Publishing | Writing | Author Spotlight | Features | Podcasts | Links | #BIPOC

Heyla!

Happy Pride month!!


Newest news
I was surprised to learn this past Saturday that Remember Me, Synthetica won the Lesfic Bard Award for best Science Fiction novel. It makes me happy to see that other people enjoyed my favorite book as much as I did! Even better, I get to add this beauty to my shelf with the other one. Fantastic!

Huzzah!

In case you missed my Finalist Author Spotlight on May 8th, you can find that one and all the other GCLS Finalist Author Spotlight readings on YouTube. Click the image below to see session A on May 8th.


If you plan to attend the GCLS virtual conference, you can find me in the following locations on the schedule:

Saturday July 10th
11:00AM - 11:55AM EST
Panel: Trends in Fanfic
Description: Fanfic is often a frontrunner to lesfic, with themes, tropes and even phrases moving from fanfic to published novels. We’ll talk about current hot trends in fanfic, from the story level down to specific language. Are there tropes that are taboo or simply won’t work in lesfic? (Yes, we plan to talk about Omegaverse—you don’t need to know what that is, just come prepared to buckle your seatbelts and, if necessary, use your safeword.)
Panelists: K. Aten, Virginia Black, Patrice James, Rae D. Magdon, Astrid Ohletz
Moderator: Rachel Gold

Saturday July 10th
1:00PM - 1:55PM EST
Description: Author Spotlight
Authors: K. Aten, Carol Anne Douglas, Louisa Kelley, Sam Ledel, D. Jackson Leigh, Brey Willows
Moderator: Ali Vali

Sunday July 18th
4:00PM - 4:55PM EST
Description: Author Spotlight
Authors: A. L. Brooks, Nancy Manahan, Brenda Murphy, Renee Roman, Anne Shade, MJ Williamz
Moderator: K. Aten

If you like author readings, you should check out the Flashpoint Publications YouTube channel. Not only are we adding links to our authors' content to our playlists, but we are also uploading original content.


Shooting the Shit Podcast with KD Williamson
Our most recent podcast featured the fantastic Serena Bishop. You really should check out the YouTube video for this one, Serena and KD are hilarous.

You can see all the newest podcast episodes by going to Linktree. Or you can subscribe to the Shooting The Sh*t Podcast YouTube channel. Click the image below to see our YouTube Page.


Author Spotlight
      It's June, Pride month, and award winner, Tagan Shepard, is our Author Astronaut of the Month. Tagan has always spent quiet moments weaving stories in her head. It didn’t occur to her until recently to take the time to write them down. Now that she’s started, she can’t seem to stop. When not writing, she makes her living repairing medical laboratory equipment.
      Tagan is a cardio junkie, history buff, and unrepentant nerd, happily wasting countless hours of her life on video games and science fiction/fantasy of every stripe. She lives in Virginia with her very patient wife and two rather surly cats.


Awards
Currently Entries Left Yet To Be Decided:
Remember Me, Synthetica - 
Bisexual Book Awards
Otherwise Awards
Goldie Awards - FINALIST in Tee Corine Cover Art
Ippy
Lesfic Bard Awards - WINNER in Science Fiction

The Lost Temple of Psiere -
Goldie Awards - FINALIST in Science Fiction/ Fantasy

Features
GCLS Member Spotlight: March
GCLS Virtual Series event: 2 Truths and 1 Lie
Lynn Lawler's Book Blog: Meet Author Kelly Aten-Keilen
 All Stars Lesfic Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Club video interview - Remember Me, Synthetica
12 WLW & Lesbian Phone or Online Romance Novels - Rules of the Road
Eight Great Angsty Lesbian Romance Books - Burn It Down

Writing Updates:

• Now that I'm fully vaccinated, I've begun writing in my favorite local coffeehouse and theater again. I love the place and I'm happy to support a local business that has helped me with my creativity over the past couple years. I've surpassed 25,000 words in The Rebels of Psiere, and I've picked up two new beta readers. Book 3 in the Mystery of the Makers series is really coming along!
• If you're interested in the short fiction I wrote, you can always check it out on my AO3 site (see the link below). I post my short stuff there for free for anyone interested.
• You can still read all of Chapter One from Elemental Attraction on my website. Check it out, see if you'll like it, then pre-order on Amazon. Easy peasy, right? My goal has always been to make people #Think, #Feel, and # Discuss with my books. But with this one I want to make you #Laugh. We need more of that in the world.

