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2014: The Year in Lesbian/Bi Books

The publishing industry has faced challenges like any other with the advent of consumers believing everything should be free and available when they want it, and they want it now. On one hand, this means the loss of LGBT and feminist bookstores, mom and pop (or sometimes mom and mom, or pop and pop) brick-and-mortars that have spent most of their final years in business trying to make ends meet. On a positive note, however, the relative ease of self-publishing and availability of e-books has made it much more possible for marginalized voices to be seen and read.

But in a market that faces over-saturation, it can still be difficult to navigate; to find the stories by and about us we are looking for, and those that are of the best quality and the most truthful. Whether it’s in the form of novels or non-fiction, tales of our triumphs and tribulations are necessary for readers of all ages. We are still in a time of censorship, which was publicly demonstrated this last year with the Cape Henlopen School Board banning of Emily Danforth‘s lesbian-themed YA novel, The Miseducation of Cameron Post.

Here’s what was written about us, by us and/or for us in 2014.

Bestsellers

Sarah Waters released her sixth novel this fall, and she did not disappoint. The Paying Guests was a new piece of historical fiction from the author of beloved books like Fingersmith and Tipping the Velvet, and her return to a lesbian-focused relationship was a happy one for her fanbase, despite the not-so-optimistic story it contained. The Paying Guests hit number 12 on The New York Times Best-Sellers list and received favorable reviews.

Patricia Cornwell continues her reign as one of the most prolific authors ever with this year’s addition to the Kay Scarpetta series (her 22nd!), Flesh and Blood. A NY Times best-seller, the book includes a storyline about Scarpetta’s lesbian niece, Lucy.

Although she didn’t publish any new books this year, graphic novelist Alison Bechdel was awarded a MacArthur Genius Grant and says she is hard at work on her follow up to Are You My Mother? Her award-winning graphic memoir, Fun Home, was adapted into a stage musical that was so successful, it’s hitting Broadway this spring.

Best-selling graphic novelist Neil Gaiman‘s Sleeper and the Spindle featured two female characters kissing. Though he’s had queer characters in previous work, this time was most notable for it being included in a children’s book.

Lena Dunham‘s Not That Kind of Girl was one of the most talked-about memoirs of the year, and her essays included several moments of Sapphic fodder, including one dedicated to her queer sister, Grace. However parts of her book enraged readers, as the Girls creator spoke frankly about her fascination with Grace as a young girl, including some sections that critics said bordered on sexual abuse.

The best-selling author of Room, Emma Donoghue, published Frog Music this spring, which follows burlesque dancer Blanche’s attempts to find out who killed her gender-bending friend, Jenny. Emma’s first crime novel, Frog Music was a best-seller in Canada (based on pre-sales) before it was published. Meanwhile, the film adaptation of Room wrapped production this year.

Out author Jennifer McMahon released her sixth novel, The Winter People, which debuted at #17 on the Hardcover Fiction list.

In 2014 bisexual writer Roxane Gay had two books:essay collection Bad Feminist and novel An Untamed State, both with major publishers. A biracial Haitian American, Roxane’s views on feminism, queerness and everything else in pop culture through her very specific lens has been praised by critics and readers alike. Bad Feminist was a New York Times’ bestseller.

L.A. Times columnist Meghan Daum published her collection of essays, Unspeakable, which included a piece titled “Honorary Dyke.” In it, Meghan writes about the lesbian friends she had in college and her flirtation with bisexuality.

Jane Lynch and ex-wife (and clinical psychologist) Lara Embry worked together on a children’s book, Marlene, Marlene, Queen of Mean, which focused on bullying and featured illustrations from Tricia Tusa. It was published by Random House in September.

One of America’s most beloved and award-winning poets, Mary Oliver had a new collection published this year. Blue Horses became an instant best-seller, of which Mary said, “I am truly delighted.”

Novelist and creator of the Moomins children’s series, Tove Jansson‘s short stories were collected and published in English for the first time this year in The Woman Who Borrowed Memories. The Finnish novelist passed away in 2001, but her work continues to be translated into different languages, and Tove was featured on commemorative coins, stamps and in a large museum exhibit that went from Helsinki to Japan in 2014.

Wonderland by Stacey D’Erasmo is the out writer’s fifth book, which chronicled the life of a fictional 44-year-old female rock star. Part of her research for the book was done on tour with the Scissor Sisters.

Fiction

Ariel Schrag has been widely published as a graphic memoirist but this year marked her debut as a novelist. Adam told the tale of a teenage boy who is mistaken for a transman by a lesbian who turns into his love interest. The book has been controversial for its depictions of transmen, but was inspired by Ariel’s own life experience in New York City in the early 2000’s. The story is one only she could tell, and she does it in a raw and honest way.

