Cait Gordon's Blog, page 3

I was interviewed by the lovely folks at All Lit Up!

I am so very stoked to announce that I was featured in an article by All Lit Up where I speak about Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space!, the Nothing Without Us and Nothing Without Us Too anthologies, being a musician, and why books starring disabled characters and 2SLGBTQIA+ characters matter!

(From the All Lit Up website.)Read the full article!

Cait Gordon is an autistic, disabled, and queer Canadian writer of speculative fiction that celebrates diversity. She is the author of the award-nominated disability-hopepunk adventure, Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! Cait also founded the Spoonie Authors Network and joined Talia C. Johnson to co-edit the multi-genre, disability fiction anthologies Nothing Without Us (a 2020 Prix Aurora Award finalist) and Nothing Without Us Too (a 2023 Prix Aurora Award winner).

Help me get Iris and the Crew into libraries?

Hi, folks! As you can tell by the article title, I’m seeking your assistance to get Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! into more Canadian libraries. In this country, we have the Public Lending Right (PLR) program, which gives payments to authors when a library carries our books. These funds are appreciated by us small-press authors! But more importantly, books are free to check out of libraries, so this offers financial accessibility for readers to enjoy them!

If you’re not from Canada, I was also be totally thrilled if you asked your local library to carry my book there as well! Spreading the word is so muchly appreciated!

What info do you need about the book?

For the paperback, you might be asked this information on library forms:

Book title: Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space!Author: Cait GordonISBN: 9781990086496Publication date: September 15, 2023Publisher: Presses Renaissance PressType of book: paperbackLanguage: EnglishNumber of pages: 344Audience: late teens, adultsGenres: science fiction, space opera, disability fiction, hopepunk

For the ebook, this information might come in handy when making the request:

Book title: Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space!Author: Cait GordonISBN: 9781990086601Publication date: September 15, 2023Publisher: Presses Renaissance PressType of book: ebookLanguage: EnglishAudience: late teens, adultsGenres: science fiction, space opera, disability fiction, hopepunk

I am so grateful to those of you who have already told me you would be recommending Iris and the Crew to your libraries. We authors really just want to share our works with readers.

Oh, and if you have read the book, would you please consider even leaving a one-sentence review where you purchased it?

Thanks a billionty billion, folks! You’re the best!

Cait Gordon is an autistic, disabled, and queer Canadian writer of speculative fiction that celebrates diversity. She is the author of the award-nominated disability-hopepunk adventure, Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! Cait also founded the Spoonie Authors Network and joined Talia C. Johnson to co-edit the multi-genre, disability fiction anthologies Nothing Without Us (a 2020 Prix Aurora Award finalist) and Nothing Without Us Too (a 2023 Prix Aurora Award winner).

I had a total blast at When Words Collide 2024!

Note: There aren’t any photos of my Bruce because he’s shy about me posting photos of him, and I respect his feelings. But rest assured, we have Broose photos!

So, we just got home yesterday from my first trip ever to Calgary! I hadn’t been on a plane in 24 years, and I must say, Porter was excellent in their service. This was the first time I flew since using a mobility device, and Noola my rollator was handled with care. Not even a scratch. Whew!

One of my favourite moments was when Noola got recognized by another author. Go Noola! (Photo credit: Bruce D. Gordon)

Over this trip, I turned 55 (flew there on my birthday) and discovered I like staying at the same hotel where a writers conference is being held. It made things so much easier on me. I don’t think I would have had the energy to do it otherwise. And the Delta Calgary South also had some great gluten-free options for room service. (I felt so fancy!)

Now, I had been on virtual panels for When Words Collide before, but this was my first time there in person. Originally, I thought I would just be attending to do one panel, but then two pleasant surprises happened! I was invited to the official When Words Collide Podcast (The episode featuring me isn’t up yet as of this date but will be soon! Check out the other ones that are posted then return to listen to more!) Andrew Buckley also asked to interview me for his StoryCentric podcast, so, that was awesome too! (It should be up in about four weeks.) And I have been declared to be highly entertaining by Andrew, so that’s a huge compliment from someone as highly entertaining as himself!

