit down with Nat
Amy Beth Sisson Wins the 2025 Samuel Prize for Emerging Writers Over 50
Lambda Literary is pleased to
Aaron H. Aceves and Emet North Win the 2025 Judith A. Markowitz Award for Exceptional New LGBTQ Writers
Lambda Literary is pleased to
5 Questions with Markowitz Prize Winner Emet North
Lambda Literary has played a
5 Questions with Markowitz Prize Winner Aaron H. Aceves
Lambda Literary has played a
5 Questions with Kenan Prize Winner Allen R. Wells
The Randall Kenan Prize for
5 Questions with Holt Prize Winner Tausif Noor
The Pat Holt Prize for
Allen R. Wells Wins the 2025 Randall Kenan Prize for Black LGBTQ Fiction
Lambda Literary is pleased to
Tausif Noor Wins the 2025 Holt Prize for Critical Arts Writing
Lambda Literary is pleased to
5 Questions with Duggins Prize Winner R. O. KWON
The Jim Duggins Outstanding Mid-Career
R. O. Kwon and Carter Sickels Win the 2025 Jim Duggins Prize for PhD Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist Prize
Lambda Literary is pleased to
D/ANNIE LIONTAS Wins the 2025 Córdova Prize for Lesbian/Queer Nonfiction
Lambda Literary is pleased to
Daniel Garcia Wins the 2025 Denneny Prize for Editorial Excellence
Lambda Literary is pleased to
4 Questions with Córdova Prize Winner D/ANNIE LIONTAS
Lambda Literary’s Jeanne Córdova Prize
5 Questions with Denneny Award Winner Daniel Garcia
The Denneny Award for Editorial
5 Questions with Duggins Prize Winner Carter Sickels
Dedicated to the memory of
Announcing the Finalists for the 37th Annual Lambda Literary Awards
This year marks 37 years
A Letter From Executive Director Jozie “J. Clapp” Clapp
To Our Community, I hope
On Mahmoud v. Taylor
Lambda Literary is deeply disappointed
Meet This Year’s Lambda Fellows & Scholarship Recipients of the 2025 Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices
Publicity Contact: chloe feffer, Program
Announcing New Lambda Literary Executive Director Jozie (J. Clapp) Clapp
New York, NY – June
2025 Ampersand Award: SHEDDING SKIN by Finnegan Saylor
The Lambda Ampersand Award for
2025 Ampersand Award: HOW TO WALK by Riley DoRosario
The Lambda Ampersand Award for
2025 Ampersand Award: AND YOU, BLUE by Daniela Navarro
The Lambda Ampersand Award for
2025 Ampersand Award: FAILURE by E.G.
The Lambda Ampersand Award for
2025 Ampersand Award: BENEATH THE GARDEN by Sullivan Givens
The Lambda Ampersand Award for
LAMBDA LITERARY STATEMENT ON BOOK BANS
Friends, we’re writing today because,
Join Lambda Literary’s Board of Trustees
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Authors Against Book Bans
AABB is a coalition of writers, illustrators, anthology editors and contributors, and other book creators, stand united against the deeply unconstitutional movement to limit the freedom to read. Membership open.
Support Lambda’s Giving Tuesday and End-of-Year Campaign
We need your help to
Meet the Faculty of Lambda Literary’s 2025 Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices
October 23, 2024 New York,
Sigma Tau Delta/English Honor Society Partnership
We are excited to announce
PRESS RELEASE: Meet The Lambda Fellows, Writers in Residence & Scholarship Recipients of the 2024 Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2024
Dr. Zelda Lockhart and K.M. Soehnlein Win 2024 Jim Duggins, PhD Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist Prize
Lambda Literary is pleased to
Liv Little Wins 2024 Randall Kenan Prize for Black LGBTQ Fiction
Lambda Literary is delighted to
Stephanie Davies Wins 2024 Jeanne Córdova Prize for Lesbian/Queer Nonfiction
Lambda Literary is thrilled to
Federico Erebia and River 瑩瑩 Dandelion Win 2024 Markowitz Award for Exceptional New LGBTQ Writers
Lambda Literary is thrilled to
Elizabeth Hoover Wins 2024 Pat Holt Prize for Critical Arts Writing
Lambda Literary is delighted to
Dr. Remi Recchia Wins 2024 Denneny Award for Editorial Excellence
Lambda Literary is delighted to
Announcing the Winners of the 2024 Lammy Awards
On June 11, 2024, we
Paul Festa Wins 2024 J. Michael Samuel Prize for Emerging Writers Over 50
Lambda Literary is excited to
Announcing the Presenters for the 2024 Lammy Awards
We are thrilled to announce
Announcing the Finalists for the 36th Annual Lammy Awards
We are delighted to announce
Lambda’s Values Statement
Lambda Literary would like to
The Future of The Review
Dear friends, After careful consideration,
Leadership Update
November 16, 2023 Dear Lambda
PRESS RELEASE: Meet The Faculty for the 2024 Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices
7 LGBTQ Writers to Join
November 9th, 2023: These Burning Stars: A Queer Space Opera Debut Novel by Bethany Jacobs
Please join us onsite or online for a reading, interview and book signing, featuring debut science fiction author Bethany Jacobs (These Burning Stars, Orbit Fall 2023) as interviewed by poet, science fiction writer, scholar and activist Margaret Rhee (The New School) and presented by Cathy N. Davidson (Founder, Futures Initiative)
October 16th, 2023: HIV/AIDS: A Literary History
Queer writers and oral historians
September 7, 2023: Liberty Basketball Game
Join Lambda Literary as the
PRESS RELEASE: Meet The Lambda Fellows & Scholarship Recipients of the 2023 Writer’s Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices
100 Emerging LGBTQ Writers to
Ryka Aoki and Aaron Hamburger Win 2023 Jim Duggins, PhD Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist Prize
Lambda Literary is pleased to
Four Questions with Aaron Hamburger
Lambda Literary is pleased to
Four Questions with Ryka Aoki
Lambda Literary is pleased to
Four Questions with Eboni J. Dunbar
Lambda Literary is delighted to
Jaquira Díaz Wins 2023 Jeanne Córdova Prize for Lesbian/Queer Nonfiction
Lambda Literary is thrilled to
Eboni J. Dunbar Wins 2023 Randall Kenan Prize for Black LGBTQ Fiction
Lambda Literary is delighted to
Four Questions with Jaquira Díaz
Lambda Literary is thrilled to
Naseem Jamnia and Maya Salameh Win 2023 Markowitz Award for Exceptional New LGBTQ Writers
Lambda Literary is thrilled to
Four Questions for Maya Salameh
Lambda Literary has played a
Four Questions with Naseem Jamnia
Lambda Literary has played a
Christopher Tradowsky Wins 2023 J. Michael Samuel Prize for Emerging Writers Over 50
Lambda Literary is excited to
Four Questions with J. Michael Samuel Prize Winner Christopher Tradowsky
The J. Michael Samuel Prize
June 9th, 2023: 35th Lambda Literary Awards
The Lammys are the most
Lambda at AWP 2023
Earlier this month, Lambda Literary
Announcing the 35th Annual Lammy Awards Finalists
We are delighted to announce
Lambda’s at AWP23!
We are back outside! After
PRESS RELEASE: Meet The Faculty for the 2023 Writer’s Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices
8 LGBTQ Writers to Join
Announcing Lambda Literary’s Next Executive Director
I am thrilled to share
June 11th, 2023: 34th Annual Lambda Literary Awards
On June 11, 2022, we
4 Questions with Duggins Prize Winner VI KHI NAO
Dedicated to the memory of
4 Questions with Duggins Prize Winner Silas House
Dedicated to the memory of
VI KHI NAO and Silas House Win 2022 Jim Duggins, PhD Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist Prize
Lambda Literary is pleased to
4 Questions with Kenan Prize Winner Kalynn Bayron
The Randall Kenan Prize for
Kalynn Bayron Wins 2022 Randall Kenan Prize for Black LGBTQ Fiction
Lambda Literary is delighted to
4 Questions with Samuel Prize Winner Jobert E. Abueva
The J. Michael Samuel Prize
Jobert E. Abueva Wins 2022 J. Michael Samuel Prize for Emerging Writers Over 50
Lambda Literary is excited to
4 Questions with Markowitz Prize Winner Ching-In Chen
The Judith A. Markowitz Award
4 Questions with Markowitz Prize Winner Morgan H Thomas
The Judith A. Markowitz Award
Ching-In Chen and Morgan H Thomas Win 2022 Markowitz Award for Exceptional New LGBTQ Writers
Lambda Literary is elated to
4 Questions with Córdova Prize Winner Aisha Sabatini Sloan
In memory of the beloved
Aisha Sabatini Sloan Wins 2022 Jeanne Córdova Prize for Lesbian/Queer Nonfiction
Lambda Literary is thrilled to
You’re Invited! Lambda Literary Convos: FAQs & Feedback!
We would like to invite
New Lammys 2022 Variant Posters PLUS Our Merch Store Now Open
The Lammy Awards are virtual
Introducing the 2022 Lammys Host and Presenters
The 2022 Lambda Literary Awards
2022 Lambda Literary Award Finalists Announced
Today, we are thrilled to
Sue Landers to Step Down as Executive Director
Dear Lambda Family, I have
Announcing the Expansion of LGBTQ Writers in Schools
Today, Lambda Literary is thrilled
5 Questions With Jim Duggins Prize Winner Sarah Gerard
2020 Duggins Prize Winner Larissa L answers 5 Questions from Lambda Literary
Sarah Gerard and Brontez Purnell Win 2021 Jim Duggins, PhD Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist Prize
Xandria Phillips and Calvin Gimpelevich have been named the winners of the 2020 Judith A. Markowitz Award for Emerging LGBTQ Writers
5 Questions with Jeanne Córdova Prize Winner Nancy Agabian
In memory of the beloved
Nancy Agabian Wins 2021 Jeanne Córdova Prize for Lesbian/Queer Nonfiction
Lambda Literary is pleased to
5 Questions with Randall Kenan Prize Winner Ana-Maurine Lara
The award is issued in
Ana-Maurine Lara Wins 2021 Randall Kenan Prize for Black LGBTQ Fiction
Lambda Literary is pleased to
Introducing Lambda Literary’s 2021 Emerging Writer’s Retreat Fellows & Writers-in-Residence
The 2021 Writer’s Retreat for
PRESS RELEASE: Meet This Year’s Lambda Fellows, Writers-in-Residence, & Scholarship Recipients
62 Emerging LGBTQ Writers to
2021 Lambda Literary Award Winners Announced
The winners for the 33rd Annual Lambda Literary Awards have been announced
Taylor Johnson and T. Kira Madden Win 2021 Judith A. Markowitz Award for Emerging Writers
Xandria Phillips and Calvin Gimpelevich have been named the winners of the 2020 Judith A. Markowitz Award for Emerging LGBTQ Writers
Lambda Literary Wins $50,000 Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts
Lambda Literary is thrilled to
Writers Wo Chan, Nicole Shawan Junior, and L D Lewis Join Lambda Literary
Lambda Literary is delighted to announce two new staff members: LeKesha Lewis and Nicole Shawan Junior.
2021 Lambda Literary Award Finalists Announced
The finalists for the 33rd Annual Lambda Literary Awards have been announced
LGBTQ Panels at AWP 2021
A reimagined virtual Association of
June 1st, 2021: 33rd Annual Lambda Literary Awards
The 33rd Lambda Literary Awards
Lambda Literary Presents Transformational Poetics at The Dodge Literary Festival
Behold the abundance! Please join
Are You an Educator Interested in Bringing LGBTQ+ Authors into Your Classroom?
The LGBTQ Writers in Schools
Lambda Literary Wins $35,000 Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts
Lambda Literary is thrilled to
Join us! LGBTQ Crime Writers Throw a Benefit for Lambda Literary!
Join us for a night
Lambda Literary Celebrates Pride with a Star-Studded Line-Up
Join Lambda Literary as we celebrate Pride month with some of our community’s most dynamic stars
Lambda Literary Celebrates Pride with a Star-Studded Line-Up
Join Lambda Literary as we celebrate Pride month with some of our community’s most dynamic stars
5 Questions With Publishing Professional Award Winner Brian Lam
2020 Publishing Professional Award Winner Brian Lam answers 5 questions from Lambda Literary
Jericho Brown, Jane Wagner, and Brian Lam to be Honored with 2020 Lambda Literary Awards
Jericho Brown, Jane Wagner, and Brian Lam will be honored with 2020 Lambda Literary Awards
Lambda Literary Celebrates Pride with a Star-Studded Line-Up
Join Lambda Literary as we celebrate Pride month with some of our community’s most dynamic stars
5 Questions With Jim Duggins Prize Winner Larissa Lai
2020 Duggins Prize Winner Larissa L answers 5 Questions from Lambda Literary
Larissa Lai Wins 2020 Jim Duggins, PhD Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist Prize
Larissa Lai has been named the winner of the 2020 Jim Duggins, PhD Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist Prize.
5 Questions with Jeanne Córdova Prize Winner Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
2020 Córdova Prize Winner Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha answers 5 Questions from Lambda Literary
Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha Wins 2020 Jeanne Córdova Prize for Lesbian/Queer Nonfiction
Lambda Literary is pleased to
5 Questions with Judith A. Markowitz Award Winner Calvin Gimpelevich
2020 Markowitz Emerging Writers Award Winner Calvin Gimpelevich answers 5 Questions from Lambda Literary
5 Questions with Judith A. Markowitz Award Winner Xandria Phillips
The Judith A. Markowitz Award
Xandria Phillips and Calvin Gimpelevich Win 2020 Judith A. Markowitz Award for Emerging Writers
Xandria Phillips and Calvin Gimpelevich have been named the winners of the 2020 Judith A. Markowitz Award for Emerging LGBTQ Writers
Bespoke for Lambda Literary! A Reading Fundraiser to #SaveLambdaLiterary
The Bespoke reading series is
Our Memories and Our Archives can Create a Sustainable Future
The word archive, before morphing
Four-Week Summer Residency for LGBTQ Emerging Visual Artists and Poets
Five selected visual artists and three selected poets will share a live/work space in the historically queer island hamlet of Cherry Grove, NY
Connecting with Each Other in Challenging Times
In challenging times, LGBTQ literature has historically been a way for our community to engage with one another and navigate through difficulty.
Lambda Lit Book Club Online (April)
Welcome to the Lambda Lit
32nd Annual Lambda Literary Awards
Lambda Literary, the nation’s oldest
2020 Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices Fellows Reading
In August, Lambda Literary is
Cash Prizes for LGBTQ Writers!
Duggins, Cordova, and Markowitz Prize applications are now open
Applications for the Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices Due February 2nd!
Deadline approaching
2020 Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices Application Now Open
Lambda Literary is proud to announce details of the 2020 Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices, the nation’s premier LGBTQ writer’s workshop
3rd Annual Lambda LitFest Brings a Week of Queer Literature to the Community
Lambda LitFest will bring over 1,500 readers and writers together in a week of free LGBTQ+ literary events
Recipients of Donor Advised Scholarships for the 2019 Emerging Writers Retreat
Lambda Literary is pleased to announce full scholarships for five students attending the organization’s prestigious summer residency
Photos from 31st Annual Lambda Literary Awards
The winners were celebrated at a star-studded ceremony in New York City at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts
Introducing Lambda Literary’s 2019 Emerging Writers Retreat Fellows
Please consider donating to their individual fundraising campaigns
31st Annual Lambda Literary Award Winners Announced
Congratulations to all the winners
Karen Tongson Wins 2019 Jeanne Córdova Prize for Lesbian/Queer Nonfiction
The award was introduced in 2018 and includes a cash prize of $2,500
Hannah Ensor and Robert Fieseler Win the 2019 Judith A. Markowitz Award for Emerging Writers
Lambda Literary is pleased to announce that poet Hannah Ensor and journalist Robert Fieseler have been named winners of the 2019 Judith A. Markowitz Award for Emerging LGBTQ Writers
Alexander Chee, Masha Gessen, and Barbara Smith to be Honored at the 2019 Lammys
Lambda Literary is pleased to announce that Alexander Chee, Masha Gessen, and Barbara Smith will receive special honors at the 31st Annual Lambda Literary Awards
Read This! An Excerpt from Emerge: The 2018 Lambda Fellows Anthology
The latest volume of Emerge is here
31st Annual Lammy Finalists
Finalists will be celebrated and winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony and Gala the evening of Monday, June 3, 2019
Watch the Lambda Literary 2018 Emerging LGBTQ Voices Fellows Readings
At our 2018 Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices each fellow gave a brief reading of their work
Recipients of Donor Advised Scholarships for the 2018 Emerging Writers Retreat
Lambda Literary is pleased to announce full scholarships for three students attending the organization’s prestigious summer residency
Lambda Literary Marks 30th Anniversary with Formation of Leadership Council
The Leadership Council will advise and advocate for the organization
A Note From Sue Landers, Lambda Literary’s New Executive Director
“I’m honored to serve the LGBTQ community in this critical moment”
Introducing Lambda Literary’s 2018 Emerging Writers Retreat Fellows
Meet the 2018 Class of Lambda Literary’s Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices
Watch This! The Lambda Literary 30th Anniversary Video
This video provides a dynamic, visual history of Lambda Literary
30th Annual Lambda Literary Award Winners Announced
Congratulations to all the winners
Sue Landers is Named Executive Director of Lambda Literary
The Board of Directors of Lambda Literary is delighted to announce that Sue Landers has been selected to be the next executive director of Lambda Literary
Read This! An Excerpt from the Emerge: 2017 Lambda Fellows Anthology
The latest volume of Emerge is here
Winner Announced for Jeanne Córdova Prize for Lesbian/Queer Nonfiction
Writer Melissa Febos has been named winner of the inaugural Jeanne Córdova Prize for Lesbian/Queer Nonfiction.
Jeanne Thornton and Mecca Jamilah Sullivan Named Winners of the Judith A. Markowitz Award for Emerging LGBTQ Writers
Lambda Literary is pleased to announce the winners of the 2018 Judith A. Markowitz Award for Emerging LGBTQ Writers
Edmund White & Roxane Gay to be Honored at 30th Lambda Awards
Edmund White will receive Lambda’s Visionary Award and Roxane Gay will receive the Trustee Award
30th Annual Lambda Literary Award Finalists Announced
The winners will be announced at a gala ceremony on Monday evening, June 4, 2018 in New York City
Read This! An Excerpt From Patrick Nathan’s ‘Some Hell’
Some Hell is a harrowing novel about a gay teen’s coming of age
Gender-fluid Loki, NBCC Award Finalists, Gay YA Movie Adaptations, and More LGBT News
Gender-fluid Loki, Rupert Everett discusses Oscar Wilde, Tarell Alvin McCraney on his 2017 cultural highlights, and more LGBTQ news…
Donor Advised Scholarships for the 2018 Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices
Lambda Literary is pleased to announce four donor-advised scholarships for students of the organization’s 2018 Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices
LGBTQ Writers Retreat LA Reading Series
This week, to coincide with LGBTQ Writers Retreat, there will be a series of readings and discussions that are open to the public
Meet the 2017 Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices Fellows!
