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No Way, They Were Gay?: Hidden Lives and Secret Loves (Queer History Project)
by Lee Wind"History" sounds really official. Like it's all fact. Like it's definitely what happened. But that's not necessarily true. History was crafted by the people who recorded it. And sometimes, those historians were biased against, didn't see, or couldn't even imagine anyone different from themselves. That means that history has often left out the stories of LGBTQIA+ people: men who loved men, women who loved women, people who loved without regard to gender, and people who lived outside gender boundaries. Historians have even censored the lives and loves of some of the world's most famous people, from William Shakespeare and Pharaoh Hatshepsut to Cary Grant and Eleanor Roosevelt. Join author Lee Wind for this fascinating journey through primary sources—poetry, memoir, news clippings, and images of ancient artwork—to explore the hidden (and often surprising) Queer lives and loves of two dozen historical figures.
Just Ash
by Sol SantanaAshley "Ash" Bishop has always known who he is: a guy who loves soccer, has a crush on his friend Michelle, and is fascinated by the gruesome history of his hometown—Salem, Massachusetts. He's also always known that he's intersex, born with both male and female genitalia. But it's never felt like a big deal until his junior year of high school, when Ash gets his first period in front of the entire boys' soccer team. Now his friends and teachers see him differently, and his own mother thinks he should "try being a girl." As tensions mount with his parents and Ash feels more and more like an outcast, he can't help feeling a deeper kinship with his ancestor Bridget Bishop, who was executed for witchcraft. She didn't conform to her community's expectations either; she was different, and her neighbors felt threatened by her. And she paid the ultimate price. Ash is haunted by her last recorded words: You will keep silent. Ash realizes that he needs to find a way to stand up for who he really is, or the cost of his silence might destroy his life, too. Praise for Just Ash: "There are few books and even fewer authors who have endeavored to give readers a real glimpse into the life of an intersex teen, which is just one reason Santana's debut is so unique. . . . Santana—who is intersex herself—has written a smart and deeply introspective main character with whom readers will easily sympathize."—starred, Booklist "A page-turning, harrowing, but ultimately empowering tour-de-force...a must read for all humans."—I. W. Gregorio, author of None of the Above and This is My Brain in Love "A tough, powerful, necessary read, especially as Intersex Awareness Day approaches."—BuzzFeed
Three Player Co-op Series Anthology (GeekLove Times Three #2)
by Allyson LindtFive best friends find their happily ever afters in these five books featuring geeky heroines and the possessively sweet heroes who will move the world for the women they love.Looking For It - SadieI know better than to hook up with my brother's best friends, but they've made me an offer I can't refuse. Can we cross that line without ruining the friendships we already have?Waiting For It - AnneMy best friend's brother, my boss... the two men I spend my days working with and my nights fantasizing about. When I find out they're doing the same, my world is turned upside down. When I learn their seduction is part of a bet, my world is shattered.Asking For It - LynI don't care that the two gorgeous men in the coffee shop give me obviously fake names when they hit on me. I don't expect to ever see them again. Then they show up in my shop the next days--it turns out they're the persistent jerks trying to buy my business out from under me. Running For It - VioletI walked away from the man I loved because the person his political career required him to be in public wasn't the same as the man behind closed doors. But a night with him and his best friend reminds me how much I miss their company. I can't walk away again, but I can't play by the same rules they do.Fighting For It - LunaWhen the media paints me as a hacking super villain, the only way to redeem myself is to step into the spotlight and prove them wrong. But the men I'm falling for are as publicity averse as I am, and my newly-found fame could shatter our world.Author's Note: This set contains books 1-5 in the Three Player Co-op series. They are the same books available individually by these