OutLook Press - Arts and Entertainment for Women

Lambda Literary Foundation Announces Inaugural LGBTQ Writers Retreat August 5-12, 2007

LOS ANGELES, CA—Lambda Literary Foundation is launching the first program of its kind ever offered to LGBTQ writers: a one-week intensive immersion in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. An unparalleled opportunity to learn from the very best writers in the LGBTQ community, the Lambda Literary Foundation Writers Retreat is open to emerging LGBTQ writers of any age.

"Our intent is to take talented emerging writers out of isolation and help them learn their craft and connect them with the tangible world of publishing," said Katherine V. Forrest, president of the Lambda Literary Foundation, who will serve as faculty on the retreat. "Our generation of writers, through this Retreat, can give emerging LGBT writers what none of us (or at least very few) ever had: mentors and a peer group. For one intensive week we can provide them with the hardest element for any emerging writer to find, credible, detailed feedback for their work."

The Writers Retreat will take place August 5 -12, 2007, in Los Angeles at the Conference Center at the University of Judaism. Other faculty include Dorothy Allison, Fenton Johnson, and Eloise Klein Healy. Other writers, including Michael Nava, John Rechy, and Bernard Cooper, will give readings or lectures.

To insure the quality of the Lambda Literary Foundation Writers Retreat, applicants will be screened. Space is limited to 21 students. Applications and scholarship requests should be postmarked by April 15, 2007. For more information, visit Writers Retreat for an Application. Any questions should be directed to asklambda@earthlink.net

Four New Book Reviews featuring authors Verda Foster, Jacqueline Wallen, Kim Baldwin, and Radclyffe
Crackerjack reviewer, Arlene Germain, sent us reviews of three great new books, providing in-depth looks at some great reading. The latest featured titles are The Gift by Verda Foster, Sudden Loss of Serenity by Jacqueline Wallen, and Hunter's Pursuit by newcomer Kim Baldwin. We little folk at OutLook also contributed a review of the latest Provincetown Tales installment: Distant Shores, Silent Thunder by Radclyffe. What are you waiting for? Get to reading! Click here to read the reviews.

Olivia Cruises: A Personal Account
What would you say if I told you I found "Lesbian Utopia?" No, it’s not a joke and I have photographs to prove it!

Picture this: white sands, crystal blue water, brilliant sunshine, a very large boat, and 1,500 lesbians! It doesn’t get much better than that.

At the end of January, my spouse and I celebrated our fifth anniversary. She appeared at work one rainy Friday morning in a white limousine and whisked me off to the airport to catch a flight to Florida, where we were to board a cruise ship for a four-day Caribbean cruise. "What a woman!" you’re thinking, and you’re right, but there’s more! We were just two of 1,500 other women boarding the ship, and all 1,500 were gay! We were venturing out on the high seas on our first Olivia cruise... Click here to read the entire article.

Attention Writers! New Publishers Added: Call for Submissions
Alice Street Editions (publisher of Alex Marcoux, featured here on OutLook) is looking for lesbian novels and nonfiction books; erotica, science fiction OK. Published by Haworth Press. Editor-in-chief Judith P. Stelboum, 11 Cambridge Court East, Old Saybrook, CT 06475.

Bella Books is expanding! Bella seeks full-length lesbian romance and mysteries. Please query first to: Bella Books, P.O. Box 10543, Tallahassee, FL 32302. Include a one-page synopsis of the plot with your query letter; do not include the full manuscript. Deadline: Open.

Blithe House Quarterly, the leading online journal of lesbian and gay literary fiction, is pleased to open submissions for its 2005 issues. Stories must be previously unpublished, fictional (as opposed to memoir), and usually 2,500 to 7,500 words in length. We recommend reading stories in recent issues. For guidelines on submission, see www.blithe.com. If you have further questions after reading the site's submission guidelines and “Frequently Asked Questions,” please direct them to Aldo Alvarez.

Bold Strokes Books (publisher of Radclyffe and Kim Baldwin, featured here on OutLook) is soliciting manuscripts for full-length lesbian fiction of all genres, including erotica, with a preferred word limit of 55,000 to 110,000 words. General Submission Guidelines: Email electronic submissions only using Microsoft Word. Please include a cover letter containing: A one page synopsis of the plot including title and word count; a short author’s bio including name, address, email, phone, website, and previous publications. For more information, visit Bold Strokes Books on the Web to check out their General FAQs and Publishing Process FAQs.