The 2017 Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices Fellows embody the exciting and diverse future of LGBTQ literature
29th Annual Lambda Literary Award Winners Announced
Congratulations to all the winners and honorees
Emerge: 2016 Lambda Literary Fellows Anthology
The anthology is a collection of fiction, nonfiction, plays, poetry, and genre fiction written by fellows of the 2016 Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ
James Earl Hardy and Shani Mootoo Named Winners of Lambda Literary’s Dr. James Duggins Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist Prize
Lambda Literary is pleased to announce the recipients of Lambda’s Dr. James Duggins Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist Prizes
Publishing Professional Award Winner Announced
This year Lambda recognizes publishing professional Michele Karlsberg
H. Melt and Victor Yates Named Winners of Lambda Literary’s Judith A. Markowitz Award for Emerging LGBTQ Writers
Lambda Literary is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2017 Judith A. Markowitz Award for Emerging LGBTQ Writers
‘My Cat Yugoslavia’ by Pajtim Statovci
For a reader looking for fiction that also serves as social criticism, My Cat Yugoslavia is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant
Jacqueline Woodson & Jeanette Winterson to be Honored at the 29th Lammy Awards
Jacqueline Woodson will receive Lambda’s Visionary Award and Jeanette Winterson will receive the Trustee Award at the 29th Annual Lambda Literary Awards
‘Primahood: Magenta’ by Tyler Cohen
“Cohen tackles the innate struggles of parenthood, as well as the challenges of trying to raise a humanist child.”
‘Living a Feminist Life’ by Sara Ahmed
Living a Feminist Life is sectioned into three parts which cover, respectively, the path and necessity of becoming feminist, the challenges of diversity work, and the consequences of being deliberate in one’s feminism
A Poem by Brad Trumpfheller
This week, a poem by Brad Trumpfheller
‘Rough Patch’ by Nicole Markotic
Keira is bisexual, and she lets you know it even if she hasn’t told anyone else. She is 15 years old with a lot to figure out, including meticulously planning the moment to come out to her best friend.
‘Equality: What Do You Think About When You Think of Equality?’ Edited by Paul Alan Fahey
Is equality like obscenity?* You’ll
A Poem by James Cihlar
This week, a poem by James Cihlar
‘Kingdom Come: A Fantasia’ by Timothy Liu
The poems in Kingdom Come become progressively more luminous—even as they insist on their carnality
A Poem by Paige Lewis
This week, a poem by Paige Lewis
‘Babybel Wax Bodysuit’ by Eric Kostiuk Williams
All three stories in this collection deal with “peeling back the wax bodysuit” (an analogy to the wax covering of Babybel cheese), i.e. all the multiple layers we use to hide both our fears and our egos
Librarian Paige Caliguiri on the LGBTQ Writer in Schools Program
“This program gives a school and a library program with a rich culture of reading (like my own) the opportunity to bring reading to life and motivate students in a unique way.”
A Poem by Joshua Jennifer Espinoza
This week, a poem by Joshua Jennifer Espinoza
Kids Need LGBTQ Books in Schools
This work in schools matters more than ever and every donation, large and small, makes a difference to these students’ lives.
‘Erased’ by Robbi McCoy
Erased opens with the quintessential
‘The Kiss of Walt Whitman Still on My Lips’ by Raymond Luczak
Almost generous to a fault, Luczak’s poems salute Whitman and at the same time he respects him enough to question some of his underlying notions of love, community, and self
29th Annual Lambda Literary Award Finalists Announced
The winners will be announced at a gala ceremony on Monday evening, June 12, 2017 in New York City
A Poem by Laura Brun
This week, a poem by Laura Brun
A Poem by Roberto Montes
This week, a poem from Roberto Montes
‘The Troubleseeker’ by Alan Lessik
The Troubleseeker is a potent mash-up of contemporary history, Greek mythology, Caribbean Santería, and queer eroticism
Food4Thot Podcast, ‘Moonlight’ Wins Best Picture Oscar, and More LGBT News
This week in lgbtq news
A Poem by Emily Brown
This week, a poem by Emily Brown
‘Running’ by Cara Hoffman
Running has plenty of dazzle; it races atop remarkable sentences. But at its core are two people who, accustomed to getting by on nothing, have no idea what to do with the bounties that befall them: success, family, love
Katie Freeman, Riverhead Executive Publicist, Talks ‘Boy Erased’ and Conversion Therapy
This is our first interview
‘Heartsnare: Book One of the Umbraverse’ by Steven B. Williams
Steven B. Williams blends a horrifying and unconventional world with verisimilitude.
‘Insomniac City: New York, Oliver, and Me’ by Bill Hayes
Bill Hayes has managed to tell his own moving story and to include Oliver Sacks, his partner of seven years, as a very active character but not the exclusive focus
‘The Gustav Sonata’ by Rose Tremain
The Gustav Sonata focuses on the post-World War II life of shy Swiss hotelier Gustav Perle and his unspoken love for the German Jewish piano prodigy Anton Zweibel
‘After the Blue Hour’ by John Rechy
After the Blue Hour is a clever psychodrama that blurs the line between fiction and non-fiction
New in February: Melissa Febos, Bill Hayes, Jenny Johnson, and John Rechy
New month, new books! .
A Poem by Justin Phillip Reed
This week, a poem by Justin Phillip Reed
‘Abandon Me’ by Melissa Febos
Abandon Me is a fierce exploration of love and obsession
The Women’s March, ‘Devil Wears Prada: The Musical’, and Other LGBT News
Snagglepuss reimagined as a tragic Tennessee Williams figure, forthcoming queer and feminist books, and more LGBTQ news…
‘History is All You Left Me’ by Adam Silvera
History Is All You Left Me is a heart wrenching exploration of grief and intimacy.
A Poem by D. Gilson
This week, a poem by D. Gilson
‘Blind Side of the Moon’ by Blayne Cooper
Dreams haunt Samantha Blackwell. At
‘Queer & Trans Artists of Color: Volume 2’ by Nia King and Elena Rose
For anyone feeling terrorized by the Trump administration’s dire promises, Nia King’s Queer & Trans Artists of Color: Volume 2 is the perfect antidote to fear and an inspiring handbook of activist creations
Announcing 1st Annual Lambda LitFest Los Angeles
Lambda Literary announces the first annual Lambda LitFest Los Angeles, a week-long Los Angeles county wide festival celebrating LGBTQ literature
Two Poems by Liza Flum
This week, two poems by Liza Flum
‘Feder: A Scenario’ by Nathanaël
Decidedly cerebral, Feder doesn’t just involve the mind, it takes place there; the associative, disembodied voice of a narrator is quite nearly pure intellect
‘Queerly Remembered: Rhetorics for Representing the GLBTQ Past’ by Thomas R. Dunn
In Queerly Remembered, Thomas R. Dunn explains how gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals and communities over time have turned to publicizing their pasts to advocate for political, social, and cultural change
A Literary Legacy: Lee Lynch and Michael Nava Announce Bequests of Literary Rights
Consider joining Lee Lynch and Michael Nava in a pledge to bequeath your literary rights and royalties to Lambda Literary
A Look at Roxane Gay’s Comic Book Writing Debut
Though the format is new for Gay, the topics are well worn: power struggles, hot encounters, and female solidarity abound
A New Trilogy from Marlon James, the Novel in the Age of Obama, and More LGBT News
This week in lgbt literary news
A Poem by Nicholas Goodly
This week, a poem by
New in January: Roxane Gay, S. Andrea Allen, Adam Silvera, and Ellen Hart
New month, new books
‘This is a Dance Movie!’ by Tim Jones-Yelvington
The collection as a whole speaks to any reader unafraid of a revealing dive into sexual deviancy, fickle intimacy, and evasive amour
‘Difficult Women’ by Roxane Gay
Difficult Women is comprised of wildly different stories, ranging from realistic to magical, hopeful to dystopian
Watch the Trailer for James Baldwin’s ‘I Am Not Your Negro’
The film uses James Baldwin’s own words to explore contemporary American race relations
‘Walk-in’ by T.L. Hart
If you like your mysteries filled with red herrings, twists, and turns, you’ll be thoroughly entertained by this book
Lambda Literary Condemns Milo Yiannopoulos Book Deal
While publishers undeniably have the right to acquire and profit from any book they wish, they also bear an essential responsibility to promote civil discourse and reject hate speech that is often a precursor to violence
‘Marbled, Swirled, and Layered’ by Irvin Lin
More than just a collection of recipes, Marbled, Swirled, and Layered is a slice of Lin’s life with his partner AJ, his friends and family
Lesbian Video Games, Edmund White on Beauty, and More LGBT News
Ellen Hart named 2017 Grand Master, how sex became a “four-letter word,” and Lilah Suzanne on growing up in the South
‘State of Grace’ by Sandra Moran
State of Grace is just as unsparing and jarring as the experience of trauma itself.
Cartoonist Ed Luce on Creating Comics and Promoting Body Positivity
“I’m still dedicated to writing and drawing stories that I haven’t really seen in comics, especially queer comics, that I think need to exist.”
‘The Queer Heroes Coloring Book’ by Tara Madison Avery and Jon Macy
If you’re looking for the perfect holiday gift or birthday present, search no more.
A Poem by Lucas Crawford
This week, a poem by Lucas Crawford
‘Tall As You Are Tall Between Them’ by Annie Christain
Tall as You Are Tall Between Them, Annie Christain’s debut poetry collection, offers readers a raucous and glorious, spiritual and secular, cosmic and commonplace cacophony of voices.
Best Books of 2016, ‘Giovanni’s Room’ Anniversary, Queer Transformers, and More LGBT News
Tarell Alvin McCraney’s new job, the ‘Patient Zero’ myth, PEN Literary Awards, and more….
‘Geographies of Soul and Taffeta’ by Sarah Sarai
In a recent issue of
‘Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days’ by Jeanette Winterson
For years, Winterson has written a new story every year at Christmastime, and here she collects them for the first time. The result is a book for cold, clear nights and roaring fireplaces.
A Poem by LA Warman
This week, a poem by LA Warman
‘Eleanor and Hick: The Love Affair That Shaped a First Lady’ by Susan Quinn
In Quinn’s well-written and exhaustively researched book, Hick and Eleanor come across as a butch-femme Romeo and Juliet. The book’s rich detail and Quinn’s obvious passion will keep you turning the pages
Fingerplay and Handmaidens: The Queer and Subversive Pleasures of Reading Sarah Waters
In Sarah Waters’ writing, historical queer female desire is inferred, inserted, and re-imagined
A Queer Latina Superhero, the Resurgence of Poetry, and More LGBT News…
Writers struggle to respond to the election, amazing lgbt bookstores, and more lgbt news
Against Me!’s Laura Jane Grace on Crafting Her New Punk Rock Memoir
“I found a lot of parallels between recording an album and writing a book. I came to find myself looking at each chapter like a song.”
‘The Wonder’ by Emma Donoghue
In her latest novel, Donoghue’s child characters once again shine in their imaginings when faced with creating solace in unimaginable circumstances
‘Wedding Pulls’ by J. K. Daniels
Here we encounter poetry as archery: precise, adept: each enjambment taut as a bow, each image piercing as the head of an arrow
‘Queer: A Graphic History’ by Meg-John Barker and Julia Scheele
Queer: A Graphic History sets out to be a guide, to sum up the history of queer theory and activism. With text and graphics, this book breaks down each evolution of queer politics
‘Indomitable: The Life of Barbara Grier’ by Joanne Passet
Grier’s life emerges as an interesting through line of lesbian activism in the twentieth century
Writers on the Election, Hopeful Public Art, and More LGBTQ News
Justin Vivian Bond on revolutionary art, writers on the election, and more LGBTQ news…
2017 Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices
Lambda Literary is proud to announce details of the 2017 Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices, the nation’s premier LGBTQ writers workshop and residency
‘Wuvable Oaf: Blood & Metal’ by Ed Luce
This collection is a visual smorgasbord, packed with one-page wrestling matches, posters, fake ads for Oaf hair care products, and…paper dolls
2017 Writers Retreat Faculty
Diana Cage (NONFICTION) is an author,
‘The Kissing Booth Girl and Other Stories’ by A.C. Wise
The Kissing Booth Girl and Other Stories is achingly smart, sad, and weird in equal measure
Collaboration Opens Largest Sports Performance and Specialty Complex
Unique not only for Ron Scott & Therapy and the Cowboys, but also for the sports performance and healthcare fields overall.
‘The Missing Museum’ by Amy King
The Missing Museum is not an easy read, any more than an actual museum exhibit is a thought-free gimme of an experience. But, like the Smithsonian and the odd roadside attraction, it’s worth taking the time to explore.
‘At Danceteria and Other Stories’ by Philip Dean Walker
This short story collection is inspired by the heady mix of sex, celebrity, and sinisterness inherent in the metropolitan cities of the 1980s
‘The Jungle Around Us’ by Anne Raeff
The slow, measured prose of these nine interrelated tales approaches big topics—loneliness, belonging, death, fear—and yet, Anne Raeff’s stories are intimate, character driven, and incredibly subtle
Blacklight: Holmén’s ‘Clinch’ Showcases a Visceral World with a Hard-Boiled Anti-hero
Clinch is a vivid blood-soaked noir set in 1930s Stockholm.
Ari Banias: On His New Poetry Collection and Trans Representation in the Larger Culture
“[…] I long to get outside the ways culture has directed me to see myself, others, and the world.”
‘When The Moon Was Ours’ by Anna-Marie McLemore
When The Moon Was Ours is a story of secrets, and of speaking them, and the power of saying–and living–your truth, without fear.
‘I’ll Tell You In Person’ by Chloe Caldwell
The essays in I’ll Tell You In Person wield the dual scalpels of honesty and wit in the manner of a caffeinated cardiologist
‘The Fool’ by Grace Dunham
Artist and activist Grace Dunham blends poetry, sermon, and ditty in their new online chapbook, The Fool
‘The Art of History’ by Christopher Bram
Bram’s The Art of History, Unlocking the Past in Fiction & Nonfiction is a brisk and entertaining jog through 29 great books and how authors grappled with history in their writing
Author Michael Nava on Creating the Iconic Gay Character Henry Rios
This month, Korima Press is releasing Lay Your Sleeping Head, an imaginative reworking of writer Michael Nava’s classic mystery novel The Little Death. Nava’s introduction for the new novel reveals the history behind the creation of the protagonist Henry Rios
The History of Gay Civil War Soldiers, Alison Bechdel in the ‘New Yorker’, and More LGBT News
The History of Gay Civil War Soldiers,Did the Internet Make Dating Worse for Gay People?, and more LGBT news
Pioneering Activist and Writer Marie Kuda, 76, has Died
Kuda was a renowned historian, writer, and early champion of gay and lesbian rights
‘In the Empire of the Air: The Poems of Donald Britton’ Edited by Reginald Shepherd and Philip Clark
In the Empire of the Air: The Poems of Donald Britton is a delectable volume of poetry-concentrate, dense with previously unpublished and uncollected works that immortalize Britton
‘The Clancys of Queens’ by Tara Clancy
The Clancys of Queens is a family story that takes an unfiltered look at class differences. It’s also hilarious, inspiring, and that rarest of animals–a memoir full of honest good cheer.
Beloved Novelist Gloria Naylor, 66, has Died
Ebony is reporting that author Gloria
‘Princess Princess Ever After’ by Katie O’Neill
Princess Princess Ever After is a warm-hearted graphic novel centered on the adventures of two strong-willed princesses. It is an adorable book whose fable-like story is perfect for any princess or prince in your life.
‘Proxies’ by Brian Blanchfield
The subtitle to the book, aptly named, is “Essays Near Knowing.” Not essays of expertise. Not even essays of critical analysis—essays in the proximity of understanding (bodily, mentally, philosophically).
Bob Smith: On Religion, Life with ALS, His Love of Nature, and His New Book ‘Treehab’
“I want a God who’s not meaner than I am.”
A Poem by Jen Levitt
This week, a poem from Jen Levitt’s The Off-Season , out this month from Four Way Books
‘Life and Death on the New York Dance Floor, 1980-1983’ by Tim Lawrence
While unearthing the cultural crossroads that formed the foundation of so many vital venues, Tim Lawrence absolutely nails what early the 80s New York City club scene was all about
Renowned Playwright Edward Albee, 88, has Died
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? playwright Edward Albee has died
‘Leaving Paris’ by Collin Kelley
Collin Kelley has created a trio of interlocking novels that can be read in any order. Read Leaving Paris first and you’ll know the “end” of the story. Read them backwards and the characters become richer and the intricate plot lines reveal their origins
Happy consumption strengthens bonds with brands: Testing images
Happy consumption experiences like increase psychological ownership for brands and products and can influence consumer behavior.
Iconic Performer Lady Chablis, 59, has Died
Lady Chablis, a beloved southern-based cabaret performer and author, has died
Queer Readers and Kim Addonizio’s ‘Bukowski in a Sundress’
Addonizio’s work is important to many LGBTQ readers because her writing persona works as an amalgamation of identities queer readers understand: the outsider, the rebel, the provocateur, the lover, and the survivor
‘The Stormwater Drains in Canberra’ by Paul Johan Karlsen
It takes some courage for a young Norwegian man from a small town to travel around the world for gay sex. In some ways, the novel reads like a fairy tale… The Stormwater Drains in Canberra may serve as a study guide for a new generation of young gay men
‘Vow of Celibacy’ by Erin Judge
Vow of Celibacy, stand-up comedian Erin Judges dishy debut novel, plunges the reader directly into the world of Natalie—bisexual, plus-sized fashion maven, and undertaker of the titular vow.
Appreciations: Derrick Austin’s “Summertime”
Every month, “Appreciations” looks closely at a poem or poems from recently-published books by LGBTQ poets
Frank Ocean Opens the Floodgates, Lidia Yuknavitch on Writing About Sexuality, and Alexander Chee’s Fashion Moment
Frank Ocean’s cultural production, Brandon Taylor on writing with empathy, and more LGBTQ news
‘Remarkable’ by Dinah Cox
Set in Oklahoma, the stories in this collection are sharp, precise, and surprising
‘Alphabet’ Edited by Jon Macy and Tara Madison Avery
Reading Alphabet will plunge you into the welcoming rainbow of queer comics.
Volunteer or be involved in inspiring campaigns and projects
The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to generate ideas and fund solutions that address climate change problems.
A Poem by Gregory Canillas
This week, a poem by Gregory Canillas
‘Captain of Industry’ by Karin Kallmaker
Captain of Industry is subtle and engaging, a Kallmaker love story with the kind of angst to which we can probably all relate
Historian and LGBT Biographer Stephen Maglott, 58, has Died
Stephen Maglott, a dedicated chronicler of LGBT lives, has died
Blacklight: Porto’s ‘Sergio Y’ Renders a Compassionate but Incomplete Exploration of Gender Identity
Sergio Y explores the limitations of truly knowing another person
‘Another Brooklyn’ by Jacqueline Woodson
Another Brooklyn is an absorbing, lyrical, beautifully written novel, which quietly draws the reader into its story of four friends “sharing the weight of growing up girl in Brooklyn” in the 1970s
Visionary Editor and Writer Mark Thompson, 63, has Died
Thompson’s open-hearted writings covered the spectrum of spirituality, gay sexuality, and LGBT history
New in August: Sjón, Tim Murphy, Erin Judge, Steven Gaines, and Jacqueline Woodson
New month, new books
A Poem by Sophia Dahlin
This week, a poem by Sophia Dahlin
‘Hellmaw: Of the Essence’ by Gabrielle Harbowy
This novel is only the
Harry Potter’s Gay Subtext, Why Trans Women Write, and More LGBT News
Edmund White on Vladimir Nabokov, the evolution of queer young adult literature, and more LGBT news
A Poem by Lawrence Kaplun
This week, a poem by Lawrence Kaplun
‘Here Comes The Sun’ by Nicole Dennis-Benn
How do you save your sister, your lover, your home and your ambition? In this brilliant debut novel, Nicole Dennis-Benn aims to present this riddle through rich prose, crackling dialogue, and the lives of three unforgettable Jamaican women
A Poem by Tommy Pico
This week, an excerpt from Tommy Pico’s book-length poem IRL
Roxane Gay’s Comic Book, Dennis Cooper’s Blog, and Other LGBT News
Dennis Cooper talks censorship, a musical based on the life of Dorian Corey of Paris is Burning, and other news
‘Love Slaves of Helen Hadley Hall’ by James Magruder
This sparkling novel owes much of its success to Magruder’s remarkable ability to manipulate words to get to the heart of all matters, especially matters of the heart
Adam Haslett: On Masculinity, Being Fearless, and the Power of Ambiguity
“Imagine Me Gone is the most personal book I’ve written, since I used the fact there is mental illness in my own family more directly than I have in anything else.”