titles.Other Books By Allyson LindtValkyrie's Legacy Series (Urban Fantasy)Valkyrie RebornValkyrie HuntedValkyrie ConcealedValkyrie CrownedThree Player Co-op (Ménage Romance)Looking For ItWaiting For ItAsking For ItRunning For ItFighting For ItGame for Cookies Series (Ménage Romance)Seduction GamesControl GamesTwo Plus One (Ménage Romance)Their NerdTheir Matchmaker3d20 Series (Ménage Romance)Roll Against TrustRoll Against RegretRoll Against DiscoveryRoll Against BetrayalSubscribe, Live, Love Series (Ménage Romance)Red HuntedRed ConsumedBeauty ClaimedBeauty AwakenedUbiquity Series (Urban Fantasy Reverse Harem)Seductive SoulSoul ReaperSoul BetrayerTruth's Harem Series (Urban Fantasy Reverse Harem)Fate's IllusionInnovation's MuseApathy's HeroRidden Hard (M/F Contemporary Romance)Hard FlipHard PackRiding the WaveDrive Me WildLove Equation (Contemporary Romance)RivalCharmed by the GeeksRegretRestraintLove Games (M/F Contemporary Romance)His ReputationHer AirmanHis CosplayerLove Hack (M/F Contemporary Romance)His HackerHis InfatuationHer SurrenderHacking Wonderland (Suspense)Reagan through the Looking GlassThe Hatter and the HarePainting the Roses RedReigning HeartsNull Equation (Dystopian Romance)Over ExposedOver StimulatedOver SharedStand Alone TitlesSeeking More (M/F New Adult Romance)Destined for Temptation (Paranormal Romance)
August Prather Is Not Dead Yet
by Danielle K. RouxKatherine Garnet is a writer who has never cared much about much, making it awfully difficult to create new content.Despite the fact she has the "edge" of being trans (according to her cis male editor) she is not looking to capitalize on her own personal story. Garnet tries to sneak a peek at her rival, August Prather's, latest fantasy manuscript about a quest for the elixir of life. While reading, Garnet gets accidently dragged into a bizarre cross-country road trip that may or may not have a purpose and begins to see parallels in the story of the manuscript and the reality of their journey.Along the way, they encounter a parade of equally troubled individuals, including ghost-hunting priests,a robot magician, a discarded piece of furniture, a runaway teenager, and a Japanese rock star. As Garnet confronts her past, she begins to understand why someone might want to live forever.
Waltzing A Two-Step: Reckoning Family, Faith, And Self
by Dan JudayWaltzing a Two-Step is the first-person account of a boy born into the rural Midwest in the middle of the 20th Century. A bright, timid boy, he is enthralled with the grandeur of his local library and his Catholic church. One of five children in an upwardly mobile family, he struggles with being gay. Contemplating the paradoxes that life presents him, he looks for his proper place in an enticing but unwelcoming world, a search that takes him overseas–chasing lost happiness and struggling to fit in. His search ultimately reveals that he has been looking for himself all along. It is a cautionary tale told late in life out of the comfort and regret that come with memory and the bittersweetness of time and opportunity gone by without addressing things that should have been said earlier. The story has many parallels to the world in the 21st Century and is a must-read for those searching for life's answers. The story takes place during the pivotal era of the 60s and 70s. The book details t
A King and a Monster
by Danielle K. RouxThe final installment of SHADES OF THE CITY, a queer urban sci-fi series perfect for fans of V. E. Schwab’s VICIOUS and Rainbow Rowell’s CARRY ON. Praise for This Will Kill That: "This Will Kill That is an emotional whirlwind of a story that touches upon some pretty important and sensitive subjects, such as abuse, suicide, and living within a broken world." -Verified Reviewer District City is burning down. The Color order is threatened. Old and new enemies clash in the streets. Newly crowned Amaya wants to save the city, while fugitive Rin wants to destroy it. They also happen to be in love with each other. Can they see past their differences, or will their competing visions tear them apart? Outside the city, Alan and Kazuki follow the trail to the mythical Echelon, a place that promises to reveal the truth about the past.Yet the truth might not be enough to save their friends before everything goes up in smoke. The Shades of the City Series is best enjoyed in the following order: Book 1: This Will Kill That Book 2: Shades of the City Book 3: A King and a Monster
Alex McKenna and a Winter's Night (Alex McKenna #3)
