#gcls

If you're not on twitter, you might have missed the latest conversation about racism in "lesfic," particularly at the GCLS conference. The short version is that even though GCLS, the largest lesbian fiction con, was all online this year, the authors featured were still overwhelmingly white. I wrote about the conversation so far (but of course, Black authors have been speaking about this for years, it's just getting more traction now). 

Here’s a brief synopsis of the conversation, and should happen from here:

My wlw-centric dark fantasy novel, In the Way of All Flesh, managed to become a finalist in both the Young Adult and Debut Novel categories of the 2020 Golden Crown Literary Society Awards! You can check out all of the other great finalists here.

Congratulations to our GCLS Ylva finalists!! We're proud of you!

The Golden Crown Literary Society has announced 15th Annual GCLS Award Winners!

The Golden Crown Literary Society (GCLS), a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2004 is the leading lesbian-themed literary organization bringing authors, readers, and publishers together while creating a diverse and inclusive community. The organization's mission is to increase the visibility and integrity of lesbian-themed literature, through its writing academy and educational programs, its annual conference, and its national and internationally recognized Goldie Awards.

Ann Bannon Popular Choice: A Proper Cuppa Tea by K.G. MacGregor

Combined Non-Fiction: The Liberation of Ivy Bottini: A Memoir of Love and Activism by Judith V. Branzburg

Contemporary Romance Long Novels: 

Gold by E. J. Noyes

It's Not a Date by Heather Blackmore

Just for Show by Jae

Three Reasons to Say Yes by Jaime Clevenger

Contemporary Romance: Mid-Length Novels: 

Pursuit of Happiness by Carsen Taite 

Blend by Georgia Beers

A Wish Upon a Star by Jeannie Levig

Love at Cooper's Creek by Missouri Vaun

2018 Goldie Winners (All lesbian books)

[image description: 10 of the covers of some of the books listed below]

Ann Bannon Popular Choice: An Outsider Inside by RJ Samuel

Anthology/Collections (Fiction): Our Happy Hours: LGBT Voices From the Gay Bars edited by S. Renée Bess and Lee Lynch

Nonfiction: Grief Map by Sarah Hahn Campbell

Contemporary Romance: Short:  

Bait and Switch by Blythe H. Warren

Echo Point by Virginia Hale

Unexpected by Jenny Frame

Contemporary Romance: Mid-Length:

Night Voice by CF Frizzell

Right Here, Right Now by Georgia Beers

Sidebar by Carsen Taite

The Butterfly Whisperer by Lisa Moreau

Contemporary Romance: Long: 

Perfect Rhythm by Jae

Vacationland by Susan X Meagher

Who'd Have Thought by G Benson

More categories below the read more:

This month I am participating in SWAG4GCLS, which is writers doing their writer thing while raising money for an organization that has spent 21 years promoting, elevating, and honoring sapphic authors and fiction.

My team, The Uncrustables (I've been calling us the Justice League of queer writers), include the following writers, and I'll put links to their sites for you to check them out.

-- JJ Arias

-- TJ O'Shea

-- Kat Jackson

-- Luc Dreamer

-- Bryce Oakley

-- Me (DJ Small)

The authors on this team are phenomenal, and I'm utterly grateful that they don't mind me being on the same team as them. We're still brainstorming on what incentives to give our highest donors, but I feel having more sapphic and queer book in the world is the biggest win here.

Woo to the hoo! With so much not right in the world, I likely can’t express how happy I will be to head to Albany next week for the Golden Crown Literary Society Annual Conference. Friends. Colleagues. Readers. Comrades in arms. That means so much life-sustaining laughter and joy – because they’re not taking that away from us. I’m going to be busy doing more than signing books with a lot of…