lgbtq books

Welcome to our LGBT podcast 7 Minutes in Book Heaven – presented to you by This Queer Book Saved My Life! In this short podcast, we spend 7 minutes in our virtual studio interviewing LGBTQ authors about their new and upcoming books for us to love and cuddle up with.

Today, we meet Joshua Gonzales and his new book Keep Sweet: My Homemade Recipe for a Fulfilling Gay Life. He is an LGBTQ+ Latino actor and writer living in NYC. He is also the host of the podcast Keep Sweet: The Positive World podcast. 

Joshua's book Keep Sweet tells the story of his life as a Mexican-American kid, raised in the small town of Huntsville, Texas, and believing in his innate fabulousness. This is no Misery Memoir. Through tough lessons learned, Joshua shows that, with your own foresight and self-determination, you can skirt the path of potential misery, while keeping your humor and optimism intact. And may we all help the next generation of queer youth grow into the out, proud, empathetic, kind, and powerful adults they were born to be.

Pre-order Keep Sweet!
To pre-order visit: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or iBooks.

• https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Sweet-Homemade-Recipe-Fulfilling-ebook/dp/B0BW6CQ4F6
• https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/keep-sweet-joshua-gonzales/1142805929
• https://books.apple.com/book/keep-sweet/id6445048924

Connect with Joshua!
Twitter and Instagram and Tiktok: @joshwadam

Become an Associate Producer!
Become an Associate Producer of our podcast through a $20/month sponsorship on Patreon! A professionally recognized credit, you can gain access to Associate Producer meetings to help guide our podcast into the future! Get started today: patreon.com/thisqueerbook

Credits
Host/Founder: J.P. Der Boghossian
Executive Producer: Jim Pounds
Associate Producers: Archie Arnold, Natalie Cruz, Paul Kaefer, Nicole Olila, Joe Perazzo, Bill Shay, and Sean Smith
Patreon Subscribers: Awen Briem, Stephen D., Thomas Michna, and Gary Nygaard.

Welcome to our LGBT podcast 7 Minutes in Book Heaven – presented to you by This Queer Book Saved My Life!

In this podcast, we spend 7 minutes in our virtual studio interviewing LGBTQ authors about their new and upcoming books for us to love and cuddle up with.

Today, we meet Tess Sharpe and her upcoming book 6 Times We Almost Kissed (And One Time We Did). What’s this new YA novel about? After years of bickering, Penny and Tate have called a truce: they’ll play nice. They have to. Their mothers (life-long best friends) need them to be perfect, drama-free daughters when Penny’s mother becomes a living liver donor to Tate’s mom. Forced to live together as the Moms recover, the girls’ truce is essential in keeping everything—their jobs, the house, the finances, the Moms’ healing—running smoothly. They’ve got to let this thing between them go. There’s one little hitch: Penny and Tate keep almost kissing.

Available January 24, you can order it now at thisqueerbook.com/bookshop.

Connect with Tess!
Twitter: @sharpegirl
Instagram: @forest_of_arden
Website: https://www.tess-sharpe.com

Become an Associate Producer!
Become an Associate Producer of our podcast through a $20/month sponsorship on Patreon! A professionally recognized credit, you can gain access to Associate Producer meetings to help guide our podcast into the future! Get started today: patreon.com/thisqueerbook

Credits
Host/Founder: J.P. Der Boghossian
Executive Producer: Jim Pounds
Associate Producers: Archie Arnold, Natalie Cruz, Paul Kaefer, Nicole Olila, Joe Perazzo, and  Bill Shay

The first time I saw a potential future for someone like me. 

Welcome to our LGBT podcast! In this episode we’re talking with Henry Holden (he/they) about Peter Darling by S.A Chant. This novel is a sequel and really a re-telling of Peter Pan, in which Peter is trans, an adult now, and starts a relationship with Captain James Hook! For Henry, he told us, that reading Peter Darling was,  "the first moment that I saw a potential future for someone like me. And I think it was the first time I was allowed to let myself say, 'Yes, you're trans.'" 