by Vicki-Ann BushThe third installment in the award-winning Alex McKenna Series, this LGBTQ teen paranormal adventure perfect for fans of Aidan Thomas’ CEMETERY BOYS and LOST IN THE NEVER WOODS. For a minute, everything in Alex McKenna’s life was perfect. He only had one year left of high school, his girlfriend Margaret was the love of his life, and he couldn’t ask for a more supportive family. His psychic powers were growing and he was learning more and more about his family’s abilities as Strega witches. Things were good. Until the night it all fell to pieces. As Margaret lies in the hospital after a serious car accident, her disembodied spirit searches for a way back to the living. Alex is desperate to save her and the victims of his next case: an ominous being haunting the hospital and stealing the souls of infants and the elderly, sending them straight to Hell. The Alex McKenna Series in order: 1. Alex McKenna and the Geranium Deaths 2. Alex McKenna and the Academy of Souls 3. Alex McKenna and a Winter’s Night
Punks
by John KeeneA landmark collection of poetry by acclaimed fiction writer, translator, and MacArthur Fellow John Keene, PUNKS: NEW & SELECTED POEMS is a generous treasury in seven sections that spans decades and includes previously unpublished and brand new work. With depth and breadth, PUNKS weaves together historic narratives of loss, lust, and love. <p><p>The many voices that emerge in these poems--from historic Black personalities, both familial and famous, to the poet's friends and lovers in gay bars and bedrooms--form a cast of characters capable of addressing desire, oppression, AIDS, and grief through sorrowful songs that "we sing as hard as we live." At home in countless poetic forms, PUNKS reconfirms John Keene as one of the most important voices in contemporary poetry. <p><p>"John Keene's PUNKS is utterly brilliant. The range, vision, depth and humanity he brings to the page are as galactic as Banneker's astral wanderings, as crisp as the chordal cutting of a searching horn, as courageous and small as a nose wide open. Keene's masterfully inventive inquiry of self and history is queered, Blackened, and joyously thick with multitudes of voice and valence. Amen to this exploration!"--Tyehimba Jess <p><p>Poetry. African & African American Studies. LGBTQIA Studies.
Poppy's Return
by Pat RosierThis thoughtful follow up to Poppy's Progress explores issues of family relationships, especially grief and loss. Middle-aged Poppy Sinclair is content enough with her life and her comfortable relationships with her friends, family, and cat. She is thrown into turmoil, however, when she must move back to her hometown to care for her dying father. There, she must face not only the difficult, slow loss of a parent to cancer but also her lingering feelings for a former flame, Jane. In a time of strong emotions for her entire family, Poppy reaches a turning point in her life, torn by grief for her father and excitement over what Jane might offer. Exquisite characterization and engaging dialogue distinguish this subtly challenging novel.
Remember the Tarantella
by Finola MoorheadA work of feminist, lesbian fiction, this experimental novel explores the lives of 26 women--each named for a letter of the alphabet--during the 1980s. Following the five women whose names begin with vowels more closely, this account places Iona, the taxi-driving narrator, front and center. Written in several strands of narrative, this compelling account includes an astrological twist that is sure to entertain.
The Skeleton Woman
by RenéeRose Anthony is recovering from a serious illness, smarting from a fight with her lover, and waiting for the results of an art contest that she entered when an unlikely person arrives at her door in this compelling mystery from a leading New Zealand writer. A baby has been abandoned on her doorstep with an accompanying note that reads "For Rose Anthony." The secret life of her late mother is revealed to Rose in this tightly plotted, entertaining read.
Zest for Life: Lesbians' Experiences of Menopause
by Jennifer KellyHighlighting how and why the concerns of lesbians are often overlooked during the "change of life," this book draws on lesbians' menopausal experiences to illustrate how menopause can be a time to rejoice, not despair. Hormone replacement therapy, health services, body image, and homophobia are some of the topics discussed in this illuminating guide that doctors, heterosexual, and homosexual women will learn from and enjoy.
