Celeste
asked
Kim van Alkemade:
Hi! I just read your book Orphan #8 (finished it about an hour ago actually). I feel the impact of your novel has greatly changed the way I look at people of the LGBTQ+ community who are Jewish. I'm a leader of my school's Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA). I was wondering if you'd be comfortable sharing your experience as a Jewish LGBTQ+ woman and as an author and how that has impacted you? Thank you so much!
Kim van Alkemade
Hi Celeste, thanks so much for reading my novel! I'm not sure my personal experience is all that interesting or useful, but there are so many great resources through the American Library Associations LGBT Roundtable I'm sure you can find some great reading for your students. http://www.ala.org/rt/glbtrt
It is really important for me, though, to have LGBT characters in my historical fiction as I think it reclaims a historical space for us that is often invisible since so much was hushed up in the past. I'd also recommend that you check out the book Hidden From History: Reclaiming the Gay and Lesbian Past, it's a fantastic resource.
It is really important for me, though, to have LGBT characters in my historical fiction as I think it reclaims a historical space for us that is often invisible since so much was hushed up in the past. I'd also recommend that you check out the book Hidden From History: Reclaiming the Gay and Lesbian Past, it's a fantastic resource.
More Answered Questions
Marilyn (not getting notifications)
asked
Kim van Alkemade:
I am so glad that I was able to read Orphan #8. I put my name on a list at our local library. As soon as I started reading it I couldn't wait to read more. It was so informative. I learned so much about the Jewish Orphanages and the experiments that were performed on the orphans from your book. I can't wait to see what you write next. What subject matter are you exploring? Thanks, Marilyn
Miriam Andrus
asked
Kim van Alkemade:
Kim, I am librarian in Big Rapids, MI and just happen to be cataloging your book. It seems that there is a bit of a discrepancy when it comes to spelling your last name. Some catalogers have it as Van Alkemade while other have it as Alkemade. Could you please let me know what it is? We have several excited patrons waiting to read your books. We want to get it out to our shelves. ;)
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