Plus, S.A. joins us for the conversation and we get into where the idea for this novel came from, as well as queering fairy tales and how Peter Pan can represent a possibility space for queerness and transness. 

Buy Peter Darling at our Bookshop page: bookshop.org/shop/thisqueerbook

Connect with Henry on Instagram: @the_names_henry

Connect with S.A. at austinchant.com and on Twitter: @essaychant.

On today’s episode, we have a special crossover episode for you with one of my favorite podcasts The Sewers of Paris. The Sewers of Paris is a podcast about how queer people's lives are shaped by our favorite books, movies, music, and shows. So, how could we not have a crossover?

The host is writer, podcaster, and video-maker Matt Baume. He’s been nominated for a GLAAD award for journalism and he created the YouTube pop culture series Culture Cruise and the LGBTQ news shows Weekly Debrief and Marriage News Watch. He is an author with a new book on the way called Hi Honey! I’m Homo!

Matt interviews me about the entertainment that changed my life (Phantom of the Opera!) and I interview Matt about the Queer book that saved his life: Harriet the Spy.

Subscribe to the Sewers of Paris on Apple Podcasts:  podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sewers-of-paris/id983828051

Pre-order Hi Honey! I'm Homo at Matt's website: mattbaume.com/hi-honey-im-homo

Follow Matt on Instagram and Twitter: @mattbaume

Buy the books featured on our podcast at bookshop.org/shop/thisqueerbook.

Be who you are. And don't apologize.

Welcome to our LGBT podcast and in this episode we’re talking with actor Troy Stanley (he/him) about Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin. This novel kicked off a landmark series as well as numerous television adaptations. For Troy, he told us, "I think what Tales of the City said to me was be who you are don't apologize for who you are be who you want to be."

See Troy live in these upcoming productions!

MNM Theatre Company’s production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The show opens December 2, 2022 and runs through the 18th. https://mnmtheatre.org

Anything Goes at the Wick Theatre. It runs from January 12, 2023 through February 12th. https://thewicktheatre.thundertix.com/events/197579

Maltz Jupiter Theatre’s production of Oliver. It runs from March 14 through April 2nd. https://www.jupitertheatre.org/season-productions

Buy Tales of the City and other books from our LGBT podcast at our Bookshop:  https://bookshop.org/thisqueerbook

Welcome to our new LGBT podcast short 7 Minutes in Book Heaven - a partner podcast to This Queer Book Saved My Life!

We spend 7 minutes in our virtual studio interviewing LGBTQ authors about their new and upcoming books for us to love and cuddle up with.

On our premiere episode, we meet Taleen Voskuni. Her new book is Sorry, Bro. What's it about? An Armenian-American woman rediscovers her roots and embraces who she really is in this vibrant and heartfelt queer rom-com.

Episode Transcript: https://thisqueerbook.com/podcast/sorry-bro

Pre-order the book here: https://bookshop.org/shop/thisqueerbook

Follow Taleen!
Twitter: @taleenvoskuni
Instagram: @taleenauthor
www.taleenvoskuni.com

It’s an LGBT podcast crossover event with the delightful Queer Lit podcast! We enter a unicorn union with guest host Lena Mattheis and discuss the Queer Armenian Library and the books that saved each of our lives. We laugh, we sigh… an unmissable double feature that will turn you gay on the spot.

Listen to new episodes of Queer Lit at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/queer-lit/id1562201493

Follow Lena on Twitter and Instagram: @queerlitpodcast

Check out the Queer Armenian Library (queerarmenianlibrary.com)

Buy the LGBT books on this LGBT podcast at our Bookshop (bookshop.org/thisqueerbook)!

Join us on November 10th at Lush Lounge and Theater for our live recording event with William Burleson, author and Founder of Flexible Press. The event is free, but we encourage RSVPs: https://bit.ly/liveatlush

To be happy on my own terms. 

