MyQueerSapphFic

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

Queer

Introducing iReadIndies International

By

iReadIndies Header Logo

And so it began…

Two and a half years ago, indie author KC Luck established iReadIndies, a collective organization “to bring visibility, recognition, and support to independent authors who put their own time, effort, and resources into self-publishing quality sapphic literature.”

Over the ensuing time, more than 200 indie authors have joined the collective at no cost. All are free to participate in free mentoring, training, group marketing efforts, anthologies and more. There are monthly author meetings, a newsletter for authors, social media outlets that allow the authors to collaborate, reader facing social media accounts, and reader groups on Facebook to promote the authors and their work. Indie book loving readers can also be on a mailing list just for them.

In the early days, near the tail end of the first major wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, there was talk of future writing retreats, conferences, and awards. It was a huge undertaking for KC, and a true labor of love.

KC has decided to step down. She’s established quite a legacy, and she’ll be missed…but she’ll never be far away. In her stead, Erin and I are taking over, continuing her legacy, and building for the future.

Why take over iReadIndies?

We too love indie authors of sapphic literature and the readers who support them. Of all the books we advertise here at MyQueerSapphFic, 95% (or more) are indie. Our weekly newsletter has thousands of reader subscribers who love hearing about discounts on and new releases of the books they love.

All of that said…we’ve decided we need to make two immediate changes that will help us reach out to more authors, reach more readers, and grow for the future.

  1. We’re incorporating and changing the name (slightly) to iReadIndies International – AKA iReadIndies International Inc. – We’ll still have the roots of a collective, but with open arms to the world of sapphic indie literature, the diversity of the writers and authors who create it, and all the readers who love it.
  2. We’re applying to make iReadIndies International Inc. a non-profit organization. – We’ve got a few hoops to jump through to get there including getting the transition made/website back up and running under our management, filing our non-profit application, and obtaining tax exempt status.

Moving forward and into the foreseeable future, I’ll be the executive director of what we’ve been calling iRI, for short. I’ll be responsible for most of the transition effort, and the day to day operations of iRI thereafter. With KC’s help and some input from members of the collective, We’ve already vetted a small starting board of directors to stand up the new iteration of our not quite so new organization. The board will oversee the organization and keep me in line!

Erin Hodgson will serve as the first President of the board. Serving as members and other officers will be authors Edale Lane and Max Ellendale, and voracious reader and editor Tammie Lynn. Going forward, board positions can be added as needed. Multiple authors and a few readers have volunteered to help in other capacities.

Why a non-profit?

KC paid for nearly everything out of her own pocket, out of the goodness of her heart. As we grow and plan things like a more formal mentorship program, writing retreats, writer/reader conferences, visibility at established conferences and events, and annual awards, we’re going to need funding.

  1. The benefits of being a non-profit: We’ll be able to receive tax-deductible donations, have access to grant funding, and we’ll be better able to build credibility with donors and partners.
  2. The challenges of being a non-profit: There are challenges, always, with any organization. For us our biggest challenges will be fundraising, managing volunteers, and complying with regulations.
  3. The future: Being a non-profit will allow us to make a difference in the lives of indie authors and the readers who love great books by giving us not only the platform KC started, but the ability to grow and change with the times…and they are heady times we live in!

What’s next?

I Heart IndiesThe website will be down for a few more days or so, as we transition. Watch for it to return and (over time) expand, watch your iReadIndies email (if you joined the list before the transition), and watch social media. We’ll resume all of the things below and more, soon:

  • Book contests and giveaways
  • Indie author anthologies in multiple genres (mass giveaways!)
  • Author Spotlights/Readings
  • Author (self published/aiming to publish) and writer (write for fun) specific groups for brainstorming, networking, collaboration, venting, and more.
  • New release announcements
  • Mentoring
  • Resource listings
  • Author classes and masterclasses on craft, editing, publishing, and marketing…especially marketing!