‘Desert Boys’ by Chris McCormick
Both a collection and a journey, Desert Boys maps new ground in contemporary queer fiction
‘GJS II’ by Shawn Stewart Ruff
With GJS II, readers get an in-depth and multi-faceted view of blackness playing out in business, the political arena, and familial relationships
Lambda Literary Announces Jeanne Córdova and Bryn Kelly Scholarships
Lambda Literary is pleased to announce two new full scholarships for students of the organization’s prestigious summer residency
‘Read Me Like A Book’ by Liz Kessler
Author Liz Kessler highlights one young woman’s craving for love and validation to explore her emotionally charged world.
‘Homintern: How Gay Culture Liberated the Modern World’ by Gregory Woods
British poet and scholar Gregory Woods has gathered the often overlooked or underappreciated stories of over a century of gay men and women from around the world and woven a remarkably cohesive narrative
Read an Excerpt from Nicole Dennis-Benn’s Stunning New Novel ‘Here Comes The Sun’
Here Comes The Sun maps a family’s struggle to gain independence and freedom in a world where both don’t come easy
A Poem by Candace Williams
This week, a poem by Candace Williams
Emerge, an Anthology of Writing by Lambda Fellows
The anthology is a collection of fiction, nonfiction, plays, poetry, and genre fiction written by fellows of the 2015 Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices
Roxane Gay on the Black Lives Matter Movement, Mike Albo and Brontez Purnell in Conversation, and More LGBT News
Roxane Gay on Alton Sterling, Cheryl Clarke interviewed, and more LGBT news
‘Sleeping Dogs Lie’ by E.J. Cochrane
Cochrane has given us an endearing, though somewhat self-deprecating sleuth, in Maddie Smithwick
‘Call Me By My Other Name’ by Valerie Wetlaufer
This book is what happens when aesthetics and activism are yoked in the finest possible literary form
A Poem by Ezra Dan Feldman
This week, a poem by
‘Weekend’ by Jane Eaton Hamilton
What is especially wonderful about Weekend is the emotional adventure that occurs completely within the context of romantic and communal relationships
‘Not Straight, Not White: Black Gay Men from the March on Washington to the AIDS Crisis’ by Kevin J. Mumford
The book is deeply engaged in answering the question, not posed in the title, but hinted at, “What does it mean for a group of people with neither white, masculine, nor heterosexual privilege to find a political voice?”
‘Lesbian Decadence: Representations in Art and Literature in Fin-De-Siecle France’ by Nicole G. Albert
Albert’s book is a treat for American LGBT Studies researchers. She provides us with a treasure trove of paintings, drawings, and cartoons that depict the French lesbian at the turn of the century
‘Arcade’ by Drew Nellins Smith
In Drew Nellins Smith’s debut novel, Arcade, Sam, an awkward, likable late 20-something, guides us through a XXX video store on the outskirts of a Texas town
A Poem by Lisa Summe
This week, a poem by
‘Draw the Line’ by Laurent Linn
Draw the Line showcases classic superhero tropes and then tweaks and usurps them
Read an Excerpt From Joe Okonkwo’s New Novel ‘Jazz Moon’
Jazz Moon is an evocative novel that maps one character’s journey of self-discovery during the height of the Jazz Age
Mourning Orlando, Judith Butler Profiled, Gender-Swapped ‘American Psycho’, and More LGBT News
The world reacts to the Orlando Pulse shooting, indie presses open indie bookstores, and more LGBT news…
‘The Halo’ by C. Dale Young
In a mythic landscape populated by Greek gods, wolfish men and flightless angels, C. Dale Young’s The Halo, the poet’s fourth and latest collection, explores intersecting mandalas of memory, legend and the quest for self-actualization
‘Walking the Dog’ by Elizabeth Swados
The book details the struggles of “former child prodigy and rich-girl kleptomaniac” Ester Rosenthal as she navigates a post-prison life as a high-end professional dog walker
Garrard Conley: On Surviving Ex-Gay Therapy, Writing His Memoir, and the Year in Queer Lit
“I remember in the 90s and even early 00s, the idea was still prevalent in popular culture and the media that gay sex equaled death. When you’re in this religious environment, it complicates it even further.”
Writer and Activist Michelle Cliff, 69, has Died
Cliff strove to create ambitious narratives for historically marginalized identities
‘Final Cut’ by Lynn Ames
Jamison Parker is a best-selling
‘Say Bye to Reason and Hi to Everything’ Edited by Andrew Durbin
With Say Bye to Reason and Hi to Everything, Andrew Durbin collects five individual chapbooks spanning poetic and essayistic forms, by five writers, all women: Dodie Bellamy, Cecilia Corrigan, Amy De’Ath, Lynne Tillman, and Jackie Wang
The Orlando Massacre: Writers Respond with Sadness and Outrage
LGBT writers responded to the tragic Orlando massacre with a mix of rage and sorrow
Laura Jane Grace’s Memoir, Frog and Toad’s Same Sex Love, and More LGBT News
June is Pride Month so
New in June: Tig Notaro, Liz Swados, Dave Holmes, David Levithan, and Nina LaCour
New month, new books
28th Annual Lammy Award Winners Announced
Congratulations to all the winners
‘Black Dove: Mama, Mi’jo, and Me’ by Ana Castillo
One of the collection’s implicit questions is what intersections of identities might come next, what experiences and realities we have yet to see represented
Lisa C. Moore Named Lambda Literary’s Publishing Professional Award Winner
Lambda’s Publishing Professional Award honors a distinguished individual in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community whose innovative work in the publishing industry promotes LGBT literature
‘Stand by Me: The Forgotten History of Gay Liberation’ by Jim Downs
Stand By Me maps the complex cultural and political expressions of the lesbian and gay community in the years before AIDS
‘Infringe’ by Sarah B. Burghauser
In Infringe, the reader is taken through the journey of a girl who has been raised in an Orthodox Jewish home, whose faith and sense of identity is fractured by trauma
28th Annual Lambda Literary Awards, Monday, June 6th
The Lambda Literary Awards celebrate excellence in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender literature
‘Infidels’ by Abdellah Taïa
Abdellah Taïa’s Infidels is a story about the protagonist Jallal’s fall–out of boyhood, into love, out of innocence, into Jihad.
‘Original Fake’ by Kirstin Cronn-Mills and Illustrated by E. Eero Johnson
This story is about the power of blurring lines and altering perceptions of acceptability
Lambda Literary Partners with NYC Department of Education to Bring LGBTQ Writers in Schools Program to Students
Lambda Literary, the global leader advancing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender literature, today announced a historic partnership with the New York City Department of Education
A Poem by Lisa Hiton
This week, a poem by Lisa Hiton.
Appreciations: Christina Hutchins’ “Vigil”
Every month, “Appreciations” looks closely at a poem or poems from recently-published books by LGBTQ poets
‘Imagine Me Gone’ by Adam Haslett
Adam Haslett immerses his novel of familial strife in contemporary ideas about racial and economic justice in America
Nicole Dennis-Benn, Marlon James, Queer Robin Hood, and More LGBT News
Being queer and Jamaican, same gender loving Robin Hood, and more lgbt news…
Saleem Haddad: On the Arab Spring and Writing About the Queer Arab Experience
“It was very challenging to write this, about such a sensitive subject as sexuality and shame, knowing that it would be read both by a Western audience and an Arab audience. So I kept telling myself: Just tell the truth.”
‘Without Annette’ by Jane B. Mason
Josie and Annette have been
A Poem by Francisco Márquez
This week, a poem by Francisco Márquez.
‘The Death of Fred Astaire’ by Leslie Lawrence
Leslie Lawrence’s essay collection offers poignant musings on the nature of memory
Philip Clark on Unearthing the Poetry of Donald Britton
“If anything, the poems are testament to an eye and a mind that was looking at the world on a different wavelength: there’s a remarkable particularity of language matched with fresh and jarring images.”
‘Night Sweats’ by Tom Cardamone
Short these stories may be, but that doesn’t mean that they’re lightweight
‘Black Sheep Boy’ by Martin Pousson
What Pousson does so masterfully is to take such a dazzlingly fantastical and specific world and render it universally recognizable
A Poem by Miriam Bird Greenberg
This week, a poem by Miriam Bird Greenberg.
Adrienne Rich’s Feminist Awakening, Glitterary Awareness Month, and More LGBT News
Edmund White as Artist in Residence, ex-gay conversion therapy, and more LGBT news
‘So Much To Be Done: The Writings of Breast Cancer Activist Barbara Brenner’ Edited by Barbara Sjoholm
This is not another pity-party book written by someone with a life-threatening illness. Instead, Brenner’s writing provides a map for future activists and organizers.
‘In Case of Emergency, Break Glass’ by Sarah Van Arsdale
Whether the stories take place on a snow bank in an unknown, prehistoric land or in a hotel in Barcelona, Van Arsdale’s novellas strike achingly close to home by reporting true narratives of people and their complications
Bryan Borland and JP Howard Named Lambda Literary’s Judith A. Markowitz Emerging Writer Award Winners
Lambda Literary is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2016 Judith A. Markowitz Emerging Writer Award
Read Jewelle Gomez’s New Foreword for ‘The Gilda Stories: Expanded 25th Anniversary Edition’
“There were those who didn’t think a black lesbian vampire story—benevolent or not—was such a good idea politically.”
Blacklight: Crime Fiction Makes Hidden LGBTQ Histories Visible
The LGBTQ historical crime novel has a dual function: first, to uncover the particular past, true actions and motivations of a set of characters; and second, to re-insert queer characters back into a time period that has excluded them
Introducing Lambda Literary’s 2016 Emerging Writers Retreat Fellows
The 2016 class of the Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices will spend a week in Los Angeles this summer, July 24-31, working on their books, collections and plays in workshops led by some of our community’s leading LGBT authors/mentors
‘Queering Sexual Violence: Radical Voices from Within the Anti-Sexual Violence Movement’ Edited by Jennifer Patterson
Queering Sexual Violence is something of a collectively written open letter to what Patterson refers to as “the non-profit industrial complex,” which has consistently overlooked and undervalued the experiences and insights of queer survivors of sexual violence
‘My Year Zero’ by Rachel Gold
My Year Zero is classified as “new adult fiction,” and will appeal to both young and more experienced adults, meeting difficult topics head-on with a compelling story
Read an Excerpt from Edmund White’s New Novel ‘Our Young Man’
“Although Guy was thirty-five he was still working as a model, and certain of his more ironic and cultured friends called him, as the dying Proust had been called by Colette, ‘our young man.'”
Eileen Myles & Hilton Als to be Honored at the 28th Annual Lambda Literary Awards
Lambda Literary is pleased to announce that Eileen Myles will receive Lambda’s Pioneer Award and Hilton Als will receive the Trustee Award for Excellence in Literature at the 28th Annual Lambda Literary Awards
A Poem by Nathan Blansett
This week, a poem by Nathan Blansett.
‘Ask a Queer Chick: A Guide to Sex, Love, and Life for Girls Who Dig Girls’ by Lindsay King-Miller
In a world struggling with identity and how to behave, with big political questions of belonging/not belonging, Ask a Queer Chick is a gentle and educational guide for all of us
Writers on Mississippi’s Anti-Gay Legislation, Jewelle Gomez on Vampires, and Other LGBT News
Childhood literary crushes, ACLU takes on prison censorship, and more LGBT news
‘The Cosmopolitans’ by Sarah Schulman
Sarah Schulman has given us a finely tuned, clever, and remarkably contemporary historical novel
‘We Love You, Charlie Freeman’ by Kaitlyn Greenidge
That the novel is able to combine ASL culture, race, ambition, family, love, politics, and history is a marvel not to be missed
A Poem by Kamden Hilliard
This week, a poem by Kamden Hilliard.
‘The American Isherwood’ edited by James J. Berg and Chris Freeman
The basic tenet of the
‘Felicity’ by Mary Oliver
Over her past few collections,
A Poem by K.T. Billey
This week, a poem by K.T. Billey.
‘The Making of the American Essay’ Edited by John D’Agata
The total package of this collection is overwhelming, far-reaching, and feels very much like our collective home
‘Our Young Man’ by Edmund White
Edmund White’s new novel examines the costs of maintaining a facade
Sarah Schulman on Her New Novel, Hilton Als and Junot Diaz Discuss Literature, and More LGBT News
Junot Diaz and Hilton Als in conversation, Amanda Lepore’s memoir, and more LGBT news
‘How the Boy Might See It’ by Charlie Bondhus
Charlie Bondhus is haunted by
‘Juliana’ by Vanda
Juliana illustrates a poignant message: to be queer was to be anti-American, in a time where being anti-American meant isolation and ruination
‘The Right Side of History: 100 Years of LGBTQI Activism’ by Adrian Brooks
The battle cries, blood, sweat, and tears of those who have both come before and will certainly exist after today’s LGBT activists are long gone, are carefully protected and cherished.
‘Oscar of Between: A Memoir of Identity and Ideas’ by Betsy Warland
I. Betsy Warland’s new book
In Conversation: Writers SJ Sindu & Gabrielle Bellot on the Publishing Industry, Marginalized Identities, and Being Labeled a Queer Writer
Writers Gabrielle Bellot and SJ Sindu discuss art vs. activism, marginalized identities, and being labeled a queer author
French, Arabic, English: Abdellah Taïa Discusses His Novels and Why He Uses the Language that He Does
“Though I write now in French, my feelings about this language are very complicated. I am in a constant war with it.”
‘Confucius Jane’ by Katie Lynch
Lynch has given us a superb account of a struggling romance, the personal growth her characters must achieve in disastrous circumstances, and a community rich in tradition
‘Beyond: The Queer Sci-Fi & Fantasy Comic Anthology’ Edited by Sfé R. Monster
This beautiful collection of comics gathers a huge diversity of styles and narratives told from every possible universe and with every walk of life
Kaitlyn Greenidge: On Her New Novel ‘We Love You, Charlie Freeman’ and Writing Fully Realized Characters
“I think anyone can write any experience as long as they recognize that experience as part of the human condition. The problem arises when a writer uses a character’s social positionality as shorthand or for street cred.”
Two Poems by Nebeolisa Okwudili
This week, two poems by Nebeolisa Okwudili
‘Beijing Comrades’ by Bei Tong
Beijing Comrades is both a valuable piece of global gay history and a political phenomenon
David Sedaris Talks RuPaul’s Drag Race, Octavia Butler Remembered, and Other LGBT News
Lesbian pulp, award winners, remembrances, and more
Darryl Pinckney: On His Novel ‘Black Deutschland’ and the Complexities of Gay Desire
“It used to be that if you told your parents that you were gay, they imagined you were living these aimless nights of danger. Now you tell your parents that you are gay, and they want to meet your boyfriend.”
A Poem by Tom Capelonga
This week, a poem by Tom Capelonga.
‘The Straight Line: How the Fringe Science of Ex-Gay Therapy Reoriented Sexuality’ by Tom Waidzunas
The Straight Line is a socio-cultural exploration of the rise and fall of the ex-gay and reorientation therapy movement
New in January: Garth Greenwell, Rashod Ollison, Tracey Richardson, and Paul Lisicky
New month, new books
‘Glitter & Grit: Queer Performance from the Heels on Wheels Femme Galaxy’ Edited by Damien Luxe, Heather María Ács & Sabina Ibarrola’
The essays and performance pieces in this anthology add to a collective tale while remaining essentially singular
Read an Excerpt from Ann McMan’s New Novel ’Backcast’
Humor and heart go hand in hand in Backcast, a new novel from writer Ann McMan
‘Husky’ by Justin Sayre
Husky tells the story of Davis, an overweight, smart, likeable, and genuinely decent boy on the cusp of facing middle school, where a whole new set of rules, rituals, and priorities face him and his cohort of friends
Poet and Writer Justin Chin Has Died [Updated]
Beloved San Francisco-based poet Justin Chin suffered a massive stroke last week
‘Backcast’ by Ann McMan
Backcast is a memorable story about the unbreakable strength and resilience of women
The Camp Wonders of the ‘Phantom Menace’, Children’s Cartoons, and Other LGBTQ News
Star Wars, queer clergy trading cards, and other lgbtq news
Reading ‘Stone Butch Blues’ on the First Anniversary of Leslie Feinberg’s Death
Stone Butch Blues is a book that demands with each reading new imaginative possibilities for how to live with and revolt against sex and gender in our world
Personal Advice from Author Karin Kallmaker: Is There a “Right” Way to Breakup With Someone?
“I don’t want to be a jerk and just ghost, but I am having the hardest time building up the courage to end it.”
‘Fox Tooth Heart’ by John McManus
John McManus’s new collection Fox Tooth Heart is a gripping, often tragic meditation on the vast distance between inner life and outer expectations
‘What’s Your Sign, Girl? Cartoonists Talk About Their Sun Signs’ Edited by Robert Kirby
This compilation’s topic and sharp design make it irresistible to peruse
Ten of This Year’s Standout LGBTQ Books
It was truly a year of queer literary excellence
‘Lizard Radio’ by Pat Schmatz
Lizard Radio is a love letter to genderqueer and gender nonconforming youth in the guise of dystopian literature
New in December: Samuel Steward, Ann McMan, Renée Levine Packer and Mary Jane Leach
New month, new books
Burn, Bodice, Burn
The following excerpt is from The State of Our Union: A Collage, an essay collection from Julie Marie Wade
‘The Uncollected David Rakoff’ by David Rakoff
David Rakoff was here. He made us laugh, he made us weep, he made us think. The Uncollected Works are some of his best and some of his not-so-best, but they are all him and as such, to be cherished
Actress and Warhol Superstar Holly Woodlawn, 69, has Died
Pioneering trans actress and Warhol superstar Holly Woodlawn has passed away at 69
World AIDS Day, Bad Sex Awards, and More LGBT News
Talking about AIDS with children, Gay Ugandan musicals, and more LGBT news
A Poem by Brian Thorstenson
Today, a new poem by Brian Thorstenson
‘The Repercussions’ by Catherine Hall
The Repercussions does not try to explain war, nor does it try to call us to action. It is simply a chronicle of the ways human beings mess each other up and what it takes, on an individual level, to keep on living
Read an Excerpt from Michael Cunningham’s New Collection ’A Wild Swan and Other Tales’
A Wild Swan and Other Tales is a short story collection that offers contemporary renditions of popular fairy tales
Blacklight: Casey McKittrick’s ‘Murder on Faux Pas Island’: Golden Age-Style Mystery Casts Female Impersonator as Amateur Detective
In his first Pancetta Brulée mystery, Casey McKittrick pays homage to the Golden Age mysteries of the ‘20s and ‘30s, but with twist
‘Pretty Much Dead’ by Daphne Gottlieb
This collection covers multitudes—the emotional and physical landscape of San Francisco, the politics of change, nontraditional intimacies, and stories of a city well-loved and well-complicated by the passing of time
‘And Then I Danced: Traveling the Road to LGBT Equality’ by Mark Segal
The most important lesson one can learn from Segal’s life is that, no matter what, you just have to keep on fighting
A Bisexual Boxer Biopic, Transgender Sci-Fi, and Other LGBT News
The National Book Awards, Gay theater post-marriage equality, queer comics, and other LGBT news
‘Hurricane Days’ by Renée J. Lukas
Hurricane Days is a romantic and gut-wrenching political drama
Michael Graves: On Writing, Relationships, and Practicing Hope
“[…] People are scared to talk about religion. They are less fearful of discussions concerning sex or guns. Why don’t we talk about God? Why don’t we talk about spirituality?”