Welcome to the Season 2 premiere of our LGBT podcast This Queer Book Saved My Life! In this episode, we talk with Joe Perazzo (he/him) about the LGBT memoir Breaking the Surface by Greg Louganis (he/him), with special guest: 4-time gold medalist Greg Louganis! Breaking the Surface is Greg's memoir and it shares his journey not only in becoming the greatest diver of all time, but also as a gay man living with HIV. For Joe, the memoir played a crucial role in his life. First, when he was about 12-years old and dealing with gay slurs. Then at 16-years old as he came out. And then again in his early 20s as he began his career as a nurse and in HIV research. As Joe shares with us, "It's liberating to read it and then you want to live the same experience. You want to stop giving people so much power over you and become happy on your terms."

Buy the LGBT books on this LGBT podcast at our Bookshop (bookshop.org/thisqueerbook)!

Learn more about Greg and his writing at greglouganis.com. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok: @greglouganis

Follow Joe on Twitter: @writer_RN

Join us on November 10th at Lush Lounge and Theater for our live recording event with William Burleson, author and Founder of Flexible Press. The event is free, but we encourage RSVPs: https://bit.ly/liveatlush

What it really means to have a bi community.

Welcome to our LGBT podcast! In today's episode I talk with Neil Aasve and William Burleson!

Fundraiser and philanthropist Neil Aasve (he/him) shares the LGBT book that saved his life: Bi America: Myths Truths and Struggles of an Invisible Community by William Burleson. Neil recalls the first time he read Bi America, "I remember my heart pounding. I just remember saying the words out loud: I’m bisexual!"

William joins us to talk about how he saw writing Bi America as an opportunity to preserve history.

Episode transcript available at: thisqueerbook.com/podcast/bi-america

Become a donor to the Visibility Impact Fund: visibilityimpactfund.org/about-us

Shop Flexible Press book and view their submissions page: flexiblepub.com

Buy the books we discuss on this episode!
Visit thisqueerbook.com/bookshop to purchase Bi America and the other books we discussed.

Become an Associate Producer!
Become an Associate Producer of our podcast through a $20/month sponsorship on Patreon! A professionally recognized credit, you can gain access to Associate Producer meetings to help guide our podcast into the future! Get started today: patreon.com/thisqueerbook

Credits
Host/Founder: J.P. Der Boghossian
Executive Producer: Jim Pounds
Associate Producers: Archie Arnold, Natalie Cruz, Paul Kaefer, Nicole Olila, Joe Perazzo, Bill Shay, and Sean Smith
Patreon Subscribers: Awen Briem, Stephen D., Thomas Michna, and Gary Nygaard.

E-Lending Library
Quatrefoil Library has created a curated lending library made up of the books featured on our podcast! If you can’t buy these books, then borrow them! Link: https://libbyapp.com/library/quatrefoil/curated-1404336/page-1

Welcome to BYOB, the Bring Your Own Book Podcast, featuring your favourite bookworms Nikki, Kelly, and Tilly!

Surprise! We’ve got a fun little BYOB Shot episode for you about the first volume of Alice Oseman's beloved graphic novel, 'Heartstopper'. This book was recently adapted into a Netflix show and took the world by STORM, so we couldn't wait to watch and compare the show to the original work!

Since this is a mini episode, we’re going to be launching right into spoilers and all our feelings about this book, so if you haven't read the book (or watched the show!) yet and don't want to be spoiled, grab a copy, enjoy, and come back! Don't worry, we'll still be here. :)

We also want to thank our sponsor for this episode, Ana Luisa! Want to treat yourself to some chic, affordable, *and* eco-friendly jewelry? Visit their website at shop.analuisa.com/byob and check out their beautiful, carbon-neutral jewelry! Want to save 10% off your order? Use our discount code: BYOB

"Heartstopper Volume 1" by Alice Oseman: https://tinyurl.com/5e4vr766

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Want to support our podcast? Please consider donating to our Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/byobpodcast

Website: byobook-podcast.mailchimpsites.com

Tiktok: @bringyourownbookpodcast

Instagram: @byobookpodcast

Facebook: @byobookpodcast

Twitter: @byobookpodcast

Buki Papillon talks about her acclaimed debut "An Ordinary Wonder," a coming of age novel about Oto, an intersex teen growing up in Nigeria. Buki, an alumna of our MFA in Creative Writing program, talks about the drive that keeps her writing, rewriting almost her whole book after she got a book deal, and lots more.

