Did you know I also write reviews?

Yes, it’s true. When I’m not sneaking in time to write my own stuff, I’m apt to be found poring through a book, and I caught a bit of a review bug a few years back which I’ll blame on Goodreads. The site is awesome in my opinion. It’s a great place to get book recs and to talk with readers who are also fans of the genres and authors that I like. I’m an organization nerd so I also love that you can catalogue what you’ve read and reviewed. I wish it had existed when I was in grade school. I’d have a whole history of my life in books!

Well, instead I have a history of what I’ve read over the past ten years (a little spotty for the first couple). If you’d like to connect with me there–and I hope you will–here’s my Goodreads profile page.

Meanwhile, I’ve taken on some review work at other sites, and I thought it would be cute to pass that along. You can follow my reviews at New York Journal of Books, Queer Sci Fi, and Out in Print. I get called on a lot to review fantasy titles, though I’ve branched out to other genres from time to time. My most recent review at Out in Print was a reprint of a gay pulp erotic pirate novel, for instance. I like discovering unusual titles and helping to spread the word about LGBTQ+ #OwnVoices books.

Feel free to pitch a title to me if it falls into that latter category. I’ll probably say no, which I guess is pretty harsh, but I want to be realistic about expectations. Between reviewing for three sites, getting reseach in, and finding time to read for pleasure, I’m massively backlogged most of the time. But I promise not to be mean if you decide to try me!

If you’re looking for reviewers, here’s a few suggestions…

Reedsy has a searchable book review blog database you can find here. It covers the full spectrum of genres.

There’s also The Book Blogger List that has a comprehensive list of categories.

And, I just discovered this one while writing this post: Book Sirens has a blog directory. 

I’ll also mention, for my ongoing project An Introduction to Gay Fantasy, I’m always looking to build up my curated list of titles, particularly books written before 2000. So fire away with suggestions. I have the lofty aim of collecting “noteworthy” titles, which I define in lots of ways: awards, industry praise, diverse portrayals, #OwnVoices, and “ground breaking” characters and/or ideas about gender and sexuality.

 

This latest Dispatch from Hogwarts G.S.A. (on tropes) is up at QSF

fractal-kaleidoscope-1423247257zdc

My monthly column “Dispatches from Hogwarts G.S.A.” is up at Queer Sci Fi. The topic this month: Tropes We’d Like to See.

“Every genre has them [tropes], and while the term has a negative connotation, we wouldn’t say that tropes are always an indication of bad storytelling. One measure of good storytelling is that it reveals to the reader something true about the world, which when you think about it, is impossibly subjective, thus one reader’s hackneyed trope is probably another reader’s warm and fuzzy truth.

We’d say a bad trope is one that reinforces stereotypes that are already problematic in real life, and minority characters like queer people are particularly vulnerable to them.”

The article goes on to suggest some tropes–partially tongue in cheek–that might freshen up the gay fantasy genre. You can check out the full article here.

Check out the latest dispatch from Hogwarts’ G.S.A.

perry-moore

Perry Moore, image retrieved from perrymoorestories.com

Over at Queer Sci Fi, the Hogwarts G.S.A. was inspired to write up a retrospective piece in tribute to author and activist Perry Moore.

Moore was an openly gay man in an industry where, if being gay was not exactly taboo, it certainly wasn’t talked about much. With his credentials, he could have quietly continued as a successful, big budget filmmaker, or separated his activist life from his professional life. But Moore’s twin passions of fantasy and LGBT social justice led him to be a crusader in the entertainment industry. He wasn’t the first person to speak out about homophobia in Hollywood and comics, but his platform made him an effective champion of the cause.

You can read the full article here.

New ‘dispatch’ from Hogwarts G.S.A.: When is queer tragedy cliché?

My monthly column for Queer Sci Fi is up today. The topic: when a queer character dies, or loses his boyfriend, is it always a trope?

“When is queer tragedy cliché and when is it just tragedy? There are a shit-ton of stories about straight people with unhappy endings, and no one complains about unfair, contrived treatment of straight characters, right?”

You can read the full article here and join the discussion on the Queer Sci Fi Facebook page.

Check out Dispatches from Hogwarts G.S.A. at Queer Sci Fi

I’m really excited to announce that I started writing a monthly column for Queer Sci Fi and Fantasy. It’s called Dispatches from Hogwarts G.S.A. and will feature commentary, perspectives, and an occasional book review related to queer fantasy, including and beyond young adult books.

I’ve written over the years for various sites, discussing literature, LGBT politics and culture, and my journey as a writer. This column is my first firm commitment to write about that stuff regularly. Yes, I’m having heart palpitations about taking on that responsibility. But I’m also grateful and happy for the opportunity.

The first dispatch went live today, and you can read it here.