Karelia Stetz-Waters‘ third novel, Forgive Me If I’ve Told You This Before, is a young adult story following a queer teen named Triinu Hoffman in 1990s Portland, Oregon. Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara gave the book a winning endorsement.

Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour is another young adult title that was a favorite for queer youth this year. A Hollywood mystery with a lesbian protagonist and a happy ending, it is highly recommended.

Having spent the last decade dedicating her time to non-fiction, Alexis De Veaux returns to fiction for Yabo, stories of black queer women.

Lorrie Sprecher‘s Pissing in a River featured Amanda, a punk rocker in a band called Lesbian Raincoat and an activist who tries to find her footing in a world gone mad.

Shelly Oria‘s short story collection, New York 1, Tel Aviv 0, includes queer relationships in every sense of the word, including a three-way poly throuple.

The Bird family gets a huge surprise when the matriarch announces she’s fallen in love with the female neighbor in The House We Grew Up In by UK writer Lisa Jewell.

Robin Talley‘s Lies We Tell Ourselves takes place during a pivotal time in the Civil Rights movement and has its teen protagonists questioning their identities in several different ways.

Lovers at the Chameleon Club, Paris 1932 (by Francine Prose) is a fictional account inspired by a famous photo of a lesbian couple: “Lesbian Couple at Le Monocle.” This is Francine’s 17th novel, and she’s got written a scrumptious piece of historical fiction.

The Toast’s Mallory Ortberg brought fictional characters into the new millennium with her parody book, Texts from Jane Eyre: And Other Conversations with Your Favorite Literary Characters.

Dionne Brand‘s Love Enough is a poetic novel about four different protagonists and the kinds of love they are exploring in their lives.

Anna is an illustrated book of queer poetry from partners Gili Estlin Hirsch (Israeli-born author) and Alex Ogden (visual artist/illustrator).

Wildfang owner Emma McIlroy wrote a children’s book about a character much like herself as a young tomboy: Emma’s a Gem.

Non-Fiction/Memoir

Alexis Coe’s Alice + Freda Forever detailed the true story of a 19th Century same-sex relationship that ended in murder. In a review for AfterEllen, Anna Pulley writes, “Using newspapers, medical journals, school catalogs, courtroom documents, love letters, and other historical documents, Coe invites readers to inhabit Alice and Freda’s story, and in turn to inhabit the gaps and contradictions that make up our own tortured selves, and maybe even, at least for a little while, embrace them.”

Brittney Griner‘s memoir, In My Skin, spoke frankly about the WNBA star’s time spent as a bullied, alienated youth and how she came to feel unsupported by her coach at Baylor University. Similar themes of homophobia in women’s basketball were explored in Kate Fagan‘s The Reappearing Act, a memoir of the sports journalist’s time spent on a very Christian college team in Colorado.

In The Mindfulness Diaries, Jennifer Howd challenges herself to a nine-day meditation retreat in complete silence. The self-published memoir has received favorable reviews on Amazon.

Kelly Cogswell‘s Eating Fire: My Life as a Lesbian Avenger told the story of the activist group full of artists, writers and other inspired gay women who protested inequality in the 1990s.

YouTube star Hannah Hart released My Drunk Kitchen: A Guide to Eating, Drinking, and Going with Your Gut, which is part cookbook and part anecdotal advice.

Two different memoirs focused on growing up queer in the South, although at completely different time periods: Teaching the Cat to Sit by Michelle Theall and Does This Bible Belt Make Me Look Gay? by Krista Doyle.

Miriam Frank‘s Out in the Union: A Labor History of Queer America is a documentation of how LGBT Americans fit into the labor movement, including interviews with activists and workers throughout the past 60 years.

Former model Kim Stolz discussed how social media is changing modern relationships in Unfriending my Ex.

Allison Moon‘s Bad Dyke has stories of the author’s sexual exploits in a collection of bedtime stories.

Primary Stein: Returning to the Writings of Gertrude Stein (edited by Janet Boyd and Sharon J. Kirsch) gave context to the beloved and eccentric work of the legendary poet and writer.

Rachel Maddow featured Terry Mutchler’s Under This Beautiful Dome: A Senator, A Journalist, and the Politics of Gay Love in America on her MSNBC show, discussing the importance of the true story, which focused on a political journalist (Terry) who was in a secret relationship with a female senator for several years.

