#lilirodey

so, externally, those who know my gf and I would probably be like “okay yeah kelsey is andy and lili is april” but we always look at the gifsets and the clips and episodes and we’re like “nah it’s the other way around” but only when we’re together.

away from each other, lili is basically april when it comes to other people, and I’m andy when it comes to other people. but when we’re together, it’s like. we feel more comfortable so she’s this big soft adorable bean who wants to give me every good thing in the world and lets me snuggle her and lean on her for support; and I don’t feel compelled to have to be this ball of sunshine ALL THE TIME to make other people comfortable because she knows deep down I’m a sarcastic asshole who gets sad about life and she always picks me up when I’m down and who lets me be someone who suggests murder as a completely rational response to minor inconveniences.

Okay, I am very, very spoons-low, but this is very important, so in short:

Mainstream bookstores are super crappy for finding inclusive books, you’re hecking right, you are gosh darn right.

I went about finding a small press, which often take chances on more inclusive things than mainstream, or agents. (And I was incredibly lucky and blessed, because my book was very well-received, and people were very kind to me, and gave me beautiful words of help and love.)

But yes, I am going into self-publishing now, because my publisher actually did just close down. It’s a hard market out there for small houses.

However, this doesn’t mean that it’s impossible. I am extremely optimistic and am in fact, more so than I was before, and I tell you this because -

There are many, many amazing people doing the exact kind of work you’re wondering about, both in indie traditional small-house publishing, and self-publishing.

Here are some good posts full of the kind of LGBT lit you won’t find in bookstores (probably). 

Just because you won’t find indie or self-published things in stores doesn’t mean they’re not good (or very, very important, or worthwhile, or fun).

Actually you know what just check out all of @shiraglassman​‘s ‘books’ tag. Entire blog, actually. She’s like. A shiny sparkle-star of LGBT book recc-ing (and not just because she faithfully sings about mine, and introduced me to some of my best writer-friends in the world <3. Or favorite series. BTW, if your heart needs some healing, the Mangoverse is a Good. Inclusive, fun, gay... please start there.)

But really, great people/groups are here on tumblr, and on twitter, and probably Facebook - I haven’t been there as much, though. (If you’re a LGBT author writing LGBT books, check out the #ownvoices and #diversebooks hashtags. There are also hashtags for YA and NA - New Adult - if you go by audience age groups.)

The short answer: I get by with a little help from my friends. Uh, wait, no, that’s Beatles. Let’s get some Queen in here. When I’m through with life and all hope is lost, I hold out my hand, and right ‘till the end...

Yeah, you were probably hoping for concrete How To Self Publish things. I’m literally trying to crash-course learn this exact thing right this instant. Actually, here are some helpful links I have bookmarked right now.

Publishing A Book: 25 Things You need To Know

How To Self Publish your Book On Amazon - Forbes

10 Visual Steps To Self Publishing (i’m so freakin visual, i need this)

But honestly... what I was saying up there. Friends. Community. Reaching out - “networking,” you’ve probably heard that word. This is what it actually means, tho. The reason why we write and read, really, letting each other and ourselves know we’re not alone. I could not have done this without the amazing people I met. (The real friends I met along the way. No, I still can’t stop memeing.)

You will not be alone, I promise you this. That’s the lie, I think. That you have to do it all alone. That’s what scares you (it’s what scared me). That there’s no help, or guidance if you don’t know something, or second chances if you make a mistake.

me: brussel sprouts?

gf: yes, thank you.

me: why?

Sandstorm A/B, One Year Later, First Date, Old oak doors a/b…. yeah

I’ll keep you safe, you keep me strong [listen] [picture credit] + for best friends, for a love filled with "almost"s and "too late"s, for two girls changed forever by a war they couldn't escape.

“oh my god steve and tony are so gay”

“omfg they’re married”

“mARRIED”

“GAY”

It forces you to either 'grow up' or 'fuck up'. I fucked up, but now I know better, because now I"m struggling as fuck to save money.