Firebrand Books is looking for lesbian literary fiction and nonfiction manuscripts. Please send query letter first to Firebrand Books, c/o Karen Oosterhous, 2232 S. Main St., #272, Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Deadline: Open.

New publication, biMagazine, published online at www.bimagazine.org, seeks fiction and poetry. Work should deal substantively and creatively with bisexuality or bi-eroticism. Poetry may be in any form or style (102 page limit per poem); fiction may be in the form of flash fiction or short stories no more than twenty pages long. For more info, contact Jonathan Alexander, fiction and poetry editor.

HLFQ (Harrington Lesbian Fiction Quarterly) is looking for poetry, fiction, art for ongoing publication. Info: Editor Judith P. Stelboum, 11 Cambridge Court East, Old Saybrook, CT 06475.

"Out in the World" is a new gay and lesbian travel literary series begun by Haworth Press. Proposals for books can range from the erotic to the literary to the academic and can be anthologies or the work of one author. Proposals should be clearly presented, with a synopsis, marketing outline and a CV of previous works and a bio. For more information, or questions on presenting a proposal, contact Michael Luongo, editor of the series.

Lodestar Quarterly, an online journal of gay, lesbian and queer literature is currently considering fiction, poetry, drama, and essays that address either queer culture or current American politics. Submission guidelines can be found at www.lodestarquarterly.com/submit.

2 Gyrlz Quarterly seeks original, unpublished poetry, short fiction, flash/micro fiction, text/art multimedia pieces and the texts from short performances. Visit www.2gyrlz.org for more information, or email for more information.

ibodi.com seeks erotic fiction and poetry, preferably under 2,000 words, to be published on their website. Include a cover letter indicating your publishing history. For more information, visit: http://www.ibodi.com/i/s/index.html. Please send submissions as an attachment or in the body of an email to Jerome Green, 108 East 9th St., Indianapolis, IN, 46202.

The Connor Hawthorne Mystery Series by Lauren Maddison
One of our absolute favorite authors is Lauren Maddison, creator of the Connor Hawthorne mystery series. This series, while indeed a true mystery series, also delves into the supernatural and mystical. Maddison's main character is Connor Hawthorne, former district attorney turned best-selling mystery novelist. Connor is surrounded by a bevy of well-rounded, eccentric characters, from her powerful and mysterious father who operates officially under a presidential advisor title, and Laura Nez, the Native American woman hired to protect her, to best buddy, D.C. cop Malcolm Jefferson, and her mystical and enchanting Grandmother who just happens to have gifts Connor can only imagine. One thing we love about Maddison's books is that they are fairly robust in length, which makes for an enjoyable read that lasts awhile. Many people tend to shy away from books that dabble in the mystical or supernatural, but Maddison doesn't take it so far "out there" that you're left scratching your head. She weaves a tightly woven tale that combines the two genres seamlessly and leaves you wanting more. Here's a quick synopsis of three in the series:

Witchfire: No one knows what the grave robbers were looking for when they violated the grave of Connor Hawthorne's recently deceased grandmother, Gwendolyn. Whatever it was, they didn't find it, but they died trying. Two corpses and a casket full of stones are all that Connor has to go on as she leaves her home in Santa Fe,N.M. for Glastonbury, England, with Laura Nez, the courageous Navajo guide who saved her life in the high desert of New Mexico at the end of Deceptions, the first Connor Hawthorne Mystery. But Connor, an ex-district attorney turned crime novelist who is no stranger to mystery and danger, is scant prepared for the family secrets that come tumbling out of the past and threaten to engulf not only her, but everyone she loves. From modern England to the mists of ancient Avalon, Witchfire weaves a thoroughly contemporary tale of murder and danger tied to an ancient and powerful secret. As she did in Deceptions, Lauren Maddison once again blends thriller fiction with mythology and lets it build to a heart-pounding conclusion. Connor Hawthorne will face her ultimate enemy, and the outcome will require more than gunplay.

