WPS 2026 Day 28: S.J. Gathercole

 

Wonderland Pride Spotlight Day 28: S.J. Gathercole

Welcome to day 28 of the 2026 Wonderland Pride Spotlight! This is my way to help champion LGBTQ+ books and authors this Pride month! Today I am interviewing S.J. Gathercole. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

S.J. Gathercole's LGBTQ+ Releases

• The People We Trust

• Patterns of Us

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"Pansexual"

2. What rep do your books have?

"The People We Trust: Gay and bisexual 

Patterns of Us: Gay, bisexual, genderqueer, grief, ADHD, and chronic illness (Psoriatic arthritis)"

3. If you were to write in a different genre, what would it be?

"I have an idea that's been niggling at me for a feminist horror story, but it's not a genre I read much and not one I've really written since my era of writing supernatural horrors as a teenager. But the idea simply won't go away, so maybe one day."

4. What is your biggest writing inspiration?

"Just life in general. I think you can find little nuggets of inspiration anywhere."

5. Anything exciting for you on the horizon?

"I'm moving house which is both exciting and stressful! Once that's all tied up I'm looking to write a sequel to The People We Trust!"

6. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"Dan Levy. Not only did his writing and character of David Rose help me finally put an explanation to my own sexuality which I previously hadn't been able to articulate, but he also just incredibly funny and incredibly talented and lovely. I'd happily devour anything he wrote or performed in."

Outro

I adore this excuse to conduct little author interviews! Happy Pride everyone! Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their LGBTQ+ releases!

WPS 2026 Day 28: B.L. Brown

 

Wonderland Pride Spotlight Day 28: B.L. Brown

Welcome to day 28 of the 2026 Wonderland Pride Spotlight! This is my way to help champion LGBTQ+ books and authors this Pride month! Today I am interviewing B.L. Brown. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

B.L. Brown's LGBTQ+ Releases

• Faun Over Me
• In A Rut
• The Witch of Hexen Holler
• Ritual Income
• Ritual Dues
• Ritual Tools
• Shady Depths
• Stitching Palms

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"Bisexual"

2. What rep do your books have?

"Ritual Income, Dues, and Tools: Bisexual, pansexual, neurodivergent, anxiety, and PTSD"

3. If you were to write in a different genre, what would it be?

"I would love to write in the SciFi space, or Contemporary. There's something about Fantasy and magic that grabs me, but SciFi scratches a part of my brain that needs to make things make sense in a Vulcan-esque logical way (though I would definitely end up working in a hazy area somewhere between the science fiction of Star Trek, and the science fantasy of Star Wars, let's be honest). Contemporary, however, eludes me. I have nothing but the utmost respect for contemporary authors. I'll be so engaged with a book set in our world, without magic, or any fantasy whatsoever, but when I sit down to write in that genre, I can't stop thinking, 'But what if there were manticores in this world? How would that change things?' And the next thing I know, I've written another urban fantasy."

4. What is your biggest writing inspiration?

"Writing the stories I wanted as a kid/teen/adult. But even in that, I have to look back and recognize the authors who made me: Anne Rice is a huge influence on and inspiration of my work, especially when it comes to my coven of witches in Witch of the Demesne, and the trials they face. Scott Lobdell and Fabian Nicieza, the architects of the X-Men I grew up with, were highly formative, alongside Peter S. Beagle, Patricia C. Wrede, Alexander Lloyd, and of course, Bruce Timm — specifically his work on Batman: The Animated Series."

5. Anything exciting for you on the horizon?

"Yes! I've just sent book 4 of my witchy series, Witch of the Demesne, off to my editor and am diving right into revisions on book 3 of its companion series, Witches of C.R.O.W.. This one delves into the POV of my most hated character, so, of course, he's my favorite to write. Queer, wildly powerful, obnoxiously confident, with an ego the size of Texas and reeling from the events of Book 4. He's well into his redemption arc and teamed up with the one witch who can hear his lies. It's going to be a fun one.

Beyond books, I'm prepping for Spellbound in the Valley (Poughkeepsie NY, Oct 23-24), and Fall Into Books Fest (Nov 12-14, Orange County CA) as my last out-of-state big events of the year!"

6. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"Alan Cumming. I remember watching his performance as the Emcee in the 1998 Tony Awards and knowing something, though I wasn't sure how, or what. My little (unbeknownst to me) bisexual brain fixated on Mr. Cumming, and his career. Cabaret, Goldeneye, Spice World, Plunkett & Macleane... anything I could see him in, I inhaled. When he began speaking openly about his sexuality and relationships, I recognized what drew me to his persona, style, aesthetic, and demeanor. It was a kindred sort of spirit and fluidity. His advocacy for LGBTQIA+ representation, and the work he does to protest anti-queer legislation is an inspiration."