Daisy Hernández‘s A Cup of Water Under My Bed chronicles the bisexual Cuban-Colombian writer’s coming-of-age in 1970s/80s New Jersey.

Comic Books & Graphic Novels

DC released Batwoman comics up through #37 in 2014, with #38 following in January, and #39 in February. The series is set to end this spring, which might not be such a bummer to fans who have not been thrilled with the change in creative team this year. Batwoman did find new allies in more recent issues, but she also faced new threats, too.

Toe Tag Riot launched as a bad ass zombie comic about a punk rock band with two lesbian members. Creator Matt Miner released Issues 1 and 2 this year, with #3 and #4 to follow in 2015.

Queer women are in love with Lumberjanes, which debuted this past spring from writers Grace Ellis and Noelle Stevenson and artist Brooke Allen. Following five female friends who enjoy camping and being grown up girl scouts, issues 1-9 were published steadily throughout the year from BOOM! Studios. More to follow!

In Tomboy: A Graphic Memoir, Liz Prince expertly draws her experience as a less-than-girly girl and how she came to be embraced for her androgyny by the punk community (and vice versa).

Wendy MacNaughton shared illustration duties with co-author Issaac Fitzgerald on Pen & Ink: Tattoos and the Stories Behind Them. Several queer women showed off their body art and stories behind them in the beautifully done book.

A.K. SummersPregnant Butch is a graphic memoir with a story never before told in this form, if anywhere. Lesbian-identified mom AK illustrates the hardships of being a butch woman with a bun in the oven, and it’s enlightening, to say the least.

Losses

This past June, we lost Annie on My Mind author Nancy Garden. The 76-year-old lesbian writer was most famous for the 1982 young adult novel which was among the first to portray a teen same-sex relationship. It has been widely banned since its first publication, but has also won several honors and has never been out of print, selling more than 100,000 copies.

Outside of Annie, Nancy penned more than 30 books, several of which had LGBTQ themes. She wrote short stories, children’s books, mysteries and Hear Us Out: Lesbian and Gay Stories of Struggle, Progress, and Hope from 1950 to the Present. She worked up until she died, passing away after a heart attack in her home in Carlisle, Mass. with her wife of 10 years by her side.

In November, we lost author, activist and trans pioneer Leslie Feinberg. The 65-year-old writer was well-known for hir 1993 debut novel, Stone Butch Blues, but continued to write and speak about hir experiences in books like Drag King Dreams, Trans Liberation: Beyond Pink or Blue and Rainbow Solidarity in Defense of Cuba.

Leslie, who was referred to as “she” by partner Minnie Bruce Pratt in her obituary, passed from complications due to her long-time battle with chronic Lyme disease. Despite spending several years in poor health, Leslie was a highly regarded authority on genderqueerness and trans identity, speaking on related topics as much as she could. Minnie says hir last words were as follows: “Hasten the revolution! Remember me as a revolutionary communist.” We will. We do.

The Lesbian Press

Several lesbian-run presses put out massive amounts of work this year, from genre novels to e-books. From Bella Books, there were many new releases including Rachel Gold‘s Just Girls and Sara Marx’s Click.

Bywater Books celebrated their 10th anniversary this year and put out new titles from Ellen Hart, Katherine V. Forrest and Z Egloff.

BoldStrokes Books published A Queer Kind of Justice: Prison Tales Across Time from Rebecca S. Buck and Queerly Beloved: A Love Story Across Genders. In the latter, Diane and Jacob Anderson-Minshall write openly about their coming to terms with Jacob’s transition after identifying as a lesbian couple. The two share narration duties and are frank about the difficulties they faced during the process.

Ylva Publishing was behind Blythe Rippon‘s Supreme Court-themed Sapphic story, Barring Complications, and All You Can Eat. A Buffet of Lesbian Erotica and Romance.

To Read

2015 will bring more exciting reads, beginning in January with both Miranda July‘s The First Bad Man, which includes a same-sex romance, and Ofelia: A Love and Rockets Book from Jaime Hernandez. Also that month: Karelia Stetz-Waters’ next novel, Something True (An Out in Portland Novel), and Michelle Tea‘s new memoir, How to Be a Grown Up, will detail her life spent post-Valencia, her last memoir which was published in 2000.

In April, Ginny Gilder’s Course Correction: A Story of Rowing and Resilience in the Wake of Title IX will discuss the Olympic rower’s athletic career and how she came to terms with her sexuality.

In September, Cat Cora will publish her memoir, Cooking As Fast As I Can: A Chef’s Story of Family, Food, and Forgiveness.

To another great year of the written word!

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