Publishing Updates:
 

• Elemental Attraction is officially off with the second editor and may even be slated to move up a month for release. (From September 1st to August 1st) I'll know more at the time of the next newsletter and keep everyone updated.
• Do you need reading material but don't have a big budget right now? Don't forget, all my short stories, as well as my short and long fan fiction can be found FREE on AO3.

Podcasts & Panels
 

Now for my links:

Supercorp First Kisses Collection - 9 works, 51500 words
Adventures of an Awkward Scientere - 2 works, 23000 words
Amazon Author Page 
Goodreads Author Page 
Flashpoint Publications Author Page
The Lesbian Review: Reviewer Profile - I don't review any more but you can see my favorite books when I did.
 

As always, thank you for your continued support, because a voice is nothing without people to hear. Read, rate, and review. I'm always glad to answer emails and love to see feedback. Drop me a line for all questions, comments, and criticisms. I genuinely want to get better and I'm open to all. Thank you, my friends!

killerwit68@gmail.com

~Kelly

K. Aten
Author and Social Media Manager at Flashpoint Publications
GCLS Marketing/Social Media Committee Member
WEBSITE   ~   AMAZON   ~   GOODREADS
"Some words end the silence, others begin it."
    

[START AUTHOR TRANSMISSION]


Name: Tagan Shepard
Publisher: Bella Books
Reason you started writing: These people kept talking in my head and the only way I seemed to be able to get them to shut up was to write their stories down.
When I write it down like that it sounds… strange, but all writers are a little bit strange so I’m sure that’s fine…
Next book to release & when: Swipe Right, June 17th 2021
Why we should read it: It’s an adorable and funny friends to lovers romance staring an oblivious pansexual woman and her player best friend. Also it fits into six categories in Jae’s Sapphic Reading Challenge! K. Aten notes: Sweet! Readers, this is like the unicorn of book puzzle pieces. 
Genres that you've written: Romance, Science Fiction, Action/Thriller K. Aten notes: All excellent genres, if I do say so myself! LOL
List of published books:

• Visiting Hours
• Bird on a Wire - winner of the 2019 Goldie for General Fiction
• Across the Dark Horizon
• And Then There Was Her
• Queen of Humboldt
• Save the Date: A Romantic Anthology (June 17, 2021)
• Swipe Right (June 17, 2021)

Name something you're proud of in regards to your writing: My second book, Bird on a Wire, was my way of moving to the next stage of grieving for my mother, who passed in 2008 from breast cancer. We were extremely close, but some of the things she said when I came out will haunt me forever. Bird on a Wire was my way of having those conversations we never got to have. It was a deeply personal book, and I was elated when it won the Goldie. It was honestly one of the best moments of my life. K. Aten notes: It was a beautiful moment for those of us watching too. Big love, friend.
Click HERE to see all of Tagan's books on Amazon.US.


Cats or Dogs: Cats- particularly my babies, Sir Rufus McNibbles, Duke of Fluff’n’stuff and Lady Nefret Eleanor Kittenton, Duchess of Fluff’n’stuff 🐈🐱 K. Aten notes: That is a LOT of names.
Coffee/Tea/Water: Yes, please.
Weapon of choice during Zombie Apocalypse: Machete K. Aten notes: I mean...it's sword-like. I'm down for that.
Hobbies: Gaming- currently playing Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla and eagerly awaiting the remastered Mass Effect trilogy.
Do you fanfic? If so, favorite ship: Of course! FemShep/Liara (Mass Effect), Wayhaught (Wynonna Earp), Hollstein (Carmilla), Catadora (She-Ra), FemHawke/Isabela (Dragon Age: II), pretty much any smutty thing Rae D Magdon writes 
 K. Aten notes: Tagan is delightfully nerdy and has great taste in ships!