Outro

I adore this excuse to conduct little author interviews! Happy Pride everyone! Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their LGBTQ+ releases!

PWS 2026 Day 28: A.J. Peterson

 

Wonderland Pride Spotlight Day 28: A.J. Peterson

Welcome to day 28 of the 2026 Wonderland Pride Spotlight! This is my way to help champion LGBTQ+ books and authors this Pride month! Today I am interviewing A.J. Peterson. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

A.J. Peterson's LGBTQ+ Release

• Oblivion's Hymn

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"Bi and demisexual"

2. What rep do your books have?

"Depression, autism, bisexual, lesbian, and pansexual"

3. If you were to write in a different genre, what would it be?

"I am such a huge fantasy nerd, it's hard to imagine writing in any other genre. Secondary worlds are my favorite playground to write in, so if I had to write another genre it would probably be sci-fi. But like, more toward the space opera, highly emotional and zero explanation for the technology side!"

4. What is your biggest writing inspiration?

"I have learned so much about storytelling, inventing fantasy worlds, character development, and my own development from watching D&D shows like Critical Role and playing it myself. It's an even better method than writing for inhabiting a character and working with a group of people to create something. One of my campaigns that died too soon was the inspiration for Echo and Rhienne, the two main FMCs of my books, and the campaigns I'm currently in are an essential part of refilling my creative well every week."

5. Anything exciting for you on the horizon?

"I'll be opening ARC applications for the second book in my epic fantasy trilogy soon, which will be releasing this October! It's very much a continuation of the first, with added POV characters, expanded world(s)-building, and even higher stakes than fighting the gods (which we do at the end of book one). I am so excited to get it out in the world."

6. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"In line with the D&D inspiration, I have to say Erika Ishii (she/they/he). Aside from just being a complete badass, I love how unapologetically themself they are, the huge variety of different characters that they play, and the policies and rights that they fight for."

Outro

I adore this excuse to conduct little author interviews! Happy Pride everyone! Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their LGBTQ+ releases!

WPS 2026 Day 27: Harlowe Savage

 

Wonderland Pride Spotlight Day 27: Harlowe Savage

Welcome to day 27 of the 2026 Wonderland Pride Spotlight! This is my way to help champion LGBTQ+ books and authors this Pride month! Today I am interviewing Harlowe Savage. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

Harlowe Savage's LGBTQ+ Releases

• Alexander
• Emperor Ai
• Hadrian
• Elgabu
• The Cretian Crown
• Rob Me Blindly

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"Bisexual, polyamorous, and demigirl"

2. What rep do your books have?

"Gay, bisexual, lesbian, depression, and anxiety"

3. If you were to write in a different genre, what would it be?

"Probably speculative fiction or epic fantasy. I love books that really dive into the 'what ifs' of life like Babel by R.F. Kuang, The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler, and The Stone Witch of Florence by Anna Rasche."

4. What is your biggest writing inspiration?

"My biggest writing inspiration are all the amazingly talented fan fiction authors on AO3. I started my writing career on there under the moniker The Original Waifu and it was really only through the incredible storytelling and beautiful prose of some of the works I found on there that I decided to get into publishing. Getting spicy, queer stories out into the mainstream is top of my list in terms of daily inspiration; normalizing all types of LGBTQIA+ relationships is a group effort and I am just so happy to do my part."

5. Anything exciting for you on the horizon?

"I have a second Flipped Fairytale novella coming out mid-June that's an MM Cinderella, but instead of magic, he's just a crossdresser. It's called Dream Me Lovely and it's my second Flipped Fairytale, after my sapphic Robin Hood retelling, Rob Me Blindly. I am also going to be attending Phoenix Fan Fusion at the beginning of June and San Diego Comic Con in July!"

6. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"Casey McQuiston. Casey's writing, marketing, and general vibe are all things I hope to live up to one day. The fact that they got Red, White, and Royal Blue made into a movie long before our sorts of stories were even heading in the direction of the mainstream is something that I respect and look up to every day. I only hope to one day meet them, shake their hand, and thank them for everything they've done for our community as a whole."

Outro

I adore this excuse to conduct little author interviews! Happy Pride everyone! Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their LGBTQ+ releases!