Additionally, with funding, volunteers, and lots of planning and coordination we’re aiming for:

  • A website that showcases the authors of the collective and their books, where readers can find great books by genre and trope.
  • Membership sites like KoFi and/or Patreon with exclusive content from authors of the collective to support iReadIndies and programming for the authors of the collective.
  • Awards in 2024 for 2023 works and the establishment of a formal awards nominating and judging process for future years.
  • Writing retreats in at least two locations (US and abroad?) beginning in 2024.
  • A small (weekend?) conference in Scotland in 2024. Exact location to be determined.
  • Representation at various levels at US based conferences in 2024 like GCLS (July, location to be determined), Women’s Week (October, Provincetown), LCLC (October, Palm Springs, California) – We’ll likely – unfortunately – skip ReadOUT in Gulfport, Florida for 2024 and regauge the political climate there in 2025.
  • A first iRI US based conference with an awards presentation in 2025, likely in Columbus, Ohio for the first year.

We’re building on a solid foundation from a great legacy, and we’re just getting started!

 

Resources for Sapphic Literature Authors

By

Resources for Authors

This week’s blog post focuses specifically on resources for sapphic literature writers. This is intended to be a living document. Links will be added as they are found.

Here are some of the best online writing and information resources for  sapphic fiction authors and most other authors. (Updated with additions and corrections November 15th, 2023…still not exhaustive!):

The resources below are more general (read, not sapphic at all), geared toward writing craft, or toward the business of being an author, and are not genre specific. They’re also in no particular order. All of them have been used by Anne and she recommends them.

  • One Stop for Writers: Free (lots) and paid (tons) resources for writers. Includes articles, tutorials, worksheets, tip sheets, story maps for plotting, etc.
  • Writer’s Digest: There’s the magazine (online and offline) of course, all the seminars, and a great website with lots of free resources for writers. Anne’s favorite section is, Write Better Fiction.
  • Jane Friedman: Reports on the publishing industry including self publishing and the business of being an author. She has a paid newsletter, The Hot Sheet, a blog, the extremely popular and free bi-weekly email newsletter, Electric Speed (well worth the signup), free and (mostly) inexpensive paid in-person and online classes on running your author business and on writing craft, and more.
  • KM Weiland: Her blog, ‘Helping Writers Become Authors,’ is all about writing craft. There are new posts weekly at a minimum and is always worth a look even if she’s addressing ‘the hero’s journey’ and you write erotic romance. Sign up for email notices of new posts so you never miss one.
  • Janice Hardy: Janice, an author, teacher/professor, and writing coach runs the Fiction University blog/website. She’s down to blogging personally one day a week now on writing craft from a much heavier schedule, but she also has guest posts weekly or more on a wide variety of craft topics.
  • Joanna Penn: Joanna is an author, podcaster, and blogger. Her blog for writers is called The Creative Penn. All of her podcasts featuring herself and a wide range of guests in publishing, particularly self publishing and the businesses that serve indies are archived and also transcribed. She’s written a host of non-fiction books as Joanna Penn about writing and publishing. Most of her fiction is written as J.F. Penn.
  • Anne R Allen: Authors Anne R. Allen and Ruth Harris release a once weekly blog post on Sunday on their blog Writing About Writing. These typically cover specific topics about the business of being an author, and sometimes they are more craft focused. They’re always laced with useful examples and informative. They also maintain an excellent resource list for authors.
  • Bryn Donovan: Bryn is an author and an editor who writes both fiction and non-fiction books. She’s well known for her ‘Master Lists for Writers’ and her tomes of writing prompts. Anne follows her very inclusive blog. Anne has bought her books. Anne loves her!
  • Reedsy: Reedsy is a site where you can hire a freelance editor. They also offer a blog with detailed, useful articles on writing, book design, and publishing and they offer more than 50 FREE Online courses that cover writing, book design, publishing, marketing and more.
  • DIY MFA: You can get an armchair Master of Fine Arts in writing if you follow the advice of this site. You’ll focus not only on writing, but also on reading and on community building.
  • Writers Helping Writers: This site has a frequently updated blog on writing craft topics, paid tools and tutorials for many aspects of storytelling (include several through One Stop for Writers), and workshops and webinars with well known authors/presenters (paid with fees starting at $15 for 1-2 hour sessions/higher for longer, more in-depth workshops). The resource list on the site needs an update.
  • C.S. Lakin: C.S. is a novelist, copy editor, writing coach, and more who writes and hosts guest posts on her blog, Live Write Thrive. Her ‘writing tips’ blog posts are some of her most popular.
  • Writer Unboxed: A great site with daily, relatable posts about the craft and business of fiction. The site has multiple contributors with lots of different perspectives.
  • Writers in the Storm: Five women, all authors, who write in a range of genres blogging about writing craft and inspiration. They’ve been writing the blog since 2010 so there are extensive archives which can be searched by month, keyword, and category (from a dropdown list of categories).
  • Writer Beware: For ALL writers. Educate yourself. Stay safe from scams and scammers.
  • The Book Designer: Very useful site for self published authors with archived articles by Joel Frielander and others. Note: It’s now a part of SelfPublishing.com, but the archived articles are great. The articles focus mainly on the parts after the writing is done; book covers, book design, printing, marketing, and more.
  • The Kill Zone: We know we said no genre resources but we’re making an exception for this one because it’s exceptional. Eleven writers including James Scott Bell and Sue Coletta blog for the TKZ about writing, especially about writing mystery, thriller, and suspense works, and about publishing.
  • Kindlepreneur: This site by author and entrepreneur Dave Chesson will appear again when we talk about marketing sapphic books and marketing tools, but a mention as an overall resource is not misplaced. Dave has created or co-created several products of use to all authors including his best known KDP Rocket (a marketing tool focused on Amazon) and the writing/publishing software Atticus. Dave is also well known for his extensive, honest reviews of writing, publishing, and marketing tools.

