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Mary Griggs

~ The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.

Mary Griggs

Monthly Archives: July 2015

Post GCLS Con Report

27 Monday Jul 2015

Posted by marygriggs in Uncategorized

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GCLS

gcls_crownI really love the Golden Crown Literary Society‘s Annual Literary Conference. I attended my first one in 2005 (also their first one) and have only missed one since (the first Atlanta conference when I was still homeless after the post-Katrina levee flooding destroyed my city).

It was like finding my tribe when I first walked into one of the conferences and the feeling has just gotten stronger for each subsequent one. I do a lot of political work and I get to hang out with lots of passionate queer folk and that is amazing. It is something else, though, to be surrounded by these literary lesbians. To be able to talk for hours about lesbian fiction; to discuss reading and writing with other book lovers is like a balm to my thirsty soul. GCLS_NO_color_h This year’s conference came back to New Orleans (the first one was also held here). I was on the ground committee and I worked with the GCLS Executive Director, Liz Gibson, and the event coordinator, Judy Comella, to make this one of the best conferences ever.

While I was still on the GCLS board, we were able to secure Dorothy Allison as the keynote speaker. I’m so very glad we did. She exceeded every possible expectation. She is irreverent, charming, poignant, funny, profane and I am in awe. I was in the room when she read from Bastard Out of Carolina and had chills. I was in tears during her speech and the standing ovation she received lasted for more than five minutes. I was also beyond lucky to get to have lunch with her and the recipient of the this year’s Lee Lynch Classic Award, Rita Mae Brown, the author of Rubyfruit Jungle.

I helped the Bella Books crew get the many boxes of books up from the loading dock to the conference. The hotel was trying to charge $2 per box, so we liberated a pallet jack and moved them ourselves. The freight elevator did smell like it had been transporting dead bodies but we made it up in one piece. At the vendor room, a number of folks then helped bring them the rest of the way. It was great to see so many people step up to do what needed doing but that is pretty typical for GCLS.

While I wasn’t able to attend every panel or reading I wanted, I enjoyed being on the Dystopian panel moderated by SY Thompson with fellow panelists Linda Kay Silva, Jane Fletcher and Liz Hodge (who later won a Goldie for her poetry). We talked about hope and fears and the importance of writing the books you want to read. The special speaker this year was Ali Vali and she gave a funny (and scary) talk on her writing process. She knows she’s on the right track when her wife walks away muttering, “What is wrong with you?” Not my process but funny to hear hers.

I was also honored to receive a volunteer recognition award at the annual membership meeting. The meeting is live streamed here, if you want to watch it. You will not see me, as I unfortunately had to run to Baton Rouge for work and missed it! volunteer award The awards ceremony was hilariously MC’d by Lynn Ames and Ann McMan. I have already posted a list of the winners (here) but I want to congratulate all the finalists and winners. I also want to thank all those whose hard work made it possible – the awards committee, the judges, the presenters and the behind the scene tech folk that kept it all moving smoothly. The night was magical – many people were dressed to the nines and the energy was high and the enthusiasm that greeted each announced winner was gratifying to hear.

Marie Castle, winner for her paranormal novel, The Devil You Know and I at the Goldies. (Picture by RJ Layer)

Marie Castle, winner for her paranormal novel, The Devil You Know and I at the Goldies. (Picture by RJ Layer)

Speaking of thanking folks – the GCLS board puts in many, many hours throughout the year for not only the conference but also to make the organization itself successful and sustainable. This is an all volunteer organization and they do it all for love not money. I’m very proud of the job they do.

I’m very much looking forward to next year’s conference in DC (actually Alexandria, VA) from July 6 to 10th, 2016. I can’t wait to reconnect with old friends, make some new ones and recharge amongst other readers and writers. Please consider joining us!

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2015 Goldie Award Winners

26 Sunday Jul 2015

Posted by marygriggs in Uncategorized

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GCLS, Publishing

There may have been a 31 hour long boil water advisory, but the literary lesbians turned up the glam at the 2015 Goldie Awards at the 11th Annual Golden Literary Society Annual Conference here in New Orleans.

Here is a picture of most of the Bella Books authors and our publisher, Linda Hill:

bella authors

Here are the award winners:

Debut author:
Just Intuition – Makenzi Fisk
Never Too Late – Julie Blair
Stick McLaughlin – CF Frizzell

Romantic Suspense/Intrigue/Adventure:
The One – JM Dragon
Sharpshooter- Leslie Murray
Switchblade- Carsen Taite

Poetry:
Undone – EM Hodge
Kissing keeps us afloat – Laurie McFayden

Mystery/Thriller:
The Acquittal- Anne Laughlin
Left Field – Elizabeth Sims
The Consequence of Murder – Nene Adams

Young Adult:
Double Exposure- Bridget Birdsall
Riding the Rainbow – Genta Sebastian
Just Girls – Rachel Gold

Anthology/Collection (Creative Non-Fiction):
Queerly Beloved A Love Story Across Genders – Diane Anderson-Minshall Jacob Anderson-Minshall
An American Queer – Lee Lynch

Paranormal/Horror:
The Magic Hunt – LL Rand
The Devil You Know – Marie Castle
Dogs of War – Geonn Cannon

Erotica:
Heart’s Surrender – Emma Weimann
Best Lesbian Erotica 2014 – Rachel Windsor
Escapades – MJ Williamz

Dramatic/General Fiction:
The War Within – Yolanda Wallace
Loved and Lost – Stephanie Kusiak
Everything – Carole Wolf

Anthology/Collection (Fiction):
Wicked Things – Jae and Astrid Ohletz
Unwrap These Presents – Astrid Ohletz and R.g. Emanuelle

Historical Fiction:
Tangled Roots – Marianne K. Martin
Waiting for the Violins – Justine Saracen
The Bright Lights of Summer – Lynn Ames

Traditional Contemporary Romance:
Kiss the Girl – Melissa Brayden
Nightingale- Andrea Bramhall
The Midnight Moon- Gerri Hill

Science Fiction/Fantasy:
FutureDyke – Lea Daley
Return of an Impetuous Pilot – Kate McLachlan
Rabbits of the Apocalypse- Benny Lawrence

The GCLS Directors’ Award is presented to a single GCLS member in recognition of contributions made to the Golden Crown Literary Society during the past year and/or to the ongoing mission of the organization over a longer period of time.