‘Dirty River: A Queer Femme of Color Dreaming Her Way Home’ by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
Dirty River goes above and beyond being a story of survival; it is a femme manifesto
‘A Poet of the Invisible World’ by Michael Golding
In A Poet of the Invisible World, we’re asked to consider the curative role of art and how experience–often painful–can bring us to a deeper understanding of life
‘When the Sick Rule the World’ by Dodie Bellamy
Bellamy’s book is like rough sex: it is intense, dizzying, and often leaves you bruised, but beneath the glitter of sensation lies a foundation of tenderness
Gay Superheros, James Baldwin’s House, and Other LGBT News
Iceman discusses gay identity with Iceman, editors discuss what more can be done to increase diversity, and more LGBT news
Two Poems by Richie Hofmann
This week, two poems from Richie Hofmann’s Second Empire, just published by Alice James Books.
‘The Pink Trance Notebooks’ by Wayne Koestenbaum
The collection is apparently the result of a year-long hiatus from journal writing in favor of this more immediate, unfiltered transcription of a mind at work
Read an Excerpt from Jeanette Winterson’s New Novel ‘The Gap of Time’
The Gap of Time is a decidedly queer “remix” of William Shakespeare’s Winter’s Tale, from celebrated author Jeanette Winterson.
‘Did You Ever Have a Family’ by Bill Clegg
In this novel, fifty year old June Reid is faced with the irreconcilable deaths of every person in her family—a fate she was spared from by pure happenstance
‘When I Was a Twin’ by Michael Klein
Good poets make us think; great poets make us imagine. And this is exactly what Michael Klein helps us do in his visceral, exultant, new collection of poetry and prose
Blacklight: Greg Herren’s ‘Orion Mask’: An Engrossing Romantic Mystery Connects Place to Character
In his acknowledgments, Herren writes that, as a teenager, he loved romantic suspense and read widely in that sub-genre. In this novel, that love is apparent, and place, as is the case in gothic romances, plays an important role
A Queer Look at Garth Risk Hallberg’s ‘City On Fire’
The book stretches broad enough to embrace many narratives, a compelling gay narrative among them
Carrie Brownstein on the Joys and Agonies of Storytelling
“Music writing can be very frustrating, too, but for some reason, at the end of three hours of trying to write a song, if I’m unsuccessful, it doesn’t feel quite as degrading as not being able to write a successful paragraph.”
Chelsea Manning on Trans Lit, #ReadNaked, and Other LGBT News
Chelsea Manning on trans literature, the #ReadNaked campaign, and Larry Kramer bemoans the silence around great lgbt writers
Writer Candice Iloh is the Recipient of Lambda Literary Home School Fellowship
Lambda Literary is thrilled to announce that Candice Iloh is the recipient of the Lambda Literary Home School Fellowship
‘Vienna’ by William S. Kirby
Vienna brings together the crime and intelligence of a Holmes story but with a twist: “Sherlock” and “Watson” appear as women—Vienna and Justine, respectively—and to further twist the usual, the unlikely duo are lovers
‘The Collected Black Gay Boy Fantasy #1’ by Victor Hodge
Black Gay Boy Fantasy follows the story of Neil Jordan’s gay coming of age
Personal Advice from Author Kevin Sessums: Help! How Do I Get Over a Broken Heart?
“Do you have any suggestions to help alleviate the emotional pain of heartbreak?”
Reflections on the Lambda Literary Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBT Voices
We checked in with the some of this past year’s participants and asked them to provide their own personal take on their time at the 2015 Emerging LGBT Voices Retreat
‘I Must Be Living Twice’ by Eileen Myles
There is infrequently anything as marvelous as being taken with a writer to a place in a whirlwind—to be rushed through streets, through lives, through interactions, through memory
Emerging Queer Writers Reading Series
Howl Happening: An Arturo Vega Project in partnership with Bowery Arts and Science and Lambda Literary Foundation, brings together some of the city’s brightest emerging queer literary talent for an evening of poetry, prose, and performance.
‘Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl’ by Carrie Brownstein
The debut memoir from Sleater Kinney member and Portlandia star Carrie Brownstein Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl is a whip smart and compelling story that expertly blends music writing with personal revelations
Best LGBT Sex in Literature, Defining Trans Lit, and Literary Bar-Hopping
Best queer literary sex, defining trans literature, and queer Kenyan anthologies
‘Uncovered: How I left Hasidic Life and Finally Came Home’ by Leah Lax
Lax explores the ways in which men and women both encounter limitations in their lives through a fundamentalist religion and offers some insight into why they join.
Chinelo Okparanta: On Her New Novel ‘Under The Udala Trees’ and Being a Champion of Love
“It’s too bad that so many of us have a need to psychoanalyze love and destroy it in the process.”
Two Poems by Matthew Gellman
This week, two poems by
‘Alexander McQueen: Blood Beneath the Skin’ by Andrew Wilson
This biography chronicles how success changes you: the ways in which the people fall away, as you become consumed with your new life(style) which, if not managed carefully, can overwhelm and consume
‘The Gap of Time’ by Jeanette Winterson
Winterson—whose energetic literary career began with the sui generis coming-out novel Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit and has ranged through many forms and eras since—has written a “cover version” of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale
Remembering Nene Adams,1966-2015
A born storyteller who found inspiration in everything around her, Adams took lesbian readers through the cobblestones of Victorian England, the brothels of Shogun Japan, and the wilds of the Yukon
‘Worlds Apart’ by David Plante
For readers who yearn more for good dish than spiritual pondering, it does not hurt that Plante’s “connections” are of the very best kind: Germaine Greer, Phillip Roth, David Hockney, to name a few.
‘The Gay Revolution: The Story of the Struggle’ by Lillian Faderman
In The Gay Revolution, Faderman takes on our collective LGBT history from the pre-Stonewall days through to now. It’s a massive undertaking and Faderman approaches it with diligence, tenacity and just the right touch of awe.
Blacklight: Richard Stevenson’s ‘Why Stop at Vengeance?’: A Fast-Paced Thriller Uncovers Evangelical Anti-gay Conspiracy in Uganda
Why Stop at Vengeance? shows us how evangelical missionaries can harness political backing and propaganda for their hate-mongering in countries with political and economic instability
Eileen Myles Gets Her Due, the Film Adaptation of ‘Dancer From the Dance’, Trans Poetics, and More LGBT News
Eileen Myles gets her due, Myles E. Johnson gives us a book for young black queer boys, and more LGBT news
How the Words of Nikky Finney Help Get Us Through Breaking Up & Breaking Down
Candice Iloh on how the work of the poet Nikky Finney can help us navigate through the world
‘Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around: Forty Years of Movement Building with Barbara Smith’ by Alethia Jones and Virginia Eubanks with Barbara Smith
[Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around is] a collection of stories that stress not only the importance of a movement but also its role and influence in larger society and culture as a whole.
Lambda Literary Announces $1 Million Gift from Author and Philanthropist Chuck Forester
Lambda Literary has received a major gift commitment of $1 million, the largest in the organization’s history, from Mr. Chuck Forester of San Francisco
‘Dryland’ by Sara Jaffe
Adults and teen readers will appreciate this coming-of-age tale which captures a girl’s initial steps to finding her sexual identity and the emotional struggles of navigating adolescence
‘Dragon Horse War: The Calling’ by D. Jackson Leigh
The world has experienced 100
Lillian Faderman on Five Key Moments in the LGBT Civil Rights Movement
Lillian Faderman pinpoints five key moments in the LGBT civil rights movement
1950’s Lesbians, GIF Storytelling, and More LGBT News
Edmund White discusses 70’s New York City, Bruce Benderson flees the current New York City, and the new Carol trailer is released
‘Prayer of the Handmaiden’ by Merry Shannon
It’s been awhile since we’ve
Gary Indiana: On His New Book ‘I Can Give You Anything But Love’ and the Impossibility of Happy Endings
“There aren’t any happy endings! We die! How could anything have a happy ending? Life is pessimistic because we die!”
‘I Can Give You Anything But Love’ by Gary Indiana
I Can Give You Anything does, in fact, give you just about everything: travel writing; diary entries; fragments; and deliciously wicked but not inhumane portraits of a variety of noteworthy figures
‘Love Not Given Lightly: Profiles from the Edge of Sex’ by Tina Horn
Love Not Given Lightly is compelling and oh-so-readable. Whether you know of and partake of this world or not, Horn’s portraits are deeply moving in their tender look at human sexuality and connection.
‘The Boys from Eighth and Carpenter’ by Tom Mendicino
Tom Mendicino’s latest novel explores the bonds of brotherhood, literal and metaphoric, between two brothers who on the surface appear so dissimilar
‘Under The Udala Trees’ by Chinelo Okparanta
Chinelo Okparanta has written a new classic of the lesbian novel, timeless in its risk and heart, immediate in its voice for the persecuted LGBT people of Nigeria
‘The Cherokee Rose: A Novel of Gardens and Ghost’ by Tiya Miles
Historians reveal uncomfortable truths and novelists force us to look at them. Perhaps The Cherokee Rose is a nod in support of the New South that recognizes its multicultural past, present, and future.
“Bendova Like I Told Ya”: Big Freedia and the Healing Power of Contradiction
Ease with contradiction would appear to be a kind of puckish response to systemic disenfranchisement
A Look at LGBTQ Homeless Teens: Read an Excerpt from Ryan Berg’s ‘No House To Call My Home’
The book is an illuminating account of the lives of a group of New York City LGBTQ homeless youth
‘Talk’ by Linda Rosenkrantz
Talk is a slender novel narrowly focused on three friends slowly embracing adulthood as the nation prepares to lose much of its innocence. It’s blazingly witty, unexpectedly touching, and note-perfect.
‘Let Me Explain You’ by Annie Liontas
Let Me Explain You is a story about relationships—between sisters, between countrymen, between people and place, between food and memory, between languages, between time and space
Blacklight: Commentary on the Past, Present, and Future of LGBTQ Crime Fiction
“My hope is that this column will promote quality crime stories written by or about our community…”
‘Skyscraping’ by Cordelia Jensen
Captivating you in the first few pages, visionary author Cordelia Jensen has put forth Skyscraping, a semi-autobiographical novel in verse for young readers
Author Quintan Ana Wikswo on the Limitations and Power of Labels
“Primarily, I wanted to see if I could write a book in which issues of love, erotics, desire, and sex could be momentarily liberated from conventional categorizations of gender identity.”
A Poem by Diana Hamilton
This week, a poem by
‘Becoming Westerly: Surf Champion Peter Drouyn’s Transformation into Westerly Windina’ by Jamie Brisick
Becoming Westerly is an unforgettable portrait of a hard-won second act in an already exceptional life
The Myth of Fluency and a Search for New Language
Author Daniel Allen Cox on building stories, fluency, and the power of language
‘Barbara Gittings: Gay Pioneer’ by Tracy Baim
Baim’s book introduces this stalwart activist to a broad audience, and Gittings’ determination, achievement and love for her community shines through.
New in August: James Sie, David Levithan, Casey McKittrick, and Kim van Alkemade
New month, new books
A Poem by Sam Ross
This week, a poem by Sam Ross
‘The Small Backs of Children’ by Lidia Yuknavitch
The plot centers on an orphaned child from a war torn Eastern European country, and how her life captivates and unsettles a group of western artists
Personal Advice from Author Dale Peck: Help, I am an Overly Jealous Boyfriend!
“Is there a way to deal with sexual jealousy?”
“All Losses Are the Same” But Every Rediscovery of a Lesbian Poet Gives Us New Life
Catherine Breese Davis’ poems are taut and formal, with close attention to the power of compressed language
‘Looking for a Kiss: A Chronicle of Downtown Heartbreak and Healing’ by Kate Walter
Looking for a Kiss is about one woman’s herculean attempt to thrive in the face of tragedy and an uncertain romantic future
Riverhead Editorial Director Rebecca Saletan on the Art of Publishing
“For me, I’m less interested in things that reflect the world and the familiar literature that I already know. I want things to take me into new zones.”
A Poem by Shane Allison
This week, a poem by Shane Allison
‘Hotel Living’ by Ioannis Pappos
Management consultants don’t exactly sound
‘Theatre of the Unimpressed: In Search of Vital Drama’ by Jordan Tannahill
This slim volume is overflowing with ideas and practical criticism of current theatre practice.
‘Shirtlifter’ by Steve MacIsaac with Fuzzbelly, Justin Hall, Ilya, Jon Macy, and Eric Kostiuk Williams
These stories expand the view of the gay male experience by examining stereotypes and the realities behind them, and by sharing the real joys and frustrations of gay life.
‘Counternarratives’ by John Keene
The remarkable thing about this kind of book–this expansive, wide-reaching book–is that the writer expects the reader to be as well-read as they are, or to at least engage with the text in an intentional way
Read an Excerpt from ‘The Right Side of History: 100 Years or LGBTQI Activism’: Miss Major Griffin-Gracy’s Reflections on the Stonewall Riots
“The night of Stonewall, two friends and I sat in Sheridan Square talking with the boys, trying to have a good time.”
A Poem by Sarah Sala
This week, a poem by Sarah Sala
A Queer Look at Harper Lee’s ‘Go Set a Watchman’
The eighty-nine-year-old Lee has long been a lesbian literary icon, and her protagonist, Scout Finch, a.k.a. Jean Louise, has been—along with Carson McCullers’ Frankie Addams in The Member of the Wedding—a girl that every young American lesbian grew up reading
‘The Brink’ by Austin Bunn
The Brink is a fast-paced, slim, engrossing collection that reminds its reader of one of life’s most essential truths: we’re always on the cusp of something new, and every passing moment, for better or worse, changes us
Out of the Dungeons and onto the Bookshelf: Leather Writers in a Post-‘Fifty Shades’ Literary World
Authors Sassafras Lowrey, Laura Antoniou, and Cecilia Tan discuss BDSM writing in a post-Fifty Shades literary world
‘The Song in My Heart’ by Tracey Richardson
The Song in My Heart is about finding passion in life. It’s about relationships and how what we may think we want isn’t always what’s best for us.
‘Night at the Fiestas’ by Kirstin Valdez Quade
At its best, Kirstin Valdez Quade’s new collection of stories, Night at the Fiestas, sidesteps cliché but keeps the grandeur of her setting by transposing it to her characters—people big as myth, opaque as Scripture
Gore Vidal: Devil with a Soul
In Sympathy for the Devil:
A Poem by Jarrett Neal
This week, a poem by Jarrett Neal.
‘Two Augusts in a Row in a Row’ by Shelley Marlow
Two Augusts in a Row in a Row is a novel about gender, love, grief and magic.
Reader Meet Author: Personal Advice from Author Lashonda Katrice Barnett
“I worry that my friend’s dating standards are too high.”
‘The Conversation’ by Judith Barrington and ‘Love Will Burst Into a Thousand Shapes’ by Jane Eaton Hamilton
Together, The Conversation and Love Will Burst into a Thousand Shapes demonstrate some of the vibrancy of contemporary lesbian poetry.
‘Wuvable Oaf’ by Ed Luce
Wuvable Oaf is the tale of a big, hairy, gay ex-wrestler’s search for love in San Francisco
‘Dangerous When Wet’ by Jamie Brickhouse
Dangerous When Wet is a fabulous new memoir about a man who has it all–a great job in publishing, a longtime boyfriend, fun friends and a caring family. But Brickhouse has some serious life challenges too, including addictions and HIV
‘Sphinx’ by Anne Garréta
Sphinx, on the surface, is a standard story of love and loss. But that’s about all that’s standard here. You won’t get past the first page without asking questions, and by the time you turn the last one, you’ll be no closer to an answer
Jonathan Galassi: On Publishing, Poetry vs. Prose, and Meeting Your Literary Heroes
“I chose to write about publishing because it’s the world I know best, and because I wanted to leave a record of a way of working that really is gone now.”
‘It Starts with Trouble: William Goyen and the Life of Writing’ by Clark Davis
During his lifetime, William Goyen’s fiction elicited praise from the likes of Joyce Carol Oates and Truman Capote. He published five novels, several collections of short stories, a book of poems, and a respectable—if not abundant—body of nonfiction.
‘Vera’s Will’ by Shelley Ettinger
“Don’t go. Let me show
Kevin Coval, Quraysh Ali Lansana, and Nate Marshall: On the Queer Aspects of Hip Hop
“I think the reality of hip hop is that women and queer people and a lot of folks who we think about being in the margins have always been at the center of the culture.”
‘Muse’ by Jonathan Galassi
Jonathan Galassi does a superb job of offering a meticulously observed peek behind the curtain of the book publishing world, complete with an eclectic cast of outsized characters.
Pauline: Poet Jee Leong Koh on Writer and Activist Pauline Park
“To put yourself out there constantly, in newspapers, film and social media, requires nerves of steel. It also requires a stubborn set of values and a strong sense of self.”
‘Soul Selecta’ by Gill McKnight
Prepare to meet the unexpected in this plot that folds back on itself and brings with it more than one element of surprise.
‘The Ghost Network’ by Catie Disabato
The Ghost Network is a mystery, though less a whodunit than a philosophical koan. It’s a layered and twisted trip through the real and fictional, pop and political
‘I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, Part One: My Own Private Portland’ by Annie Murphy
The title of Murphy’s zineI Never Promised You a Rose Garden alludes to Portland’s nickname, “The City of Roses,” at the same time warning readers this book is not about petals and perfume.
John Keene: On Hidden Histories and Why Writing Against Official Narratives is Queer
John Keene spoke with The Lambda Literary Review about his new book,Counternarratives, hidden histories, and merging fiction with reality
‘The Battle of Versailles: The Night American Fashion Stumbled Into the Spotlight and Made History’ by Robin Givhan
The changes wrought by the designers and American fashion industry since Versailles make the reader realize, contrary to frequent accusations of frivolity, how serious the world of fashion can be.
‘The Hope of Floating Has Carried Us This Far’ by Quintan Ana Wikswo
The stories here beg borders. They are amorphous and esoteric. Many of them feel like shortwave radio dispatches from another Universe where the edges that separate us are constantly blurring and shifting.
27th Annual Lambda Literary Award Winners Announced!
Congratulations to all the winners and honorees.
“I want no ending,” and Neither Will You: ‘Chord’ as Continuation and Expansion of Rick Barot’s Exceptional Canon
The poems are sensuously complex, perhaps the most complex of Barot’s canon
Jeffrey Round: On Becoming a Mystery Writer
“I’m an inveterate wanderer and snoop [….] Whether I’m on a bike or in a car, I stick my nose in places that most people avoid just to see what curiosities they hold, especially at night.”
“Body Language” by Michael Broder
This week, a poem by Michael Broder.
Dawn Martin Lundy: On the Power of Forgetting and Her New Collection ‘Life in a Box is a Pretty Life’
“What I believe in is forgetting; it’s transformative, if not reformative, power. What does it mean to truly leave something behind? To excise a happening from not only your thoughts, but also from your body?”
‘I Ate the Cosmos for Breakfast’ by Melissa Studdard
In short, lush lines on expansive subjects, Melissa Studdard deftly guides her debut poetry collection, I Ate the Cosmos for Breakfast, through cycles of time, space and emotion.
On Plague and the Queer Art of Absurdist History: Larry Kramer’s ‘The American People’
As much as The American People purports to historical authenticity, Kramer’s tome is primarily a masterpiece of the queer art of legend making, a natural byproduct of our occluded historical visibility
“beliefs.” by Candice Iloh
This week, a poem by Candice Iloh.
‘Gay is Good: The Life and Letters of Gay Rights Pioneer Franklin Kameny’ Edited by Michael G. Long
Never one for hiding his true feelings, Kameny’s tireless fight against the American establishment spearheaded a new period for homosexual rights in the early 1960s
‘Petticoats and Promises’ by Penelope Friday
Serena Coleridge comes from a
‘To the Dark Tower’ by Francis King
To the Dark Tower, Francis King’s first novel, was published in 1946
Kirsty Logan: On Moving Through Grief by Writing, the Art of Worldbuilding, and Her New Novel ‘The Gracekeepers’
“I think that the world of The Gracekeepers is as accepting and as intolerant as our own world–that is to say, some people are incredibly tolerant of difference, and others just shriek about burning the witch (whoever and whatever the witch may be).”