My Sister Chaos
by Lara FergusThe story of twin sisters who escape from an unknown, war-torn country, this novel follows an obsessive-compulsive cartographer trapped in the mapping of her own house and a painter turned code-breaker trying to find the lover she lost in the war. While the cartographer is obsessed with keeping the world in order--her sister's unexpected visit is equated with a sign of chaos--her sister has a firm grip on the real world and, perhaps, a greater sense of order. Presented within a world of obsession and trauma, this narrative explores whether anyone is immune to the forces of destruction.
Wave
by Hoa PhamI remember how you were, not how you are. We were we until we became you and I. Midori and Âu Cô are international university students tasting freedom from family for the first time. They discover Melbourne and each other. All is well until the tsunami that swamps their world... Midori and Âu Cô are international university students in Melbourne. They play at being silver dragons birthing pearls from their mouths. They are united by loneliness. Midori's parents are killed by the tsunami in Fukushima and soon after Midori and Âu Cô witness a university shooting. Midori ends up in a psychiatric hospital, not able to cope with the double blow.Âu Cô is courted by a Vietnamese-Australian boy (Dzung) who has also survived the shooting. Dzung is unaware of Midori and Âu Cô's relationship and pressured by his parents asks Au Co to marry him. Midori is silenced and unable to out herself and Âu Cô she understands too well the pressures of family. Âu Cô accepts since her own family wants to migrate to Australia. Midori absconds before the wedding to the Blue Mountains. She suicides close to the Three Sisters. Âu Cô is left to work through her guilt.
Fourteen: My year of darkness, and the light that followed
by Shannon MolloyOptioned for a major film and adapted to the stage, Fourteen is this generation&’s Holding the Man – a moving coming-of-age memoir about a young man&’s search for identity and acceptance in the most unforgiving and hostile of places: high school. This is a story about my fourteenth year of life as a gay kid at an all-boys rugby-mad Catholic school in regional Queensland. It was a year in which I started to discover who I was, and deeply hated what was revealed. It was a year in which I had my first crush and first devastating heartbreak. It was a year of torment, bullying and betrayal – not just at the hands of my peers, but by adults who were meant to protect me. And it was a year that almost ended tragically. I found solace in writing and my budding journalism; in a close-knit group of friends, all growing up too quickly together; and in the fierce protection of family and a mother&’s unconditional love. These were moments of light and hilarity that kept me going. As much as Fourteen is a chronicle of the enormous struggle and adversity I endured, and the shocking consequences of it all, it&’s also a tale of survival. Because I did survive.Longlisted for the 2021 ABIA Biography Book of the Year &‘Teenagers should read this book, parents should read this book. Human beings, above all, should read this book.&’ Rick Morton, bestselling author of One Hundred Years of Dirt &‘I love this book … a beautifully written account of a young man struggling with his sexuality, overcoming shocking abuse and finding his way to pride.&’ Peter FitzSimons, bestselling author &‘Shannon is unflinching in recounting the horror, but he is also funny, empathetic and, above all, full of courage.&’ Bridie Jabour, author of The Way Things Should Be &‘A slice of life as experienced quite recently in the &“lucky country&”.&’ The Hon Michael Kirby, AC CMG &‘Shannon's bitter struggle is painfully recognisable and happening in playgrounds around the world. But he not only triumphs, he relives his past using his best weapon: beautiful words.&’ Australian Women&’s Weekly &‘A stunning memoir about heartbreak and acceptance … a unique, hilarious and bittersweet insight into the heart of a boy, the courage of survival, and the fierce love of a mother.&’ Frances Whiting, Courier Mail &‘Australia hasn&’t changed all that much from what Shannon describes in Fourteen. Marriage equality isn&’t the end; there is still such a long way to go, and books like this are an important part of that journey.&’ FIVE STARS. Good Reading &‘Intensely raw and incredibly moving.&’ OUTinPerth 'A book in which many will undoubtably see themselves and take solace' The Age
Paradise (point of transmission)
by Andrew SutherlandParadise (point of transmission) is a poetry collection placed within a sequence of physical and psychic transitional spaces: from seronegative to seropositive; from ‘adopted' Singaporean to the poet finding his place again as an adult in the Perth of his childhood; and from being secretive about his HIV-status (in which the art he produced was rooted in the trauma of HIV transmission without naming it), towards living a more public life, in which living openly with HIV is characterised by the queer longing toward both resilience and transformation.
