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Article: When ‘Womanless Weddings’ Were Trendy

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Image from A. F. Weaver Collection/Portal to Texas History

History holds some of best quirks, don’t you think? How rich is a world that has a fundraising event like this one: When ‘Womanless Weddings’ Were Trendy Definitions of marriage in America keep expanding, but for most of the country’s history, the word “wedding” has called to mind images of a woman in a white dress and a man in a black tuxedo. And traditionally, June was the most popular month to get hitched. So, there’s no better time to reminisce about a once-popular community ritual — still perhaps practiced occasionally — that would seem to be on the edge … Read more

Announcement: Where There’s Fire, by Cari Z.

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Where There's Fire

QSFer Cari Z. has a new super villain book out: Making a name for myself as a Villain in Panopolis is hard work. Six months ago, my boyfriend broke me out of jail. Now he’s spending most of his time defending our turf against other Villains he accidentally freed along with me. And my new psychic powers are not only impossible to control, but they’re also giving me migraines. But it’s not all doom and gloom. My skills are improving every day, and Raul—aka the Mad Bombardier—and I have never been happier. That is, until my first solo job is … Read more

Me Me Monday!

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Welcome to ME ME MONDAY at our FB discussion group – your chance to pop in and tell us about your latest success. Have a new book or short story coming out? Let us know. Just sell something? Let us know so we can cheer you on. HOW IT WORKS: I’ll pin this topic to the top of our FB discussion page for the day. –Please post your announcement as a separate post, so I can also share it over to our FB page (as opposed to this discussion group). –If you want, send me your book announcement info at … Read more

Announcement: Immutable, by Becky Black

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Immutable

QSFer Becky Black has a new paranormal book out: Every night, in the tiny cottage he shares with his dying mother, lonely young shepherd Callum dreams of having a lover by his side. A man to share his bed and his life. One day, as he gathers driftwood on the beach, he finds Breen, a beautiful, naked stranger. Breen makes love to him, leaving Callum certain he’s only a fantasy. But the stunning Breen is there again the next day—fulfilling Callum’s every wish. Then Callum’s hopes are shattered when he learns of Breen’s true nature. Panic and desperation drive Callum … Read more

Guest Post: Avoiding Bisexual Stereotypes, by Vance Bastian

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Bisexuality

We’re thrilled to have Vance Bastian contributing a post for our discussion today: Bisexual characters bring a very dynamic element to a story. Writers who challenge themselves to go beyond the stereotype of wanton promiscuity, abuse, or mental disorders find their stories wrapping around this individual who is a living catalyst. At their hearts, a bisexual character can be attracted to either gender. That does not mean the character wants to have sex with anything that moves. In fact, how open-hearted and rich is a bisexual character who wants a family, but sees the beauty in everyone? How complex is … Read more

Announcement: Discovery, QSF’s Second Annual Flash Fiction Contest

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Discovery

QSF has a new anthology out: It’s hard to tell a story in just 300 words. But somehow we inspired more than a hundred writers to give it a try, with some amazing results collected here for your pleasure. The rules are simple enough. Write a complete story—either sci fi, fantasy, or paranormal. Make sure it has LGBT characters and/or an LGBT vibe. And do it all with just 300 words. The stories in this volume run the gamut, from platypus shifters to alien slug monsters, from carnival horror stories to haunting stories of ships with souls. There are little … Read more

Ana’s Spoons – The Monthly QSF FF Takeover

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Ana's Spoons

Welcome to the second monthly celebration of F/F fiction! F/F, by the way, stands for Female/Female (not Fan Fiction) pairings that may or may not be romantic. We’ve had two days of free-for-all F/F promotions, but today I’d like to kindly ask you to refrain from promoting your own books, friend’s books, publisher, or other services. The goal for today’s discussion is to establish a common ground for future F/F discussions and give new readers a place to start. For the top five classic F/F books, plays, and movies everyone should read, here is Anastasia Vitsky’s list: The Price of … Read more

Announcement: Obsidian Sun, by Jon Keys

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Obsidian Sun

QSFer Jon Keys has a new sci fi book out: Differences must be put aside when vengeance becomes all-consuming. Anan, a spellweaver of the Talac people, returns from a hunting trip to find his village decimated, his mate dead, and everyone else captured by Varas slavers. The sole survivor is Terja, a young man without the velvet that covers most Talac, marking him as a spellspinner. Since Talac magic requires both a weaver and a spinner, Anan and Terja must move beyond their ingrained mistrust. All that remains is revenge and a desperate plan to rescue their tribesmen before they … Read more

Angel’s Bits: Flash Fiction – Story Microcosms

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The first time someone mentioned Flash Fiction to me, I did the puzzled cocker spaniel head tilt. You want me to write what? How could anyone write a story in three hundred words or less? It’s truly a unique challenge, but I think it’s a good exercise for any writer. We forget, as novelists, how much can be conveyed with a spare, few words, and flash fiction forces us to do so. One of the mistakes authors make when writing flash, though, is trying to do too much. You end up with a scene instead of a story. Focus, focus, … Read more

Review: “Blue on Black” by Carole Cummings

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Genre: Gay Steampunk Length: Novel   Bas is a tech tracker, undercover. In his search for a few missing techs, he finds himself in the middle of a thug empire in the desert. Baron Stanslo is hiding more than Bas or the Directorate reckon, and while Bas keeps an eye out for the techs, he discovers a brutal world ruled by a mad man and populated by the oppressed and the bullies who oppress them. Fortunately, he’s skilled enough to become easily accepted into the illusive group; unfortunately, he may not be able to get back out. Blue on Black … Read more