WPS 2026 Day 27: Alexis Roberts

 

Wonderland Pride Spotlight Day 27: Emma Gerts and Esme Stevenson (Alexis Roberts)

Welcome to day 27 of the 2026 Wonderland Pride Spotlight! This is my way to help champion LGBTQ+ books and authors this Pride month! Today I am interviewing Emma Gerts and Esme Stevenson. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

Alexis Roberts's LGBTQ+ Release

• Revelation

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"Esme is asexual"

2. What rep do your books have?

"Asexual, generalized anxiety, and MM"

3. If you were to write in a different genre, what would it be?

"Esme: Together Emma and I have tried our hand at many different genres over the years, mostly spec fic, even some contemporary romance. But recently, we have been having fun with Sci-Fi and I wouldn't be surprised if that becomes our next big project.

Emma: We're big fans of challenging ourselves so we'll write just about anything, but we love the freedom Spec Fic gives us. As Ez said, scifi is likely to be our next big project."

4. What is your biggest writing inspiration?

"Esme: This is going to sound really weird, but I've never really had any 'inspirations'. I have authors that I love, of course, but I feel like I want to focus on my own journey, rather than wish for someone else's. 

Emma: I started writing because I read Lord of the Rings when I was a kid and it absolutely blew my mind - so I guess that's a sort of inspiration! I've never really wanted to write like anyone else, but I have always wanted to be able to make someone else feel the way I did when I first discovered reading and then writing - like you can do it too!"

5. Anything exciting for you on the horizon?

"Esme: Of course! Book two of our trilogy The Second Coming is getting real close to being finished, and we can't WAIT.

Emma: Not to mention finally getting to start really getting into the meat of book three! It's been sitting on the backburner for a long time while we got the first two books tidied up, but it's going to be SO GOOD and I can't wait to get working on it!"

6. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"Esme: The first person that came to mind is Will Kostakis. He's an Australian author that writes a lot of YA. His stories are all amazing, a lot of them queer, of course. I've watched him handle a lot of situations, which no one should have to handle, with such grace and patience. He's such a nice guy and I feel like a lot of the work he does creates such a wonderful, safe space for the queer community, especially the young ones.

Emma: I really respect Roxane Gay, as someone who is pushing back against the expectations placed on her because of her gender, body and sexuality. I don't always agree with everything she says, but I think she's incredibly brave and always someone willing to say the quiet part out loud - I think if more people were willing to speak their truth the way Roxane does there'd be a lot less shame around."

Outro

I adore this excuse to conduct little author interviews! Happy Pride everyone! Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their LGBTQ+ releases!

WPS 2026 Day 27: Meg Swanson

 

Wonderland Pride Spotlight Day 27: Meg Swanson 

Welcome to day 27 of the 2026 Wonderland Pride Spotlight! This is my way to help champion LGBTQ+ books and authors this Pride month! Today I am interviewing Meg Swanson . Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

Meg Swanson 's LGBTQ+ Release

• Songs from the Depths

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"Lesbian"

2. What rep do your books have?

"Nonbinary"

3. If you were to write in a different genre, what would it be?

"Honestly, of late, I've been drawn to creative nonfiction. My story is not a new one, but I feel that not enough people (women specifically) talk about the comp/het they experience through their lives, and even if (like in my case) it's acceptable to identify as bi, the expectation is hetero relationships. One of my goals with my writing is to offer an escape, yes, but also help people feel not so alone in their living experiences.

I also have been dabbling in contemporary sapphic romance. I have a dual POV book in the works...maybe..we'll see. I really love the magic of fantasy and how real-world issues can be dealt with through metaphor and nuance."

4. What is your biggest writing inspiration?

"Greek Mythology from Edith Hamilton's edition to Rick Riordan's modern retelling. Also, as I've been exploring my sexuality and gender identity, I've made concentrated efforts to read more queer authors - Aiden Thomas, JJ Arias, Andrew Joseph White, Ashley Herring Blake, and those are just the authors I can name off the top of my head. It is so important to read and make representation known - I didn't understand how important that was before I started paying attention and really reading what actually resonated with who I am, and what I want to represent."

5. Anything exciting for you on the horizon?

"Book 2!!!! Rising from the Depths. I am so excited to be done with this project. It has been a huge undertaking, and so much closer to home than my first book. This book started as a goodbye letter to a childhood friend (not dead, but we fell out years ago, and I never reconciled it with myself), and it has evolved from that into a love letter to myself."

6. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"Suzy Izzard - since I was a teenager. Their humor...I still quote Dressed to Kill regularly. David Sedaris. His journey with addiction, which you can trace in his writing, influenced me a lot and actually helped me embrace myself as a sober writer. OK, these aren't queer figures, but Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes, John Leguizamo in To Wong Foo, and Kevin Kline and Tom Selleck in In and Out, I didn't realize how groundbreaking those movies were for LGBTQ+ people in the 90s. While I was definitely fully immersed in the comp/het life, I was still in the community, but....I think I allowed myself to be blind, just because it was normal for people I loved, doesn't mean it was an accepted lifestyle, and I didn't support them the way I should have. So, I look up to those who were out when I couldn't be, and I hope they know how important that is for those of us who couldn't come out, and who still maybe can't."