 

Writing workshops and Training: There are many writing workshops that focus on sapphic fiction. These workshops can be a great way to learn from experienced writers and get feedback on your work.

~~~

Online communities: Besides the resources we’re beginning to develop here at MyQueerSapphFic, there are many online communities for sapphic fiction authors where you can connect with other writers and with readers, get feedback on your work, and learn about the industry. Some of these sites and communities also review books and/or allow advertising. Some of our favorite communities include:

  • iHeartSapphFic – Reader heavy focus with lots of promos for authors to participate in (mostly free/some paid advertising spots) and a book finder database that puts ours to shame. We’re working on it!
  • iReadIndies – A place for readers of indie published books and a collective for indie authors (not published through any established large publisher, university press, sapphic press/publisher, or other LGBTQIA press/publisher).
  • Lesfic Marketing Alliance Facebook Group – Just what it says. Authors only, getting together to share tips and help each other promote.
  • The Lesbian Review (TLR) – Reader heavy focus built on thousands of book reviews. Also review movies and more. There are opportunities to promote and to appear at reader facing events (mostly online through webinars and on Discord)
  • Queer Romance Ink – Mostly a place to advertise (author pays). Large, searchable book database for readers that is growing more sapphic, but leans heavily toward gay fiction. Not just romance.

~~~

Review Sites and Book Bloggers: Some sites and bloggers accept ARC copies, some do not. Some use Netgally. Check with each individual site or blogger before requesting a review or sending your book/eBook.

~~~

Agents and publishers: There are a number of publishers who specialize in sapphic fiction. If you’re interested in getting your work published traditionally rather than self-publishing, you can research them to find the right fit for you. Agents are typically necessary for large, mainstream publishers. There are far too many of those publishers and agents to list.

The publishers below lean toward sapphic literature or accept it exclusively. Each will typically take a direct submission. Check their websites before submitting for information and guidelines.

Other publishers who focus on LGBTQIA fiction and often take direct submissions:

These lists are by no means exhaustive and will continue to evolve.