‘Boo’ by Neil Smith
Smith ventures to convey a reality about bullying and mental health that is far braver than any you’ve ever read, as Boo is a spelunking adventure deep into the caves of life, death, good, evil, mortality, loss and grief.
“A Self” by Joy Ladin
This week, a poem by Joy Ladin.
‘Orient’ by Christopher Bollen
Bollen crafts a series of interweaving threads with impressive finesse and detail, and it’s a testament to his talent that the reader can become equally invested in them as they are in getting to the roots of the murders and arson that begin to pepper the narrative
‘Smash Cut: A Memoir of Howard & Art & the ’70s and the ’80s’ by Brad Gooch
In his new memoir Smash Cut, novelist and biographer Brad Gooch recounts his experiences in New York City during the turbulent ’70s and ’80s
‘The Man With the Overcoat’ by David Finkle
It is October, on an
‘Erebus’ by Jane Summer and ‘Fanny Says’ by Nickole Brown
Two recent collections express documentary impulses in contemporary poetry
‘One Hundred Days of Rain’ by Carellin Brooks
In Carellin Brooks’ One Hundred Days of Rain, we meet a woman going through a divorce with a small son in Vancouver. Rain serves as a kind of co-narrator to the book; it’s both character and metaphor
Yarrott Benz: On Revisiting a Harrowing Adolescence and Writing His New Memoir ‘The Bone Bridge’
“Whether I like it or not, the story of The Bone Bridge is the defining story of my life.”
‘Visions and Revisions: Coming of Age in the Age of AIDS’ by Dale Peck
Peck compiles and re-edits material principally presented as stand-alone essays in their original publication, weaving a sort of non-linear portrait of the period during which HIV/AIDS was typically a terminal illness
Anne Balay and Daisy Hernández named Lambda Literary’s Dr. Betty Berzon Emerging Writer Award Winners
Lambda Literary, the nation’s leading national nonprofit arts organization promoting LGBTQ literature and writers, is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2015 Dr. Betty Berzon Emerging Writer Award.
‘Things Half in Shadow’ by Alan Finn
Alan Finn mines the fertile history of post-Civil War Philadelphia and the country’s obsession with Spiritualism during that period to craft a superbly rich, historically-detailed whodunit in Things Half in Shadow
Maggie Nelson: On Writing ‘The Argonauts’ and Doing Justice to Queer Happiness
“On one level, I tried to do something I hadn’t done before, which was use the book as a holding container for sentiments of love and happiness […]”
‘The Completely Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green’ by Eric Orner
Orner’s book is a treasure trove of emotions, queer characters you both know and want to know, engrossing art, humor and good storytelling
Rita Mae Brown & John Waters to be Honored at the 27th Annual Lambda Literary Awards
Lambda Literary is pleased to announce that John Waters will receive Lambda’s Trustee Award for Excellence in Literature an Rita Mae Brown will receive the Pioneer Award at the 27th Annual Lambda Literary Awards (“Lammys”).
Writer, Actor, and LGBT Advocate Nathan ‘Seven’ Scott, 44, Has Died
Nathan ‘Seven’ Scott, a beloved LGBT advocate, writer, and multimedia artist has died
Renowned Feminist Activist and Author Sidney Abbott, 77, Has Died
Sidney Abbott was a former member of the activist group the Lavender Menace and co-author of the pioneering book Sappho Was a Right-on Woman: A Liberated View of Lesbianism.
Whitney Houston and Robyn Crawford: An Incomplete Biography
The Houston and Crawford story speaks to the power of black female love (intimate or platonic) and the heights such unions can scale
‘The Argonauts’ by Maggie Nelson
The Argonauts, a slim book by poet and critic Maggie Nelson, contains multitudes. It’s an appreciation of her favorite queer thinkers. It’s a chronicle of first-time motherhood. It’s also the best kind of nonfiction read, the kind that enlarges one’s reading list by half.
‘Lost Boi’ by Sassafras Lowrey
Lost Boi is a counterculture fairy tale, but the way Lowery turns all expectations upside down and finds hope in the darkest corners is the real magic here.
‘Tiny Pieces of Skull’ by Roz Kaveney
Tiny Pieces of Skull delights in its characters and the grit and glamour of their daily lives.
Brad Gooch: On Remembering the 1970s and 1980s and Writing His New Memoir ‘Smash Cut’
“I had not really revisited these memories deeply since I shut the door on them over two decades ago. I discovered that I had intact, vivid memories, as if on a dolly track, reliving walking the halls of the AIDS wards of St. Vincent’s Hospital.”
‘Apocalypse Baby’ by Virginie Despentes
Apocalypse Baby, in the end, is a demanding read; Despentes’ words, plot, and ideas are contentious, confrontational, and very purposefully so.
‘Delicious Foods’ by James Hannaham
To describe Hannaham’s novel by referencing other writers would be too easy, and perhaps unfair. With Delicious Foods, James Hannaham has himself become a reference point.
‘Forever Faithful’ by Isabella
As Forever Faithful opens, we
Read an Excerpt from Larry Kramer’s ‘American People: Volume I’
This month, Farrar, Straus and Giroux is releasing the long-awaited new novel from author Larry Kramer, The American People: Volume 1: Search for My Heart: A Novel.
‘JD’ by Mark Merlis
Jonathan Ascher, an acclaimed 1960s
New in April: Larry Kramer, Mark Doty, Roz Kaveney, Sassafras Lowrey, and Dale Peck
New month, new books
‘The Gracekeepers’ by Kirsty Logan
It’s easy to lose yourself in The Gracekeepers. Logan’s rich tapestry of characters and storylines, her deft language and her exquisitely built world add up to a deep, intriguing, and accessible novel.
Introducing Lambda’s 2015 Emerging Writers Retreat Fellows
The 2015 class of the Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices will spend a week in Los Angeles, June 22-29, 2015 working on their manuscripts in workshops led by some of our community’s leading LGBT authors/mentors.
‘Politically InQueerect: Old Ghosts’ by Dylan Edwards
It’s a credit to Edwards’ talent to see how he’s expanded what started as a clichéd joke, into an insightful, humorous and unique comic.
Reader Meet Author: Personal Advice from Author Ayana Mathis
“What is the best way to handle being a new slightly lonely lesbian in the big city?”
‘Like A Woman’ by Debra Busman
In prose as lucid and passionate as any manifesto, this contemporary feminist anthem offers us a hero who both charms and challenges readers by way of her acuity, grit and depth
‘I Left It on the Mountain’ by Kevin Sessums
I Left It On the Mountain is a spiritual page-turner.
‘Stranger’s Mirror: New and Selected Poems 1994-2014’ by Marilyn Hacker
A Stranger’s Mirror demonstrates Hacker’s continued formal mastery; she effortlessly spins one sonnet into two, then three, then seven, leaving readers always breathless for more.
‘Bright Lights of Summer’ by Lynn Ames
When Julie Newsome meets Theodora
Lesbian Mystery Lammy Finalists
Still catching up on the
“Too bright/ is the heaven I’m after”: A Review of Celeste Gainey’s ‘The Gaffer’
Celeste Gainey’s debut collection, The Gaffer, is a triumph of nouns—of people, places, things, and ideas presented to us in the most trenchant and timely ways.
Mark Merlis: On His New Novel ‘JD,’ His Writing Process, and the Autobiographical Details in His Work
“I don’t know how other people work, but all my work is trial and error. You start out on the path to the book you think you want to write, and you may run into a dead end—like the dumbest rat in the maze—or you may find an opening to a vista you never imagined.”
‘Daydreamers’ by Jonathan Harper
Jonathan Harper’s debut collection Daydreamers is aptly named: each story contains the ruminations of young men drifting through their lives, either making bad choices or failing to choose
‘Call Me Home’ by Megan Kruse
Call Me Home, as the title implies, focuses very strongly on the idea of home. It’s place-based for sure, but in this novel, who we call home is even more important.
‘Aquarium’ by David Vann
Ultimately, the characters in Aquarium are desperately struggling to move toward forgiveness and redemption—it’s a story you can’t help but be submerged in completely
The 27th Annual Lambda Literary Award Finalists
The 27th Annual Lambda Literary Awards–or the “Lammys,” as they are affectionately known–kick off another record-breaking year with today’s announcement of the finalists.
‘Lies We Tell Ourselves’ by Robin Talley
Robin Talley’s Lies We Tell Ourselves is a beautiful yet painful reminder of America’s history of segregation, desegregation, and integration.
Helen Humphreys: On Her New Novel ‘The Evening Chorus,’ Her Creative Process, and the Solitary Act of Writing
“I struggle with writing because to write well you have to remove yourself somewhat from the life around you. It is a lonely business.”
Pioneering Religious Leader and Writer Malcolm Boyd, 91, Has Died
Malcolm Boyd, a noted gay spiritual leader, activist and writer, has died
‘Songs Unfinished’ by Holly Stratimore
As Songs Unfinished opens, Shawn
‘Don’t Let Him Know’ by Sandip Roy
Sandip Roy’s Don’t Let Him Know is a multi-generational story venturing deep into the hidden pasts of a single family over the course of decades.
‘The Autumn Balloon’ by Kenny Porpora
Porpora deploys a deft hand and straightforward tone that lifts what could have easily been a maudlin, self-pitying—or, in the opposite direction, self-congratulatory—narrative into a memoir that should be moved to the top of everyone’s to-read list immediately.
‘Gay Berlin: Birthplace of a Modern Identity’ by Robert Beachy
This is an important book, and an impressive feat of scholarship drawing on nearly five hundred sources, with twenty-two pages of notes and sixteen pages of photographs.
‘The Evening Chorus’ by Helen Humphreys
The power of The Evening Chorus is accumulation: a plot that unfolds at a comfortable pace, characters that feel usual, even ordinary, and thus interesting in their familiarity, and exquisite sentences
‘Love Is Enough’ by Cindy Rizzo
When Massachusetts Congressional Representative, Angie
‘The God of Longing’ by Brent Calderwood
Understated, ironic and occasionally playful, Brent Calderwood’s poems in The God of Longing are vivid and calm
Author Craig Gidney on Illuminating Race and Diversity in Speculative Fiction
“‘Death and Two Maidens’ was my response to my research on African-descended Victorians. I wanted to write a penny dreadful story that went beyond the usual (pale-skinned) cast.”
‘Transnational LGBT Activism: Working for Sexual Rights Worldwide’ by Ryan R. Thoreson
Thoreson tells us that he wants to critically look at how a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in the West functions and how, ultimately, its articulation of LGBT human rights gains legitimacy and global significance.
A Look at the Bureau of General Services–Queer Division: New York City’s Queer Bookstore
“The primary service we provide is a welcoming and stimulating space where queers can meet and get to know each other; share our work and our ideas with each other; and encourage, inspire, and learn from each other.”
‘The Vines’ by Christopher Rice
“[…] Rice’s latest novel […] creatively blends his first talent for mystery and suspense with his heritage and own imaginative horror to produce a captivating horticultural nightmare. […]”
‘Adrian and the Tree of Secrets’ by Hubert and Illustrated Marie Caillou
In Adrian and the Tree of Secrets, we find our title hero stumbling through the barriers of a catholic school as a closeted gay teenager
“We inhabit the brutal. We are shattered every day./ We look askew”: A Review of Dawn Lundy Martin’s ‘Life in a Box is a Pretty Life’
One of the many things I admire about Dawn Lundy Martin’s poetry is her potent ability to puzzle the reader without losing the reader
‘How to Grow Up’ by Michelle Tea
For all of us late-to-the-party adults, for all of us stumbling around wondering how in fact to actually do this thing called adulthood, How to Grow Up is the book we’ve been waiting for
A Poem by Ed Madden
This week, a poem by Ed Madden.
‘The First Bad Man’ by Miranda July
July’s talent exists in her ability to create such complex, bizarre relationships while always raising the stakes, but her carefully erected world does require a willful suspension of disbelief.
‘Life After Love’ by KG MacGregor
Is life after love even a
Reader Meet Author: Personal Advice from Author Chavisa Woods
“How long does it take to recover from a breakup?”
Two Poems by Ilinca Popescu
This week, two poems by Ilinca Popescu.
‘Wagstaff: Before and After Mapplethorpe: A Biography’ by Philip Gefter
Wagstaff: Before and After Mapplethorpe: A Biography is a book-length argument for Wagstaff’s importance in the world of American art.
Read Dennis Cooper’s New Novel Composed of Animated GIFs
Zac’s Haunted House is a visual novel; it is a tale told through animated pictures.
‘You’re Not Edith’ by Allison Gruber
If the autobiographical essays in You’re Not Edith are any indication, Allison Gruber has a surprisingly functional (not to mention intimate) relationship with all things strange and eccentric.
‘Tennessee Williams: Mad Pilgrimage of the Flesh’ by John Lahr
Tennessee Williams: Mad Pilgrimage of the Flesh is first and foremost a perceptive and edifying look at Williams’ life.
‘There Goes the Gayborhood?’ by Amin Ghaziani
Proper punctuation is critical to
‘Blackmail, My Love’ by Katie Gilmartin
Blackmail, My Love is a book to read for the page-turning mystery, but to savor for the nuance and detail and heart-breaking reality of what it was to be a lesbian or a gay man in 1951
New in January: Miranda July, Michelle Tea, Michael Mewshaw, Leo Bersani, and Sandip Roy
New month, new books!
‘Carry the Sky’ by Kate Gray
Kate Gray has written a stunning book, a blazingly necessary work of fiction for a wounded world.
Shelly Oria: On Her New Collection ‘New York 1, Tel Aviv 0,’ Her Favorite Queer Writers, and the Power of Literature
“I’ve always thought that one of the biggest gifts literature offers us is the ability to hang out in another person’s mind. I mean, it’s a basic human fantasy, isn’t it?”
‘The Erotic Postulate’ by Matthew Hittinger
Throughout The Erotic Postulate, the politics of “coming together” are explored with a ruthless clarity that is neither cynical nor sentimental.
‘Sweet, Sweet Wine’ by Jaime Clevenger
In the opening paragraphs of
‘Second Avenue Caper: When Goodfellas, Divas and Dealers Plotted Against the Plague’ by Joyce Brabner and Illustrated by Mark Zingarelli
“In her new graphic novel, Joyce Brabner continues writing in the vein of the American Splendor comics she co-wrote with her husband Harvey Pekar, discovering stories, heroes and suspense in the daily activities of herself and her friends.”
I Am Not Not Me: Unmaking and Remaking the Language of the Self
As we develop new syntax for trans identity, we will be developing new ways of understanding all identity
‘Trespass’ by Thomas Dooley
Dooley has a particular heartbreaking family story to relate, of children abused, of the traumatized adults who find themselves in closets both metaphorical and literal
‘Bitter Waters’ by Chaz Brenchley
This small collection provides an excellent representation of Brenchley’s wide-ranging output.
‘The Thousand-Petaled Lotus: Growing up Gay in the Southern Baptist Church’ & ‘Queer Clergy’
I’ve noticed that many people—mainly,
2015 Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBT Voices
Lambda Literary is proud to announce details of the 2015 Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBT Voices, the nation’s premier LGBTQ writers workshop and residency.
Brontez Purnell: On His New Book ‘The Cruising Diaries,’ Silencing the Critics, and the Joys of Writing About Sex
“I like writing in a way that can sometimes be dark yet still be generous to the human condition…”
‘The War Within’ by Yolanda Wallace
The lives of four people
‘Wilde in America: Oscar Wilde and the Invention of Modern Celebrity’ by David M. Friedman
“The book’s central thesis is that our modern-day cult of celebrity, in the Kardashian sense of unaccomplished people famous for being famous, had its beginnings in Wilde’s American tour.”
View Pictures from this Year’s Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBT Voices
The retreat–the first program of its kind ever offered to LGBTQ writers–is a one-week intensive workshop immersion in fiction, nonfiction, genre fiction and poetry.
‘Fearful Hunter’ by Jon Macy
“[….] this is a young adult romance, only it’s about a Druid and werewolf that fall in love, and includes gods, magic, shape-shifters, rednecks, and punks. There’s sex, but it leans towards erotic and romantic rather than explicit or hard-core.”
‘And a Time to Dance’ by Chris Paynter
As And a Time to
Nadine Gordimer: The Writer as Conscience of a Nation
“There are few writers in the world to equal the breadth of Nadine Gordimer. The valiant fighter against apartheid and against the oppression of women and gays in South Africa died July 13 in Johannesburg, South Africa. She was 90.”
‘Everyone is Someone’s Fetish’ by Tony Breed
“The sense of humor here is low-key, but one that nails the realities of coupledom.”
‘O, Africa!’ by Andrew Lewis Conn
Moving deftly from Coney Island to Africa to the first-ever Academy Award ceremony and back, O, Africa! is an engrossing and thought-provoking novel about self-discovery and the occasionally dangerous power of the movies.
‘They Don’t Kill You Because They’re Hungry, They Kill You Because They’re Full’ by Mark Bibbins
Julie Marie Wade gives you ten reasons to read Mark Bibbins’ newest book.
‘Positive Lightning’ by Laurie Salzler
Positive Lightning (Blue Feather Books) tells
‘Pissing in a River’ by Lorrie Sprecher
Amanda, the narrator of Lorrie
‘The Possibilities of Mud’ by Joe Jiménez
The speaker in The Possibilities
New in July: Judith Frank, Benoit Denizet-Lewis, Mary Meriam, Genny Beemyn, and Jason Whitesel
New Month! New books! July is upon us and so are a slew of new and noteworthy LGBT books.
‘Nightingale’ by Andrea Bramhall
Charlie Porter is an out
Read Jericho Brown’s Introduction to ‘Prime: Poetry & Conversation’
“For a poem to coalesce, for a character or an action to take shape, there has to be an imaginative transformation of reality which is in no way passive.”
‘A Room in Chelsea Square’ by Michael Nelson
Boredom is one thing you definitely won’t experience reading A Room in Chelsea Square. You might even be enlightened. The goal of satire after all is to foster change.
In Remembrance: Nancy Garden
Nancy Garden, author, editor, LGBT activist, former theater maven and teacher, died suddenly on the morning of June 23 of a massive heart attack. She was 76.
‘Corona’ by Bushra Rehman
In her 2014 Lambda Literary
‘War of the Streets and Houses’ by Sophie Yanow
Sophie Yanow’s War of Streets and Houses pushes the boundaries of what a graphic novel can be by using comics to create an academic treatise.
Remembering Assotto Saint: A Fierce and Fatal Vision
“[Saint] knew he had to chronicle the black gay voices of AIDS or they would be lost. He had to collect the bits and pieces that would create a different kind of names quilt–the angry verses, the embittered stanzas, the breathy last couplets of the dying.”
‘Tiger Heron’ by Robin Becker
“Observant songs of history and elegy, these poems turn our faces to what we can do with love and language, and what we can’t.”
Introducing the 2014 Emerging Writers Retreat Fellows
The 2014 class of the Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices will spend a week in Los Angeles, August 3-10, workshopping their manuscripts in classes led by some of our community’s leading LGBT writers.
‘Wonderland’ by Stacey D’Erasmo
“[…]D’Erasmo does a rare thing with Wonderland: she combines the delightful worlds of literature and music while bringing out the best in both mediums.”
‘The Death of Lucy Kyte’ by Nicola Upson
Nicola Upson’s series of mysteries
‘Last Words from Montmartre’ by Qiu Miaojin
Miaojin, I know this letter
LGBT Writers ‘In Memoriam’ Video
Every year at the Lambda
‘Ethereal Queer: Television, Historicity, Desire’ by Amy Villarejo
What we see on the
Winners of the 26th Annual Lambda Literary Awards Announced
The winners of the 26th Annual Lambda Literary Awards (the “Lammys”) were announced on June 2, 2014 in a gala ceremony hosted by comedienne Kate Clinton.