The big event for me was sitting on the panel I’d proposed, called, “We Are the Heroes, Not the Sidekicks: Building worlds and stories in SFF that centre disabled protagonists.” My fellow panellists were Arelene F. Marks, Madona Skaff-Koren, and Rick Overwater. Our moderator, Fiona McTaggart, began the discussion by asking us, “What will life for disabled people look like in the future?” And I was first to answer. (Yipes!) Here’s the video of my response, captured again by the supremely cute Bruce D. Gordon:

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Another super fun thing for me was spending time with author, actor, musician, and wonderful human Krista Wallace! Her lovely husband Matt Lees took this photo, which led me to announce that #WeAreAdorbz needs to be a thing for Krista and me. How cute are we, seriously?

Krista also lead a great workshop about how to position different microphones so we as authors can be seen and heard well while giving a reading. I thought I knew everything about this already, being a singer myself, but I learned something new about adjusting various microphones for the best result. There are things to consider when holding a book! So, I’m grateful for that!

I also learned that Krista and Matt and I share a wacky sense of humour. I don’t know if anyone reading this remembers the “Hi, I’m Mike from Canmore” character from The Royal Canadian Air Farce, but I made a suggestion to Krista and Matt, and they totally came through for me:

“Hi, I’m mic…”

So, yeah, I’m absolutely pooped and need to recover to generate spoons, so I can Cait again, but it was worth the effort. I won’t be attending next year, but I will have stored up enough memories from this con to last me a while. But who knows? Maybe in 2026!

In the meantime, thanks to the Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society for rescuing this con from extinction. I hope it continues and grows, because authors interacting and learning from each other is just so amazing. Onwards!

Cait Gordon is an autistic, disabled, and queer Canadian writer of speculative fiction that celebrates diversity. She is the author of the award-nominated disability-hopepunk adventure, Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! Cait also founded the Spoonie Authors Network and joined Talia C. Johnson to co-edit the multi-genre, disability fiction anthologies Nothing Without Us (a 2020 Prix Aurora Award finalist) and Nothing Without Us Too (a 2023 Prix Aurora Award winner).

I’m a featured author in Women Writing!

A really cool thing happened! Liisa Kovala interviewed me for Women Writing, where she asks authors who are women about how they write and what kind of advice they’ve received about writing — both good and bad.

So, I got to be a featured author! Woohoo! I’m always honoured to be invited to chat about topics like these.

You can read the full interview here!

By the way, as I am writing this, it’s two more sleeps until When Words Collide! I haven’t been on an airplane in over 20 years, so this will be quite the adventure! My next post will be all about my experience at that conference. Stay tuned!

Cait Gordon is an autistic, disabled, and queer Canadian writer of speculative fiction that celebrates diversity. She is the author of the award-nominated disability-hopepunk adventure, Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! Cait also founded the Spoonie Authors Network and joined Talia C. Johnson to co-edit the multi-genre, disability fiction anthologies Nothing Without Us (a 2020 Prix Aurora Award finalist) and Nothing Without Us Too (a 2023 Prix Aurora Award winner).

From the Spoonie Authors Network: Why We Need Disability Pride Month

I discussed this topic with contributions from Derek Newman-Stille of Speculating Canada, Dianna Gunn from Weeknight Writers and author of the Moonshadow Duology, and C.L. Carey, author of Spaced! It’s so important that we understand why Pride months need to exist, and just as important to me as the Pride I celebrate in June is the Pride I celebrate in July!

Please read and consider sharing. Thank you!

Why We Need Disability Pride Month

I’ll be at When Words Collide in August!

I’ve had the honour of being on two virtual panels for When Words Collide (WWC), an award-winning literary conference that takes place in Calgary, Alberta. Now I get to go in person! And it’s my first time ever visiting that city, so that’s much excite!

The conference takes place from August 16-18, 2024 at the Delta Calgary South, and it’s sold out. There is a merchant’s room, but I am not sure if that’s available to non-attendees. (I will find out!)