Epitaph for an Angel: Connor Hawthorne and Laura Nez travel to Boston to attend the funeral of Catherine Pettigrew, the mother of Connor's college friend and former lover, Grace. Before the funeral, Grace reveals to Connor that she is troubled over the manner of her mother's death, and Grace's concern is made graver by the sudden appearance of a sibling she never knew she had. Even worse, the mysterious -sibling appears to have inherited the lion's share of Catherine's sizable estate. Connor's attention, however, is diverted by the presence of her own mother, Amanda, with whom Connor has not spoken in years. Matters take a horrifying turn when the limousine carrying Amanda and Grace's aunt, Florence Earnhardt, is forced off the Fore River Bridge and plunges into the water, killing all the occupants. Joining forces to investigate the deaths of Catherine, Florence, and Amanda is the stalwart cast from the previous Connor Hawthorne mysteries, including Connor's father, Benjamin; FBI agent Ayalla Franklin; and Washington, D.C., police captain Malcolm Jefferson. Their investigation uncovers a Pettigrew family conspiracy dating from 17th-century America through Hitler's Third Reich into present day. What is the nature of the special gift of the Pettigrew family, and will Grace use it for good or for evil?

The Eleventh Hour: Connor Hawthorne and her lover, Laura Nez, are enjoying a quiet weekend at a women's resort in Palm Springs, but a poolside conversation soon has them neck-deep in a mystery with global ramifications. Soon, they are in England investigating a healer named Sister Sonia, who is toying with forces about which she has little understanding, which could have disastrous consequences. Then Connor's daughter, Katy, against her mother's wishes, goes undercover to investigate Sister Sonia and disappears.

Lauren Maddison is the author of four previous Connor Hawthorne mysteries: Deceptions, Witchfire, Death by Prophecy, and Epitaph for an Angel. She makes her home in Southern California.

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Radclyffe Gets Serious About Love in the Lambda Book Report
Our favorite romance author, Radclyffe, is featured on the cover of this month's Lambda Book Report. In an interview with Lisa C. Moore, Radclyffe talks about life, love, what it means to "be different" and how she finds time for it all: as a surgeon, a writer, and a partner. An accomplished author, with over 18 titles under her belt, Radclyffe has also taken on a new venture as the founder of Bold Strokes Books, a brand new lesbian publishing house. Click here to read the entire article. We also just finished "Distant Shores, Silent Thunder" by Radclyffe and loved it! Review to come shortly.

Featured Artist: Dyana Jean
We are featuring a fantastic new artist in our Gallery this month and she's a Philly girl, ladies! Dyana Jean, an artist, poet, and photographer, from Philadelphia has caught our eye and we want to share her with the world. Click here to see just a glimpse of the beautiful art she creates in word and picture. We also have an upcoming interview with Dyana Jean, so don't forget to come back and read about what moves and motivates her to create the art she does. Also, visit her personal Web site and let her know what you think! Artists love feedback.

When Night is Falling Movie Review
One of my absolute favorite movies, When Night Is Falling, is this week's movie review. Directed by Patricia Rozema and starring Pascale Bussieres and Rachael Crawford, When Night is Falling tells the unlikely love story of Petra, a circus performer and Camille, a professor at a Christian college. Daring and provocative, this movie is filled full of revelations as each character finds questions within herself that she never knew existed. Arlene Germain gives a detailed and succinct review of When Night is Falling. Click here to read it.

CHIC Sports Radio News—All Women, All The Time!
Finally! A place for the ladies who love sports! CHIC Sports Radio has launched a brand new Web site and is dishing up all the latest news you can imagine in the world of women's sports. CHIC Sports Radio is the only program on the airwaves devoted entirely to women's sports. Click here to read all about it!