When I Call Myself Bisexual
“When I call myself bisexual, I’m naming myself….I’m also opening myself up to other people’s interpretations—favorable or not—of what that means to them.”
‘Viral’ by Suzanne Parker
How do you sleep when
‘The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story’ by Vivek J. Tiwary with Illustrations by Andrew C. Robinson and Kyle Baker
Vivek J. Tiwary’s graphic novel (a finalist for a 26th Annual Lambda Literary Award in the graphic novel category) recognizes Brian Epstein as the fifth band member–a silent partner, the brains behind the Beatles’ concept.
Cheryl Clarke’s ‘Living as a Lesbian’: The Wherewithal to Tell It as It Is
“Clarke is a provocative poet who never asks permission to make her voice heard.”
‘Gender Failure’ by Ivan E. Coyote and Rae Spoon
Gender Failure is not a simple Trans 101 lesson, rather this book offers a far more compelling story that brings readers to the hotel rooms, kitchen tables, and inner lives of Rae and Ivan.
‘The Reappearing Act: Coming Out as Gay on a College Basketball Team Led by Born-Again Christians’ by Kate Fagan
“Fagan knows that it is not enough for a memoirist to merely relate her story; she must figure out how her life has shaped her.”
‘Seneca Falls’ by Jesse J. Thoma
Seneca King has a past
Read an Excerpt from Alexis De Veaux’s New Book ‘Yabo’
Yabo lyrically maps the spiritual and physical borders between love, passion, sexuality, and gender.
‘Teaching the Cat to Sit’ by Michelle Theall
“Michelle Theall’s new memoir, Teaching the Cat to Sit, brings some big topics—God, sexuality, abuse, loneliness, love, family—to the page. It’s a rocky ride, full of contentious conversations, frank disclosures, and plenty of struggle.”
‘The Snow Queen’ by Michael Cunningham
“In The Snow Queen, Cunningham reminds us that no matter the form in which love arrives, we should consider ourselves lucky.”
‘The Tastemaker: Carl Van Vechten and the Birth of Modern America’ by Edward White
“The Tastemaker is essential reading for anyone interested in how America emerged from the cultural shadow of Europe in the last century.”
‘Breaking Up with Los Angeles’ by Raquel Gutiérrez
The demise of many long-term
‘Bend to It’ by Kevin Simmonds
“It would be redundant to ask if Simmonds plays an instrument when his voice is an instrument, a conduit of incomparable depth and range.”
‘100 Crushes’ by Elisha Lim
“Though we might have made lists, few of us could craft descriptions (or drawings) as deft as Lim’s.”
25 for 25 Lambda Fellows Reading and Reunion
The first (hopefully not the
26th Annual Lambda Literary Award Finalists Announced
Finalists for the Lammys were announced today by the Lambda Literary Foundation (LLF) in Los Angeles after reviewing a record 746 submissions (up from 687 last year) from 352 publishers (up from 332 last year).
Lambda’s Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBT Voices: The 2013 Fellows Reflect
Lambda Literary checked in with the some of this year’s Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBT Voices participants and asked them to provide their own personal take on their time at the retreat.
The First Annual E. Lynn Harris Award for Excellence in Black LGBT Short Fiction
In honor of the late novelist E. Lynn Harris, author of ten bestselling novels, the E. Lynn Harris Award for Excellence in Black LGBT Short Fiction recognizes outstanding work by a Black LGBT writer under 35 whose work incorporates queer themes.
Jon Macy: Queer Visual Splendor
“What people don’t get is that adult themes are not just restricted to prose; they are perfectly suited to comics as well.”
Graphic novelist Jon Macy took some time to talk with Lambda Literary about the power of queer comics, creating erotic material, and his Lambda Award winning graphic novel Teleny and Camille.
‘7 Miles a Second’ by David Wojnarowicz, James Romberger, and Marguerite Van Cook
The resurrection of David Wojnarowicz,
Splitting from the Spectrum: Comics and Alternative Sexuality Get Legs of Their Own
“Comics aren’t text and visuals mushed together any more than my sexuality simply combines homo- and heterosexual tendencies.”
‘Canary’ by Nancy Jo Cullen
Every story in Nancy Jo Cullen’s debut collection skates along the edge of weirdness. These characters are just a tiny bit off, drawing the reader into their delightful eccentricities.
New in July: David Rakoff, Thomas Glave, Annie Rachele Lanzillotto, and Georgeann Packard
New Month! New books!
July is here and so are a host of new lgbt titles by authors such as David Rakoff, Thomas Glave, Annie Rachele Lanzillotto, and Georgeann Packard.
‘Jack Be Nimble: The Accidental Education of an Unintentional Director’ by Jack O’Brien
Jack Be Nimble: The Accidental Education of an Unintentional Director details Jack O’Brien’s induction into theater through the Association of Producing Artists (APA) Repertory Company , his movement from an actor into a director, and his emergence as a major presence in the theater world in the 1970s.
Q&A With Self-published Writer Tom Schabarum
Last year was big one
‘Hungry Ghost: Tales of the Pack Book 2’ by Allison Moon
A sultry BDSM club. The
Robin Coste Lewis, “The Mothers”
This week, two poems by Robin Coste Lewis.
Lewis is a Provost’s Fellow in the Creative Writing & Literature PhD Program at USC. A Cave Canem Fellow, she received her MFA from New York University’s Creative Writing Program where she was a Goldwater Fellow in poetry. Her work has appeared in various journals and anthologies, including The Massachusetts Review, Calalloo, and VIDA.
Jay Bell: Something Like Love
Jay Bell, the winner of
‘Melt’ by Robbi McCoy
Kelly Sheffield is a talented
‘Dreadful: The Short Life and Gay Times of John Horne Burns’ by David Margolick
It’s a sadly familiar story in American literature: an alcoholic gay writer of great talent comes to a tragic end. Think Hart Crane. Think Charles Jackson. And now think John Horne Burns, the subject of David Margolick’s enlightening biography, Dreadful: The Short Life and Gay Times of John Horne Burns (Other Press).
John Schuyler Bishop: The Strange Loves of Henry David Thoreau
“In all I read about him, Thoreau never really became more than the wooden icon who tramped the woods and wrote brilliant essays. But he was a living, breathing, gay man who yearned for love…”
A few bold scholars have explored the mystery of Henry David Thoreau’s love life, but author John Schuyler Bishop has now written a novel about it, appropriately titled Thoreau in Love.
‘Collaborators’ by Deborah Wheeler
In Deborah Wheeler’s Collaborators, Earth
‘Fairyland: A Memoir of My Father’ by Alysia Abbott
Fairyland: A Memoir of My Father (W.W. Norton & Company) by Alysia Abbott manages to pick up the nearly moribund genre of the AIDS memoir, give it a good dusting off, and then send it back out into the world with something like a fighting chance.
‘Sacrilegion’ by L. Lamar Wilson
It’s far too easy to see an elision of religion and sacrilege in the title of L. Lamar Wilson’s bombshell of a collection, Sacrilegion (Carolina Wren Press), and thereby overlook the third member of a trinity: legion.
A.M. Homes Wins The Women’s Prize Amid Controversy
There’s been a great deal of snarkiness about this literary prize. “Why only women?” “Isn’t this sexism in reverse?”
New in June: Steve Berman, Kate Worsley, Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, and David Margolick
New Month! New books! June is here and with it a plethora of new LGBT titles—ranging from high adventure to romance.
A Week at Saint And Sinners–A Queer Literary Festival
For years I have been
‘He Do the Gay Man in Different Voices’ by Stephen S. Mills
An important thematic element emerges
25th Annual Lambda Literary Award Winners Announced!
The winners of the 25th Annual Lambda Literary Awards were announced last night in a sold-out gala ceremony hosted by comedienne Kate Clinton at The Great Hall at Cooper Union.
‘Obscenely Yours’ by Angelo Nikolopoulos
It can be hard to
‘Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club’ by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
The seven stories in this
Obituary as History: The Lost Lives of the Queer Dead
The impact of obituaries for those relegated to the margins of mainstream society cannot be overstated…
The Impossible, the Implausible, and the Real: A Conversation with Ryka Aoki and A.J. Bryce of Trans-Genre Press
In April of 2012, A.J. Bryce,
‘Damn Love’ by Jasmine Beach-Ferrara
The nine connected stories of Damn
Cannes Jury Hands Top Honor to Sex-Soaked Lesbian Epic
On May 25th, the Cannes
‘The Selected Letters of Willa Cather’ edited by Andrew Jewell and Janis Stout
In one of Willa Cather’s letters to her beloved brother Roscoe she writes, “As for me, I have cared too much, about people and places–cared too hard. It made me as a writer, but it will break me in the end.” Losing those near to her very nearly did break Cather, but it is our great fortune that she let herself care as much as she did.
‘Harvard Square’ by André Aciman
[,,.] André Aciman’s greatest accomplishment with his latest novel: the crafting of a thoroughly inclusive love letter to those who have ever felt excluded.
‘The Master of Us All: Balenciaga, His Workrooms, His World’ by Mary Blume
How does one write a biography of someone who has been dead for 40 years, was a bit of a recluse their whole life, and whom few people really knew. If you are Mary Blume, and the subject is Cristobal Balenciaga, one of fashion’s most unique designers, you focus on the fashion itself…
In Conversation with TC Tolbert and Trace Peterson: The Troubled Line
Troubling the Line: Trans and Genderqueer Poetry and Poetics is a riotous omnibus of queer poetics. The first comprehensive collection of poetry by trans and genderqueer authors, Troubling the Line offers a lyrical investigation of issues ranging “from identification and embodiment to language and activism.”
Lambda Literary recently talked to the collection’s editors about the process of editing this groundbreaking anthology.
GunnShots: Spring 2013
This spring the books that
‘Love by the Numbers’ by Karin Kallmaker
Love by the Numbers—a book
‘Queer Bergman: Sexuality, Gender, and the European Art Cinema’ by Daniel Humphrey
Daniel Humphrey, in his new book-length study on the Swedish auteur Ingmar Bergman, points out that since Bergman’s films were brought to America in the 1950s, gay men have been watching them in a unique way…
‘Harley Loco: A Memoir of Hard Living, Hair, and Post-Punk, from the Middle East to the Lower East Side’ by Rayya Elias
Millions of Syrian refugees have
Remembering Taylor Mead: Queer, Beat Poet, and Warhol Superstar
While many of Mead’s contemporaries from the Warhol days either died young or moved on to different things, Mead continued to live his eccentric and artistic life in lower Manhattan, painting, and writing poetry…
‘Christopher Isherwood in America: Middlebrow Queer’ by Jaime Harker
Perhaps the best way to
New in May: Dan Savage, Michelle Tea, Amber Dawn, and Martin Duberman
This month you can expect new books from Dan Savage, Michelle Tea, Amber Dawn, and Martin Duberman.
‘The End of San Francisco’ by Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore
Perhaps the greatest strength of the book is Sycamore’s ability to capture queer adolescence and immortalize that reality onto the page without sanitizing the struggles.
‘The Fainting Room’ by Sarah Pemberton Strong
“Mister, I need a cup
Folk Tales, Fairy Tales, and Dreams Come True
Missionary Position Companions (Nich’ooni) is
‘Beautiful Music for Ugly Children’ by Kirstin Cronn-Mills
A trans teen’s local southern
‘The Princess Affair’ by Nell Stark
The Princess Affair (Bold Strokes
‘One Fine Day’ by Erica Abbott
“Two weeks ago, she was
‘Crime Against Nature’ by Minnie Bruce Pratt
Patricia Hampl says, “Autobiographical writing
‘I Await the Devil’s Coming’ by Mary MacLane
Based solely on its title, I Await the Devil’s Coming (Melville House Publishing) sounds like a canonical text for Satanists. In reality, it’s the fiercely feminist, wickedly witty, and decidedly deranged glimpse into the life and thoughts of a transgressive young woman growing up unhappily in the Midwest at the beginning of the 20th century.
‘Does This Baby Make Me Look Straight? Confessions of a Gay Dad’ by Dan Bucatinsky
Families don’t just happen. Gay,
In Remembrance: Margaret Thatcher’s Queer Legacy
It was compelling for the young lesbian-feminist reporter that I was, being in a country run by a woman. As a feminist, I wanted to experience that difference–having a woman in charge. That constancy of presence of Thatcher’s was part of the difference, the intensity with which she seized power was another.
‘Farther and Wilder: The Lost Weekends and Literary Dreams of Charles Jackson’ by Blake Bailey
Blake Bailey has dissected complex, self-destructive literary lives in his biographies of Richard Yates and John Cheever, and Farther and Wilder will no doubt add to his reputation as the premiere chronicler of tormented American writers.
‘A Horse Named Sorrow’ by Trebor Healey
A Horse Named Sorrow has the musicality of a punk rock anthem; as a reader, you experience the same sensation of seeing your favorite underground band perform live, singing along with the unforgettable lyrics that have defined your youth…
In Remembrance: Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
Award-winning novelist and screenwriter Ruth
‘Nevada: A Novel’ by Imogen Binnie
In her debut novel Nevada (Topside Press), Imogen Binnie welds a fierce new voice in an expertly delivered narrative.
‘The Bone Bed’ by Patricia Cornwell
A new Kate Scarpetta novel
David McConnell: Murder, Discovery, and Punishment
“Murder is the complete annihilation of another person. Not to be simplistic or flip, but it’s the ultimate way of saying ‘I want to be alone!'”
David McConnell’s new book, American Honor Killings: Desire and Rage Among Men (Akashic Books), ostensibly about men who kill gay men, contains insight after insight into the culture of masculine identity.
‘Calling Dr. Laura: A Graphic Memoir’ by Nicole J. Georges
Nationally, Portland, Oregon is known
In Conversation: Mark Wunderlich & Alex Dimitrov
Poets Mark Wunderlich and Alex
Romance and Religion: Anne Brooke and Dennis Paul Stradford
Since the major religious festivals
‘Murphy’s Law’ by Yolanda Wallace
Samantha “Sam” Murphy’s business is
‘Appetite’ by Aaron Smith
At this year’s AWP, I
Bits & Pieces: Spring Lesbian Mystery Roundup
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‘Skin Shift’ by Matthew Hittinger
The distinctive poetic vision creates
Read Kate Bornstein’s Excerpt from Lambda’s ’25 for 25′ E-book
Read Kate Bornstein’s excerpt from Lambda’s Literary’s 25th anniversary anthology, 25 for 25, an E-book featuring some of the community’s leading LGBT authors.
‘Gay Press, Gay Power: The Growth of LGBT Community Papers in America’ edited by Tracy Baim
Is there still a place for LGBT community newspapers in the world of social media? Tracy Baim’s edited volume Gay Press, Gay Power: The Growth of LGBT Community Papers in America provides a history of the LGBT press, but no easy answers as to its future.
Read Eileen Myles’ Excerpt from Lambda’s ’25 for 25′ E-book
Read Eileen Myles’ excerpt from Lambda’s Literary’s 25th anniversary anthology, 25 for 25, an E-book featuring some of the community’s leading LGBT authors.
‘Proxy’ by R. Erica Doyle
Don’t be deceived by the
‘Spreadeagle’ by Kevin Killian
The acknowledgements section of Kevin
Queer Rites: ‘Faitheist’
An atheist might be said
‘The First Robin of Spring’ by Natalie London
The First Robin of Spring
‘American Honor Killings: Desire and Rage Among Men’ by David McConnell
As this country again focuses
‘Riot Lung’ by Leah Horlick
Leah Horlick’s first collection, Riot
‘Slow Lightning’ by Eduardo C. Corral
So much has already been
New in March: Luis Negrón, Barrie Jean Borich, Eloise Klein Healy, and David Bergman
New Month! New books! March is here and with it an array of exciting new LGBT titles—ranging from academic studies to poetry.
‘The Talking Day’ by Michael Klein
The Talking Day is a nuanced, poignant, humane and absorbing collection, making supple use of the intricacies and exquisite radiance of language.
‘Sagebrush & Lace’ by Sugar Lee Ryder and J.D. Cutler
In Sagebrush & Lace (Banty
Doug Paul Case, “Ode”
Today, a new poem by Doug Paul Case.
Case lives in Bloomington, where he’s an MFA candidate at Indiana University and web editor of Indiana Review. His poems have appeared in Sou’wester, Harpur Palate, Juked, and Ilk.
GunnShots: Winter 2013
Several winter evenings passed enjoyably
‘L Is For Lion’ by Annie Rachele Lanzilloto
This sprawling narrative could be called an Italian memoir, a Bronx memoir, a cancer memoir, a veteran father memoir, a 1960s childhood memoir, a mother-daughter memoir, or a lesbian memoir.
‘Scenes from Early Life’ by Philip Hensher
Late in Scenes from Early
Writer and Critic Donald Richie, 88, has Died
American ex-pat, writer, and critic Donald Richie, author of the memoir The Japan Journals, 1947-2004, died on February 19th, 2013 in Toyko. He was 88.
Clive Davis Comes Out in New Memoir
In his new memoir, famed 80-year-old record executive Clive Davis opens up about his long rumored bisexuality.
‘Collected Poems’ by Naomi Replansky
Naomi Replansky’s Collected Poems gathers poems from her first two collections, published in 1952 and 1994, as well as new and previously uncollected poems.
‘All Out’ Petition Against Anti-Gay ‘Superman’ Author Draws Thousands of Signatures
Despite the recent wave of
Divisions and Connections in Queerdom: A Conversation Between Rickey Laurentiis and Darrel Alejandro Holnes
In this in-depth discussion, poets Rickey Laurentiis and Darrel Alejandro Holnes examine categorization in the NYC social scene and in queer literature today.
Valentine Hearts
Last Night I Dreamed I
‘What Comes Around’ by Jameson Currier
From an adolescent crush on a swimming instructor to the imagined drowning of a high maintenance boyfriend, Currier explores every aspect of relationships – the good, the bad, and the very dysfunctional – each set in a literary landscape perfectly crafted for the lovelorn.
‘Depression: A Public Feeling’ by Ann Cvetkovich
Though not always elegantly executed—perhaps on purpose, as Cvetkovich indicates early on in the text—Depression succeeds at opening up a public discussion on certain kinds of depression that are often dismissed as trivial…
‘Robert Duncan in San Francisco’ by Michael Rumaker
This isn’t a memoir solely about the physical presence of Robert Duncan. It’s also about those who he inspired…
‘The Ladder’ Makes History Again
The Ladder, the first lesbian
‘Not My Bag’ by Sina Grace
Retail is a service industry,
‘The Missing Ink: The Lost Art of Handwriting’ by Philip Hensher
The Missing Ink, is very much concerned with the loss of individuality and character—a sad phenomenon that has been brought about by, among other things, the dominance of the keyboard.
‘The Dragon Tree Legacy’ by Ali Vali
The Dragon Tree Legacy (Bold Strokes
‘Coming Out Can Be Murder’ by Renee James
Experts estimate that the number
‘A Simple Revolution’ by Judy Grahn
For over forty years, Judy
‘Makara’ by Kristen Ringman
Traversing from Ireland to India to Venice, Makara (Handtype Press) manages to be both ethereal and incredibly earthly at the same time. It is a coming-of-age story unlike any other.
‘Dinner with Lenny: The Last Long Interview with Leonard Bernstein’ by Jonathan Cott
A seemingly inexhaustible mix of talent, genius, exuberance, and mischievousness, this is the Bernstein that leaps off the page in Dinner with Lenny (Oxford University Press).
