Time to make it official. I'm taking a break from the podcast for at least the next few months. I've found my attention drifting to other projects, and the fact of the matter is that I only have time for a certain amount of extracurricular activities. I also believe very strongly in offering my listeners a certain quality of work, one that can only be produced with my full attention and commitment. That's just not there right now.
The website will remain up, with all the assorted book lists and recommendations that I hope you've found useful. And the entirety of the podcast back catalog will remain available on iTunes and directly on this website here. Feel free to comment here or email me if you want to get in touch. And I'm always available on twitter, too, if you want to get in touch, although I've changed my twitter handle to @maryofftopic to reflect my.... wandering focus as of late.
If I get back into the podcasting game, whether with Queer Books Please or another project, that would probably happen in the second half of 2014, when life changes may see more time for me to focus on personal creative work.
Finally I want to say thanks to everyone for making Queer Books Please in 2013 a really fun and amazing project!
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Reading resolutions
Look, okay, the whole new year's resolution post seems a little overdone. And yet, here I am... writing one anyway. One my resolutions for the blog and the podcast is to make my Win A Book From My Bookshelf contest more of a regular feature, a monthly contest that makes it easy for readers and listeners to enter, and also makes it easy for you to interact and share with me and the other folks who enjoy Queer Books Please. In that spirit, here we go!
I think it's fair to guess that most people interesting in a reading blog and podcast may be forming some reading resolutions around this time of year. Whether you're simply hoping to read more volume, or challenge yourself to read something difficult, or branch out into a new genre, setting a reading goal or two is a great way to inspire you on your next trip to the library or the bookstore.
A Year In Reading Suggestions on Tumblr has a different reading prompt for each month of the year. I particularly like the suggestion for January, reading a book that came out in your birth year, and also the suggestion for May, which is to read a book written in another country.
Buzzfeed of course has a GIF filled list of reading related resolutions
I have two primary reading resolutions this year. The first is to read more Virginia Woolf. I loved ORLANDO when I read it last year and think that her brilliance is well worth navigating the sometimes difficult prose.
My second resolution is inspired by knitting. Knitters and readers have a lot in common, perhaps most obviously the impulse to look ahead to your next project even as you're enjoying your current work in progress. Readers will often build up handsome libraries made up of books they intend to read, knitters develop a stash of yarn so that they are prepared for many projects into the future. Many knitters will reach a point where they need to stop buying new yarn and instead focus on knitting from stash.
In the spirit of that idea, I'm committing to reading from my book stash, working my way through my too read pile on my shelf and the unread ebooks on my kindle. I'm not saying I won't get any new books or get anything from the library. Who knows what might absolutely have to get covered for the podcast, after all! But I'd like to be reading at least 75 percent from stash.
Okay readers, now it's your turn! What are your reading resolutions for the year?
CONTEST DETAILS: Enter this month's contest by commenting here! You can answer the question, or even just say hi and that you'd like the enter. You can earn an extra entry by sharing on tumblr or twitter. I'll be sure to pop in in the comments sometime and tally entries so you'll know if I caught your tumblr/twitter share or not.
Comment/share by January 31 at midnight pacific time to enter.
If you win, I'll send you a book from my bookshelf! I've got a bunch of great lesbian/lesbianish books that you can choose from, and I'll ship anywhere!
January 2014 Win A Book From My Bookshelf Contest: Reading Resolutions Edition!
I think it's fair to guess that most people interesting in a reading blog and podcast may be forming some reading resolutions around this time of year. Whether you're simply hoping to read more volume, or challenge yourself to read something difficult, or branch out into a new genre, setting a reading goal or two is a great way to inspire you on your next trip to the library or the bookstore.
A Year In Reading Suggestions on Tumblr has a different reading prompt for each month of the year. I particularly like the suggestion for January, reading a book that came out in your birth year, and also the suggestion for May, which is to read a book written in another country.
Buzzfeed of course has a GIF filled list of reading related resolutions
I have two primary reading resolutions this year. The first is to read more Virginia Woolf. I loved ORLANDO when I read it last year and think that her brilliance is well worth navigating the sometimes difficult prose.
My second resolution is inspired by knitting. Knitters and readers have a lot in common, perhaps most obviously the impulse to look ahead to your next project even as you're enjoying your current work in progress. Readers will often build up handsome libraries made up of books they intend to read, knitters develop a stash of yarn so that they are prepared for many projects into the future. Many knitters will reach a point where they need to stop buying new yarn and instead focus on knitting from stash.