Outro

I adore this excuse to conduct little author interviews! Happy Pride everyone! Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their LGBTQ+ releases!

WPS 2026 Day 26: Maude Winters

 

Wonderland Pride Spotlight Day 26: Maude Winters 

Welcome to day 26 of the 2026 Wonderland Pride Spotlight! This is my way to help champion LGBTQ+ books and authors this Pride month! Today I am interviewing Maude Winters . Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

Maude Winters 's LGBTQ+ Release

• Love in the West End

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"Pansexual/queer"

2. What rep do your books have?

"Pan and bisexual"

3. If you were to write in a different genre, what would it be?

"Probably a political thriller with the drama of primetime soap and plenty of queer characters!"

4. What is your biggest writing inspiration?

"I have always loved gothic novels, but especially Rebecca which you can't tell me isn't a queer text! I also love family sagas and it's probably why all my books are set in the same universe!"

5. Anything exciting for you on the horizon?

"I am releasing my second sapphic book that is Eurovision-inspired (Love on the Main Stage) in August and I can't wait to share it with readers. I also have a fun query project I am super excited about that definitely blends romance and gothic elements but I can't say more!"

6. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"Martha P. Johnson because she just kept moving. 'Pay it no mind' is something I tell people in my life because sadly, the world isn't always there to lift you up, but you matter to someone every day whether you know it or not."

Outro

I adore this excuse to conduct little author interviews! Happy Pride everyone! Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their LGBTQ+ releases!

WPS 2026 Day 26: Emily O'Malley Liu

 

Wonderland Pride Spotlight Day 26: Emily O'Malley Liu

Welcome to day 26 of the 2026 Wonderland Pride Spotlight! This is my way to help champion LGBTQ+ books and authors this Pride month! Today I am interviewing Emily O'Malley Liu. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

Emily O'Malley Liu's LGBTQ+ Release

• Wine for Roses

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"Biseuxal and asexual"

2. What rep do your books have?

"Gay, asexual, disabled, and Mexican American"

3. If you were to write in a different genre, what would it be?

"I'm a SciFi/Fantasy writer, but I would love to write a murder mystery! It's next on my bucket list. I fear I'll need to upskill quite a bit to pull it off."

4. What is your biggest writing inspiration?

"Music has always been such a rich source of inspiration for me. I don't create writing playlists per se, but oftentimes I'll find the emotion of a thing in a song. I listen to it over and over. Then that feeling becomes a character, a settling, a plot point. One I've never managed to quite nail down is Sting's Why Should I Cry for You. That song is my Mr. Brightside.

5. Anything exciting for you on the horizon?

"I'm headed to WorldCon in LA in August! I'm looking forward to meeting up with friends, both old and new. It will also be the first time I'll get to meet my publishers (the lovely folks at Shiraki Press) in person."

6. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"Right now my biggest creative hero is Jacob Tierney (the creator of the Heated Rivalry television series). He understands plot and pacing very deeply, and it's so educational to listen to him talk about his creative decisions."

Outro

I adore this excuse to conduct little author interviews! Happy Pride everyone! Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their LGBTQ+ releases!

WPS 2026 Day 26: Naomi Rivers

  

Wonderland Pride Spotlight Day 26: Naomi Rivers

Welcome to day 26 of the 2026 Wonderland Pride Spotlight! This is my way to help champion LGBTQ+ books and authors this Pride month! Today I am interviewing Naomi Rivers. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

Naomi Rivers' LGBTQ+ Releases

• Why Not Us?
• THIS: A Simple, Complex Love Story

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"Lesbian married couple"

2. What rep do your books have?

"BIPOC and LGBTQ+ in both"

3. If you were to write in a different genre, what would it be?

"So far, we’ve made our mark writing romance and women’s fiction. If we stretched our creative chops, though, we’d love to explore new genres! Naomi, drawing on her psychology background, would write a gritty thriller in the style of Stacey Abrams or S.A. Cosby. Rivers, utilizing her naval experience, would dive into a non-fiction book to share her insights on leadership."

4. What is your biggest writing inspiration?

"Our biggest inspiration is to write stories that reflect women who look like and love like us. We’ve been lifetime readers, who have read widely, and we'd like to see more diverse stories with our experiences in the literature available. A la Toni Morrison, we’re writing the books we would like to read."

