Happy Love Month!
Hello Friends,
Let the oxytocin, also known as the love hormone, flow. February is a great month to love on yourself and others. It is also Black History Month here in the U.S., a time to reflect on societal contributions made by African American people and a time to recommit to strengthening our community.
As for author news, I Heart SapphFic (IHS) is featuring THIS: A Simple, Complex Love Story in the IHS Reading Challenge the first week of February. I’m excited to have been selected — THIS will be on sale February 5 to February 9 for $3.99 wherever eBooks are sold. You may find my answers to a few questions that will be posted to IHS’s Facebook Reader Group interesting. The full post may be found here.
Why did you write this book? What about it spoke to you, and/or why did you feel now was the time to tell this story?
I wrote THIS: A Simple, Complex Love Story for two reasons. First, it was a way to communicate with my now wife through multiple military deployments — we would exchange parts of the book that ultimately became chapters. Secondly, I wanted to write a story about characters that looked like me. I’m an avid reader of various genres and yet, searching my local library system or googling black lesbian fiction didn’t always yield stories that resonated or reflected my interests. My characters are imperfect, messy, and still want and deserve love.
Who is your favorite character in the book? Why? Is this character similar to you or different, and in what ways?
My favorites characters are John and Stephanie for similar reasons. They are hilarious, sharp, and the best friends of each main character. T and John have been friends since college — his memory is long, and he doesn’t sugarcoat her shenanigans. Jasmine and Stephanie have been friends since high school. Stephanie often holds up a mirror of truth for Jasmine, even when Jasmine doesn’t want to see it. We all need someone to tell us the truth and hold us accountable.
Do you have a pet who helps/hinders your typing? We love details, so please share name, age, type of pet, and key personality traits.
There were four dogs that I could have easily dedicated THIS to during the time it took to finish it. All have crossed the rainbow bridge and I miss them very much. Each fur child had such different personalities. Reka (16) was a terrier mix rescue, at 40 plus pounds, she didn’t accept the fact that she wasn’t a lap dog. Steve (11) was a Bichon Frise and never met a stranger. Karmello (10) would quietly disappear for afternoon naps or put himself to bed if I stayed up too long. Minnie (10), PRINCESS Diva, allowed me to provide for her needs.
We added two more dogs to the family last year and a few weeks ago. Noodle (10+), a shih tzu mix rescue , is a grumpy curmudgeon that wants his breakfast promptly at 9am and dinner at 5pm. The newest is Emmy (13), a Maltese/Havanese mix, who's comical and gives side-eye glances that need no words. She also demands daily walks and sitting in my lap, both are proving to be writing challenges.
Other News:
Sondra Rose Marie is the new Editor in Chief at Tagg Magazine, a digital news source for the LGBTQ+ community. I bring this up because she has expressed interest in featuring indie authors as well as traditionally published authors… this is good news indeed. So, I’ve started following Tagg, along with other gifted authors, on Instagram: @taggmagazine, @w.l.tracy, @auntgeorgialee_author, @qwocbooks, @aliciareviews_, @jennakentauthor, @dibs_j, anneshaderomance, @priya.guns, and @authorlmbennett.
Last month I shared that I’m a featured author in ReadOUT 2024, a three-day LGBTQ literary festival in Gulfport, Florida and online. Here’s a quick, hilarious (I think) blooper reel of me making a prerecorded reading. Shout-out to EVERYONE who makes flawless videos the first time. If that is such a thing, I’m not one of them.
Blooper reel of me reading an excerpt of THIS: A Simple, Complex Love Story
What’s happening in my garden?
NOTHING, it’s February on the east coast! But that’s not entirely true, the garden is recovering, resting, and getting ready for a beautiful spring. I’m perusing lots of colorful gardening magazines — goodness knows who ordered them. But you can’t rush the process — like birthing a new book. My heart is fluttering in anticipation of planting and seeing what comes of these seed bombs.
Late News:
I’ll blame it on the bubbly… last month I should have mentioned the author Jae’s 2024 Sapphic Book Bingo. This challenge runs the entire year and is intended to introduce you to new books (THIS fits in a few categories — new author, author of color, opposites attract, urban setting), and there are prizes for completing bingo cards. Go to Sapphic Book Bingo for additional details.
Lastly, I will leave you with wise words from 1 Corinthians 13:13. “Three things will last forever — faith, hope, and love — the greatest of these is love.”
Lots of love!
Naomi