If you are going, then you might want to check out this cool panel I am simply stoked to be on:

We are the heroes, not the sidekicks: Building worlds and stories in SFF that centre disabled protagonists  
Many times when a disabled character is introduced into science fiction and fantasy, they are a token character, often crafted by authors who do not have lived experience of disability. As a result, readers can’t really find representation that reflects their lives. This panel would discuss how one can craft their world-building and storytelling with their disabled, Deaf, Blind, and/or neurodivergent heroes taking centre stage.
Panelists: Cait Gordon, Madona Skaff-Koren, Marilyn Kleiber
Moderator: Fiona McTaggart
Event details: Saturday, August 17, 4pm – 5pm MDT, Kananaskis 1

I really hope to meet you there! I’ve heard they might order some of my books for the merchants room, but if you have already bought my books, come and find me after this panel, and I will be happy to sign them for you!

Wishing everyone a safe travel for this event!

Cait Gordon is an autistic, disabled, and queer Canadian writer of speculative fiction that celebrates diversity. She is the author of the award-nominated disability-hopepunk adventure, Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! Cait also founded the Spoonie Authors Network and joined Talia C. Johnson to co-edit the multi-genre, disability fiction anthologies Nothing Without Us (a 2020 Prix Aurora Award finalist) and Nothing Without Us Too (a 2023 Prix Aurora Award winner).

What Disability Pride Month Means to Me

Many folks know that June is Pride Month, but did you know that July is Disability Pride month? Yup, it’s true! And while folks who are disabled can also be 2SLGBTQIA+, Disability Pride month is for people from all demographics and marginalized communities. We even have a flag!

Designed by Ann Magill in 2019 and redesigned in 2021 to reduce strobing effects on mobility devices, the Disability Pride flag celebrates who we are and represents the diversity of disability.

Each stripe (from left to right) in the flag has a meaning:

Red: physical disabilitiesGold: neurodiversityWhite: undiagnosed and/or invisible disabilitiesBlue: emotional and/or psychiatric disabilitiesGreen: sensory states/disabilities

So, what does this month mean to me? Those who follow me know I consider myself an advocate for disabled voices in literary circles. I want to boost their works and have tried to do this through appearing on panels, co-editing two multi-genre disability fiction anthologies, creating a community initiative for authors who manage spoons, and shamelessly putting out my own fiction that stars characters within the diversity of disability. This month represents a boldness for me to say things like, “Disabled is not a bad word. Autistic is not a bad word. Invisible and not-yet diagnosed conditions and disabilities still make your lived experience valid. Let’s celebrate who we are, and put the message out that we’re here and deserve to be welcomed into spaces without having to beg for accessibility!”

I used to be steeped in internalized ableism. How could I have not been? The plethora of ableism from social, familial, and especially medical circles can truly affect one’s perception of disability. There can be a shame factor, or just as bad, the “maybe I’m not disabled enough” mentality, which can prevent someone from asking for accommodations. I kept getting injured over and over by trying to “overcome” my mobility disability. After a fellow disabled friend encouraged me to use her rollator, my life opened up to me again, and with a disability device, I am thriving!

Now if only I could influence everyone who isn’t disabled to rid themselves of their ableism.

But you know what? I feel encouraged because I am not alone. Every year I witness people who are disabled, Deaf, Blind, neurodivergent, and/or who manage mental illness taking their space in the world. They’re forming communities, speaking against ableism, underscoring the importance of accessibility, and helping each other.

Last time I posted on the Spoonie Authors Network, I wrote an article called “The Edification that Comes from Disability Community.” In it, I talk about going from #DisabledAndAlone (and frightened) to what happened after I connected with others, and how it helped me celebrate myself and others in our communities.

I don’t feel shame about my bodymind. I feel…proud. So, I shamelessly declare:

I have a physical disability requiring a mobility device.I am autistic.I manage conditions that are invisible.I manage mental illness.I have sensory processing disorder.

(But there’s no prize for claiming each stripe of the flag. I want that to be super clear.)