GCLS Directors Award: Watty Boss

Tee Corinne Award for Outstanding Cover Design provides recognition for artistic work that contributes to the promotion of a quality product in our marketplace. The award honors cover designs that create a beautiful representation of the story and put a professional face on the lesbian genre. Cover design goes beyond the art and includes the typography and layout of the printed words as well as how the visual elements are arranged.

Tee Corinne Outstanding Cover Design:
Everything – Ann McMan designer

Ann Bannon Popular Choice Award is voted on by members of the Golden Crown Literary Society.

Ann Bannon Popular Choice Award:
Olive Oil and White Bread – Georgia Beers

The GCLS aims to recognize books/titles that convey meaningful lesbian experiences with influential historical value to the lesbian community, recognizing that individual perceptions of classics will differ. The Classics Award differs from the Trailblazer Award in that the Classic Award is for a specific book/title that is timeless (e.g., Lee Lynch for The Swashbuckler).

Lee Lynch Classic Book Award:
Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown

GCLS Trailblazer Award is for lifetime achievement and is presented each year to a single author in recognition of the contributions made to the field of lesbian literature. To be eligible to win, the author must meet specific criteria. The author must have published a significant body of work over a period of at least 20 years and written lesbian-themed works that have had a positive impact upon the growth and visibility of the field of lesbian literature. This award can be given posthumously.

Trailblazer Award: 
Joan Nestle

Congratulations to all the winners!

Hope to see y’all next year at the 12th Annual Conference in Washington, DC from July 6, 2016 to July 10, 2016!

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The Revolution Was A Beginning

04 Saturday Jul 2015

Posted by marygriggs in Uncategorized

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LGBT Equality, Marriage Equality

This is first July 4th weekend after the Supreme Court affirmed marriage equality in the United States of America. Those fireworks work displays will have special significance as this may be the first time I’ve ever really believed that liberty and justice for all meant me, too.

When people are treated fairly; when there is equal treatment under the law for all people, we are all better off. As President Barack Obama said:

“Today we can say in no uncertain terms that we’ve made our union a little more perfect.” —President Obama #LoveWins

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 26, 2015

I’ve been in the fight for LGBTQ equality since the early 1990’s and involved in the battle marriage equality for the past two years as chair of the Board of one of the plaintiffs for the Louisiana marriage lawsuit. My organization, the Forum for Equality, has been fighting against discrimination in Louisiana for many, many years. For us, this win is tremendous.

Of course, our governor, Bobby Jindal, wouldn’t accept such a challenge to his heteronormative worldview (or to his quixotic presidential aspirations). He attempted every delaying tactic possible, including claiming the SCOTUS decision wasn’t binding until affirmed by the 5th Circuit and then, later, claiming he needed it affirmed by the District Court!

Bad for him but good for the rest of us, both the 5th Circuit and the District Court have now spoken clearly and unequivocally that marriage equality is the law of the land and the law in Louisiana.

It is time for celebration and dancing in the street. Take a moment to bask in the win. Realize how much stress and anger has been weighing you down and roll your shoulders and just let it go. Smile in satisfaction of a job well done.

Photo by Sid Arroyo

At the Day of Decision Rally at Jackson Square. Photo by Sid Arroyo

Soon, enough, we must gird our loins and continue the fight. As Woodrow Wilson told Daughters of the American Revolution in 1915 that the “The American Revolution was a beginning, not a consummation.”

In Louisiana (and 28 other states), while same-sex couples were granted marriage equality on Friday, they can be fired on Monday because they exercised their constitutional rights.

There are no employment protects for sexual orientation or gender identity/expression under Louisiana state law. While folks in New Orleans and Shreveport have such protections, there are also few, if any other protections for LGBT people in the rest of Louisiana in the areas of housing, education and public accommodations.

Our work is not done. As we fold up the tents on marriage equality, we must now muster a new army of activists to make sure that all of us can enjoy the freedoms that Independence Day represents.

Our dream is for someday to have freedom come to all Americans, no matter where they are in the country. As Dr. Martin Luther King said in his famous address:

So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania! Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado! Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of California! But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia! Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee! Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

This fight will be neither easy nor cheap. We’ve already seen how eager those opposed to progress are to use the bible as a weapon against us. We’ve seen how willing they are to expend large amounts of money to defend their right to discriminate. We need your help.

Please consider supporting a state based equality organization like the Forum for Equality. We have great folks working hard and your investment here can have tremendous impact on our ability to make a difference for all Louisianians. Click here for the secure donation page.

To find one in your state, visit the Equality Federation.

Beyond your financial support, we are also looking for volunteers, board committee members and people who can testify before the Louisiana legislature. We are also looking for businesses and corporations to join our Equality Means Business campaign. Please contact Forum for Equality for more information.

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