The queer poet, Sappho, renowned for dubbing the term “lesbian” since she was from the island of Lesbos, is remembered for saying, “Someday, someone will remember us.”
A lot has transpired for queer folx in the two thousand years since Sappho dreamed our possible realities. And with 500 proposed bills against LGBTQ+ rights awaiting rulings across the United States, the world has never needed our wisdom more.
Did you know that LGBTQ+ authors only account for only 16% of published books?
As a queer woman, this isn’t simply a statistic, but my lived reality. And after I had my first seven books published with four different presses, it dawned on me that it didn’t have to be this way. I didn’t have to be the only one my publishers represented, or the one who made it to the final round with a publishing company only for them to respond, “We really believe in this book, but we don’t know how to market to queer audiences.”
I was sick and tired of seeing straight, white men thrive with mediocre books because their advances, royalties, and stories had an advantage from the very start, because when they looked around at the presses that represented their books, they saw a bunch of other straight, white cis dudes staring back at them. What about our queer dreams?
The world was missing out on the precise perspectives and stories we need most.
In writing and publishing Queering the American Dream, I was able to create and imagine a different world, a world where women, queer folx, and BIPOC have equitable access to publishing, to fulfilling our dreams.
Queering the American Dreambegins the day the Supreme Court ruled our marriage legal, my queer little family traversing the American landscape for two years in a camper named Freya, following in the footsteps of revolutionary women from history and myth. Amid our wanderings, I grappled with the loss of faith, addiction, death, and what it means to reimagine the so-called dream promised to so many. With unapologetic grief, humor, and radical imagination, I created a new dream, not just for myself, but for all marginalized people living in America.
One of my favorite writers, Gloria Anzaldúa, inspired this dream. This queer Chicana feminist claimed: “The world I create in my writing compensates for what the real world does not give me.”
The “real world” has given us, on the whole, an old-school, white, male, predatory publishing industry that, at best, doesn’t understand the nuances of queer and feminist writing, and at worst, preys upon us for capital gain. So, I created Tehom Center Publishing to compensate for what the real world has not given us. Tehom Center Publishing is a press publishing feminist and queer authors, with a commitment to elevate BIPOC writers.
Publishing Queering the American Dreamwith my own press was not only empowering, but it also galvanized me to coach other marginalized authors in the power of living the authorpreneur dream. Yes, Tehom Center publishes authors at absolutely no cost, but we also offer just and equitable coaching programs empowering authors in creating entire businesses aligned with their books, thereby sustaining a financially abundant life.
Traveling throughout the country with my queer little family taught me that the world not only needs queer authors to be published, but we deserve to live abundant lives. This is our iteration of the American dream.
*****
To join us in queering the American dream and stay connected with book and publishing events, visit www.tehomcenter.org/booktour
Book Summary
Beginning the day the Supreme Court ruled her marriage legal, Angela Yarber’s queer little family traversed the American landscape for two years in a camper named Freya, following in the footsteps of revolutionary women from history and myth. Amid her wanderings, this queer clergywoman grapples with the loss of faith, addiction, death, parenting, and what it means to reimagine the so-called dream promised to so many. With unapologetic grief, humor, and radical imagination, she creates a new dream, not just for herself, but for all marginalized people living in America.
Publisher: Parson’s Porch
ISBN-10: 195558141X
ISBN-13: 978-1955581417
Print Length: 188 pages
Purchase a copy of the book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop.org. You can also add it to your list on Goodreads.
About the Author
Rev. Dr. Angela Yarber is an award-winning author of eight books and a highly sought public speaker. She is the Founder of Tehom Center Publishing, an imprint publishing feminist and queer authors, with a commitment to elevate BIPOC writers. With a Ph.D. in Art and Religion and over a decade serving as a Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, five of her books were listed in QSpirit’s Top LGBTQ Religion Books. Her work has been featured in Forbes, HuffPo, Ms. Magazine, Tiny House Nation, and more at https://angelayarber.org
You can find her online at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angela.yarber
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tehomcenter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tehomcenter/?hl=en
Blog Tour Calendar
June 3rd @ The Muffin
Join us at WOW’s blog The Muffin as we celebrate the launch of Dr. Angela Yarber’s memoir Queering the American Dream. You can read an interview with the author and enter to win a copy of the book.
https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com
June 5th @ Speaking of Spirit
Visit Linda’s blog for her review of Queering the American Dream. You can also win a copy of the book!
https://interfaithmoments.blogspot.com
June 7th @ One Writer’s Journey
Visit Sue’s blog for a review of Queering the American Dream.
June 10th @ Choices
Visit Madeline’s blog for a guest post by Dr. Angela Yarber about how publishing a book can transform your business and life.
https://www.madelinesharples.com
June 12th @ Speaking of Spirit
Join Linda for a guest post by Rev. Dr. Angela Yarber about the importance of publishing marginalized authors.
https://interfaithmoments.blogspot.com
June 14th @ One Writer’s Journey
Visit Sue’s blog again for an interview with author Dr. Angela Yarber about her memoir.
June 15th @ Boots, Shoes, and Fashion
Visit Linda’s blog for an in-depth interview with Dr. Angela Yarber.
https://bootsshoesandfashion.com
June 18th @ Writer Advice
Visit B. Lynn Goodwin’s site for a helpful guest post from Dr. Angela Yarber on the importance of mental health care in launching a book.
June 21st @ The Faerie Review
Visit Lily’s blog for a review of Queering the American Dream.
https://www.thefaeriereview.com
June 23rd @ A Wonderful World of Words
Visit Joy’s blog for a spotlight of Queering the American Dream. You can also win a copy of the book!
https://awonderfulworldofwordsa.blogspot.com
June 25th @ Editor 911
Visit Margo’s blog for her review of Queering the American Dream.
June 28th @ Author Anthony Avina’s blog
Visit Anthony’s blog for his review of Queering the American Dream.
July 2nd @ Author Anthony Avina’s blog
Join Anthony for a guest post by Dr. Angela Yarber about LGBTQIA+ Pride and publishing.
July 3rd @ Michelle Cornish’ blog
Visit Michelle’s blog for an interview with Dr. Angela Yarber about her memoir.
https://www.michellecornish.com
July 6th @ Coffee & Ink
You can visit Jan’s blog for her review of Queering the American Dream. Plus read a guest post by Dr. Angela Yarber about disenfranchised grief, particularly as it pertains to losing someone to addiction.
https://coffeeandinkbooks.wordpress.com
Discover more from Author Anthony Avina
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