BAQWA Presents: Queer Cheer

Happy Wednesday Scribblers, how are you all doing today? Well I hope. Today I’m excited to share that I will be part of another anthology this year; BAQWA Presents: Queer Cheer (you can pre-order the anthology here). This is BAQWA’s (learn more about the Bay Area Queer Writers Association [BAQWA] here) third anthology and all the money we raise from the book sales of Queer Cheer will go to support the Rainbow Community Center in Concord, CA (find them here). This year I contributed a wonderful ‘meet cute’ story called; Thanksgiving Pie.

Here is the blurb for my short story:

When the holidays aren’t what they’re supposed to be. When you’re on your last nerve because your boyfriend recently dumped you and your family lives out of state. What are you supposed to do? Sit home alone and be miserable? That’s exactly what David planned on doing this Thanksgiving. However, he needs to pick up his less than festive meal at the grocery store. While shopping, fate and the universe decide to step-in with a chance encounter placing Fernando and his pumpkin pie right in David’s path. How will this Thanksgiving remind David that events happen around us all the time to be thankful for? Will David be grateful and open to meeting someone new?

And here are the details on the anthology:

The Bay Area Queer Writers Association presents queer cheer in a collection of tales and poems to delight readers this holiday season. Authors K.S. Trenten, Pat Henshaw, R.L. Merrill, Liz Faraim, Richard May, Vincent Traughber Meis, M.D. Neu, Kelliane Parker, Allison Fradkin, Wayne Goodman, Alexandra Caluen, Andrew Beierle and Sarah White have written short stories or poetry with a queer twist to reflect various holidays or celebrations throughout the year. All proceeds from this collection will be donated to the Rainbow Community Center in Concord, California.

BAQWA Presents: Queer Cheer anthology includes:

Queer Cheer, a poem by K. S. Trenton

Miles to Millicent, a Valentine’s Day short story by Pat Henshaw

Let Me Stand Next to Your Fire, a short story by R. L. Merrill

Cassidy’s Return, a Fourth of July short story by Liz Faraim

Dia de los Muertos, a short story by Vincent Traughber Meis

Thanksgiving Pie, a short story by M. D. Neu

Selected Poetry by Kelliane Parker

Challah If You Queer Me, a short story by Allison Fradkin

Krampusnacht, a short story by Wayne Goodman

View from the Bridge, a short story by Alexandra Caluen

Home Alone, a short story by Andrew Beierle

Selected Poetry by Sarah White

Don’t forget to order your copy of Queer Cheer here, and remember this is a charity fundraiser so we hope you’ll help us raise money for the Rainbow Community Center (learn more here) in Concord, CA. Well, there you go, another short one this week. Until next time, have a great week.

Bay Area Queer Writers Association (BAQWA) Reading

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. I hope you’re all having a great week. As the title says, one of the author groups I’m part of; The Bay Area Queer Writers Association (BAQWA) will have a book reading from our newest anthology; BAQWA Presents: Two. The reading is set for Saturday February 25th at 3:30pm at the Lavender Library in Sacramento, CA.

We are excited to have this reading at the Library as the money raised from the book sales of BAQWA Presidents: Two will be donated to the Library. To learn more about all the great work the Lavender Library does click here.

As you can see, I’ll be there reading from my short story Nightingale’s Heart. It was such a privilege to be part of this project and I hope you’ll be able to come and join us. You can follow the event and keep up to date with all the details here. Learn more about BAQWA here. And follow us on Facebook here, Twitter here, and Instagram here.

That’s all I have for this week. Mark your calendar and come on by and say hello, it would be great to see you there. If you can’t make the reading but you would still like to support the Lavender Library you can get your copy of BAQWA Presents: Two here.

Until next time have a great week.

The Bay Area Queer Writers Association Presents: Two – Anthology Out Now

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. Can you believe it’s September! Crazy right. This week I’m excited to share that for the second year in a row I’m part of the Bay Area Queer Writers Association’s (BAQWA, find them here) anthology. This year the anthology is titled: Two (click here to get your copy). This anthology features ten authors who share a mix a short stores and poetry all focused around the number two. This is quite the unique collection and I couldn’t be prouder to be part of it. As with last year’s anthology all proceeds from this collection will be donated to the Lavender Library and Archives (click here to learn more) in Sacramento, California. I hope you will pick up a copy and help us support this wonderful organization.

Check out the Cover:

Book Blurb:

Sit down and kick your feet up with your favorite warm beverage this fall. It's time for you to enjoy stories and poetry that reflect the number two.

The Bay Area Queer Writers Association is proud to present this year’s collections of short stories and poetry featuring authors: Michael Alenyikov, Liz Faraim, Wayne Goodman, Kelliane Parker, Richard May, Gar McVey-Russell, Vincent Traughber Meis, R.L. Merrill, M.D. Neu, and K.S. Trenten. Sometimes you need to be able to sit back and let the words from the pages wash over you. See how these amazing authors spotlight the number ‘two’ in each of their works.

All proceeds from this limited-time anthology will be donated to the Lavender Library and Archives in Sacramento, California.

I’m really excited to be part of this anthology and found creating a story for book to be a lot of fun.

The story I contributed to this anthology is called; Nightingale’s Heart, and today I’m pleased to share the blurb with you:

Rahim is the head of security for Aza, a popstar, who had a fan with mental health issues break into their home a few years back. Since being hired Rahim has ensured Aza, and their team’s, safety. However, Rahim, over this time, has grown fond of Aza, hoping for more but never wanting to cross the line of professionalism. Could his feelings be reciprocated? Could Aza, find this lug of a man who protects them more than a ‘Big Guy’ who sees to their safety? Or is this another relationship where Rahim will get hurt.

Also, I created an author’s note for the story, that I think goes to the heart of the tale:

Have you ever had a crush on someone you’ve worked with? I think we all have. As time passed, you finally accepted that a business relationship was all you would ever get, but not today. Not now. This short story is all about crossing lines and taking chances and seeing what happens, for good or for bad. We may not get to explore those choices in real life, but in the safety of these pages, we get to indulge in our fantasies.

Well, that’s all for this week. Please pick up your copy of BAQWA Presents: Two (find it here) and see all the creative ways these authors have spotlighted the number two. Until next time, have a great week.