In the spirit of that idea, I'm committing to reading from my book stash, working my way through my too read pile on my shelf and the unread ebooks on my kindle. I'm not saying I won't get any new books or get anything from the library. Who knows what might absolutely have to get covered for the podcast, after all! But I'd like to be reading at least 75 percent from stash.
Okay readers, now it's your turn! What are your reading resolutions for the year?
CONTEST DETAILS: Enter this month's contest by commenting here! You can answer the question, or even just say hi and that you'd like the enter. You can earn an extra entry by sharing on tumblr or twitter. I'll be sure to pop in in the comments sometime and tally entries so you'll know if I caught your tumblr/twitter share or not.
Comment/share by January 31 at midnight pacific time to enter.
If you win, I'll send you a book from my bookshelf! I've got a bunch of great lesbian/lesbianish books that you can choose from, and I'll ship anywhere!
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Episode 47 - The Magician's Assistant
I've wanted to talk about THE MAGICIAN'S ASSISTANT by Ann Patchett for a long time, so here's my spoilery discussion of one of my favorite books. It's good to be back behind the mic after a few weeks off!
direct download
Music used this episode
direct download
Music used this episode
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Episode 46 - Sled Dogs, Regency Romance, More Cold Weather Lesbians
More lesbians falling in love in cold places, plus some fantastic Regency romance novellas.
direct download
Broken Trails
A Lady Never Tells (Songs of Sappho)
Winter Companion (Songs of Sappho)
music used this episode
Friday, December 6, 2013
Lesbians In Cold Places: A New Genre
Emerging from natural lesbian desires such as adventuring in dangerous places and cuddling with other lesbians in cozy cabins, the genre of Lesbian Fiction Taking Place In Cold Places is extensive. Here's my initial list of books that fit into this genre. Know of anything I've missed? Comment below!
Also, this blog post is also part of a CONTEST. Scroll to the bottom for details.
1222 by Anne Holt
THE BIG BANG SYMPHONY by Lucy Jane Bledsoe
BREAKING THE ICE by Kim Baldwin
BROKEN TRAILS by D Jordon Redhawk
FRESH TRACKS by Georgia Beers
HIGH IMPACT by Kim Baldwin
HUNTER'S PURSUIT by Kim Baldwin
ICE by Lyn Gardener
ICEHOLE by Kiera Dellacroix
MELT by Robbi McCoy
MURPHY'S LAW by Yolanda Wallace
ONE FOOT ONTO THE ICE by Kiki Archer
ONE SOLSTICE NIGHT (novella) by Elora Bishop
SNOW FALLS by Gerri Hill
SNOWBOUND by Cari Hunter
SUPERIOR by Zoe Amos
WINTER COMPANION (novella) by Marie-Elise Bassett
CONTEST DETAILS: Want a chance to win a book off my bookshelf? I run this contest every so often. If you win, I send you a list of books I've got sitting around, you pick out one that you're interesting in reading, and I send it to you! I've got a lot of great lesbian/queer books, romances, fiction, nonfiction, mysteries... all you have to do to enter is comment on this post. Say hi, recommend a chilly type lesbian book, whatever you like. AND there's another way to enter. Share this post on twitter or tumblr! If you share this post and comment, I'll enter your name in twice.
This contest will run until December 20th at 6 PM pacific time.
Thanks for contributing!
Let's see those cold weather recommendations!
Also, this blog post is also part of a CONTEST. Scroll to the bottom for details.
1222 by Anne Holt
THE BIG BANG SYMPHONY by Lucy Jane Bledsoe
BREAKING THE ICE by Kim Baldwin
BROKEN TRAILS by D Jordon Redhawk
FRESH TRACKS by Georgia Beers
HIGH IMPACT by Kim Baldwin
HUNTER'S PURSUIT by Kim Baldwin
ICE by Lyn Gardener
ICEHOLE by Kiera Dellacroix
MELT by Robbi McCoy
MURPHY'S LAW by Yolanda Wallace
ONE FOOT ONTO THE ICE by Kiki Archer
ONE SOLSTICE NIGHT (novella) by Elora Bishop
SNOW FALLS by Gerri Hill
SNOWBOUND by Cari Hunter
SUPERIOR by Zoe Amos
WINTER COMPANION (novella) by Marie-Elise Bassett
CONTEST DETAILS: Want a chance to win a book off my bookshelf? I run this contest every so often. If you win, I send you a list of books I've got sitting around, you pick out one that you're interesting in reading, and I send it to you! I've got a lot of great lesbian/queer books, romances, fiction, nonfiction, mysteries... all you have to do to enter is comment on this post. Say hi, recommend a chilly type lesbian book, whatever you like. AND there's another way to enter. Share this post on twitter or tumblr! If you share this post and comment, I'll enter your name in twice.