Sure, this month doesn’t diminish that my living with all of these disabilities and states of mind is easy (mind you, ableism and lack of accommodation are often what makes it difficult). And celebrating this month doesn’t mean we ignore what we go through on a daily basis just to wave a flag. What I hope it means to folks is that we don’t have to hide who we are, we feel an opportunity to connect with others who share our lived experiences, and, for a start, we know we’re not alone in those experiences.

Because there are a lot of us out there. I guess I want to believe that together we can do wonderful things, beginning with us loving ourselves as we are. (And maybe also telling ableists to go and visit the sun.)

You deserve to be celebrated. We deserve it. So, claim your space! There’s room for all of us!

If you’d like to connect on social media, I am on Instagram, Bluesky, threads, and facebook.

Happy Disability Pride!!!

Cait Gordon is an autistic, disabled, and queer Canadian writer of speculative fiction that celebrates diversity. She is the author of the award-nominated disability-hopepunk adventure, Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! Cait also founded the Spoonie Authors Network and joined Talia C. Johnson to co-edit the multi-genre, disability fiction anthologies Nothing Without Us (a 2020 Prix Aurora Award finalist) and Nothing Without Us Too (a 2023 Prix Aurora Award winner).

New post on the Spoonie Authors Network: The Edification That Comes From Disability Community

I wrote an article this morning about how much my life got better once I went from being #DisabledAndAlone to thriving in a healthy community!

Enjoy!

The Edification That Comes From Disability Community

I’ll be at the Ottawa Small Press Book Fair on June 22!

I have the honour of being at the Presses Renaissance Press vendor table at the Ottawa Small Press Book Fair this Saturday with my author hubster, Bruce D. Gordon! I’ll be there to sign my book, Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space (or any of my books at the table) and he’ll be there to sign his book, Dissatisfied Me: A Love Story. We’ll also guide you to other books because there are so many fantastic books by Renaissance authors!

When? June 22 from 12-2:30 pm

Where? Tom Brown Arena, 141 Bayview Station Road, Ottawa

Which table? The Renaissance Press table!

The entire event is from 12-5pm. Bruce and I will be on the first shift (12-2:30pm), then the reigns will be handed over to Jen and Éric Desmarais, authors of Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests.

We hope you can make it and thank you in advance for your support of small press authors and their publishers. Small presses are where so many awesome stories reside!

Cait Gordon is an autistic, disabled, and queer Canadian writer of speculative fiction that celebrates diversity. She is the author of the award-nominated disability-hopepunk adventure, Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! Cait also founded the Spoonie Authors Network and joined Talia C. Johnson to co-edit the multi-genre, disability fiction anthologies Nothing Without Us (a 2020 Prix Aurora Award finalist) and Nothing Without Us Too (a 2023 Prix Aurora Award winner).

I’ll be in Montréal on June 13 for a disability panel at Argo Bookshop!

If you’re going to be in Montréal on June 13 and you like books, panels, and discussions about disability in literature, why not attend Writing While Disabled: Making Space for Ourselves and Our Characters at Argo Bookshop?

I have the honour of being a panelist along with Madona Skaff-Koren and Jason M. Harley! And the wonderfully talented Su. J. Sokol is our moderator!

When? Thursday June 13 from 7-8:30 p.m.

Where? Argo Bookshop, 1839 Rue Ste-Catherine O, Montréal

Please note: Masks are required. There will be also be access to an elevator at the location.

There will be great discussions, a lot of time for audience questions, and we can sign our books for you!

The event is completely FREE, but it would be best if you RSVPed using TicketSource. Here’s the link, which also lists the author bios and details of the event!

Hope to meet you there! Thanks for considering supporting the works and events of disabled creatives!

Cait Gordon is an autistic, disabled, and queer Canadian writer of speculative fiction that celebrates diversity. She is the author of the award-nominated disability-hopepunk adventure, Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! Cait also founded the Spoonie Authors Network and joined Talia C. Johnson to co-edit the multi-genre, disability fiction anthologies Nothing Without Us (a 2020 Prix Aurora Award finalist) and Nothing Without Us Too (a 2023 Prix Aurora Award winner).