Blue Wren
by Bron BatemanBlue Wren is a beautiful and moving body of work from poet Bron Bateman. Using Frida Kahlo as her inspiration, she has crafted a collection of poems that builds on the themes from Of Memory and Furniture of healing and reclaiming her past. In her new book, Bron experiments with different forms, such as magical realism, prose poetry and free verse, with many poems addressed to her lover, her sister, her children and the strong influence that her mother had on her life.
Then There Was Her
by Sophie CachiaSocial media and business entrepreneur Sophie Cachia reveals never-before-shared details of her marriage breakdown, and how delving into her feminine intuition and falling in love with a woman turned her whole world upside down. I was running late, again. The sweat from under my milk-filled udders ran down my stomach and onto the post-natal recovery shorts I&’d squeezed on under my leather skirt. Only eight weeks earlier, I&’d birthed my second baby, and this was one of my first work appearances. I raced into the hotel, took the lift to the wrong floor, fumbled my bag and finally landed at the entrance. I went around the circle of unfamiliar faces, smiling, shaking hands, introducing myself… Then there was her. As our hands touched, time froze. My whole world changed forever… Sophie Cachia had her white picket fence life. By the age of 25, she was a mother and happily married, and had also built a very successful business by documenting her every move online. But Sophie and her comfortable existence were thrown a curveball when she met a woman who prompted her to ask herself the questions: What more can I do? What more can I learn? What more can I be? In Then There Was Her, Sophie describes how challenging the set social narrative for a young woman led her down a path of awareness, empowerment and acceptance as she navigated identity, sensuality and the true meaning of authenticity as a mother and a woman. A deeply honest and inspirational memoir of a strong female who made peace with her decisions all in the unrelenting glare of the public eye, Then There Was Her encourages readers to stop fearing the unknown in life and to instead be excited about what may just come your way.
Can I Steal You for a Second?: A heartwarming queer love story (Marry Me, Juliet #2)
by Jodi McAlisterWhen you sign up to a dating show, you&’re supposed to fall in love with the male lead, not another contestant … A delightful romantic comedy with all the feels for fans of The Charm Offensive. Mandie Mitchell will do anything to get over her toxic ex. Even sign up to the polarising reality dating show, Marry Me, Juliet. But with her self-esteem in tatters, she&’s not sure she&’s brave enough to actually go on the show – until she forms a friendship with fellow contestant Dylan Gilchrist, who gives her the push she needs. Dylan is everything Mandie is not – tough, strong, and totally unafraid to speak her mind. Unfortunately, she also looks set to win, as she soon becomes the clear favourite of the Romeo, who also happens to share the same name. It&’s annoying, really, just how perfect the Dylans seem for each other. Mandie&’s jealous. But it&’s not because she wants to win the show. It&’s because in her effort to get over her ex, she&’s gone and fallen right back in love … with the wrong Dylan. &‘Sizzles with smart social commentary, an inclusive cast of characters, plenty of humour and a love story with tectonic chemistry.&’ Clare Fletcher, author of Five Bush Weddings
Women I Know
by Katerina GibsonUnpicking the stitches of gender and genre, the stories in this searing, funny, haunting debut explore how our ideas of womanhood shape us, and what they cost us.&‘My God darling—the women I know.&’A young woman tries to cheat her algorithm, creating a wholesome online persona while her &‘real&’ life dissipates. A grandmother speaks to her granddaughter through the fog of generations. Two lovers divide over alternative meat options. A factory worker fits eyes in companion dolls until she is called on to install her own.The women I know are sharp, absurd, sly, wrong, wry, repressed, hungry, horny, bold, envious, dominating, uncertain, overdetermined, underpaid, bored, smart, crystalizing, themselves. A burning talent with growing international recognition, Katerina Gibson&’s work has appeared in Granta, Kill Your Darlings, Overland and elsewhere. She is the Pacific regional winner of the 2021 Commonwealth Short Story Prize and recipient of the Felix Meyer Scholarship.