• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MyQueerSapphFic

Discount and New Release Women loving women (WLW)/Sapphic Themed fiction

  • Home
    • About
  • Blog
  • Weekly Deals
  • Readers
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Author Directory
    • Black Friday Sale
    • Halloween Spooktacular!
    • Ann Bannon Popular Choice Goldie Finalists for 2023
    • Black Lives Matter: The WLW Works of Women of Color
    • Transgender and Nonbinary WLW Books
  • Authors
    • Submit your book
    • Pricing
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Past Book Listings
    • Listing Categories
    • Search Listings

Golden Crown Literary Society

2023 Goldie Award Winning Books

July 4, 2023 By Anne Hagan

Goldie WinnersThe 2023 winners of the annual Goldie Awards bestowed by the Golden Crown Literary Society (GCLS) were named on Saturday, July 1st at the awards ceremony held at their annual convention, which was in Denver, Colorado, this year.

New from GCLS this year, after receiving a substantial grant from the Aronson-Besthoff Fund of the Greater New Orleans Foundation, are monetary awards for the highest scoring debut novel, the highest scoring book in each genre category, and the highest scoring book in each of the ‘non-novel’ categories like, non-fiction and poetry.

Also now receiving monetary awards are the top three books determined by ranked choice voting for the Ann Bannon Popular Choice Award. The institution of monetary prizes necessitated changes in how the Ann Bannon entries were voted upon.

GCLS names 25% of all books entered in each category as finalists as determined by the rankings of the judging panel for the category. In each category, 10% of all entered books ultimately receive awards, allowing more than one winner in larger categories.

Winners are listed below in the order award categories were presented by the GCLS at the awards ceremony. Monetary prize winning books are listed first and noted in each category.

General Non-Fiction:

Half InHalf In: A Coming of Age Memoir of Forbidden Love by Felice Cohen/Dividend Press – Felice and her book were profiled here previously. – Also won $1,000 prize

***

Audiobook Narrator:

This was a new category this year. There were more than 30 audio books entered, and three winning narrartors were chosen.

Dead Woman’s Revenge narrated by Rebecca Lowman* of Orange Skye Audio (Published by Dreamspinner Press)

 A Whisper of Solace (previously profiled on this site) narrated by Abby Craden* of Tantor Media (Self Published by Milena McKay)

Dead Letters from Paradise narrated by Christine Williams* of Susie Bright/Audible Studios (Published by Bywater Books)

*Links to narrator names go to the lists of Audible audio books they have narrator credits for including the book they won for. Not all books they’ve narrated are sapphic books.

***

Romantic Blend:

EnigmaEnigma by Suzie Clarke, published by Bold Strokes Books – Top Scoring Novel Prize – $1,000

Despite Chaos by Stacy Lynn Miller, published by Bella Books

Secret Agent by Michelle Larkin, published by Bold Strokes Books

***

Contemporary Romance Short Novels:

Trial and ErrorTrial and Error by Carsen Taite, published by Bold Strokes Books – Top Scoring Novel Prize – $1,000

Truly Wanted by J.J. Hale, published by Bold Strokes Books

Perfect Rivalry by Radclyffe, published by Bold Strokes Books

***

Fiction Anthologies/Collections:

Defiant HeartsDefiant Hearts – Lee Lynch, published by Bold Strokes Books – Top Scoring $1,000 Prize

 

***

Mystery/Thriller/Crime:

DelafieldDelafield by Katherine V. Forrest, published by Spinsters Ink – Top Scoring Novel Prize – $1,000

Hunting Gold by Ann Aptaker, published by Bywater Books

Last Chance Chicago by Diana DiGangi, published by Bywater Books

***

Young Adult Fiction:

Can I Trust HerCan I Trust Her? by Frances Lucas, published by Bella Books – Top Scoring Novel Prize – $1,000

***

 

Contemporary Romance – Mid Length Novels:

The Last Lavender SisterThe Last Lavender Sister by Melissa Brayden, published by Bold Strokes Books – Top Scoring Novel Prize – $1,000

She’ll Steal Your Heart by Rachel Lacey, Self Published

With a Twist by Georgia Beers, published by Bold Strokes Books

I Dare You to Love Me by Lori G. Matthews, published by Bella Books (Lori has a short mystery in a giveaway available through July 5th, 2023)

Christmas Mouse by Rachel Spangler, published by Brisk Press

***

Paranormal/Occult/Horror:

The Wicked and the WillingThe Wicked and the Willing by Lianyu Tan, published by Shattered Scepter Press – Top Scoring Novel Prize, $1,000. (Previously featured on this site)

