Stephanie Andrea Allen's Blog, page 5
December 7, 2016
A Dream Undeterred: An Interview w/ Black Lesbian Feminist Press On Their Debut Title, Lez Talk: A Collection of Black Lesbian Short Fiction
My deepest thanks toCatalina Sofia Dansberger Duquefor this wonderful article on BLF Press!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/5846f853e4b0b261c83427a2?timestamp=1481160541770
November 26, 2016
Solace: Writing, Refuge, & LGBTQ Women of Color
How do you define solace and where do you give it, find it, take it, share it?Solace: Writing, Refuge, and LGBTQ Women of Color, from BLF Press,anthologizes the voices of thirteen LGBTQ women of …
Source: Solace: Writing, Refuge, & LGBTQ Women of Color
October 13, 2016
Stephanie reviews The Dawn of Nia
My latest review!
I’m always hesitant to read books by people that I know personally, because I know at some point they’ll ask me what I thought, and I know that if I don’t love it, I’ll have to figure out how to say that without ruining the relationship. In this case, I can say without reservation that I did indeed love The Dawn of Nia. Let me count the ways:
I liked that fact that The Dawn of Nia is focused on family relationships and the ways in which secrets can devastate fa...
September 8, 2016
Stephanie reviews Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera
My latest review!
I can’t remember the last time I read a book in two days, but I have to admit that once I started reading Juliet Takes a Breath, I couldn’t put it down. I laughed, cried, raged, and wondered at Juliet’s antics and her naiveté, and fell more in love with this book every time I turned the page.
The novel’s protagonist is Juliet Milagros Palante, a 19-year-old Puerto Rican college student from the Bronx. She’s pretty sure she’s lesbian, and has been reading her f...
August 11, 2016
Stephanie Recommends Five Classic Black Lesbian Books You’ve Probably Never Heard of But Need to Read
My latest over at The Lesbrary!
I recently attended a literary conference focused on lesbian literature and was shocked at how many attendees didn’t know anything about Black lesbian literature outside of two or three authors. Most were familiar with Jewelle Gomez’s The Gilda Stories, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, and Audre Lorde, the consummate Black lesbian poet, but that was about it. Full disclosure: I wrote an entire dissertation on the marginalization of...
July 14, 2016
Stephanie reviews Blue Talk and Love by Mecca Jamilah Sullivan
My first Lesbrary review is up!
Trigger warnings: Rape threats, mild violence, fat-shaming.
As soon as this book was released I knew I had to have it. Stories about Black queer women written by a Black queer woman? Yes, please! I was a little worried that I wouldn’t connect to them; they are all set in and around New York City, a place I’ve only visited once as a kid. It is a testament to Sullivan’s skill and talent that I was immediately drawn into this book. Not only that, he...
July 12, 2016
Solace: Writing, Refuge, and LGBTQ Women of Color
Deeply troubled by recent acts of violence against Black and Brown lesbian, bisexual, and trans* bodies, Solace: Writing, Refuge and LGBTQ Women of Color explores how LGBTQ women find solace: in each other, in their communities, and from within themselves, as they traverse the challenges of living as LGBTQ women of color in the United States.
Solace is a collection of poetry and prose that explores our pain, as well as our attempts to find solace in a world that seeks to destroy us. What are...
June 27, 2016
The State of Black Lesbian Publishing
Have you listened to our new podcast? My podcast co-host Lauren Cherelle and I are taking on Black lesbian publishing ina new series of our bi-weekly podcast, Lez Talk Books Radio. You can listen below and let me know what you think!
The State of Black Lesbian Publishing
June 2, 2016
Black Lesbian Magic
Friday before last, I shared the stage at Charis Books and More/Charis Circle with myLez Talk co-editor, Lauren Cherelle and two of the contributors, Claudia Moss and Krystal A. Smith. We had an absolute ball, and I just want to share a little of that night with you.
Claudia read a selection from “Erzulie’s Touch” and wooed the crowd in English ANDSpanish! I’d read this story several times, but hearing Claudia read it was a game-changer. Maybe it’s my new favorite?
May 17, 2016
Quote of the Day
I’m still feeling Shug Avery right now, so here’s another one from Alice Walker’s The Temple of My Familiar:
“HELPED are those who risk themselves for others’ sakes; to them will be given increasing opportunities for ever greater risks. Theirs will be a vision of the world in which no one’s gift is despised or lost.” Shug Avery
