The second Beside Press preview I have to share is Maiden, Mother, Crone, which is upcoming from the publisher, but I do not have a specific date for this one. This anthology is a collection of short fiction by trans women and trans feminine writers collected by poet and author Gwen Benaway. As an anthology it is the first by trans femme authors to explore the realms of magic, supernatural beings, and alternate universes. Trans femme  characters become the focus of these stories and inhabit the magical worlds of fantastic places. Continue reading “Maiden, Mother, Crone @BedsidePress Book Review from @kleffnotes”

Comic book lovers should recognize Gabby Rivera from her work on the solo series America, focused on America Chavez for Marvel Comics. In her mission to create the wildest, most fun stories ever Rivera has brought her writing skills to the Penguin Random House imprint Dial Books with her novel Juliet Takes a Breath, which comes out today. Juliet Milagros Palante has been a a self-proclaimed closeted Puerto Rican baby dyke from the Bronx, but now she is out of the closet and about to head out on a life-changing experience to intern with her favorite feminist writer. What she didn’t expect was that her coming out would crash and burn, but she has a plan, or at least she thinks she might. Continue reading “Juliet Takes a Breath @PenguinTeen Book Review from @kleffnotes”

Award winning editor Sinclair Sexsmith has put together a collection of stories from a refreshingly diverse group of individuals of various genders and identities in the fourth volume of Best Lesbian Erotica of the Year. These multi-talented authors showcase a variety of diverse stories that include anything from a mysterious warrior at a Renaissance Faire to a fantasy speed dating night. While each story is tremendously different each of them showcases what it feels like to fully step into one’s own power and feel deeply in your own body. Continue reading “Best Lesbian Erotica of the Year Volume 4 Book Review from @kleffnotes”

Cosmic Queers get ready for the read of your life! Now I have seen this subset of the queer community popping up on my Twitter feed and while I am not an expert I believe the Astrology gays, who I really wish were called Astrologays, will get a kick out of this book. Colin Bedell, astrologer for the Cosmopolitan and QueerCosmos.com, has created a book with no heteronomative language focused on providing insight into the stars for the queer community. Queer Cosmos isn’t out yet, but you can find out my thoughts on this interstellar sensation before the release in November. Continue reading “Queer Cosmos Book Review from @kleffnotes”

Releasing in October of this year, Happier as a Woman: Transforming Friendships, Transforming Lives is the story of a woman who found her path after becoming established in a more traditional sense. Martina Giselle Ramirez had first started wearing her mother’s shoes in secret in the second grade, this was still when the world knew her as Martin. Growing up as an adopted Mexican-American in a racially segregated city she had sworn she would not just become another statistic. Her journey would take her from valedictorian to tenured professor with a family. Once she had found her place she finally felt comfortable taking the next step to being her true self. Continue reading “Happier as a Woman Book Review from @kleffnotes”