Janet Pocorobba, interim direct of Lesley University's MFA program, interviews Buki.

Find the transcript and more on the episode page.

     This week we're posting the crossover episode that we did with our friends, Sarah and Persis,  over at Girl on Girl Podcast.  If you haven't subscribed to their podcast yet, what on earth are you waiting for!?  
     We talked to Sarah and Persis this week about several queer books that were adapted into movies.  We also chatted about a whole lot that has nothing to do with those movies.  We always have so much fun talking to these two and we really hope you enjoy this episode.  After you subscribe to their show give this episode a listen and let us know what you think! 

Continuing our celebration of PRIDE month, Join us for this special Spinoff episode of Gabbing with the Librarians where we talk about our favorite LGBTQ+ novels and the importance of representation. 

Podcasters in this episode: Jennifer Finch , MC Brickell, Jennifer Longoria , Leslie Espinoza 

You can find the books discussed at www.hcpl.net
Books in our catalog: 

Albertalli, B. (2020). Simon vs. the Homo sapiens agenda: Epic Reads editions

Bildner, P. (2021). A High Five for Glenn Burke. Square Fish

FOX. (2017). Love, Simon

Healey, K. (2016). Guardian of the Dead. Murdoch Books 

Ireland, J. (2018). Dread Nation

McQuiston, C. (2019). Red, white & royal blue

Oseman, A. (2020). Heartstopper

Oseman, A. Heartstopper  

Oseman, A. (2018). Solitaire

Roehrig, C. (2018). Last Seen Leaving

Salvatore, S. (2021). Can't take that away

Sáenz Benjamin Alire. (2012). Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe

Tagame, G., & Ishii, A. (2020). My brother's husband

Thomas, A. (2021). Cemetery boys

VILLA, J. O. N. N. Y. G. A. R. Z. A. (2021). Fifteen Hundred Miles From The Sun (Released June 8 2021)

Music: "Sputnik" artist Scanglobe
Link to License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ 

Created by the Podcast Team at the Harris County Public Library.
www.hcpl.net

Podcast Team Members include: Beth Krippel, John Harbaugh, Mary Mink, Lana Sell, Ellen Kaluza, Sadina Shawver, Gisella Parker, Kara Ludwig, Delaney Daly, Jennifer Finch, Katelyn Helberg, Logan Tuttle, Darcy Casavant, Darla Pruitt and Nancy Hu

Original Music created by Bryan Kratish

On this episode of Lower Your Volume, the gals talk about a stunning queer historical fiction book called Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo. They kick off the episode chatting about the insane TikTok sensation of Ice Planet Barbarians (10:35). Then they put on their warrior justice hats and talk about the crazy scandal coming out of DC where heroes, like the Caped Crusader, don't give head (13:30).

The conversation about Last Night at the Telegraph Club does include topics such as racism, homophobia, immigration, and gun violence. Please be warned that these conversations take place throughout the episode starting at the 30:00 mark.

Queer & Immigrant Resources

• The Human Rights Campaign
• The Trevor Project
• SNaPCo
• ACLU
• GLAAD
• National Center for Transgender Equality
• Transgender Law Center
• Immigration Equality
• Trans Lifeline
• Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Books Covered On This Episode:
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

Follow us on Twitter at @LowerPod and on Instagram at @loweryourvolumepod, and now on TikTok at @loweryourvolumepod

You can also follow our personal accounts listed below:
Madison: @madison_frye on Twitter and Instagram, and @exlibrisdemadison Bookstagram
Nicole: @nicole_bossio on Twitter, @n_boz53 on Instagram, and @onmyownadventure Bookstagram.