The Mermaid Hypothesis by Siri Caldwell, published by Brussels Sprouts Press

***

Poetry Collections:

Time Out of TimeTime Out of Time by Arleen Paré, published by Caitlin Press and Dagger Editions – $1,000 prize winner

***

 

General Fiction:

Dead Letters from ParadiseDead Letters from Paradise by Ann McMan, published by Bywater Books – Top Scoring Novel Prize $1,000

The Barrens by Kurt Johnson and Ellie Johnson, published by Arcade – Skyhorse

***

New Adult Fiction:

Catching FeelingsCatching Feelings by Ana Hartnett Reichardt, published by Bold Strokes Books – Top Scoring Novel Prize, $1,000

***

 

Historical Fiction:

Once in BerlinOnce in Berlin by Jo Havens, self published – Top Scoring Novel Prize, $1,000

Observations on the Danger of Female Curiosity by Suzanne Moss, published by Aesculus Books (previously featured on this site)

***

 

Erotica:

EscortedEscorted by Renee Roman, published by Bold Strokes Books – Top Scoring Novel

***

 

Contemporary Romance – Long Novel:

Plain English by Rachel Spangler, published by Bywater Books – Top Scoring Novel Prize – $1,000

Chemistry by Rachael Sommers, published by Ylva Publishing

Purposefully Accidental by G Benson, Self Published

Over the Moon with You by Jaime Clevenger, published by Bella Books

Something’s Different by Quinn Ivens, published by Ylva Publishing

***

Science Fiction/Fantasy:

EnduranceEndurance by Elaine Burnes, published by Mindancer Press/Bedazzled Ink – Top Scoring Novel Prize – $1,000

The Mage and the Monster by Barbara Ann Wright, published by Bold Strokes Books

***

 

Debut Novel:

The BarrensThe Barrens by Kurt Johnson and Ellie Johnson, published by Arcade – Skyhorse – Top Scoring Debut Novel Prize – $1,000

Truly Wanted by JJ Hale, published by Bold Strokes Books

Observations on the Danger of Female Curiosity by Suzanne Moss, published by Aesculus Books (previously featured on this site)

Honey in the Marrow by Emily Waters, published by Ylva Publishing

Love and Duty by Catherine Young, published by Bold Strokes Books

***

Sandra Moran Writing Academy Scholarship: Beth Caldwell

***

Ann Bannon Popular Choice Award:

If I Dont AskGold and $3,000 – If I Don’t Ask by EJ Noyes, published by Bella Books

Just a Touch AwaySilver and $2,000 – Just a Touch Away by Jae (This book was previously featured on this site)

Broken Beyond RepairBronze and $1,000 – Broken Beyond Repair by Emily Banting (This book was previously featured on this site)

***

 

Tee Corinne Award for Outstanding Cover Design:

Observations on the Danger of Female CuriosityObservations on the Danger of Female Curiosity by Suzanne Moss, published and cover by Aesculus Books (This book was previously featured on this site)

***

 

Lee Lynch Classic Award:

 

Home GirlsHome Girls by Barbara Smith

From the book blurb and from Amazon:

“The pioneering anthology Home Girls features writings by Black feminist and lesbian activists on topics both provocative and profound. Since its initial publication in 1983, it has become an essential text on Black women’s lives and writings. This edition features an updated list of contributor biographies and an all-new preface that provides a fresh assessment of how Black women’s lives have changed-or not-since the book was first published.”

Contributors are Tania Abdulahad, Donna Allegra, Barbara A. Banks, Becky Birtha, Julie Carter, Cenen, Cheryl Clarke, Michelle Cliff, Michelle T. Clinton, Willie M. Coleman, Toi Derricotte, Alexis De Veaux, Jewelle L. Gomez, Akasha (Gloria) Hull, Patricia Jones, June Jordan, Audre Lorde, Raymina Y. Mays, Deidre McCalla, Chirlane McCray, Pat Parker, Linda C. Powell, Bernice Johnson Reagon, Spring Redd, Gwendolyn Rogers, Kate Rushin, Ann Allen Shockley, Barbara Smith, Beverly Smith, Shirley O. Steele, Luisah Teish, Jameelah Waheed, Alice Walker, and Renita Weems.

***

Trailblazer Award:

The Trailblazer Award is given annually by GCLS to an author for lifetime achievement. The 2023 awardee is:

Alison Bechdel

Alison’s brief bio:

ALISON BECHDEL has been a careful archivist of her own life and kept a journal since she was ten. Since 1983 she has been chronicling the lives of various characters in the fictionalized “Dykes to Watch Out For” strip, “one of the preeminent oeuvres in the comics genre, period” (Ms.). The strip is syndicated in 50 alternative newspapers, translated into multiple languages, and collected into a book series with a quarter of a million copies in print. Utne magazine has listed DTWOF as “one of the greatest hits of the twentieth century.”