Romance in Theory and Practice
Theory I’d like to think
‘The Retribution’ and ‘The Vanishing Point’ by Val McDermid
Some of our finest writers are authors of crime fiction. Russell Banks, James Ellroy, Patricia Highsmith, P.D. James and of course, Val McDermid. These writers don’t just tell a detective tale, they peel back the layers of human experience to reveal all the gory bits we try never to see up close.
‘Transposes’ by Dylan Edwards
A major step to breaking down closet doors is to provide venues for trans* people to see themselves. Edward’s graphic novel does just that; focusing on the stories of six queer transmen.
‘A Light That Never Goes Out: The Enduring Saga of the Smiths’ by Tony Fletcher
In his introduction to A Light That Never Goes Out: The Enduring Saga of The Smiths (Crown Archetype), author Tony Fletcher makes the claim that, of all the books concerning The Smiths, this is the first one that focuses on the whole band rather than lead singer Morrissey or guitarist Johnny Marr.
‘Licking the Spoon’ by Candace Walsh
Food is, of course, the perfect metaphor for Walsh’s life: through much stumbling, there is a persistent desire to find the right dish, the perfect spice, the ingredient that brings it all together.
More Colors than Purple
I first saw The Color
GunnShots: Top 10 Gay Crime Films
When friends, including mystery writers,
Lambda Literary Goes to the Movies: Filmmakers’ Favorite Books
In continuation of “Lambda Literary Goes to the Movies” week, here’s what some of our favorite directors had to say about the LGBT books they love…
R. Zamora Linmark, “5/31/2012”
A new poem by R. Zamora Linmark treats us to a rainy day at the movies.
R. Zamora Linmark is the author of Rolling The R’s and Leche and three collections of poetry published by Hanging Loose Press. He divides his time between Honolulu and Manila, where he is currently working on a novel, revising a play, and completing his fourth poetry collection.
‘H’ by Jim Elledge
When Walt Whitman declared, “Through
‘Adaptation’ by Malindo Lo
If you had nightmares as
Gay Latino Poet Richard Blanco has been Chosen as the 2013 Inaugural Poet
Poet Richard Blanco (Looking for the Gulf Motel) has been chosen to be the nation’s fifth inaugural poet. The Presidential Inaugural Committee made the official announcement Wednesday morning. Blanco is the youngest poet “— as well as the first Latino — to take part in an inaugural ceremony.”
‘Heart Block’ by Melissa Brayden
Business owner and CEO Emory
GunnShots: Celebrating Great Gay Mysteries
“These are my candidates for the ten best gay mystery series and the ten best standalones. In looking back over them, one thing strikes me forcefully: all my choices share one or both of two things in common: a commitment on the sleuth’s part to something greater than his ego and a representation of the process of his self-actualization.”
‘The Scientists: A Family Romance’ by Marco Roth
Marco Roth grew up in
A Victory for Equality: Morehouse Offers LGBTQ Course
Morehouse, a respected all-male African
Gerda Lerner: Founder of Women’s Studies Movement Dies at 92
In an interview with the Chicago Tribune 20 years ago, Gerda Lerner said, “When I started working on women’s history about 30 years ago, the field did not exist. People didn’t think women had a history worth knowing.”
New in January: Nicole J. Georges, Lillian Faderman, Michael Rumaker, and Michael Klein
New year! New books!
This month expect new releases from Nicole J. Georges, Lillian Faderman, Michael Rumaker, and Michael Klein.
‘Oddly Normal: One Family’s Struggle to Help Their Teenage Son Come to Terms with His Sexuality’ by John Schwartz
New York Times journalist John
Thom Nickels: Affliction, Morality, and Liberation
“Like it or not, we
Daniel Mendelsohn: Beyond Borders, Beyond Identities
“I learn things when people
‘Spit and Passion’ by Cristy C. Road
Not all LGBT coming of
‘Art on Fire’ by Hilary Sloin
Art on Fire is framed as a biography of Francesca deSilva, a reluctantly revolutionary artist. DeSilva is a character of Sloin’s own making, but under the author’s deft craftsmanship she is an uncannily realized creation.
Erin M. Bertram, “Shun Not My Arrows, & Behold My Breast”
This week, a new poem
‘Far from the Tree’ by Andrew Solomon
In Far From the Tree: Parents, Children, and the Search For Identity (Scribner), psychologist Andrew Solomon poses a fundamental question: How do you nurture a child who is nothing like you?
Eloise Klein Healy: The Poet Laureate of Los Angeles
“Part of my larger plan is to convey and bring forth a larger literary picture of Los Angeles.”
Earlier this month, renowned lesbian poet Eloise Klein Healy was selected by Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to be the city’s first poet laureate. Healy took a moment to talk with Lambda about the position of poet laureate and what she hopes to accomplish within the position.
‘Music for Porn’ by Rob Halpern
Music for Porn (Nightboat Books) is a linguistic symphony of the fetishization and politicization of the body of the “soldier” and an exploration of intimacy and desire.
‘Coal to Diamonds’ by Beth Ditto and Michelle Tea
Beth Ditto’s memoir is PUNK, which, after learning about her through the pages of this book, I think is probably what she would see as the best possible compliment about her work.
‘The Book of Eleanor’ by Nat Burns
The Book of Eleanor is
Literature at the End of the World
A variety of theories, predictions, prophecies, astronomical fears, and ancient calendar concerns mark December 21st, 2012—the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice, the return of the sun—as the end of the world.
What of literature, then?
‘SATANICA’: Pleasure Seekers Wanted
At a loss on what
Oprah picks Ayana Mathis’ ‘Twelve Tribes of Hattie’ for Oprah’s Book Club 2.0
Author Ayana Mathis’ striking debut novel The Twelve Tribes of Hattie (Knopf) has been picked as Oprah’s latest book club selection.
‘The Dream of Doctor Bantam’ by Jeanne Thornton
Meet Julie Thatch, the teenage
New in December: T Cooper, Tony Fletcher, Jim Elledge, David Groff, and Hilary Sloin
December brings with it an assortment of
‘Lovetown’ by Michał Witkowski
The phrase “too many queens, not enough spotlights” should give a glimpse into the anarchic feel of Michał Witkowski’s debut novel, Lovetown.
The self-proclaimed ‘queens’ of Lovetown, who exclusively refer to each other by feminine names, revel in what they see as the glorious heyday of Polish Communist-era sex, equal measures grim and liberating.
‘Frozen’ by Carla Tomaso
In the front matter of
‘Penetralia’ by Richard Foerster
“I’ve loved the dead too
Queer Rites: November 2012
While reading Salman Rushdie’s Joseph
‘These Things Happen’ by Richard Kramer
“A lot can happen in a day sometimes,” says Wesley Bowman, one of two teenaged boys at the center of Richard Kramer’s witty and often moving first novel, These Things Happen (Unbridled Books). This opening line, of course, is prescient. A lot does happen in each of the few days that frame this story, in which the adults in Wesley’s life are forced to reevaluate their understanding of themselves.
A Window into Gay Marriage, Through Books and an L.A. Archive
Author Craig M. Loftin, who
‘Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, & Me’ by Ellen Forney
An association between artistic creativity and mental illness is something many of us take for granted without questioning which came first or why the two should be linked. In her new graphic memoir, cartoonist Ellen Forney tackles that question in light of its impact on her work as an artist with Bipolar I Disorder.
‘States of Independence’ by Michael Klein and ‘The Pillow Book’ by Jee Leong Koh
Chapbooks are often a prelude,
Lambda Literary’s Very Own Summer Writer’s Retreat Fellow, Sarah Fonseca, Interviews Jewelle Gomez
Check out an interview by
‘Molly: House on Fire’ by R.E. Bradshaw
In Molly: House on Fire,
‘All We Know’ by Lisa Cohen
Lisa Cohen’s lush biography, All We Know (Farrar Straus and Giroux), is a staggering labor of love that offers a triptych of three women of a queer persuasion. Cohen sets this story in the early 20th century, giving her audience a catalogue of the largely forgotten life during that time. Her subjects–the great intellectual Esther Murphy, the celebrity connoisseur Mercedes de Acosta, and the fashion maverick Madge Garland…
The Poem. The Poet. The People. Queer Women Poets On The Road: Revival 2012.
“A salon-styled tour of queer women artists, The Revival, is a literary search for those people, those women like me who don’t quite fit in where we’re supposed to. With dynamic performances from poets and musicians alike, The Revival weaves a night of artistry, libations and genuine fellowship. “
Shawn C. Nabors: To Love and Be Loved
“I’ve really had to dig deep to bring to the fore situations that society may be afraid to confront like two young black men openly expressing their sexual selves on stage.”
Shawn C. Nabors is a young emerging actor, playwright and poet from Brooklyn. His first play, deliciously titled Cake, will appear Off-Broadway this summer at the American Theatre of Actors. We’ve reached out to Shawn to learn more about the play and his artistic self.
Tory Adkisson, “First Harvest”
This week, a poem by Tory Adkisson.
Adkisson recently earned his MFA from The Ohio State University and recently has had work featured in Cave Wall, Linebreak, and 32 Poems. A Southern California native, he currently lives in Athens, where he attends the PhD program in literature and creative writing at the University of Georgia.
New In July: Justin Hall, Lisa Cohen, Tristan Taormino, John Boyne and Urvashi Vaid
Summer is here and so are a plethora of fantastic LGBTQ books.
This month expect new releases from Justin Hall, Lisa Cohen, John Boyne, Urvashi Vaid, and a new edited collection from Tristan Taormino.
Poetry Spotlight: Lambda Literary Award Winners
This week, enjoy a special double-feature Spotlight with work from the winners of the two poetry categories from this year’s Lambda Literary Awards: “femmes are film stars” from Love Cake by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha (TSAR Publications), and “After a Line by Ted Berrigan” from A Fast Life: The Collected Poems of Tim Dlugos edited by David Trinidad (Nightboat Books).
24th Annual Lambda Literary Award Winners Announced in New York
The winners of the 24th Annual Lambda Literary Awards were announced last night in a sold-out gala ceremony hosted by comedienne Kate Clinton at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York City. Over 400 attendees, sponsors, and celebrities came together to celebrate excellence in LGBT literature.
phati’tude: The Lavender Issue, ed. by Timothy Liu
Today we’re excited to bring you The Lavender Issue of phati’tude, guest edited by Timothy Liu. This incredible collection features work by almost thirty LGBT contributors, including twenty-two poets (Eileen Myles and our own David Groff among them). Originally slated for release in summer 2010, we’re now excited to offer a complete PDF of the magazine on our site and share this issue with even more queer readers
‘Why are Faggots so Afraid of Faggots: Flaming Challenges to Masculinity, Objectification, and the Desire to Conform’ edited by Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore
Collected from across a continua of class, age, race, gender, sex, and geography, these academics and activists, professionals and students–for whom the personal is political and vice versa–raise their voices in complicated and varied attempts to problematize and deconstruct the assorted issues related to homophobia (externalized and internalized).
Alex Dimitrov, “You Are The Party I Want To Go To”
This Valentine’s Day, we’re pleased to bring you Alex Dimitrov’s love poem for fellow poet Dorothea Lasky.
Dimitrov’s first book of poems, Begging for It, is forthcoming from Four Way Books in early 2013. He is the recipient of the Stanley Kunitz Prize for younger poets from The American Poetry Review and the founder of Wilde Boys, a queer poetry salon in New York City. His poems have appeared or are forthcoming in The Kenyon Review, Yale Review, Slate, Tin House, and Boston Review.
Lynne Gerber: Homosexuality and Weight Loss in the Evangelical Context
“… I think homosexuality and fatness are two items that have definitely been infused with intense feelings of disgust, moral feelings of disgust. Religion plays a part in that.”
Lynne Gerber is the author of the insightful, surprising new book, Seeking the Straight and Narrow: Weight Loss and Sexual Reorientation in Evangelical America (University of Chicago Press). The book is an astute examination of evangelical programs that have “attempted to contain the excesses associated with fatness and homosexuality. ”
Lambda took some time to talk with Gerber about the “sin” of being fat and/or gay, how she conducted the research for her latest book, and the morality of health.
Ely Shipley, “Night a ladder we climb to reach”
For our first Poetry Spotlight of 2012, three poems by Ely Shipley.
Shipley’s first book, Boy with Flowers, won the 2007 Barrow Street Press book prize judged by Carl Phillips, the 2009 Thom Gunn Award, and was a Lambda Literary finalist. His poems and lyric essays appear in Prairie Schooner, Gulf Coast, Phoebe, Greensboro Review, Barrow Street, Third Coast, and elsewhere.
‘Black Marks on White Paper’ by Michelle Antoinette Nelson (Love the Poet)
On the page, Love’s poems remind you that rhyme is the root word for rhythm. Contemporary poetry may have long shied away from the limits of rhyme, but Love’s wordplay is refreshing, executed with precision and a clear, performable quality. All of her poems have a direct relationship with their audience, relying on a rich sense of community instead of any writer-reader barrier.
Chad Harbach: The Strategies of Baseball, Friendship, and Love
“…I don’t want to try and boil down the book, but I just think there’s a whole kind of crazy spectrum of the way that men feel about each other and interact with each other that doesn’t often get described”
The Art of Fielding, Chad Harbach’s bestselling literary jock novel—named one of the NY Times’ “10 Best in 2011”— astutely maps the complicated and intense relationships of a set of baseball players at a fictional college campus.
Lambda Literary ambushes Harbach with questions on his novel’s tone, as ripe with homoeroticism as any locker room. And the author gamely replies.
In Remembrance: Damien Bona
On January 29th, Damien Bona,
New in February: Sarah Schulman, Christopher Bram, Peter Cameron, and Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore
February has arrived and so has an avalanche of winter books. This month you can pick up new releases from Christopher Bram, Sarah Shulman, Peter Cameron, Scotty Bowers, V. K. Powell, and Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore.
‘A Waste of Time’ by Rick Worley
This is the tale of a big-headed narrator bunny, a sex-n-drug crazed fox, a teddy bear best friend, and ill-fated robot lovers that drink, smoke weed, look at porn, bonk guys and snort things they later regret. Or not.
‘Folsom Street Blues: A Memoir of 1970’s SoMa and Leatherfolk in Gay San Francisco’ by Jim Stewart
Jim Stewart brings together stories, poems and photographs that gives readers of today a glimpse into the early days of the leather community and the beginnings of a post-stonewall gay community in San Francisco.
Book Lovers: Winter Gothic
Winter is here and so are some darkly romantic new titles. This month Dick Smart reviews two recent romance novels, The White Devil by Justin Evans and The Bad Seed by Lee Hayes.
Bret Easton Ellis + Paul Schrader + James Deen= Film?
Once a bad boy, always
‘Emma Goldman: Revolution as a Way of Life’ by Vivian Gornick
In Emma Goldman’s day, as in ours, many on the Left saw issues of sexuality, happiness, and what we might generally call the “personal” as peripheral to the class struggle. Yet Goldman herself demurred. She elucidated an anarchism that was a personal as well as a political platform, and, as the subtitle to Vivian Gornick’s book suggests, she lived it out in practice.
Nikky Finney: Heart, Truth, and Justice
Nikky Finney is an award-winning, southern-born poet, whose critically acclaimed work is imbued with a distinct sense of lyricism and recurring themes of both social justice and communal history.
She was recently awarded the 2011 National Book Award for her latest collection Head Off & Split. Finney took some time to talk with Lambda Literary Review about her now famous National Book Award speech, shoe shopping with Condoleezza Rice, and the dividing line between art and rhetoric.
‘Cow’ by Susan Hawthorne
Red cow, blue cow, black cow. A golden calf and a moon-jumping heifer. Figures that often grace pastoral landscapes or children’s books have wandered into the realm of poetry. Susan Hawthorne’s latest collection, Cow, blends the bovine figure with ancient mythologies to re-envision history for modern women.
Paul Russell: Merging Fiction and Fact
In his new novel The Unreal Life of Sergey Nabokov, author Paul Russell brings an almost forgotten witness to history back to life: the younger brother of the great writer Vladimir Nabokov, a gay man who lived in the shadow of his famous family.
Russell spoke with Lambda Literary Review about creating Sergey’s unreal life, blending historical fact with a novelist’s imagination, and reveling in the syntax of Gertrude Stein.
‘Trick of the Dark’ by Val McDermid
Trick of the Dark (Bywater Books) is something old and something new from McDermid. A stand-alone novel (not one of her series detectives appears) and thoroughly, engagingly, compellingly lesbian as well as being just as bloodily intense as her previous thrillers.
Queer Rites: Faith Politics and Sexual Diversity
In August of last year,
Laura Goode: Making Mischief
“It’s that gay kid in Minnesota, surrounded by people who practice intolerance, who needs to know that there are adults out there rooting for him or her. That was a big motivator for me in writing a gay coming of age story, feeling like there are kids out there who need help…”
‘Jack Holmes and His Friend’ by Edmund White
Jack Holmes and His Friend does not re-open Edmund White’s The Boy’s Own Story trilogy, nor, like Fanny (2003), does it venture into the genre of the historical novel. What Jack Holmes and His Friend does do is continue White’s long and distinguished use of semi-autobiography to produce fine literary fiction.
New in January: Edmund White, Radclyffe, Tabatha Coffey and Simon Doonan
New Year! New Books! If your New Year’s resolution is to read more books you are in luck. This month you can pick up new releases from Edmund White, Radclyffe, Simon Doonan and Nat Burns.
‘The Marbled Swarm’ by Dennis Cooper
Structured like a gruesome Möbius strip, Dennis Cooper’s latest novel, The Marbled Swarm (Harper Perennial), is a carnivalesque switchback of secret passageways, incest, cannibalism and a haunting sense of isolation.
Brontez Purnell: Love, Compassion, and Rock & Roll
‘I basically wanted to do a zine that reflected what I was feeling at the time. With Fag School, I hadn’t really seen a zine or at least a personal gay zine that dealt with the difficult subject of gay sex with both humor and frank talk. It covered some real issues. Race, the condom code…”
‘The Vicious Red Relic Love’ by Anna Joy Springer
Springer uses journals, letters, myth, and doodles from feminist class lectures to create a interlocking puzzle map that guides readers on an intoxicating journey through the dyke community in 90s San Francisco.
‘boneyard’ by Stephen Beachy
There are some books that
‘Brooklyn, Burning’ by Steve Brezenoff
Steve Brezenoff’s latest novel tells the story of a street-kid in Brooklyn accused of burning down a local warehouse. However, the more interesting storyline in Brooklyn, Burning has little to do with the fire, but focuses on the protagonist’s love interests, particularly a newly arrived street-kid who is also a gifted singer.
‘Small Fires’ by Julie Marie Wade
In Small Fires, Julie Marie Wade, who won a Lambda for her memoir Wishbone, considers family and memory with a poetic eye and unabashed tongue. With her carefully chosen words and a studied deliberateness, Wade proves unafraid to delve into her past—to skillfully reconstruct the events of her youth, from the horrifying to the sentimental to the self-conscious and beyond.
‘The Last Nude’ By Ellis Avery
While the book begins as a passionate tale from the lush landscape of Paris in the 1920s, livened by entrancing sex scenes and seductive exchanges, the story takes a turn toward the fast-paced—morphing into a plot-driven whodunit…
Book Lovers: The 12 Nights of Christmas
“And visions of sugar plums
Queer Spirituality: What Can Poetry Tell Us? A Conversation with Julie Enszer and Kevin Simmonds
Gay and lesbians have long had a complex and often conflicted relationship with organized religion, sometimes facing exclusion—or worse. But at the same time there is a long history of gay people trying to understand queerness as a divine gift or turning to spirituality to celebrate their love for each other.
‘Halsted Plays Himself’ by William E. Jones
Los Angeles-based artist and experimental filmmaker William E. Jones has brought together a variety of materials that will help, hopefully, to revive an appreciation both for Halsted’s work as well as of the man himself.
Jon L. Jensen, “Sestina Dickinson Would Never Write”
This week, four new poems by Jon L. Jensen.