5. Anything exciting for you on the horizon?

"Yes, we’ve started book number three! Each book we've done something different, the first book, THIS: A Simple Complex Love Story we emailed chapters back and forth. Why Not Us? our second, Naomi wrote the first draft. Rivers is taking the lead on the third novel. The working title of our next novel is Jael’s Story. If you read THIS, you may remember meeting Jael, a naval officer who was about to deploy. With nearly 50 years of military service between the two of us, we thought it was time to explore a story line or two about folks wearing the cloth of our nation. Please connect with us on social media or our newsletter and we’ll share our progress and offer a sneak peek in a few months."

6. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"There are many influential figures we could name; however, two always come to mind for Naomi - James Baldwin and Octavia Butler. James Baldwin’s wit, talent, authenticity and brilliant insight into humanity are unmatched. Likewise, Octavia Butler was just extraordinary in her prose. Our family book club read Kindred (a reread for some) last year, and we were struck by how uncannily it mirrors today’s societal climate. Her entire body of work remains incredibly relevant."

Outro

I adore this excuse to conduct little author interviews! Happy Pride everyone! Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their LGBTQ+ releases!

WPS 2026 Day 25: Alden B. Atmore

  

Wonderland Pride Spotlight Day 25: Alden B. Atmore

Welcome to day 25 of the 2026 Wonderland Pride Spotlight! This is my way to help champion LGBTQ+ books and authors this Pride month! Today I am interviewing Alden B. Atmore. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

Alden B. Atmore's LGBTQ+ Release

• Rhymes with Metaphor

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"Aromantic and asexual"

2. What rep do your books have?

"Gay and demisexual"

3. If you were to write in a different genre, what would it be?

"I write romance under my pen name. Under my legal name, I've written every genre under the sun (poetry, short stories, science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, satire, literary, mainstream, non-fiction, and radio plays). It's all story-telling in the end, and every genre has its points."

4. What is your biggest writing inspiration?

"Saki."

5. Anything exciting for you on the horizon?

"Apart from my new book, Come Out with Your Hearts Up, which releases on July 1st, I'm working on a new book--a psychological thriller with an mm romance subplot."

6. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"I'll name two: Alexis Hall and Samuel R. Delany. If I write 1/10 as well as either of them, I'm doing great."

Outro

I adore this excuse to conduct little author interviews! Happy Pride everyone! Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their LGBTQ+ releases!

WPS 2026 Day 25: Artemis Glass

 

Wonderland Pride Spotlight Day 25: Artemis Glass

Welcome to day 25 of the 2026 Wonderland Pride Spotlight! This is my way to help champion LGBTQ+ books and authors this Pride month! Today I am interviewing Artemis Glass. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

Artemis Glass's LGBTQ+ Releases

• The Funeral Crasher: A Romance
• The Audrina Diaries: The Complete Collection  

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"Ha! This is a super fun question since I do write in many other genres (nonfiction, kidlit, poetry). I started out publishing traditionally with two YA contemporary novels, both of which had romantic storylines."

2. What rep do your books have?

"The Funeral Chaser: sapphic, mental health"

3. If you were to write in a different genre, what would it be?

"Ha! This is a super fun question since I do write in many other genres (nonfiction, kidlit, poetry). I started out publishing traditionally with two YA contemporary novels, both of which had romantic storylines."

Writing queer adult romance remains my favorite I get to return to my favorite kind of writing - writing long-form fiction with an HEA / HFN. As a novelist and as an avid reader of romance, I mean– put me in a fun, sexy, sometimes ridiculous world and keep me there for a while… 

So if I were to step away from any/ all of these genres… what could be a new one…?

Oooh - I know! I recently attended a writing retreat that was focused on applying principles of theater, improv, and movement studies to the craft of revision. It was SO fun, and so meaningful – I very much enjoyed the experience of being assigned to act out a fictional character or physically interpret the lyrical line of another writer’s poem… which leads me to my answer… 

I’ve recently been talking to a writer friend about taking a sketch comedy class. 

So my other genre would be: sketch comedy! It sounds terrifying and fun, but I think it could be really helpful with the pacing of scenes and general characterization work, which is essential to writing fictional worlds."

4. What is your biggest writing inspiration?

"As an author of unapologetically queer adult romance, I believe in joy, self-determination, consent, and pleasure. Drawing on over two decades as a writing teacher,  my academic training in kinesiology and integrative wellness, I love writing romance that centers bodily autonomy and emotional well-being.

