This week Sarah Jean hosts the podcast with guests Emilia and Eric as we conclude our September “Back to School” theme and discuss how schools often function as a transitional space in Queer Romance
EP 104 HOST
> SARAH JEAN (she/her) From the woods of Massachusetts, Sarah Jean has been reading queer romance for 12 years. She runs a queer book club called Rainbow Readers of Massachusetts (https://www.facebook.com/rainbowreadersmass/) that celebrates queer lives, joy, and empowerment through genre fiction. When not reading or listening to books Sarah is plotting her queer historical romances, cuddling with her cats, and planning her next adventure. Follow her on Twitter @queer_reader
EP 104 GUESTS
> EMILIA AGRAFOJO (she/her) has been reading queer romance for over 20 years, thank you very much. She lives north of Boston with her spouse and their horde of cats. Emilia has penned a (very) small number of short fiction writings that have made it to the light of day. She hopes to coax more out from under the bed in the future
> ERIC JACKSON (he/him) Aging gracefully into his middle years in a small town in the north east corner of Massachusetts, Eric is a happily married high school educator, tabletop rpg enthusiast, library trustee, social justice paladin, father of cats, and reader of many good books. The aforementioned books, and his opinions thereof, can be found at https://www.goodreads.com/paladinboy
EP 104 DISCUSSION
> Title: In Other Lands
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Relation to theme: Student MCs
Representation: bi and gay
Content Warnings: war, child abuse from parental neglect/abandonment, brief biphobia/homophobia in human world, reverse gender stereotype and mysgonistic elves (men the weaker sex to be protected) child soldiers, death, violence
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31944679-in-other-lands
> TOR is a division of MacMillan known primarily for its science fiction and fantasy titles which offers both a newsletter and a blog
Link: https://www.tor.com/
> The Nightrunner series is a fantasy series with romantic elements written by Lynn Flewelling
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/40357-nightrunner
> Title: Lord of the White Hell
Author: Ginn Hale
Relation to theme: Student MCs
Representation: Queer author and gay mcs
Content Warnings: racism, violence, homophobia, abuse
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8017244-lord-of-the-white-hell-book
> Dungeons & Dragons, or D&D, is a beloved role-playing-game that allows a group of players to assume characters and craft an elaborate story together
Link: https://dnd.wizards.com/dungeons-and-dragons/what-is-dd
> Title: Help Wanted
Author: J. Emery
Relation to theme: Student MCs
Representation: queer m/f and or questioning gender and sexuality/m
Content Warnings: gender dysphoria, death mention
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40852389-help-wanted
> Title: An Offering of Plums
Author: J. Emery
Relation to theme: main character is a student at a magic school
Representation: m/nonbinary demon
Content Warnings: attempted human sacrifice, ptsd,violence, blood physical injury
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39719172-an-offering-of-plums
> Title: A Light Amongst the Shadows
Author: Kelley York & Rowan Altwood
Relation to theme: Student MCs
Representation: gay mcs
Content Warnings: past mentions of sexual assualt and rape, violence, murder, corporal punishment, period homophobia
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38884377-a-light-amongst-shadows
> Title: Every Heart a Doorway
Author: Seanan McGuire
Relation to theme: Student MCs
Representation: asexual and trans mcs
Content Warnings: eating disorder, murder and body horror
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25526296-every-heart-a-doorway
> Title: Love Lessons
Author: Heidi Cullinan
Relation to theme: Student MCs
Representation: gay mcs, mc with severe allergies
Content Warnings: on page allergy reactions, intrusive thoughts, anxiety dysfunctional parent, mentions of underage sex
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17853573-love-lessons
> Title: Shut Your Face, Anthony Pace!
Author: Claire Davis & Al Stewart
Relation to theme: Student MCs
Representation: gay, one mc could be read as demisexual
Content Warnings: parents with dementia
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30192308-shut-your-face-anthony-pace
> Title: The Belle Vs. The BDOC
Author: Amy Jo Cousins
Relation to theme: Student MCs
Representation: lesbian mcs, femme/butch
Content Warnings: biphobia
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30182049-the-belle-vs-the-bdoc
> Regarding historical versus “nostalgia” settings, RWA currently defines historical romance as stories set before 1950 for the purposes of the RITA awards, therefore anything more recent than 1950 could be considered “nostalgic”
Link: https://www.rwa.org/Online/Online/Awards/RITA/RITA_Contest_Rules.aspx#ContestCategories
> Title: I Wish You All the Best
Author: Mason Deaver
Relation to theme: Student MCs
Representation: nonbinary mc, bisexual mc, nonbinary author, ownvoices
Content Warnings: parental abuse: emotional and physical, misgendering (accidental and purposeful), transphobia, homophobia, detailed anxiety and panic attacks, detailed depressive episodes, suicidal ideation, underage drinking
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41473872-i-wish-you-all-the-best
> GSA stands for Gay Straight Alliance. GSA clubs, or GSAs for short, are student-run organizations that unite LGBTQ+ and allied youth to build community and organize around issues impacting them in their schools and communities
Link: https://gsanetwork.org/
> The Circle Opens series is a YA, fantasy series with romantic elements written by Tamora Pierce
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/43552-the-circle-opens
> Title: Mark Cooper Versus America
Author: Lisa Henry & J.A. Rock
Relation to theme: Student MCs
Representation: gay
Content Warnings: BDSM, fraternity hazing, minor character with history of sexual abuse
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37791393-mark-cooper-versus-america
> Title: Brandon Mills Versus the V-Card
Author: Lisa Henry & J.A. Rock
Relation to theme: Student MCs
Representation: gay
Content Warnings: fraternity hazing, MC with history of sexual abuse
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37791410-brandon-mills-versus-the-v-card
> Title: Check, Please!
Author: Ngozi Ukazu
Relation to theme: Student MCs
Representation: gay mcs, mc with anxiety and past addiction
Content Warnings: underage drinking, panic attacks, and hazing
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37534577-check-please-book-1
> Rock & Riot is a YA, historical romance, graphic novel that started as a webcomic written by Chelsey Furedi
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/27402328
> The Backstagers series is a YA, mystery, graphic novel series with romantic elements written by Andy Mientus
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/257336-backstagers
> The Lumberjanes series is a YA, graphic novel series with romantic elements written by a team including Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, Shannon Watters, and Brooke Allen
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/131068-lumberjanes
> The Signs of Love series is a queer, contemporary romance series written by Anyta Sunday
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/195005-signs-of-love
> Which #QueerRomance favorites of yours did we miss? Let us know on Twitter or Instagram @RomBkPod
Happy Reading!
EP 104 MUSIC CREDIT
Music: “Lift Off” by Jahzzar
From the Free Music Archive
CC BY-SA 3.0
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