days until...

July 19, 2008 has been designated by the online community as International Femslash Day. Femslash refers to writings of female pairings in various TV shows, even books and movies (Sam/Janet, Xena/Gabrielle, or Janeway/Seven).

I have been a writer all my life, enjoying the many places my imagination could take me, but I definitely got my start as a writer for public consumption by writing femslash, aka f/f, or lesbian relationships for two particular fandoms, Xena: Warrior Princess and Star Trek: Voyager. The communities, like J7Faction, born of these fandoms are a wonderful, supportive environment and shape writers of many stripes, providing vast types of feedback, from 'cheerleading' to more constructive. You may have seen the terms "bards", for the writers (most often originating in the Xena fandom) and "beta readers" (readers who might check a story before it is posted--ranging from having editor skills to in-depth series knowledge for picking out inconsistencies). Both terms are ones which were happily worn by many now-published authors of print and e-book lesbian and bisexual women's fiction.

Anyway, there are fan-made videos, fan-made graphic art, and fan-written stories, celebrating and expanding on something we like to call "subtext" (although in some series, like Bad Girls or ER it was definitely from time to time "maintext") which many sites will unveil on July 19. Surf the web starting at any of the above links, and see them for yourself.

Finally, be sure to come back here on July 19, for at least one new short story, possibly two, from me, to you.

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Note: The links above go to some of the more popular sites for those fandoms, but they certainly are not all that's available. Share your links by posting in Comments!

Labels: fanfiction, femslash, J7, stories, Xena

Introducing the P.D. Publishing Authors Webring connecting P.D. Publishing's authors for your surfing pleasure!

At the moment there are 11 author sites and P.D. Publishing's home page included the ring. The authors write every genre imaginable for GLBT readers. There's classic romance, memoir, mystery, suspense, horror, paranormal, speculative fiction, and much more! If you like my novel, Turning Point, you're sure to enjoy the other authors at P.D. Publishing, Inc..

So take a spin on the P.D. Publishing Authors Webring today!

Labels: news, PD Publishing, TP, Turning Point, webring

Golden Crown Literary Society, dedicated to expanding the visibility and quality of lesbian fiction, has released its list of Goldie award finalists in advance of its annual conference in Phoenix (July 31-Aug 3), where the winners will be announced.

I have been named a finalist in Debut Author for Turning Point from P.D. Publishing, Inc.

Congratulations to all the finalists! Please follow this link to see the whole list.
http://www.gclscon.com/2008GCLSAwards-Finalists.html

I'm again looking forward to seeing all the writers, editors, publishers and readers in Phoenix!

Labels: authors, award, conference, GCLS, lesbian fiction, PD Publishing, TP, Turning Point

As you know, June is International GLBT Pride Month!

PROMO:
Profits from all my June direct sales (Paypal or check/money order) will go to support the GLBT Center of Central Florida. (If you order through Amazon or other bookseller, I cannot verify sales and therefore can't figure the profit for Center.)

AWARD:
My 2007 novel Turning Point recently won 2007 Best Lesbian Romance from the Lesbian Fiction Readers Choice Awards!

ABOUT TURNING POINT:
Excerpts and Paypal ordering info: http://www.lzfiction.net/mine/tpexcerpt.php

There are GLBT actors and actresses throughout Hollywood and most of their costars are gay-friendly. But what if you didn't know you weren't just gay-friendly, but gay yourself? For two women, the dissatisfaction they've had in relationships seemed simply to be 'not having the right guy' or 'not having the same goals'.

Until they get to know each other.

Co-starring on the cult TV series Time Trails, Brenna Lanigan and Cassidy Hyland appear to be complete opposites. Brenna, 41, has been acting for more than twenty years and leads the ensemble cast. She's in her second marriage, and has two teenage sons. Cassidy, 32, arrived to the TV series as the hot sexy newcomer, the epitome of a Hollywood starlet; tall, lean and blond. Recently divorced, and dating a writer on the series, she has a young son. For these two busy, working, and driven, women, just getting along in the competitive world of Hollywood would seem a tall order, and the gossip rags have described more than once the chill in the air on set.

Beginning at a child's birthday party, and following through many events and mishaps, Brenna and Cassidy slowly forge an unforeseeable, but unshakable bond of friendship, support and, ultimately, emotional and physical love.

Join the women's journey which begins with Turning Point (2007) from P.D. Publishing, Inc. ISBN: 1-933720-19-0 (paperback; soon to be available as an e-book)

Brenna Lanigan and Cassidy Hyland's story will continue in 2009 with "Turn for Home", also from P.D. Publishing, Inc.

PROMO REMINDER:
Profits from all June direct sales through Paypal will go to support the GLBT Center of Central Florida. (If you order through Amazon or other bookseller, I cannot verify sales and therefore can't figure the profit for Center.)

Labels: Pride, promotion, TP, Turning Point

Last night, the Lambda Literary Foundation announced the 2007 winners of the Lammy. Their website hasn't been updated yet as I type this, but from their PR email, here's some of my favorite category winners!

LGBT ANTHOLOGY
First Person Queer, edited by Richard Labonte and Lawrence Schimel (Arsenal Pulp Press)

LGBT SCI-FI/FANTASY/HORROR
The Dust of Wonderland, Lee Thomas
(Alyson Books)

LGBT STUDIES
Between Women, Sharon Marcus
(Princeton University Press)

BISEXUAL
Split Screen, Brett Hartinger
(HarperCollins Children's Books)

LESBIAN DEBUT FICTION
Among Other Things, I've Taken Up Smoking, Aoibheann Sweeney
(The Penguin Press)

WOMEN'S FICTION
The IHOP Papers, Ali Leibegott
(Carroll & Graf)

WOMEN'S ROMANCE
Out of Love, KG MacGregor
(Bella Books)

WOMEN'S MYSTERY
Wall of Silence, Gabrielle Goldsby (Bold Strokes Books)

WOMEN'S MEMOIR/BIOGRAPHY
And Now We Are Going to Have a Party Nicola Griffith (Payseur & Schmidt)

to all the winners! Way to go! to my acquaintances Gabrielle Goldsby and KG MacGregor!

Labels: Lambda Literary Society, winner