Website: Amazon
Facebook: www.facebook.com/tagan.shepard.5
Twitter: @taganshepard
​
Swipe Right by Tagan Shepard
      Kieran Hall has never been lucky in love. She married her high school sweetheart only to have him leave when she came out as pansexual. Then there was the rebound relationship that turned serious. It wasn’t long before they were out the door, too.
      For years Kieran avoided any attempts at finding the next person to break her heart, building a life that was comfortable but lonely. That loneliness finally pushes her to give dating another shot. The only problem is, without freshman homeroom or a chance meeting in a bar, she doesn’t know how to meet someone new.
      With the help of her best friend, Penelope, Kieran takes the plunge into the intimidating world of dating apps. It’s just as bad as she knew it would be, but Pen is always there to pick her up and dust her off after another disaster. In fact, hanging out with Pen quickly becomes her main motivation to keep swiping right.
      When one of her dates suggests that maybe her dating problems stem from her feelings for her best friend it leads Kieran to wonder, could love have been right there in front of her all along?      

   

Swipe Right by Tagan Shepard
      Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence for her shoe.
      A woman realizes she was meant to decline a wedding invitation, but only after she’s arrived. Can she borrow some of a stranger’s charm to make it through an awkward night?
      A power outage during a rehearsal dinner. A vanishing bride. A distraught groom. How’s an innkeeper to keep up? Especially when the bride reappears with a strange request: help her escape her own wedding.
      It’s awfully easy to bring “something old” to your wedding when one of the brides happens to be Death’s 700 year-old Head Minion.
      As if a museum wasn’t enough of a draw for a history nerd, throw in holograms, a secret wedding, and a mysteriously well-informed woman and things really get interesting.
      Weddings are so much more than parties. They’re a gathering of family and friends. The start of an adventure. And most importantly, they’re a celebration of love. From Bella Books comes a collection of short stories sure to put you in the mood to say “I do.”

Enjoy these romantic stories from the following Bella authors:

Tagan Shepard
Jessie Chandler
Louise McBain
M.B. Guel
E. J. Noyes
Celeste Castro
Kay Acker
Dillon Watson
Cade Haddock Strong
Kate Gavin
Jaime Clevenger
            

[END AUTHOR TRANSMISSION]

As promised, my #BLM, #AOC, and #BIPOC content in my newsletter and on my website will remain indefinitely for anyone who wants or needs it. It's important so it will not be taken down. If anyone has suggestions for an addition, feel free to send the info my way. Thanks!