&‘Smart, gleeful, savage, funny and genuinely brilliant. I kept wanting to cry out with joy! Katerina Gibson is a superstar.&’ Miles Allinson, author of In Moonland and Fever of Animals'Women I Know is a rich, contemporary blend of inventive and entertaining writing. Dark and funny, Katerina Gibson&’s stories are sparkling with ideas – it&’s thrilling that the future of Australian fiction is held in such talented hands.' Ben Walter, author of What Fear Was 'Come for the bold conceits, stay for the savage disaffection. These mind-bending stories startle, surprise, beguile and devastate. Gibson&’s talent, in striking out from the shores of realism, is to bring us closer to the truths of contemporary life.' Jo Lennan, author of In the Time of Foxes&‘[T]he pieces in Gibson&’s fiction debut create an elegant and subtle whole, with delicate prose that moves the reader as expertly as it disturbs them.&’ Georgia Brough, Books+Publishing
The Guncle
by Steven RowleyFrom the author of Lily and the Octopus comes a moving and deeply funny novel about a once-famous sitcom star who is left to care for his niece and nephew after an unexpected family tragedy. Patrick, or Gay Uncle Patrick (GUP for short), has always loved his niece, Maisie, and nephew, Grant. That is, he loves spending time with them … in small doses, with their parents there to handle the tears and tricky questions. So when tragedy strikes and Patrick finds himself suddenly taking on the role of primary guardian, he is, honestly, overwhelmed.Patrick has no idea what to expect, having spent years barely holding on after the loss of his great love, a stalled acting career, and a lifestyle not-so-suited to young children. But when he realises that parenting isn&’t solved with treats and jokes, Patrick&’s eyes are opened to a new sense of responsibility and the realisation that, sometimes, being vulnerable is the only way to heal from grief. Tender, charming and laugh-out-loud funny, The Guncle is a testament to finding happiness and peace in the most trying of times. &‘Steven Rowley&’s The Guncle is a gift. At once funny, charming and heartbreaking, it&’s that rare novel that will have you laughing out loud, even through tears. I have yet to meet a person who did not love this book.&’ Sally Hepworth, bestselling author of The Good Sister and The Younger Wife&‘A joyous Auntie Mame spritz! A reading pleasure; pour yourself a tall glass and enjoy, preferably poolside. You deserve it!&’ Andrew Sean Greer, winner of the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Less
Behind The Voice: Dietro La Voce
by Anthony CalleaAn honest and candid memoir from one of Australia&’s most phenomenal voices. A story of determination, humility and self-discovery. All Anthony Callea wanted was to sing. From his first memories of singing for his family, Anthony knew that he wanted to share his voice with the world. He had a strongly held dream but was as surprised as anyone when his breakout moment (his heart-stopping rendition of &‘The Prayer&’ on Australian Idol) turned him into a household name overnight. Now, in his own words, Anthony shares the joys and challenges of becoming celebrated for his voice, all while navigating the twists and turns of life. It&’s a story of a kid from the working-class western suburbs of Melbourne with a big dream and an even bigger voice, who had to finish growing up in the spotlight. Anthony&’s 20-year career has spanned stage, arena, and screen, and he now invites you backstage to share his journey. One day you are working at a suburban shopping centre as a Freddo Frog mascot, the next you are topping charts, winning awards and sharing stages with Celine Dion, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. These candid, courageous and, at times, very amusing anecdotes take us beyond the slick facade of showbiz, to the hard work, blood, sweat, and tears that it takes to become one of Australia&’s most enduring and beloved entertainers.