As someone who lives with chronic illness and champions health equity, I understand intimately the importance of representation and the radical act of claiming pleasure and agency in our own bodies and relationships. Truth be told, during the darkest of times, particularly over the past decade, reading queer romance has saved me, multiple times, and so I write as a fangirl, myself In my own stories, I aim to explore the full spectrum of queer love and desire, creating space for characters who are complex, empowered, and bold."

5. Anything exciting for you on the horizon?

"Yes! I recently had my books featured at the amazing Underdog Bookstore, and I'd most definitely would like to uplift their upcoming Pride Fest in June! 

I'll also be returning to Queerly Connected in Silverlake Triangle in August. One of the best part of Queerly Connected is that the organizers, who are all amazing therapists out of Open Space Therapy Collective, encourage creators like myself to design interactive activities for all. So in addition to learning about my books, attendees were invited to play a trope-mixing game that I designed, inspired by my decades-long career as a creative writing teacher.

At my table, attendees were invited to play the I’d Rather Be Writing Romance MIX & MATCH YOUR MEET-CUTE game, and leave with the first seeds of their own love story by playing with the essential elements that make romance irresistible: the spark of tension, the ache of longing, and the joy of the happily-ever-afters (or happily-for-nows!).

I had sooooo much fine talking tropes and treasure of writing romance, connecting with new readers and fellow writers, and just generally being in community with so many amazing queer creatives and healers.

Whether they were brand new to the genre or seasoned writers (and even a few who were initially skeptical of the genre of romance), so many attendees left with trope cards in hand, having claimed space for their own queer love stories, which was itself just utterly inspiring. Queer romance is an act of resistance and joy in that it insists that our love stories deserve to be told.

I am currently in talks with a local, queer artist who is working on updating the design so we can take it to print as an official deck - so stay tuned for future news!"

6. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"Just one! That’s so hard! There are soooo many I love and admire! Well, I have to say, the most influential queer figure in my life has been Michael Stipe, lead singer of R.E.M. I was in the seventh grade when I begged my mom to drive me six hours into the middle of Wisconsin so that I could see the band perform live. She was never one to miss a good concert, so off we went, my 56-year old mom and a sea of high-as-F college students. We squeezed up to the front row, so close that I will forever swear I was only three feet away from Michael Stipe. 

Michael Stipe, to me, embodied – and still does, for the record -- integrity, artistry, vision, and voice, particularly in terms of queer storytelling and writing. Whether it be pacing, lyricism, imagery, or just plain heartache and outrage at the world’s inequities, his work is always leading us forward, and he always provides hope for a better world."

Outro

I adore this excuse to conduct little author interviews! Happy Pride everyone! Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their LGBTQ+ releases!

WPS 2026 Day 24: Lucia Laurence

 

Wonderland Pride Spotlight Day 24: Lucia Laurence

Welcome to day 24 of the 2026 Wonderland Pride Spotlight! This is my way to help champion LGBTQ+ books and authors this Pride month! Today I am interviewing Lucia Laurence. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

Lucia Laurence's LGBTQ+ Releases

• Color of Sunshine
• Color of Home
• The Huntsman and the Spellweaver

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"Ally and mother to transgender child"

2. What rep do your books have?

"Color of Sunshine: gay, trauma, and OCD

Color of Home: gay and demirose (demiromantic and demisexual), bisexual, gay, lesbian and transgender

The Huntsman and the Spellweaver: gay"

3. If you were to write in a different genre, what would it be?

"Ooh, this is a difficult question! I love writing MM romance so much, I really can't imagine writing anything else 😆 If I really had to though, I think I would write either character-centered literary fiction or fantasy, though I would have to work REALLY hard to keep romance from creeping in and taking over the plot!"

4. What is your biggest writing inspiration?

"Characters just materialize in my head, and when they do, I know I have to give them life and a story.  Some of my characters, like Eadric in The Huntsman and the Spellweaver, are inspired by characters from classic stories who I feel deserved a far better ending than they got originally.  Others are purely from my imagination, with elements from the people in my life and my own experiences woven through their personalities. Thus far, all the stories I have written have started first with a character, and the plot has evolved around them."

5. Anything exciting for you on the horizon?

"Yes!  I am currently about halfway through my first draft of the third book in my Colors of Us series, and anticipate that it will be released in the fall of this year.  This book is an office place enemies to lovers MM romance. Like all my works, it is character-driven and features hurt/comfort, forced proximity, and a strong emphasis on emotion. Books 4 (MMX, second chance romance) and 5 (college roommates to lovers, himbo MC) will be next, releasing in 2027."

6. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"There are many widely known queer figures I look up to, but the queer person I look up to most is my daughter.  Five years ago, she came out to her dad and me as trans when she was in kindergarten. All her life, she has taught me more about authenticity and sense of self than anyone else, and I am so infinitely proud of her and grateful to be able to learn with and from her.  Finding the courage to unapologetically be myself has been a challenge in my life, and seeing the way she does this, with so much grace and determination, has empowered me more than anything else."

Outro

I adore this excuse to conduct little author interviews! Happy Pride everyone! Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their LGBTQ+ releases!

WPS 2026 Day 24: Bonnie Solomon

 

Wonderland Pride Spotlight Day 24: Bonnie Solomon

Welcome to day 24 of the 2026 Wonderland Pride Spotlight! This is my way to help champion LGBTQ+ books and authors this Pride month! Today I am interviewing Bonnie Solomon. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

Bonnie Solomon's LGBTQ+ Releases

• Pearly Gates
• The Midnight Croissant

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"Bisexual"

2. What rep do your books have?

"Pearly Gates: bi, gay, Sapphic, trans, and non-binary

Midnight Croissant: queer, gay, and aro-ace"

3. What is your biggest writing inspiration?

"I'm inspired to write the kind of world I want to live into - not only one that's queer normative but also one that embraces kindness, belonging, and the everyday magic that comes from being free to be who you really are. I'm also fascinated by the larger questions as to how reality works, who we are as souls, and what we're actually doing here. I love using humor and fantasy to make metaphysical concepts fun and accessible. Also... coffee.

4. Anything exciting for you on the horizon?

"I released my latest book, The Midnight Croissant, on April 7th, and I'm currently working on two new exciting projects! One is The Jingle Rebellion, a holiday novella that wraps up my queer cozy fantasy series (Pearly Gates), and the other is an irreverent rivals-to-lovers romantasy set in the afterlife. I'm currently in pre-launch for a 'Christmas in July' Kickstarter campaign for The Jingle Rebellion. And...I'm super excited to be offering my books several local Pride events in June, including Echo Park Pride, the Monrovia Pride Book Fest, and more."

5. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"RuPaul is a queer icon who has done so much to support and uplift the LGBTQ+ community. I love the way he blends humor, heart, and entertainment while mentoring young drag artists and keeping the focus as much on inner work (the journey to love oneself) as on outer spectacle. He is 100% himself, with no apology, and I share his mission to spread queer joy!"

Outro

I adore this excuse to conduct little author interviews! Happy Pride everyone! Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their LGBTQ+ releases!

WPS 2026 Day 23: Rachel O’Rourke

  

Wonderland Pride Spotlight Day 23: Rachel O’Rourke

Welcome to day 23 of the 2026 Wonderland Pride Spotlight! This is my way to help champion LGBTQ+ books and authors this Pride month! Today I am interviewing Rachel O’Rourke. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

Rachel O’Rourke's LGBTQ+ Releases

• Be My Saving Grace
• See You Again
• Little One
• Pretending in Paradise
• Until He Found Him

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"Demisexual"

2. What rep do your books have?

"Be My Saving Grace: bipolar disorder, depression, self harm, and other various mental health disorders from side characters as the book takes place is a psychiatric Centre. MM relationship"

3. If you were to write in a different genre, what would it be?

"I already write in multiple subgenres within the MM romance genre, and it's one of the things I love having the freedom to do. I've crossed between contemporary to erotica, with an omegaverse soon to be released. Having range opens your readership and gives options that don't all feel like carbon copies of your own work and for a mood writer like myself, it means I always have ideas ready to write."

4. What is your biggest writing inspiration?

"The world is my inspiration. It could be a quote I hear in a movie, a sentence a friend said or a situation happening on the other side of the world that plants a seed in my head. Its roots grow and fester into this bigger plot with branches of sub plots that are tangled in vines and connected all the way back to that one thing at the root of it all."

5. Anything exciting for you on the horizon?

"Until He Found Him is the first book in an Omegaverse trilogy that is releasing on June 30th. It's my first time writing a trilogy, as I've always written standalones. I'm excited to stay in the world I've created for the next couple of years while simultaneously nervous to tackle the challenges that come with writing a trilogy."

6. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"Colton Haynes. His book, Miss Memory Lane, speaks about the Hollywood culture of hiding your sexuality in order to obtain jobs and become famous. The internal suffering for anyone in the queer community who are forced to lie about who they are and who they love for the sake of their career is appalling and I admire that Colton spoke up about this and learnt to love himself more than the job."

Outro

I adore this excuse to conduct little author interviews! Happy Pride everyone! Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their LGBTQ+ releases!