BIPOC Author & Resource list

Thanks to KD Williamson for this graphic

#OwnVoices & BIPOC F/F fiction Authors in our community
If you are a black or indigenous author of color, or know an author who is not listed below, please send me a message and I'll include them next month. THIS LIST IS NOT GOING AWAY!
Amazon Author Page Links (99 and counting)
Alice Walker - Romance
Allysyn Jones - Romance, Erotica, Humor
Alyssa Cole - Historical Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction
AM McKnight - Romance, Short Stories
Aminah Mae Safi - Romance, Young Adults
Anna Stone - Romance
Anne Shade - Erotica
Anondra Williams - Fantasy, Science Fiction
April Sinclair - Historical Fiction, Young Adults
Arizona X Tape - Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal
Ava Freeman - Romance
Becky Birtha - Poetry, Short Stories
CB Lee - Science Fiction, Young Adults
Celeste Castro - Romance, Horror, Paranormal
Cheryl A. Head - Crime, Mystery
Chinelo Okparanta - Historical Fiction
Darlene Burns - Horror, Science Fiction
Delores Cremm - Historical Fiction, Drama, Short Stories
Destiny Hawkins - Science Fiction, Romance, Paranormal, Teen, Young Adults, Short Stories
Dillon Watson - Romance
Eija Jimenez - Romance
Elizebeth Andre - Romance, Thriller, Paranormal
Fiona Zedde - Action, Erotica, Romance
Gabrielle Goldsby - Romance, Historical
Ileandra Young - Fantasy, Science Fiction
J. Nichole - Romance
J.Y. Yang - Fantasy, Science Fiction
Jacqueline Koyanagi - Science Fiction
Jade Winters - Romance, Short Stories
Jennifer Linsky - Science Fiction, Romance
Jewelle Gomez - Erotica, Play (Theatre), Poetry, Short Stories
Junauda Petrus - Play (Theatre), Romance, Young Adults
K Arsenault Rivera - Fantasy
K. Ancrum - Romance, Young Adults
Kalynn Bayron - Young Adults
Katrina Jackson - Romance
KD Williamson - Action, Romance
Ki Love - Action, Science Fiction
Krystal Smith - Science Fiction, Short Stories, Romance
La Toya Hankins - Romance
Larissa Lai - Fantasy, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction
LaShonda Katrice Barnett - Historical Fiction
Laurinda D. Brown - Erotica
Lea Santos - Romance
Leah Johnson - Romance, Young Adults
Lianyu Tan - Dark Fantasy, Romantic Horror
LM Bennett - Poetry, Short Stories, Lesbian Studies
Lynda Sandoval - Romance, Young Adults
Makeda Silvera - Romance, Short Stories
Malinda Lo - Young Adults
Mason Dixon - Romance
MB Guel - Teen, Young Adults
Mercedes Lewis - Poetry
Mia McKenzie - Drama
Misa Sugiura - Romance, Young Adults
Monique 'B.T' Thomas - Romance, Drama
Nalo Hopkinson - Science Fiction, Short Stories
Nanisi Barrett D'Arnuk - Erotica, Short Stories, Romance
Nghi Vo - Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction
Nicky Drayden - Speculative Fiction
Nik Nicholson - Historical Fiction, Poetry
Nikki Harmon - Romance, Science Fiction
Nikki Rashan - Romance
Nisi Shawl - Fantasy, Horror, Short Stories
Octavia Reese - Children, Speculative Fiction
Penny Mickelbury - Mystery
Rachel E. Bailey - Fantasy, Romance
Raven ShadowHawk - Erotica
Rebekah Weatherspoon - Erotica, Romance
Rivers Solomon - Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction
RJ Samuel - Romance, Suspense
S. Renée Bess - Mystery, Short Stories
Sara Farizan - Teen, Young Adult
Shamim Sharif - Action, Historical Fiction, Romance, Thriller, Young Adults
Sheree L. Greer - Drama, Short Stories
Sheryn Munir - Romance
Shonia Brown - Drama, Romance
Skyy - Romance
Sonora Ryes - Young Adults
Stephanie Andrea Allen - Science Fiction, Short Stories, Speculative Fiction
Tanai Walker - Paranormal, Thriller
Tasha Suri - Fantasy, Young Adults
Tenea D. Johnson - Horror, Poetry, Science Fiction, Short Stories, Speculative Fiction
V Castro - Paranormal, Horror, Erotica
V.A. Fearon - Crime
Yolanda Wallace - Romance
Zaina Arafat - Drama
Zen Cho - Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction
Zoraida Córdova - Fantasy, Romance, Young Adults

#BLM support pages with many resources links
Black Lives Matter Resources
BOMB Magazine
Lecture In Progress
Time Out
FINIMPACT (UK business resource)

Lists/Sites Supporting Black & POC Authors & Stories
PBS - 10 Black Authors To Read
Black Literary Organizations
Independent Websites Dedicated to Authors of African Descent
Best Black queer books, according to Black LGBTQ leaders
25 Black Queer Books to Honor Protests and Pride Month
10 Young Black LGBTQ Authors Reclaiming Their Space Through Words
Queer Fiction by Queer Writers of Color
Goodreads Fiction about lesbian, bisexual, and queer women of color
23 LGBTQ Books With A POC Protagonist
Black Lesbian Literary Collective
Best Black Lesbian Books - Amazon.com
10 Novels & Memoirs By and About Black Lesbian, Bisexual and Queer Women
Lesfic Authors of Color Directory