Jon L. Jensen has spent the last decade in Harlem, New York, but his poetic universe has never escaped the badlands of his native Wyoming. He also works as an essayist and translator of Russian verse, holding degrees in Classics, Russian and Rhetoric. In former lives, he has worked as Mormon missionary trying to save Evangelicals in the Deep South and as a Peace Corps volunteer trying to teach HIV prevention to sex workers on the streets of Moscow. The poems included here are a part of a book-length manuscript, The Flannel Lord.
‘Lightning People’ by Christopher Bollen
A fun fact about lightning: a strike lasts for about 30 microseconds.
Lightning People starts with a similar flash. The narrator of the prologue, Joseph Guiteau, speaks in conspiratorial terms, suggesting a link between a rise in lightning-related Manhattan-area deaths and the fall of the Twin Towers.
Lambda’s Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBT Voices: The Fellows Reflect
Part of Lambda Literary’s mission is
William Johnson: Lambda’s New Managing Editor
A Note from the New
23rd Annual Lambda Literary Awards
These Finalists represent books published
Red Carpet Photos: 23rd Annual Lambda Literary Awards
This year Lambda Literary Foundation
Photo Gallery: 23rd Annual Lambda Literary Awards Ceremony
Above, Val McDermid receives Pioneer
23rd Annual Lambda Literary Award Winners
The complete list of winners
‘A Single Year’ by Dawn Mueller
As the joke goes, when
‘Inseparable: Desire Between Women in Literature’ by Emma Donoghue
Lambda Literary Award Finalist How
Confessions of a Librarian: Dr. Christine A. Jenkins
Dr. Christine A. Jenkins is
Rainbow Book Fair Invades LGBT Center
New Paradigms for Queer Lit
‘Circuit’ by Walter Holland
Towards the end of Walter
Greg Nicholl, “Moments Lifted”
Today we’re pleased to feature
‘The Songs of António Botto’ trans. Fernando Pessoa, ed. Josiah Blackmore
Poets, whether by design or
Josh Aterovis: Falling in love with Nancy Drew
And Being the Black Sheep
‘Wishbone: A Memoir in Fractures’ by Julie Marie Wade
Like the Ocean which literally
‘Jukebox’ by Gina Noelle Daggett
When one thinks of a
‘Toss and Whirl and Pass’ by Shawn Stewart Ruff
Shawn Stewart Ruff’s first novel,
Kelley Eskridge: the Invention of ‘Solitaire’
“I’m fascinated by stories of
‘Gaylord Phoenix’ by Edie Fake
Reading the comic Gaylord Phoenix
Sasha Debevec-McKenney, “The 1984 Presidential Election”
This week, two poems on
James Cihlar, “A Conversation with My Imaginary Daughter”
A new poem this week
A Tribute to Peter J. Gomes
Preacher, Theologian, Queer Activist Rev.
Book Lovers: Suspicious Tricks
A Queer Diagnosis Suspicious Diagnosis
‘Earthquake Came to Harlem: Poems’ by Jackie Sheeler
The poems in Jackie Sheeler’s
Gore Vidal Writing As Edgar Box
Fans of Gore Vidal will
‘Kay Thompson’ by Sam Irvin
As a fan of Kay
Emma Donoghue’s ‘Endless Immersion’
From Shakespeare to Sarah Waters
‘Indelible’ by Jove Belle
The permanency of tattoos forms
‘The Devil Be Damned’ by Ali Vali
Fourth in the “Devil” series
‘the lake has no saint’ by Stacey Waite
The smell of crayons in
‘Hero’ author Perry Moore dies
Lambda Literary Award winner found
Andrew Demcak, “Tattoo”
Today, two poems by Andrew
Victoria Brownworth: The Activist Writer
“I turn everything into activism.”
Metaphysical Journals & Radical Faeries
Explorations in Queer Spirituality My
‘Coming to Life’ by Joy Ladin
I’d like not to tell
‘The Nearest Exit May Be Behind You’ by S. Bear Bergman
S. Bear Bergman’s latest collection
‘Under the Poppy’ by Kathe Koja
Daringly provocative and entertainingly risque,
3 Dollar Bill: Queer AWP Reading [Recap]
A Photo Gallery One of
New in February UPDATED
“Make It Be Spring!” Here’s
‘Tonight No Poetry Will Serve’ by Adrienne Rich
Do you remember the last
Matthew Gallaway: “Henry James was a seriously hot gay bear”
Opera, HIV, and The Velvet
BookBuzz #26 Feb 2011
The American Library Association’s 2011
‘Parallel Lies’ by Stella Duffy
Lambda Literary Award Finalist Anyone
BookLovers: Valentine’s Day
Life Comes for the Normal
‘Unbearable Lightness’ by Portia de Rossi
I’ll approach any famous person’s
Ocean Vuong, “The Prodigal Son’s Lament”
Today for your reading pleasure,
Nathan Manske: From Miami to Wasilla
Blogger, Editor, Storyteller On March
Exploring the reality behind Tomas Mournian’s novel ‘hidden’
Journalist and novelist Tomas Mournian
‘Amnesiac’ by Duriel E. Harris
Convention insists that I call
‘Lord of the White Hell (Book One)’ by Ginn Hale
Wicked Gentlemen and Feral Machines author,
‘Blood Sacraments’ ed. by Todd Gregory [NSFW]
For men who are into
Reynolds Price Has Died
Duke University professor and Lambda
‘My Sweet Wild Dance’ by Mikaya Heart
My Sweet Wild Dance (Dog
‘Slut Machine’ by Shane Allison
Slut Machine (Queer Mojo) by
‘Queer Twin Cities’ by GLBT Oral History Project
In Minnesota, understatement is a
‘Hidden’ by Tomas Mournian
When queerness forced me to
L. Lamar Wilson, “In the Lion’s Den”
This week, two poems by
Donogue and Johnson top the 2011 Stonewall Book Awards
“An embarrassment of riches” And
‘Almost Perfect’ Wins Stonewall Award
Children’s Young Adult Lit Prize
Howl: Poetry as Film
Ginsberg for Generation Adderall Howl,
Over the Rainbow’s Top 11 Books
Last night “Over the Rainbow
‘Veritas’ by Anne Laughlin
In the tidy little whodunit,
‘A Passionate Engagement’ by Ken Harvey
Those watching the marriage equality
‘Neighbour Procedure’ by Rachel Zolf
I’m tempted to begin with
‘Annabel’ by Kathleen Winter
It was with some trepidation
GunnShots: Winter 2011
A Roundup of Gay Crime
Confessions of a Librarian: Que(e)ry
Queer Nerd Appeal Tara Hart,
Toni Mirosevich, “Giveaway”
For our first Poetry Spotlight
Book Lovers: Bad Romance
Hate: A Romance, the Prix
‘Citizen, Invert, Queer: Lesbianism and War in Early Twentieth-Century Britain’ by Deborah Cohler
Deborah Cohler’s Citizen, Invert, Queer:
‘Dancing Ledge’ by Derek Jarman
You might remember the opening
New In January: Toibin, Levithan & Rich
How beautiful the turning of
2010 in Review: Dan Savage
“Tell them it gets better.”
2010 in Review: Best Book Covers
Judge a Book by its
2010 in Review: Gays & the Military
From WWII To DADT One
2010 in Review: Long Subtitles
Longest Book Titles of 2010?
Felice Newman wants in on your Sex Life
Step Aside Dr. Kinsey Author,
‘Fever Of The Bone’ by Val McDermid
Lambda Literary Award Finalist One
‘Hard at Work’ by Brad Saunders
Hard at Work (Kensington Books)
‘Teleny and Camille’ by Jon Macy
Imagine a collection of erotic
Trans Teens & Drag Queens
A Look at Gender in
Angelo Nikolopoulos, “Daffodil”
For a splash of color
Comic Nerds & Art Critics: Gift Guide
An art dealer has an
‘Gay Shame’ edited by David M. Halperin & Valerie Traub
David M. Halperin and Valerie
‘Bob The Book’ by David Pratt
Both times I read Bob
‘Double Bound’ by Nick Nolan
In his exciting debut novel,
‘The Sixties: Diaries:1960-1969’ by Christopher Isherwood
Gertrude Stein said, “A diary
Book Lovers: Holiday Romance
“Oh the weather outside is
Eileen Myles: On Her Own Terms
Poet. Professor. Thought-provoker. Don’t call
Michael Klein, “Happiness Ruined Everything”
Kicking off this December, two
Donoghue & Cunningham in New York. One Night Only.
Thalia Book Club: Emma Donoghue’s
‘Howl; A Graphic Novel’ by Allen Ginsberg & Eric Drooker
Fans of Eric Drooker’s earlier
Remembering Laura Hershey
Colorado poet, writer and activist
‘One of the Boys: Homosexuality in the Military’ by Paul Jackson
In 1992, the Canadian Forces
Queering NYTimes’ 100 Notable Books
The Times’ epic 100 Notable
Sam Steward: Scholar & Pornographer
Samuel Steward is a little
‘Above Temptation’ by Karin Kallmaker
For many lesbian readers, it
What Happens When You’re Old & Gay?
Gay Pioneer Asks, “Where Do
Inferno (a poet’s novel) by Eileen Myles
Well I’ll be a poet.
Overwrought Erotica: Bad Sex in Fiction Award
The Literary Review as once
‘Hard and Fast’ by Sean Wolfe
Hard and Fast (Kensington) was
‘Dear John, I Love Jane’ by Candace Walsh and Laura André
Lambda Literary Award Finalist Dear
‘Match Maker’ by Alan Chin
Sports writing is perhaps one
‘Love Is A Map I Must Not Set On Fire’ by Carol Guess
Love Is A Map I
Wilson and Hajratwala Win Asian American Literary Awards
The Asian American Writers’ Workshop
Literary Tribute to Trans Day of Remembrance
This week, for the entire
‘Spore’ by Thom Nickels
The fifth novel by Philadelphia
Armistead In Autumn
Love, Sex and Everything in
Timothy Liu, “Blind Date”
Today we’re pleased to feature
Armistead Maupin dissects Logo’s ‘A List’
An excerpt from our interview
American Gothic (Redux)
Photo Op of the Day
‘Said and Done’ by James Morrison
Lambda Award Finalist Full disclosure:
Can Queer Authors Write Straight Characters?
5 Writers Set the Record
Cunningham, Donoghue: Library Journal’s Top 10 Books
Yesterday, the industry pub, Library
ALA embraces LGBT Lit @YA Awards
Our friends at The American
Joy Ladin, “Girl In A Bottle”
Today, two poems from 2009
New in November: Ricky Martin & Portia de Rossi
This month two celebrity memoirs—Ricky
‘Do Not Disturb’ by Carsen Taite
Greer Davis is a bad
6 of the Scariest Queer Horror Books Ever
UPDATED: In celebration of Halloween,
‘Turn for Home’ by Lara Zielinsky
Turn for Home is a
Librarian (To Be): Stewart Van Cleve
Stewart Van Cleve is a
RJ Gibson, “Poem With Bodies In It”
This week’s poem by RJ
‘Sometimes She Lets Me’ ed. by Tristan Taormino
The stories in Sometimes She
‘Between Boyfriends’ by Michael Salvatore
Award-winning playwright Michael Griffo makes
Matthew Hittinger, “Keystone Effect: KKK Rally in Carlisle”
Today, two new poems by
‘Travels in a Gay Nation: Portraits of LGBTQ Americans’ by Philip Gambone
Who are the “real” LGBTIQ
‘House of Cards’ by Nat Burns
In her complex and beautifully
‘Money for Sunsets’ by Elizabeth J. Colen
Lambda Literary Award Finalist A
Official Podcast: Michael Cunningham in Conversation with Tony Valenzuela
Last week our Executive Director,
‘The Road Home’ by Michael Thomas Ford
The reason most accidents occur
Remembering John Embry (1926-2010)
Drummer Magazine Founder Dies John
Kirsty Logan, “Why I Want To Go North”
This week, two new poems
Justin Spring’s Obscene Biography
Too controversial for Vanity Fair?
National Book Award Nominees: Patti Smith and Justin Spring Contenders
The National Book Foundation announced
‘Secret Historian’ By Justin Spring
While I may not remember
‘Robin and Ruby’ By K. M. Soehnlein
On the eve of the
Why More Authors Should Support Dan Savage’s “It Gets Better” Campaign
Last week, memoirist Dan Savage
Benjamin S. Grossberg, “The Space Traveler’s Husband”
Today we’re featuring work by
‘Cut Away’ by Catherine Kirkwood
A tight and moody novella
‘then, we were still living’ by Michael Klein
Michael Klein’s second book of
Reading David Shields’ ‘Reality Hunger’
Chat between my friend T
Jaime Manrique & the Apocryphal Quixote
An Interview Celebrated professor, novelist,
‘The Right to Be Out: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in America’s Public Schools’ By Stuart Biegel
Over the past twenty years,
New in October
UDPATED: The holiday season is
Candace and Laura’s Excellent Adventure: Editing ‘Dear John, I Love Jane’
How many same-sex couples get
Alex Dimitrov, “James Franco”
Kicking off this month’s Poetry
Book Buzz: October 2010
The unrelated September suicides in
‘Love Waits’ by Gerri Hill
Gerri Hill is a romance
Vanessa Libertad Garcia, “The B Job”
This week we’re featuring work
Remembering Ralph Vicinanza
His agency has provided a
Remembering A Lesbian Legend
Jill Johnston died from complications
‘Grant Wood: A Life’ by R. Tripp Evans
One of the most famous
Charlie Vázquez, “Bronx Dharma”
This week we’re featuring work
‘I Came Out for This?’ By Lisa Gitlin
Bywater Books has been making
Confessions of a Librarian: Bleue Benton
Bleue Benton is the Collection
Remembering Jill Johnston
Village Voice columnist and pioneering
‘Moving Politics: Emotion and ACT UP’s Fight Against AIDS’ by Deborah B. Gould
Lambda Award Finalist I must
GunnShots: Fall 2010
As of mid-September, I have
Journey Down the Rainbow
When I was first asked
‘Mysterious Skin’ reimagined
Scott Heim’s Mysterious Skin, a
T Cooper’s Complex Polar Bear
Novelist T Cooper had a
‘Aaron Bradley, Closet Detective’ by Timothy Owen
Despite its title, this is
‘Infected: Prey’ by Andrea Speed
Anne Cain’s cover (so unlike
‘Lily White, Rose Red’ by Cat Ford
If an openly gay novel
‘All of Me (Can You Take All of Me?)’ by Dirk Vanden
Part mystery, part “fictionalized autobiography,”
‘The Quarter Boys’ by David Lennon
Romance mysteries often work with
My First Queer Book? ‘Borrowed Time’
My first gay book was
‘Cockeyed’ by Richard Stevenson
The eleventh Don Strachey, Albany,
‘Billionaire’s Row’ by Sullivan Wheeler
Here we have, once again,
In Italics: Queer Latino Nuances in American Literature
Nuanced identities are amassed by
Steven Cordova, “An Invisible Man Cruises A Vampire”
Today, two new poems by
‘Oscar Wilde in America: The Interviews’ by Matthew Hofer and Gary Scharnhorst
From the publication of Frank
William Burroughs’ “Word/Image novel” to be published by Fantagraphics
The Guardian reported today that William
‘Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers’ by I.E. Woodward
Like Ralph Ashworth’s Killer of
In Memory: Poet, Essayist and Activist Judy Freespirit
Judy Freespirit died September 10,
Ashbery honored @ Brooklyn Book Fest
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet John Ashbery
‘Crook’ by Michael Gouda
Why do the British seem
Tanith Lee: Channeling Queer Authors
The prolific author Tanith Lee—almost
‘Silver Kiss’ by Naomi Clark
The premise of Silver Kiss
‘Tomorrow May Be Too Late’ by Thomas Marino
In Thomas Marino’s oddly titled
Arisa White, “out of line”
For your reading pleasure today,
New in September
September signals the start of
‘Three’ ed. by Robert Kirby
It’s nice to see Robert
Neil Plakcy’s ‘Have Body, Will Guard’ Series
What I Read in Place
‘Muscle Men’ & ‘Biker Boys’
I consider Richard Labonté the Dean
Brent Goodman, “Attack of the Handsome Bad Guys”
For today’s inaugural post, two
Most Anticipated LGBT (Relevant) Books of Fall 2010
UPDATE 9/13/10: Fall 2010 signals
Book Buzz: September 2010
JM Redman has been honored
Lambda Literary’s Poetry Spotlight
Deadline: Submissions are closed for
‘Union Atlantic’ by Adam Haslett
Union Atlantic is a smart
Confessions of a Librarian: Janet Trumble
1. What made you decide
Monique Truong: Southern girl, Twice over
Monique Truong’s (author of The
‘Bird Eating Bird’ by Kristin Naca
Lambda Award Finalist At the
Feminist Classic Goosebumps in P-town
This morning in Ptown, I
First dispatch from 2010 Writers’ Retreat for Emerging LGBT Voices
Dear Friends, When the attendees
Introducing The Class of 2010: Emerging LGBT Voices
In less than two weeks,
LLF Represented @ Chicago Pride Parade
The Chicago Pride Parade marched
Kate Clinton, Pioneer Award Recipient
“Reading powerful stories about ourselves
Larry Kramer, Pioneer Award Recipient
Receiving an Academy Award nomination
Michelle Cliff: The Historical Re-Visionary
For three decades, professor, activist,
Rakesh Satyal Goes Gaga @ Lambda Literary Awards
In lieu of a traditional
In Memoriam @ 2010 Lambda Literary Awards
This video screened at the
22nd Annual Lambda Literary Awards: Photo Journal [Update]
All Photos by Donna F.
22nd Annual Lambda Literary Awards Winners Announced. Larry Kramer and Kate Clinton honored.
The Lambda Literary Foundation at
22nd Annual Lambda Literary Awards
These Finalists represent books published
Finalists announced for the 22nd Annual Lambda Literary Awards
The news you’ve been waiting
21st Annual Lambda Literary Awards
LGBT Anthologies | LGBT Childrens/Young
20th Annual Lambda Literary Awards
LGBT Anthology | LGBT Childrens/Young
19th Annual Lambda Literary Awards
LGBT Anthology | LGBT Childrens/Young
17th Annual Lambda Literary Awards
ANTHOLOGIES/FICTION WINNER: Fresh Men: New
18th Annual Lambda Literary Awards
Anthologies WINNER: Freedom in this
15th Annual Lambda Literary Awards
Anthologies/Fiction WINNER: Black Like Us
14th Annual Lambda Literary Awards
Anthologies/Fiction WINNER: Diva Book of
13th Annual Lambda Literary Awards
Anthologies/Fiction WINNER: Men on Men
12th Annual Lambda Literary Awards
Anthologies/Fiction WINNER: Vintage Book of
11th Annual Lambda Literary Awards
Anthologies/Fiction WINNER: Columbia Anthology of
10th Annual Lambda Literary Awards
Anthologies/Fiction WINNER: His(2) edited by
9th Annual Lambda Literary Awards
Anthologies/Fiction WINNER: Women on Women 3
8th Annual Lambda Literary Awards
Anthologies/Fiction WINNER: Tasting Life Twice edited
7th Annual Lambda Literary Awards
Anthologies/Fiction WINNER: Chloe Plus Olivia edited
6th Annual Lambda Literary Awards
Anthologies WINNER: Lesbian and Gay Studies
5th Annual Lambda Literary Awards
Children’s/Young Adult Literature WINNER: When Heroes
4th Annual Lambda Literary Awards
CHILDREN’S/YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE WINNER: The Duke
3rd Annual Lambda Literary Awards
AIDS WINNER: The Way We
2nd Annual Lambda Literary Awards
AIDS WINNER: Reports from the
1st Annual Lambda Literary Awards
AIDS WINNER: Borrowed Time: An
