This week, Tara sits down with Frederick Smith (he/him), author of Tara’s official recommendation from Episode 86, One and Done. Fred talks about his early writing aspirations, the books that inspired him in his youth, his experiences as an author writing about Black gay men, and who he’s reading right now.

Works/People Discussed

• Invisible Life by E. Lynn Harris
• Just as I Am by E. Lynn Harris
• Denise Hamilton
• A Little Kissing Between Friends by Chencia C. Higgins
• The 7-10 Split by Karmen Lee
• Second Night Stand by Fay Stetz-Waters and Karelia Stetz-Waters
• Kennedy Ryan
• Beverly Jenkins
• Bad Queers Podcast
• Minority Report Podcast

Follow Frederick Smith

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• Facebook

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Kris and Tara are back from the annual GCLS conference. They're energized, motivated, and… suffering from Covid, in Kris’s case. They talk all about their experiences at the best sleepaway camp for sapphic fiction fans before getting deep into those recommendations.

Official Recommendations

From Kris: The Man with 1000 Kids (Netflix)

This week, Kris recommends The Man with 1000 Kids, a limited documentary series that tells the real-life story of a Dutch scammer, accused of traveling the world and deceiving mothers into having his babies on a mass scale. Kris came into this series “completely naive” on the fertility industry and found the scale of the man’s crimes and the laws around it horrible, but in a way that also made it a compelling watch.

From Tara: Loser of the Year by Carrie Byrd

This week, Tara recommends Carrie Byrd's debut novel Loser of the Year. Mattie is a Jewish lesbian working at a Catholic school with a morality clause in its contract, which she didn’t notice when she took the job. Shouldn't be a problem except for the soccer coach, Jillian, who starts as an enemy and over time becomes (you guessed it) a lover. Tara loved this one and thinks you will too.

Works/People Discussed

• The Perfect Match (Netflix)
• Sapphic World Book Club
• Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024)
• Dimension 20 (Dropout TV)
• Hot Summer by Elle Everhart, narrated by Marisa Calin
• A Bluestocking’s Guide to Decadence by Jess Everlee
• The Black Bird of Chernobyl by Ann McMan

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Tara and Kris chat with Ann McMan about her latest novel, The Black Bird of Chernobyl, how elements were inspired by previous GCLS conferences, and eco-friendly burial options (we promise, it makes sense when you listen).

Recorded at the 20th annual Golden Crown Literary Society conference in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Visit Ann McMan's website

Trusting Tomorrow by PJ Trebelhorn

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Tara and Kris chat with A.L. Brooks about her latest novel, Make Her Wish Come True and her experience at the conference.

Recorded at the 20th annual Golden Crown Literary Society conference in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Visit A.L. Brooks' website

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Tara and Kris chat with Kristen Zimmer about her latest novel, Forbidden Girl, and her experience at the conference.

Recorded at the 20th annual Golden Crown Literary Society conference in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Support & follow the show

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• Support local animal shelters by joining Kris's Patreon

Tara and Kris chat with Carrie Byrd about her debut novel, Loser of the Year, and her experience at the conference.

Recorded at the 20th annual Golden Crown Literary Society conference in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Visit Carrie Byrd's website

Support & follow the show

• Buy us a Ko-fi
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• Get all our links on Linktr.ee
• Support local animal shelters by joining Kris's Patreon

Tara and Kris chat with Nan Campbell about her novella New York is Losing Hope, which is part of the recent Hot Hires collection, her experience at this year's GCLS conference, and her advice for future conference goers.

Recorded at the 20th annual Golden Crown Literary Society conference in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Visit Nan Campbell's website

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Tara and Kris chat with Alaina Erdell about her novella Two Women, Two Weddings, which is part of the recent Hot Hires collection, as well as her experience at GCLS 2024.

Recorded at the 20th annual Golden Crown Literary Society conference in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Visit Alaina Erdell's website

Support & follow the show

• Buy us a Ko-fi
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• Twitter: @queerlyrec
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• Blusky: @queerlyrec.bsky.social
• Get all our links on Linktr.ee
• Support local animal shelters by joining Kris's Patreon