Howdy camper!
Happy February! Lots of fun things ahead:
Sale
Chaos queen Lizzie Blake is only 99p for UK readers! As a selling point I will leave you with this very timely text from my bestie Megan who’s do a re-read with the audiobook:
Pre-Order Goodies!
If I haven’t been obnoxious enough about it, Late Bloomer releases April 16th (only 68 days *SCREAMMMMMM*) and I’m offering a cornucopia of goodies to those of you that pre-order!
I will be launching Late Bloomer into the world (more event info coming soon!) with the lovely folks at Novel Neighbor in St. Louis, and they are offering 🌸exclusive🌸 swag designed by yours truly for pre-orders! Who wouldn’t want an “every garden needs a hoe!” sticker???? Place your preorder here! (please note, these are while supplies lasts so don’t wait!)
Already preordered or have your go to bookstore you love to support? Never fear! All preorders—any format from any retailer— are eligible to get this absolutely stunning transparent overlay of the flower farm and cabin that is central to Late Bloomer if you submit your receipt here. The one and only Jenifer Prince, who designed the Late Bloomer cover and is generally one of my favorite contemporary artists, was kind enough to make this glorious illustration, and was such a treat to work with. She incorporated flowers mentioned throughout the book and also chose colors to reflect the bi-pride flag in honor of Opal 🥹💖.
Upcoming events
Next weekend (February 16-18) I’ll be in the Atlanta area for Love Y’all Book Fest! I’m doing a bunch of panels and two signings so check out the schedule! Also, if you purchase one of my books (or preorder LB!) from the onsite vendor, you’ll get a crocheted tooth made by the one and only Emily Minarik! (while supplies lasts)
Dipping a toe in discourse
There was discourse on BookThreads (book discourse? on a day that ends in y? shocking) recently about how sapphic and f/f romance doesn’t sell and even some posts discouraging people from writing it. I think this is a shit take because 1.) sapphics are just as deserving of seeing romance novels that reflect their love and experiences with intimacy like anyone else, and 2.) because it perpetuates an old and harmful publishing stereotype. Publishing, particularly traditional publishing, is a business that looks at markets and trends to decide what to buy up and subsequently publish. It is a cycle that can at worst be vicious and at best capricious. Saying sapphic fiction doesn’t sell well or isn’t worth writing creates a narrative that no one is looking to buy these books. That’s patently false. There is a huge, voracious community of readers, particularly queer readers, hungry for sapphic books, ones that aren’t created to cater to the male gaze but instead show profound love and a happy ending for women that love women. Saying sapphic romance doesn’t sell and isn’t worth writing is deeply rooted in misogyny and lesphobia and the idea that writing is only worth doing if there’s money to be made (love ya, babes, but there generally is not), and I hope the industry keeps publishing these stories and readers keep buying them and prove people wrong.
The [Horrifying] GIF
here's this thing:
The End 🤡
All my love,
Mazey ❤️🧠🦷