~~~

These books offer insights into the craft of writing sapphic fiction, as well as advice on how to represent sapphic characters and relationships in a way that is authentic and respectful.

~~~

Awards: There are multiple awards programs for LGBTQ+ books. Some are dedicated to sapphic books and some exclusively to gay books or bisexual books. Other awards and award programs are more general in nature. Listed below are reputable programs authors and publishers can submit to. Many require a submission fee which helps to keep the awards program viable. Some of the organizations giving awards are profiled in other areas of this blog post.

The Goldies – Sapphic exclusive awards in multiple categories given in July of each year by the Golden Crown Literary Society (GCLS) for works published between January 1st and December 31st of the previous year. To facilitate judging, GCLS staggers the submission deadlines. Submissions generally start in late August or very early September of the publishing year for all books published through at least the first half of the year (January through June). the final submission period ends in mid to late January of the year following the year of publication. There is a submission fee.

The Lammys – Given by Lambda Literary each year in May or June for (primarily) books published in the previous calendar year. There are exceptions. Lambda has lesbian specific categories, gay specific categories, bisexual ones, and transgender ones. There are also some overall LGBTQ categories not broken out by orientation including – for some reason – the broad category of ‘Mystery.’ Submissions begin September 1st of the publishing year and extend slightly into the year following. There is a scaled submission fee.

The Lesfic Bard Awards – Sapphic exclusive awards in multiple categories given annually for books published the previous calendar year. Submissions are generally open all year for books published that year and close in January of the year after the publishing year. There is a submission fee. Note, if you write gay fiction as well, they also sponsor the Gay Scribe Awards.

The Publishing Triangle Awards – The Publishing Triangle presents 10 awards annually. Two awards, one for non-fiction, and one for poetry are lesbian only. Others are closed to sapphic books and still others are open to the full spectrum of LGBTQIA orientations. Submissions open in late September and run through early December of the publishing year.

Foreward Indies Book of the Year – These prestigious awards are open to all indie published books, both by individual indie authors and authors from small and boutique presses like those of you with Bella, Bold Strokes, Ylva, etc. Submissions are open year round. They close on January 31st of the year following the publishing year. Finalists in all categories are named in March. Winners are named in June. There is a (steep) fee to submit.

Ippy Awards – An unaffiliated, but prestigious awards program for independent publishers/indie authors who publish books for an English speaking audience. There are dozens of award categories including one for LGBTQ+ Fiction. Early bird entries are in September and November. The current entry cutoff is March 16th, 2024. Submission fees are required for each category of submission.

Stonewall Book Awards – Sponsored by the American Library Association’s Rainbow Round Table. The award honors one exceptional book each year in each of three categories (adult fiction, adult non-fiction, and childrens/YA). Submissions (free) are open during the publishing year. The winners are announced in January of February of the year following the publishing year with the actual award (plaque and monetary) given at the ALA annual conference in June.

Please note: The Rainbow Awards were given each year by Elisa Rolle through 2021. They appear to have stopped with that year.

~~~

Here are some other resources that you may find helpful:

GCLS LogoThe Golden Crown Literary Society (GCLS) – Mentioned above under workshops and training – A nonprofit organization supporting an international community of readers, writers, publishers, editors, audiobook narrators, and fans devoted to increasing the diversity, accessibility, quality, and visibility of sapphic and women-loving-women literature.

 

 

 

 

Lambda Literary Foundation websiteThe Lambda Literary Foundation – Also, mentioned above, Lambda Literary provides resources for LGBTQIA+ writers, including a mentorship program, a writing retreat, and a literary awards program.

 

 

 

 

The Publishing Triangle is a professional organization for LGBTQIA+ writers, editors, and publishers. They offer a Publishing Triangle websitenumber of resources for writers, including a mentorship program, a writing contest, and a book fair.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sapphic Led Families

By

Saturday evening I had an online chat with Erin that started out being about the ultimate demise of Women and Words which I realized when I was looking for some inspiration for a sapphic literature blog topic that hadn’t been overdone. Our conversation veered off course as they sometimes do and ended up being about our children.

Sapphic Led FamiliesErin and her wife are moving their kids with them as they travel the world, schooling them with some lessons and lots of experiences as they go. You can read about the family and their travels on their blog, Wha From Home. Erin says their boys are working on some blog posts of their own for the family travel blog. I can’t wait to read those.

We also talked about the special needs and schooling of the three year old girl in the legal custody of my wife and I since her birth, and the general educational needs and issues with those of the three foster children ages 4, 8, and 13, that have been in our care long term (between two and four years).

Our chat gave me pause…and a blog topic; books about sapphic led families with children. There’s some non-fiction out there. Much of it is well rated, but a few years old or more. Fiction featuring sapphic’s with children is becoming a little more common, especially in the romance genre.

I’ve featured lots of kids in my books, including some kiddos who are the biological or adopted children of sapphic characters because my personal life revolves around family and children. I’d love to put more kids in the books, but I primarily write murder mysteries, so… Let’s just say, having foster kids and dealing with the multiple trauma’s they’ve endured, doesn’t make me want to write books about children in serious harms way.

Today, I’m focusing on books that are non-fiction because I think it’s important that we all see what sapphic led families face and how they cope. Don’t worry! It’s not all doom and gloom.