Crime Fighting Hotties Out to Save The World! DVD coming June 7! Pre-order now!
Recruited by the U.S. government for their unique ability to lie, cheat and fight, Amy, Max, Janet and Dominique join an underground academy of secret agents known only as D.E.B.S. These crime fighting hotties set out to save the world and keep their lipstick perfectly applied while doing so. Now the girls must combine their skills for their most important mission—to capture vexing vixen Lucy Diamond, the deadliest criminal the world has ever known. When D.E.B.S. star player, Amy, falls for Lucy, chaos erupts and the D.E.B.S. loyalty is put to the test. Opened in theaters March 25, 2005. For more information, visit the official D.E.B.S. movie Web site. [Editor's note: The D.E.B.S. movie site is heavy on Flash elements, so if you do not have a high-speed connection, expect to wait a bit for everything to run and load. To pre-order, click on image at right and it will take you to the Wolfe Video site for pre-ordering.]

When Agent Skellar starts receiving threatening messages on her computer, she calls in the help of free-spirited hacker Lucy Spoon, and gets much more than she bargained for. Does someone have a personal grudge against Sam? Or could the elusive killer be targeting Sam for reasons unknown to her? And what about Lucy, who seems to be guarding secrets of her own...

New from author Lynne Jamneck, who said Sam is currently undercover on her second case. Down the Rabbit Hole is available at all fine bookstores, approximately 200 pages, and retails for $12.95.

Hot Stories for a Cold Winter's Night

From one of the premiere writers of lesbian fiction comes a tale of hot, erotic moments. Change of Pace: Erotic Interludes by Radclyffe, is a forthcoming new release from Bold Strokes Books. The book is packed with twenty-five hot-wired encounters guaranteed to spark more than just your imagination! From a construction worker who discovers a pleasant distraction in the surgical locker room and two friends who share a walk on the wild side in Amsterdam's Red Light district to a femme top welcoming her lover home from the road, and a surprise party that ends with a most unusual gift, Change of Pace: Erotic Interludes is just the thing to stir up a little bit of heat on a cold winter's night! Available December 2004, 200 pages, from Bella Books and Starcrossed Productions.

Rita Mae's Done It Again! Cat's Eyewitness is Superb

We just wrapped up Cat's Eye Witness by Rita Mae Brown and loved it! Brown seldom disappoints this reader with her Mrs. Murphy mystery series, but this one had a touch of depth to it that previous novels simply didn't. For followers of the series, you'll be thrilled to know that Harry finally figures out where her heart belongs and Boom-Boom finds love in a very unlikely place. A full review will be forthcoming.

It’s no secret that cats are a mystery writer’s best friend. Just ask the bestselling team of Rita Mae Brown and her furry partner, Sneaky Pie Brown, back on the prowl with another unforgettable whodunit. This time a controversial miracle in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains sparks religious fervor—and a suspicious death. Now the indefatigable felines Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, along with the dogged corgi Tee Tucker, must trust their animal instincts to sniff out the worst of human nature.

With the holidays approaching, Mary Minor “Harry” Haristeen and her best friend, Susan Tucker, take a much-needed time-out at the mountain monastery of Mount Carmel. There, under the benevolent gaze of the statue of the Virgin Mary, their worldly worries are soon overshadowed. For in front of their very eyes the statue begins to cry tears of blood.Legend has it that Mary’s crimson tears are harbingers of crises. And though skeptical, the ever-practical Harry can already see one on the horizon. If leaked, news of the so-called miracle could turn the monastery and the town of Crozet into a circus. What Harry doesn’t foresee is murder.When Susan’s great-uncle Thomas, a resident monk, is found frozen to death at the base of the statue, foul play is ruled out–at first. But at Harry’s urging, the body is exhumed for an autopsy. There’s just one problem: the coffin is empty. That’s when Mrs. Murphy, Pewter, and Tucker get involved. Then there’s the shocking revelation of a mystery that has perplexed the citizens of Crozet for ages.With Christmas around the corner and the monastery overrun by the faithful, all Harry’s meddling menagerie can do is stay on her trail as she jumps knee-deep into an unofficial investigation—one that becomes more dangerous when another Crozet citizen meets an untimely demise. In this case it will be a miracle if Harry stays alive...

The Last Word
Don't forget, The L Word is Sunday nights, 10/9 central on Showtime! Check out random:musings and let us know what you think. Oh, and go visit our ebay store for unique pet greeting cards featuring Dobermans, Dachshunds, Pugs, Shih Tzus, Rottweilers, Labs, and more! Help buy our dog food! Help feed the cat! Please buy our stuff! :) See ya later!