This contest will run until December 20th at 6 PM pacific time.
Thanks for contributing!
Let's see those cold weather recommendations!
Episode 45 - Lesbians In Love In Cold Places
Lesbian books taking place in very cold places. That's it. That's the show. Well, that and some musings about self published works, power differentials in romance novels, and the stimulating experience of reading a book that you really like and really disagree with.
Check out the companion blog post for this episode. And there's a contest!
Direct Download
Books discussed
Music used this episode
Check out the companion blog post for this episode. And there's a contest!
Direct Download
Books discussed
Music used this episode
Saturday, November 30, 2013
No episode this week
Sorry folks, no new episode today. I'll trying to have a nice long episode for you next week, though. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Episode 44 - Holiday Gift Ideas For Your Republican Uncle
Trying out a new segment (current, completed, and impending reads). Also QBP starts in on the holiday book recommendation gig. Book ideas for your 22 year old girlfriend, a 50 year old woman who loves mysteries, and the Republican in your life. All with queer lady characters!
direct download
Music used this episode
direct download
Music used this episode
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Episode 43 - YA New Adult Show Business Powell's
Romance novels about show business! YA fiction with great dialogue and realistic teenaged characters, but possibly problematic bisexual representation. And stay tuned to the end to hear about my enrollment in the partners program with Powell's Books.
Bookouture is the publisher of The Gravity Between Us.
Direct download of the MP3 file
Music used this episode
Bookouture is the publisher of The Gravity Between Us.
Direct download of the MP3 file
Music used this episode
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Episode 42 - Yes I Am Blushing
Your host is blushing about her subpar NaNoWriMo performance thus far and the two incrediably sexy, kinky books she's talking about this week! Reviews of THE NIGHT OFF by Meghan O'Brien and AT HER FEET by Rebekah Weatherspoon.
direct download
Music used this episode
Friday, November 1, 2013
Episode 41 - Wild Dogs, Over You, Confidence!
Reviews of a couple titles I've really enjoyed recently, and a confidence boost for those undertaking NaNoWriMo.
direct download
Books discussed
Music This Episode
I Have Confidence by Julie Andrews in The Sound Of Music
direct download
Books discussed
Music This Episode
I Have Confidence by Julie Andrews in The Sound Of Music
Friday, October 25, 2013
Episode 40 - Love By The Numbers
Most of this podcast discusses romance novels, primarily LOVE BY THE NUMBERS by Karin Kallmaker, a new favorite. Also Mary asks the question: shall we NANOWRIMO, listeners?
direct download
music in this episode
Friday, October 18, 2013
Episode 39 - Shirley Jackson Appreciation Station
A spooky episode devoted to masterful horror novel THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE by Shirley Jackson and the 1963 and 1999 films it spawned.
direct download
This episode features brief clips from both the 1963 and 1999 films titled THE HAUNTING.
Music
Friday, October 11, 2013
Episode 38 - The Evil Friendship versus Heavenly Creatures
Thoughts on Coming Out Day, rec of another lesbian fiction podcast, a comparison of novel The Evil Friendship and the film Heavenly Creatures, plus much more. Listen to the end for details on yet another contest to win your choice of a book off my bookshelf.
direct download
Check out the LadyLike Book Club for a fun podcast about lesbian romance novels.
Music in this episode
direct download
Check out the LadyLike Book Club for a fun podcast about lesbian romance novels.
Music in this episode
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Episode 37 - Back In Print
Talking about another fantastic pulp fiction novel, WOMEN'S BARRACKS by Tereska Torres. Plus my mother, Linda Crew, helps correct and clarify some of the issues with authors getting their rights back from publishers and getting their books back in print.
Direct download
Peek Inside 22 Vintage Lesbian Pulp Novels
Linda Crew's website
Music used this episode
Monday, September 30, 2013
Episode 36 - Reader or Writer?
We're talking sexy witches, GOOD MOON RISING by Nancy Garden, and different ways of looking at a novel. Sorry for the lateness of this week's podcast!
direct download
I Am Just a Reader via HuffPost Books
Music Used this episode
direct download
I Am Just a Reader via HuffPost Books
Music Used this episode
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Episode 35 - If You Follow Me, The Courier's New Bicycle, underrated lesbian fiction
My take on the new ebook subscription service Oyster, reviews of If You Follow Me by Malena Watrous and The Courier's New Bicycle by Kim Westwood, and your recommendations of underrated lesbian literature.
Full show notes up later
direct download
The Courier's New Bicycle
Music used this episode
Full show notes up later
direct download
The Courier's New Bicycle
Music used this episode
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