The gals kick off the start of Pride Month with a brand new queer fantasy romance called Sweet & Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley (12:13). Nicole and Madison reminisce about some of the books that shaped them during their pre-pubescent years (57:30). They also talk about the Scholastic Book Fairs they used to attend during elementary and middle school, including the items they stole from it (1:06:45).

Books Covered On This Episode:
Sweet & Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley

Follow us on Twitter at @LowerPod and on Instagram at @loweryourvolumepod, and now on TikTok at @loweryourvolumepod

You can also follow our personal accounts listed below:
Madison: @madison_frye on Twitter and Instagram, and @exlibrisdemadison Bookstagram
Nicole: @nicole_bossio on Twitter, @n_boz53 on Instagram, and @onmyownadventure Bookstagram.

We predict you'll enjoy No Man of Woman Born by Ana Mardoll, an anthology of queer characters finding their way amidst prophecies and fairytales.

His Father's Son features Nocien, an otherwise gentle young man totally focused on avenging his slaughtered family. He leaves his newfound family behind to seek his revenge, only to learn of an interesting prophecy straight from the murderer's mouth.

Will two years of sword fighting lessons and a bit of luck be enough for Nocien?

Citrus: None
Sweetness: Sour
Gore: Quite a Bit

Trigger Warnings: death, character death, death of close family, death of children, stabbing, slicing, impaling, sword-related violence, sexualized violence, blood, suicide mission, fire, poison, and misgendering

Mentions of food, BBC Sherlock, dictators, 1940's politics, Guillain Barre, Karen haircut, and morphing into insects

Marissa chats with Emery Lee about their debut YA novel - MEET CUTE DIARY - as well as crafting a heartwarming romance that does not rely on traditional romantic tropes; knocking out those fast first drafts (in Emery's case - REALLY fast first drafts!) in order to quiet your inner perfectionist and maintain that initial burst of inspiration; writing the story of your heart, even if it goes against editorial feedback or market trends; and an idea for pre-order campaigns that Marissa finds absolutely genius.

Books discussed in this episode can be purchased from your local independent bookstore or buy them online from the Happy Writer bookshop.org store (that benefits indie bookstores) at https://bookshop.org/shop/marissameyer

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

We predict you'll enjoy No Man of Woman Born by Ana Mardoll, an anthology of queer characters finding their way amidst prophecies and fairytales.

King's Favor features Caran, a simple hedge witch on an undercover mission in hostile territory. Nee is discovered just as nee is making ner escape and brought before the murderous witch queen of Northnesse.

When witchery turns to trickery - will Caran survive?

Citrus: Just a hint
Sweetness: Dry
Gore: Little a blood

Trigger Warnings: Border walls, blood, choking, poison, violence, death, population purge, genocide, infanticide, killing one's parents

Mentions of food, alcohol, drinking games, nobility typical sexism, pregnancy

In this episode, Croatian bookstagrammer Ivana Bres Murk bring us "This Is How It Always Is" by Laurie Frankel. This book is a beautiful exploration in raising of a gender nonconforming child. It is sweet, poignant, charming, and at times heartbreaking. It is without question, a book that should be read and discussed globally. Our discussion in this episode centers on opening our minds to people and experiences that are different from our own. Acceptance, kindness, and willingness to discuss taboo topics make us better humans.

Follow Ivana on IG: @books.with. tutus_and_sons

We predict you'll enjoy No Man of Woman Born by Ana Mardoll, an anthology of queer characters finding their way amidst prophecies and fairytales.

Tangled Nets features Wren, a humble fisher with a big, scaly reason to be upset. Wren's village sacrifices one person to the dragon every winter and that's how xie lost xer sister many years ago. As Wren's mother takes ill, xie has to make a grim choice.

But an unexpected visit from the village witch may change Wren's fate.

Citrus: None
Sweetness: Salt
Gore: Blood! Blood everywhere!

Trigger Warnings: Blood, violence, stabbing, in-depth discussion of being eaten alive, poverty, starvation, illness, chronic illness, past character deaths, grief, predatory financial systems, falling to death, and life or death situations.

Mentions of food, alcohol, drinking games, eugenics, and slavery