Then There Was You: Captivating true life stories of self-discovery and reinvention
by Sophie CachiaThen There Was You is the eagerly awaited follow-up to Sophie Cachia&’s bestselling memoir Then There Was Her. In Then There Was Her, Sophie Cachia revealed how falling in love with a woman turned her whole world upside down. Her story inspired thousands of readers to reach out, wanting to share their own journeys of sexual and romantic discovery. Then There Was You is a captivating true life collection of stories told to Sophie about heartbreak, passion, bravery and the healing power of shared experiences. After 18 years (and two kids) with her male partner, a woman finds her missing puzzle piece following a chance encounter with a beautiful woman at a wedding. A woman and her husband are house-hunting for a bigger place ... so her boyfriend can move in with them all.Her first serious relationship was toxic, and emotionally and psychologically abusive – and it ends in tragedy.
The Modern
by Anna Kate BlairIn an age driven by desire, what happens when you want two different things? Set in the pristine, precarious world of MoMA, The Modern is a brilliantly wry and insightful debut about art, sexuality, commitment and whether being on the right path can lead to the wrong place. Things seem to be working out for Sophia in New York: having come from Australia to be at the centre of modernity, she&’s working at the Museum of Modern Art, living in a great apartment with a boyfriend interviewing for Ivy League teaching positions. They&’re smart, serious, dine in the right restaurants and have (a little unexpectedly) become engaged just before he leaves to hike the Appalachian Trail. Alone in the city, Sophia begins to wonder what it means to be married – to be defined, publicly – in the 21st century. Can you be true to yourself and someone else? In a bridal shop she meets Cara, a young artist struggling to get over her ex-girlfriend, and the two begin a connection that leads Sophia to question the nature of her relationships, her career and the consequences of being modern. Both playful and profound, inhabiting the gap between what we feel about ourselves and how we behave, Anna Kate Blair&’s debut novel is a sparklingly insightful queer exploration of desire, art and her generation&’s place in the world. It announces an exceptional new literary voice. &‘Cerebral and sensual … each fork in the road revealing itself with insight and beauty.&’ Katerina Gibson, author of Women I Know &‘A dazzling exploration of desire and longing. Anna Kate Blair has given us a new form of fiction – intellectual, yearning, honest and vulnerable.&’ Anne Casey-Hardy, author of Cautionary Tales for Excitable Girls &‘This novel is a work of art ... It made me laugh, feel lucky to be alive, and reminded me of the expansiveness of creativity.&’ Laura McPhee-Browne, author of Cherry Beach &‘Blair&’s novel expertly blends dark, self-deprecating humour with a quest to know oneself through the lens of art … Sophia is a masterpiece of imperfection and an authentic millennial character.&’ Books+Publishing '... a tale of reckoning with oneself and an unshakable external reality.' ArtsHub 'Blair has delivered a stellar debut. It is potent, passionate and illuminating.' The Australian
Monoceros
by Suzette MayrWinner of the W.O. Mitchell Book PrizeWinner of the 2012 Relit Award for Best NovelLonglisted for the Scotiabank Giller PrizeShortlisted for the Ferro-Grumley Award for LGBT FictionShortlisted for the Alberta Literary Award for Best FictionA Globe and Mail Best Novel of 2011 A seventeen-year-old boy, bullied and heartbroken, hangs himself. And although he felt terribly alone, his suicide changes everyone around him. His parents are devastated. His secret boyfriend's girlfriend is relieved. His unicorn- and virginity-obsessed classmate, Faraday, is shattered; she wishes she had made friends with him that time she sold him an Iced Cappuccino at Tim Hortons. His English teacher, mid-divorce and mid-menopause, wishes she could remember the dead student's name, that she could care more about her students than her ex's new girlfriend. Who happens to be her cousin. The school guidance counsellor, Walter, feels guilty – maybe he should have made an effort when the kid asked for help. Max, the principal, is worried about how it will reflect on the very Catholic school. And Walter, who's been secretly in a relationship with Max for years, thinks that's a little callous. He’s also tired of Max's obsession with some sci-fi show on TV. And Max wishes Walter would lose some weight and remember to use a coaster. And then Max meets a drag queen named Crepe Suzette. And everything changes. Monoceros is a masterpiece of the tragicomic; by exploring the effects of a suicide on characters outside the immediate circle, Mayr offers a dazzlingly original look at the ripple effects – both poignant and funny – of a tragedy. A tender, bold work.