Her books and collections of some of her comic strips are available in English on Amazon. Some books have also been translated into German.

***

Note: All of these books are available at Amazon. Many which were by traditional publishers and small sapphic presses are available both directly from the publisher and at all other major retailers. Over time, we’ll add the top scoring books to this site with all purchase links from the publishers and all retailers, followed later by links to and/or pages for all of the other award winning books. This is a major undertaking as I do it all by hand. I wanted to get the list out to you as soon as I could. We’ve included the publisher information. Please shop for these bo wherever you feel comfortable.

The Amazon links here are affiliate links. We (this site/Erin and I) earn a small commission if you purchase a book. Those commissions help to defray the cost of maintaining this site and sending out the weekly newsletter.

The authors appreciate your support and we at MyQueerSapphFic do too! Thank you for reading and loving sapphic literature!

~Anne

Filed Under: Awards Tagged With: Award, Awards, books, Fiction, GCLS, Golden Crown Literary Society, Lesbian, Lesfic, LGBTQ, literature, sapphic, WLW

Goldie Award Finalists Announced

April 26, 2023 By Anne Hagan

In March, we created a lengthy post here containing an overview of all the sapphic books that were finalists for a Lambda Literary Award (Lammy). There were 50 books we were able to glean that were primarily sapphic in nature.

The Golden Crown Literary Society (GCLS) was formed more than twenty years ago as a membership organization to revel in, promote, and reward what was then known as lesbian fiction. In a couple of changes over recent years the organization has progressed through usage of the term ‘women loving women literature’ to the more current and more inclusive ‘sapphic literature.’ It is also an open organization now. Membership and dues are no longer required.

Goldie FinalistThe Goldie’s are awarded in July of each year to winning finalists from books published between January 1st and December 31st of the year prior. There are 18 categories for 2023 Goldie awards including the annual Tee Corinne cover design award, and a new category for audiobook narrators.

Typically, well over 300 books are submitted to the GCLS judging panel for Goldie consideration. Some years, there have been 600 or more books. This year there are 120 finalists in various categories with some duplicates (debut novel and also in the book’s genre, for example). Unlike the Lammy award finalists which are a mix of academic press, large press, and small press works, plus some indie books, Goldie award finalists tend to come from small sapphic presses, small LGBTQ presses, and indie authors.

One Goldie category stands out for readers of sapphic literature: The Ann Bannon Popular Choice Award category. Books can be submitted in all categories by readers, authors, and publishers. Most categories except for the Ann Bannon Award and the Tee Corrine Cover Design Award are vetted by a panel of judges who read each entry and score it in the software of a tabulating firm. The firm releases the finalists based on ratio of one finalist for every so many entries. The other two categories are voted on in a couple of rounds by GCLS members (formerly)/readers.

There are 18 Ann Bannon Popular Choice Award Finalists for 2023. A few have previously been profiled on this site. The finalists are:

Beyond Any Experience

Beyond Any Experience

Ann E. Terpstra NineStar Press
Broken Beyond Repair

Broken Beyond Repair

Emily Banting Sapphfic Publishing
Christmas Mouse

Christmas Mouse

Rachel Spangler Brisk Press
Dead Letters from ParadiseDead Letters from Paradise Ann McMan Bywater Books
DelafieldDelafield Katherine V. Forrest Spinsters Ink
Endurance

Elaine Burnes Mindancer Press/Bedazzled Ink
Falling For Who

Falling for Who

Erica Lee Self-published
Full Circle

Full Circle

Susan X. Meagher Brisk Press
If I Don’t Ask

If I don't Ask

E. J. Noyes Bella Books
Just a Touch Away

Just a Touch Away

Jae Ylva Publishing
No Strings

No Strings

Lucy Bexley Self-published
Observations on the Danger of Female Curiosity

Observations on the Danger of Female Curiosity

Suzanne Moss Aesculus Books
Purposefully Accidental

Purposefully Accidental

G Benson Self-published
The Barrens

The Barrens

Kurt Johnson & Ellie Johnson Arcade – Skyhorse
The Forever and The Now

The Forever and the Now

KJ Self-published
The Last Lavender Sister

The Last Lavender Sister

Melissa Brayden Bold Strokes Books
The New Shore

The New Shore

Caren J. Werlinger Corgyn Publishing
The Santorini Setup

The Santorini Setup

Becky Bohan Nanbec Books

 

 

Filed Under: Awards Tagged With: Award, Awards, GCLS, Golden Crown Literary Society, Goldie, Goldies, literature, sapphic

Primary Sidebar

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • TikTok
  • Twitter

Featured Listings

Over a Barrel

New Featured

  • Author: Reyne, Layla

 Contemporary Romance, Holiday, Romance

Sugar and Ice

New Featured

  • Author: Grey, Eule

 Holiday, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Romance

The Cynic’s Christmas Conundrum

New Featured

  • Author: Bennett, L.M.

