Showtime for "Fellow Travelers"

Richard Schaefers has an exciting update to his February item about the eight-part miniseries, based on Thomas Mallon's 2007 novel Fellow Travelers, that stars openly gay actors Matt Bomer as Hawkins Fuller and Jonathan Bailey as Timothy Laughlin. (We discussed the book back in 2008.) The miniseries will premiere on Paramount + with Showtime on Oct. 27. The first four episodes will cover the events of the novel, while the next four will trace the duo's "paths through the Vietnam War protests of the 1960s, the drug-fueled disco hedonism of the 1970s and the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, while facing obstacles in the world and in themselves."  

Red, White & Royal Blue

Back in February, as part of a post about the growth in gay stories within the romance publishing industry, I highlighted Red, White and Royal Blue, a 2019 bestseller that (as most of you are probably already well aware) is now available on Amazon Prime. I highly recommend both incarnations of Carey McQuiston's story, and plan to renominate the novel for our next reading list (it didn't quite make the cut last year). In that regard, among the many articles promoting the film, I particularly enjoyed this one from Salon: "'Red, White and Royal Blue': Here's What Henry and Alex's Taste in Books Says about Their Characters."

Red, White & Royal Blue

Classic LGBTQ+ Fiction

A tip of the hat to Mike Mazza for sharing this article from INTO, A Digital Magazine: "Where to Start with Classic LGBTQ+ Fiction." We've read six of the 11 books on the list (and other books by most of the other authors), which makes sense given that we're not exactly neophytes! The exceptions are: Corydon by Andre Gide, De Profundis by Oscar Wilde, Romance in Marsaille by Claude McKay, Myra Breckinridge by Gore Vidal and Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinstein. That last selection is out of print, alas, but the other four are available--making them candidates for our 2024 reading list? Hmm, could be...🤔😀

OutWrite returns! Aug. 11-13

OUTWRITE LITERARY FESTIVAL RETURNS  WITH LGBTQ+ READINGS, POETRY, PANELS AND WORKSHOPS

We’re thrilled to share with you the schedule for the OutWrite 2023 LGBTQ+ Literary Festival, kicking off on Friday, Aug. 11, and running through Sunday, Aug. 13. This year’s all-virtual three day festival lineup will feature more than 55 LGBTQ+ poets, novelists, playwrights, panelists, and activists participating in educational, entertaining, and enlightening events. Throughout the weekend you will experience spirited readings, panel discussions on current critical topics, and workshops to advance the creation of outstanding LGBTQ+ literature. Our packed schedule starts on Friday, August 11, with the opening panel, “Trans & Nonbinary Presents & Futures” followed by our keynote address from Mecca Jamilah Sullivan, author of the award-winning novel Big Girl.

On Saturday, August 12, start your day with our thought-provoking workshop, “Ekphrasis Fantastic” -  the perfect way to begin a day full of powerful readings and panels. Other Saturday events include a panel that tackles, "Writing with, About, and Through AIDS;" the DC Pride Poem-a-Day reading; a panel on queering the publishing industry; a reading from Jaded Ibis Press authors Addie Tsai and David Jackson Ambrose; “At the Gay Bar,” a panel which brings together authors and queer bar owners; and the 2023 OutWrite journal celebration!

Sunday, August 13, opens with the workshop that explores letter writing as it contributes to the queer experience - “The Queer Love Letter,” followed by a final day of readings and panels taking you through queer stories of belonging, a speculative showcase, trans poets discussing nationwide anti-transness, queer lives in crime fiction, and our final reading, "Where We Stand: Poetry by Lesbians Over 60." All OutWrite 2023 events are virtual, free, and open to the public. To register, click here.