Memoirs of the Happy Lesbian HousewifeMemoirs of the Happy Lesbian Housewife by Lorraine Howell. Lorrain has actually written a two book series. Both books are quite funny and insightful. At this writing, this is the second book according to Amazon and their series numbering. It was actually the first book Lorraine published. She released it in 2014. The book she numbers as ‘2’ was published in 2022.

Available for $2.99 from Amazon and other major retailers.

###

She Looks Just Like YouShe Looks Just Like You: A Memoir of (Nonbiological Lesbian) Motherhood by Amie Klempnaur Miller, published in 2010 by Penguin Random House.

After ten years of talking about children, two years of trying (and failing) to conceive, and one shot of donor sperm for her partner, Amie Miller was about to become a mother. Or something like that.

Some themes are dated here…some are decidedly not. This is available for $15.99 from Amazon and some other major retailers.

###

A Secret I Can't TellA Secret I Can’t Tell: The First Generation of Children from Openly Gay and Lesbian Homes by Joe Gantz

In 1977 a law was passed in Florida banning discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodation based on sexuality. This law was an important step towards respecting gay and lesbian civil rights. However, immediately after it was passed, a group called Save Our Children vowed to overturn the law. This group stirred up so much fear regarding the idea of a gay role model, such as a teacher, interacting with children that the gay-rights ordinance was repealed.

In 1979 Joe Gantz decided to show more realistic and positive gay role models than the distorted images promoted by the campaign, by finding families raising children in openly gay homes and asking them to tell their story. A Secret I Can’t Tell follows five families raising children in homes where one or both parents were not hiding their homosexuality.

This book was first published in 1983. It was republished in 2022 by Joe Gantz with an update from many of the children 40 years later. 

Anne’s Note: This book offers valuable insight into the past because now, in 2023, LGBT rights are regressing again across the US, and most notably in Florida where even speaking the word ‘gay’ is outlawed in elementary schools.

This is available for $9.99 from Amazon and other major retailers.

###

Zak's SafariZak’s Safari: A Story About Donor-Conceived Kids of Two-Mom Families by Christy Tyner, illustrated by Ciaee Ching. 

When the rain foils Zak’s plan for a safari adventure, he invites the reader on a very special tour of his family instead. Zak shows us how his parents met, fell in love, and wanted more than anything to have a baby—so they decided to make one.

Recommended for children ages 4 to 8.

This is available for $2.99 from Amazon or free to read in Kindle Unlimited.

###

Pride and JoyPride and Joy: A guide for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans parents by Sarah Hagger-Holt and Rachel Hagger-Holt

Pride and Joy is full of stories, advice, and real-life experience from LGBT parents and their children. Sometimes funny, sometimes moving, sometimes surprising, every story sheds new light on what it’s like for LGBT people raising children in the UK and Ireland today.  (Published in  2017 ).

Available from Amazon and other major retailers for $9.99

###

Radical RelationsRadical Relations: Lesbian Mothers, Gay Fathers, and Their Children in the United States since World War II by Daniel Winunwe Rivers, published by the University of North Carolina Press in 2013.

This isn’t the oldest book here, but it’s the most extensive history of lesbian and gay families in the US as the author traces LGBTQ family history back into the 1950s, after the end of the second World War, up until publication.

It’s available from Amazon and other online retailers for $9.99

###

Have a book you’d like to share, especially one that’s more current than many of these? Let us know.

10 Perfect Pride Month Sapphic Reads

By

Pride month will be with us beginning tomorrow in most countries where Pride events can be openly celebrated. In the spirit of Pride, I’ve picked ten fiction books, some out of a promotion, several out of my ‘To Be Read’ (TBR) pile, I’m looking forward to reading in the next month or so. Most are romance, and most have positive themes.

Some of the books are indie and are running in said promotion where I personally have a book listed this month. Some are from publishers large and small.  Most have been recommended to me (even above the promotion) as ‘must read’ stories of sapphic love and pride.

Fluid BondingFluid Bonding: A Sapphic Paranormal Romance was published in August of 2022 by indie author Sienna Eggler – If you know me, you know mysteries are my first love.  This was suggested because it has those intrigue elements I like to see in romance too. Bonus points for having one of the leads be non-binary and neurodivergent.

$4.99 at Amazon and other major retailers.

