Raven Oak's Blog, page 7
August 2, 2024
The Corner of Story and Game
I’ve been on a lot of podcasts. It goes with the territory of being a creative and gamer. But recently, I had the great honor of being a guest on The Corner of Story and Game, a great podcast about how games influence our creative works.
Games like Final Fantasy VI and VII, Xenogears, Zelda, and Horizon: Zero Dawn have ingrained their complex plots and character arcs into my brain in ways that can never be erased. Part of who I am as an artist and writer is heavily influenced by not just the plo...
July 30, 2024
Seattle Gay News
Recently, I had the privilege to sit down with Lindsey Anderson of Seattle Gay News to talk about queerness, identity, education, and my new book, Voices Carry.
The article’s title makes a great blurb, as it states:
Voices Carry is a love letter to the Queer educators fighting to keep classrooms safe.”
It’s also my love letter to finding oneself and the importance of diversity and equity. You can read the entire article here:
https://www.sgn.org/story.php?ch=arts__entertainment&sc=books&id=3345...
Making Waves
There’s a phrase from my life that I abhor, the expression about making waves.
It’s a phrase about how people shouldn’t rock the boat because if you do, you might tip the boat over and kill everyone in it. Historically, the idea of “making waves” has been used to keep marginalized folks in their place. In other words, how people like me should just shit down and shut up. If we’re heard, it’s perceived that we’re causing trouble or raising a stink by merely existing, let alone speaking our mind. ...
July 24, 2024
Dear Bartell Drugs
It’s been a while since I’ve done a Dear ______ blog post but today prompted one as it’s Disability Pride Month and I’ve had it with places of business deciding it’s acceptable to treat people with disabilities as if we aren’t people too. So on that note…
Dear Bartell Drugs of Mill Creek,I have tried and tried to be patient with Bartell Drugs, particularly this location, since Rite Aid took over, but I am done. As of today, I am moving all of my prescriptions elsewhere since Bartell continues t...
Voices Carry Release Party!
We’re coming up on three weeks until the release of my memoir, Voices Carry: A Story of Teaching, Transitions, & Truths, which means it’s time to look at those calendars and figure out which Voices Carry release party you’d love to attend! Because of my long COVID, both events are virtual, which also makes it easier for those of you not in the greater Seattle area.
The More Traditional Release Party!WHAT: A short reading, Q&A, prizes, and fun!
WHERE: Streaming on YouTube here: https://bit...
July 16, 2024
Eastside Locals!
If you’re local to the northern greater Seattle area, a great bookstore called Main Street Books in Monroe is having a great special right now!
Use the code PREORDER25 for 25% off of all pre-orders through July, which includes Voices Carry by yours truly!
I don’t know why their version of the cover image is all smooshed–I promise it doesn’t really look like that–but here’s the page to pre-order a copy and support your local indie bookstore:
July 10, 2024
Bookmonger Review
Barbara Lloyd McMichael over on Our Coast Weekend (a PNW weekly arts & entertainment paper) typed up a nice review of Voices Carry: A Story of Teaching, Transitions, & Truths, entitled “Bookmonger: A memoir on learning to speak up,” which came out on July 9, 2024.
You can read the full review HERE, but for now, some highlights:
Oak is articulate and pulls no punches in this memoir. She doesn’t necessarily owe her readers an explanation as to how she transitioned to her own current identity as qu...
June 29, 2024
ARC review
It’s a bit early but a few ARC reviews have started to come in on Voices Carry. This one in particular made me cry because the reader/reviewer got everything out of it that I’d hoped for. They identified with the struggles, found it healing, and through it, found their voice. Representation matters so much folks.
You can read the full review here: https://www.wondermajica.com/2024/06/finding-my-voice-through-voices-carry.html
The post ARC review appeared first on Raven Oak.
June 13, 2024
Because I’m Happy
There’s an article going around social media regarding a study that found the top 10 songs guaranteed to make someone happy. The study concluded those songs were the following:
Queen, “Don’t Stop Me Now”ABBA, “Dancing Queen”Beach Boys, “Good Vibrations”Billy Joel, “Uptown Girl”Survivor, “Eye of the Tiger”The Monkees, “I’m a Believer”Cyndi Lauper, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”Bon Jovi, “Livin’ on a Prayer”Gloria Gaynor, “I Will Survive”Katrina & the Waves, “Walking on Sunshine”While I l...
June 3, 2024
Write-A-Thon
It’s time for the Clarion West Write-A-Thon!
Besides kicking my writing ass into shape word count wise, the Write-A-Thon event is a great opportunity to raise funds for Clarion West, a great writing workshop here on the west coast. Places like Clarion West, Cascade Writers, Taos Toolbox, Viable Paradise, etc. go a long way in helping fledgeling writers learn their craft. They provide networking opportunities and chances to pitch ideas.
Because I truly believe that writing workshops help writers ...