WPS 2026 Day 23: CRR Hillin

 

Wonderland Pride Spotlight Day 23: CRR Hillin

Welcome to day 23 of the 2026 Wonderland Pride Spotlight! This is my way to help champion LGBTQ+ books and authors this Pride month! Today I am interviewing CRR Hillin. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

CRR Hillin's LGBTQ+ Release

• The Orphan’s King

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"Asexual, panromantic, and nonbinary"

2. What rep do your books have?

"I’m autistic and so are the main characters, one is half white POC, one is plus sized, one has depression and anxiety, and the three I’d consider the main POV characters are bisexual and asexual. Lots of disability rep as well, which is important to me as a disabled person"

3. If you were to write in a different genre, what would it be?

" Horror! I mostly read fantasy but I absolutely love horror movies. When they’re good, they’re life-changing, and when they’re bad, they’re hilarious. Almost all of my books have romantic elements in them so I’d love to try romance as well (historical or contemporary). "

4. What is your biggest writing inspiration?

"I take inspiration from all sorts of media, but I think we are all sleeping on video games. Video game plotting has near-endless options and we are only just now realizing their potential. The ability to play through the adventure and choose your own story leads to some fascinating narrative dynamics that really help me push my storytelling to the limits."

5. Anything exciting for you on the horizon?

"My nonfiction debut with @online1roomschoolhouse comes out this month, The ActuallyAutistic Guide, and the sequel to The Orphan’s King comes out in August. And of course I have ten other projects I’m working on behind the scenes!"

6. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"Mary Shelley. I admire a lot of historic queer people (whether it’s verified or not, we all know the score) but Mary Shelley is such an icon."

Outro

I adore this excuse to conduct little author interviews! Happy Pride everyone! Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their LGBTQ+ releases!

WPS 2026 Day 22: Autumn Moore

 

Wonderland Pride Spotlight Day 22: Autumn Moore

Welcome to day 22 of the 2026 Wonderland Pride Spotlight! This is my way to help champion LGBTQ+ books and authors this Pride month! Today I am interviewing Autumn Moore. Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more excitement with this event!

Autumn Moore's LGBTQ+ Release

• Rusthound

The Interview

1. Are you LGBTQ+? If so, how?

"Pansexual and transmasc nonbinary"

2. What rep do your books have?

"Neurodivergent and LGBTQ+"

3. If you were to write in a different genre, what would it be?

"Probably m/m romance (hfn)"

4. What is your biggest writing inspiration?

"Well, my inspiration for my writing is derived from my life experiences and the compulsive need to find a safe place to explore my trauma, my opinions on society as a whole, and the darker side of corporate history. I’m afab, late-realizing NB individual with late diagnosis audhd who has worked in blue collar industries since I was fourteen. I grew up with parents who suffered from substance issues, abusive behavior, and overall neglect which drove me to learn. Not in the academic sense, because by the time I was old enough to work, I was expected to start pitching into the household. Regular jobs for my assigned gender and age group weren’t going to pay, so I took up farm work. Then, by sixteen, I had dropped out and was working in a garage as a lube tech. I worked alongside men who were paid more to do the same work, with no explanation as to why I didn’t deserve more. I suffer from EDS and have spinal compression from a car accident, which left me unable to work in a shop despite being a licensed mechanic. I wanted to get into towing, as I have the mechanical knowledge and driving experience of straight trucks and was told that I couldn’t because I’m a woman. I found a company that would hire me, loved the work, and decided that one day I will own my own. There’s no school that teaches one how to run this type of business, so I worked at companies of all scales in my area until I finally had a plan and I executed. This industry, out of all of them that I have worked in, between farming, wrenching, general contracting, heavy equipment operation on barges, is by far one of the most sexist and misogynist occupations by far. The constant being told “you can’t” pushed me to say “watch.” I started with one truck, and now at 29, I have one of the bigger fleets where I live. Then, once the businesses started to settle into themselves I decided I wanted to write. Through this, I’ve learned so much about myself and others. My writing has become a container for everything that I tried to repress."

5. Anything exciting for you on the horizon?

"Not really, I’m currently working on two more books, but I’m in no rush. The first one I plan to finish is the sister book, Cinderkeg, which runs parallel to Rusthound and shows the chain of events from a different point of view. The second would be the continuation of Rusthound, focusing on the MMCs."

6. Who is a queer figure you look up to?

"As for a queer figure I look up to, I am not sure if this means historically or currently, but either way my choice would be Joe Carstairs."

Outro

I adore this excuse to conduct little author interviews! Happy Pride everyone! Stay tuned tomorrow for another amazing indie author and their LGBTQ+ releases!