###

Hugs and QuichesHugs and Quiches was published back in 2020 by indie author/tiny press author Candace Harper. I’m a fan of cooking competition television shows and more than a few people know this. I’m not super talented in the kitchen myself, but my family doesn’t starve either. I live my high end culinary dreams vicariously through such shows. Two people that know this have both recommended this book. It sounds like a great second chance romance for at least one of the main characters, and a thawing the ice queen trope for the other one. Yum!

Also $4.99 at Amazon and other major retailers.

###

FlippedFlipped: A Once Upon a Fangirl Book – Another book I missed back in 2020 when Caitlin Ryan self-published it caught my eye in that promo that starts tomorrow. During the pandemic I got hooked on home renovation shows that now vie for my precious few hours of aimless TV time a week alongside those cooking shows/competitions I mentioned. The model on this cover? To me, she looks a little like a longer haired, slightly younger Alison Victoria of ‘Windy City Rehab.’ That’s who I’ll be picturing the whole time I read this story about a travel agent and a ‘lesbian couple’ that remodel homes.

Currently $.99 at Amazon and available via Kindle Unlimited.

###

Sips of HerSips of Her (Coffee Shops of Love Book 2) – A 2021 Sapphic romance by indie author Karmen Lee. Karmen is known for the diversity of her romances in both the multicultural aspects of them and in the sexualities/genders of her pairings. This one intrigues me because it offers both the cuteness of a romcom and some steam.

Currently $2.99 at Amazon and available via Kindle Unlimited.

###

Deus Ex MechanicDeus Ex Mechanic

I admit to starting this book by Ryann Fletcher when it came out in 2020…right before covid sent my wife home to work for months and my foster kids home to be homeschooled for months. I put it down ‘temporarily’ and lost track of it. It’s been waiting for me in my Kindle ever since. I’ll be starting it over gladly, and now there are four more books in the series to check out too.

At this writing this is $.99 at Amazon and at other major online retailers.

###

Swipe Right for LoveSwipe Right for Love This very recent release by Cyan LeBlanc (of fanfic fame) through her own small press, Posies and Peacocks, is quite the modern take on dating via apps. The format of the book is also very modern as each chapter is a date and, until it all works out in the end, it sounds like we’ll only get the viewpoint of one main character. I can’t wait to see how Cyan handles that!

Currently $3.99 at Amazon and available via Kindle Unlimited.

###

We finish with four books from large publishing houses, all well rated, and all with either intricate plots or tough themes that resolve well for the sapphics involved. No killing off your lesbians in these stories!

The Fiancee FarceThe Fiancée Farce – Avon published, Lammy Award winning author Alexandria Bellfleur is no stranger to sapphic book lovers, or to anyone who reads romance. This April release gives those book lovers what they love; a fake relationship book about book lovers. I can’t wait to dig into this.

$10.99 at Amazon and most other major retailers.

###

Forget Me NotForget Me Not Have you seen the Adam Sandler romcom movie, 50 First Dates, which was based on a true story? If you haven’t, watch it. I’ll wait. After that, lets read Alyson Derrick’s solo debut together and get the deeply emotional side of the same sort of story, but sapphic. Bonus points here from me for setting the story in small town western PA, near where I grew up and an area know well.

This was published in April by Simon and Schuster. It’s available for $10.99 from Amazon and most other retailers.

###

The Luis Ortega Survival ClubThe Luis Ortega Survival Club Author Sonora Reyes (The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School) is back with another teen and young adult hit, this one published last week by Balzer and Bray. Trigger warning: It deals with rape as is made very clear in the blurb.

I’ll be reading it. I can’t wait to see how Sonora portrayed these young women supporting each other and standing up for themselves.

It’s available on Amazon and other major retailers from Harper-Collins for $11.99.

###

6 Times We Almost KissedLast, but by no means least is, 6 Times We Almost Kissed and One Time We Did. This book by Tess Sharpe came out in January. Hachette has it on sale at this writing for $3.99.  From the blurb, which sounds so sweet, I’d label it teen/young adult on the cusp of new adult.

Available at most majo

There you have the books on my Pride month reading list…that I know about so far. What’s on your list?

~Anne

Sapphic YA Favorites of Our Readers

By

In 2009, author Malindo Lo rocked the world of YA literature with her Cinderella retelling novel, Ash, published by mainstream publisher – after a bidding war – Little Brown. A hit with YA readers, the story introduced them to a lesbian main character where the romance, rather than the sexuality, was more important to the story.