 Contemporary Romance, Holiday, Romance

Author Directory

Previous Book Listings

  • Action and Adventure (20)
  • Anthology (9)
  • Box Set (3)
  • Crime (39)
  • Drama (64)
  • Dystopian (1)
  • Erotica (21)
  • Fantasy (27)
  • Free eBooks (2)
  • Graphic Novel (2)
  • Historical - Non-Romance (3)
  • Holiday (36)
  • Horror (8)
  • Humor (12)
  • Literary Fiction (10)
  • Memoir (4)
  • Mystery (41)
  • New Adult (11)
  • Non-Fiction (9)
  • Paranormal (23)
  • Poetry (12)
  • Romance (315)
    • Contemporary Romance (195)
    • Erotic Romance (39)
    • Historical Romance (18)
    • Mafia Romance (2)
    • Medical Romance (5)
    • Paranormal Romance (17)
    • Romantic Comedy (27)
    • Romantic Suspense (42)
    • Sports Romance (11)
    • Western Romance (5)
  • Science Fiction (5)
  • Short Story (26)
  • Suspense (36)
  • Thriller (18)
    • Legal Thriller (3)
    • Psychological Thriller (2)
    • Spy Thriller (4)
  • Young Adult (9)

Over a Barrel

Sugar and Ice

The Cynic’s Christmas Conundrum

Love Interest

Keeping Score

Stormy Ink

Dominion

Out of the Shadows

Fated

Feels Like Home

Cursed

Undercover Twins

A Breathless Place

Encore

That French Summer

My Holiday Love

Not in the Contract

When to Let Go

Partners

Goddess of the Moon

Sealed with a Hiss

Cory Sloan is Swearing

The Taste of Women

Wicked Girls

A Purrfect Gift

Venandi

Holly Folly

I’m Not Scared…You Are

They Call Me Dr. Feelgoode

Love and Forever

A Tiger in Suburbia

Rain

Hunting You Down

Bad Beat

The Flourishing

Fanged Interest

She’s the Boss

In the Shadow of the Palace

The Curse of the Old Woods

About that Kiss

Sleepy Hollow

Sleeping Dogs

Invocations

The Flying Mermaid

Wake the Dead

The Bad Girls

The Ghosts of Halloween

Jaded

Teaching Hope

Stalk Her Much

Take Two

Scarlett

Bound Hearts

Ghost Tour

Not Just Gal Pals

Little Red

The Misadventures of Callie Compton

Chasing Shadows

Training the Boss

Gods of Want: Stories

Catch Lili Too

Cutlass Cadaver

Indiscretions

Return to Bane House

The Luis Ortega Survival Club

The Birdwatchers

Memoirs of the Happy Lesbian Housewife

Lady Hawthorne

Crimes Against Nature

The Temp

She Looks Just Like You: A Memoir of (Nonbiological Lesbian) Motherhood

Reclaiming Tomorrow

Zak’s Safari

Truly Wanted

Anniversary

Heart of Time

Radical Relations: Lesbian Mothers, Gay Fathers, and Their Children in the United States since World War II

Dead Letters from Paradise

Swipe Right for Love

Angel of Mercy

Incidents

Not in the Proposal

A Change of Heart

Fake Marriage Planning Inc

Forget Me Not

Thunder

Flipped

Despite Chaos

Lucky Jinn

Sips of Her

Half In

Trial and Error

Perfect Rivalry

Real Phonies and Genuine Fakes

Secret Agent

Still the One

Lost and Found: A Memoir

Saving Salia

A Secret I Can’t Tell: The First Generation of Children from Openly Gay and Lesbian Homes

Against all Odds

Book Blog
Kindle Unlimited
Audible
Kindle Picks

Footer

  • MyQueerSapphFic.com
  • About Us
  • Privacy & Terms
  • Cookie Policy
  • Contact
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • TikTok
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2023 · MyLesFic · All rights reserved.

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in .

MyQueerSapphFic
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.