Malinda would follow Ash with Huntress, a prequel to Ash, and take popular YA books with sapphic protagonists to the masses.

Ash by Malinda LoHuntress by Malinda Lo

I had the pleasure of hearing Malinda give the Keynote address at the 2019 GCLS Conference in Pittsburgh, PA. Ten years after Ash, sapphic YA had exploded and an enthusiastic audience of young and not so young readers hung on her every word.

Now, there’s lots of sapphic YA out there to choose from, and so much of it is so good! Let’s dive in to some of our reader’s favorites besides Ash, Huntress, and Malinda’s more recent YA novel, profiled here on the blog last week with AAPI authors, Last Night at the Telegraph Club.

***

The Greatest ThingReaders on Tumblr can’t get enough of this graphic novel by Australian author and illustrator Sarah Winifred Searle, The Greatest Thing. The comic/graphic novel, featuring ‘Winifred’ as she enters her sophomore year of high school and makes some new friends is a 2023 Lambda Literary Award (Lammy) finalist.

***

Daughter of FireYlva Publishing author Karen Frost’s , four book YA high fantasy series, Destiny and Darkness keeps finding new readers enthralled by Aeryn who can create fire, and Lsye, the healer whose love Aeryn cannot have. The series starts with the book, Daughter of Fire: Conspiracy of the Dark.

***

The Henna WarsA book that came up with our readers and multiple times in online forums was, The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigidar. Follow the adventures of Nishat and Flavia as they compete against each other in a school competition and fall in love along the way.

***

You Should See Me in a CrownYou Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson is a ‘Teacher’s Pick’ and a ‘Time Magazine Best YA Book of all Time.” In the story, we follow Liz as she schemes to become the prom queen and get the scholarship she needs to go to the college of her dreams and get out of her small Indiana hometown. The only thing standing in her way is Mack; the girl she’s falling for who is also running for prom queen.

***

Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the WorldIvy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake is a Multi-Award Winning novel full of drama and romance when a tornado erases a home and creates a private dilemma for one of it’s former inhabitants, twelve year old, Ivy.

***

The Lesbiana’s Guide toThe Lesbianas Guide to Catholic School Catholic School by Sonora Reyes is a 2023 Lambda Literary Award (Lammy) Finalists in the YA category and a finalist for three additional literary awards. It is a Walter Honor Award Winner  and a Pura Belpré Honor Book. It’s the “…Sharply funny and moving debut novel about a queer Mexican American girl navigating Catholic school, while falling in love and learning to celebrate her true self. ”

***

Anne of GreenvilleOur readers call this next YA novel just plain fun. It’s a modern reimagining of Anne of Green Gables by Mariko Tamaki, Anne of Greenville. YA readers that remember the disco era will get a kick out of this story. Oh, and it’s Disney published; one of the many reasons Disney gets targeted for boycotts for support of the LGBTQ community and it’s art.

***

Cinderella is DeadThis next book is a personal favorite, as is this quote from it:

“Do not be silent. Raise your voice. Be a light in the dark.”

It’s from Cinderella is Dead by Kaylynn Bayron. It’s 200 years after Cinderella found her prince, but the fairy tale is over. Teen girls are now required to appear at the Annual Ball, where the men of the kingdom select wives based on a girl’s display of finery. If a suitable match is not found, the girls not chosen are never heard from again.

***

She Drives Me CrazyNo list of sapphic YA books would be complete without talking about author Kelly Quindlen and her string of best selling books. She started as an indie with her book, Her Name in the Sky. Her most current best seller is the book, She Drives Me Crazy, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Macmillan.

“High school nemeses fall in love in Kelly Quindlen’s She Drives Me Crazy, a queer YA romcom…”

***

The Girls are Never GoneFinally, a little YA horror to leave you with, if the Cinderella as Handmaids Tale story wasn’t enough to put some fear in you. How about The Girls are Never Gone by Sarah Glenn Marsh?

“The Conjuring meets Sadie in this queer ghost story, when seventeen-year-old podcaster Dare finds herself in a life-or-death struggle against an evil spirit.”

***

That’s a lot of great YA! And yet, there’s so much more. You’ve got your work cut out for you.

Happy reading!

~Anne