Aunt Lute

Check out the new blog by Aunt Lute author Jo Scott-Coe

Aunt Lute — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:16:00 +0000

Jo Scott-Coe, author of Teacher at Point Blank: Confronting Sexuality, Violence, and Secrets in a Suburban School, is now a weekly blogger for Inlandia Literary Journeys at the Press-Enterprise.

The blog, powered by The Inlandia Institute, is a celebration of writing by Inland Southern California writers. Read her first column here and watch a video interview with Jo by Inlandia Institute’s Cati Porter. New blog entries appear on Fridays, so be sure to stop back in and check them out!

Come and support Judy Grahn at the Norcal Book Awards Ceremony

Aunt Lute — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:32:45 +0000

Judy Grahn’s memoir, A Simple Revolution: The Making of an Activist Poet, is a finalist for the 32nd Annual Northern California Book Awards! Her memoir is one of five nominated in the Creative Nonfiction category for books written by Northern California authors. The awards ceremony takes place this Sunday, May 19 at 1pm in the Koret Auditorium at San Francisco Main Library. To read the full announcement and see the other finalists, click here. The winners will be announced at the ceremony. The event is open to the public and admission is free, so stop by to cheer on Judy!

The Northern California Book Awards are presented and sponsored by Northern California Book Reviewers, Poetry Flash, Center for the Art of Translation, Red Room, PEN West, Mechanics’ Institute, San Francisco Public Library, Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, and Readers Bookstore at the Main. For more information visit the Poetry Flash website.

A heartfelt thanks to our Give OUT Day 2013 supporters!

Aunt Lute — Fri, 10 May 2013 23:01:39 +0000

Yesterday’s first ever national Give OUT Day was a tremendous success. Thousands of individuals and community supporters from all across the country raised over half a million dollars in just 24 hours in support of diverse LGBT causes. These generous donations will impact countless lives by fostering the incredible work done by the LGBT nonprofit organizations that participated in the day-long event. Click here to see a list of the final results.

Aunt Lute is delighted to have joined in community with other LGBT organizations and taken part in this historic day of giving. We are especially grateful for the generosity of our friends, family, and supporters—thank you to everyone who helped make this day a glowing success for us and the community at large.

A Simple Revolution wins 2013 Independent Publisher Book Award

Aunt Lute — Thu, 09 May 2013 22:38:45 +0000

Congratulations to Judy Grahn! Her memoir, A Simple Revolution: The Making of an Activist Poet, won the silver medal in the Gay/Lesbian Non-Fiction category of the 2013 Independent Publisher Book Awards.

The “IPPY” Awards are designed to bring increased recognition to the deserving but often unsung titles published by independent authors and publishers. Established in 1996 as the first awards program open exclusively to independents, over 3,000 IPPYs have been awarded to authors and publishers around the world. This year there were a total of 77 National categories. The 382 total medalists come from 44 U.S. states and Washington, D.C.; 5 Canadian provinces; and 8 countries overseas.

Check out the official announcement here and read about the other wonderful award-winning authors and books. The awards ceremony to honor the medalists will take place on May 29th in New York.

San Francisco 2013 Lammy Award Finalist Reading a success

Aunt Lute — Fri, 03 May 2013 22:57:49 +0000

Congratulations to Judy Grahn and the other 10 finalists who participated in the San Francisco 2013 Lammy Award Reading at San Francisco Public Library yesterday. The room brimmed with creative energy as each author showcased a diverse array of exciting LGBT literary treats to a highly receptive community audience. Check out the photo stream on our events page for pictures from the reading. Winners will be announced on Monday, June 3, 2013 in New York City, so stay tuned!

Aunt Lute is participating in the first national Give OUT Day on Thursday, May 9th!

Aunt Lute — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 23:00:28 +0000

Thursday, May 9th is Give OUT Day— a new national initiative that will engage hundreds of organizations and mobilize thousands of people on a single day across the country to support the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender & queer community—and we are thrilled to be taking part in this historic day of giving.

It’s coming up soon so please help us spread the word to friends, family and colleagues. Because we are grassroots—establishing the career of new writers and helping to introduce them within their own community and to the public at large—Aunt Lute is not able to make a profit on selling books. We depend on grants and donations to make up the difference. With your support Aunt Lute will continue to be a viable, energetic platform for lesbian and feminist voices in literature!

Click here to learn more and find out how to become a part of this exciting project.

Another exciting award nomination for A Simple Revolution and special recognition from Sophia University

Aunt Lute — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 22:28:11 +0000

Judy Grahn’s A Simple Revolution: The Making of an Activist Poet, has been announced as a finalist for the 32nd Annual Northern California Book Awards! Judy’s memoir is one of five nominated in the Creative Nonfiction category for books written by Northern California authors. The awards ceremony takes place on Sunday, May 19 at 1pm in the Koret Auditorium at San Francisco Main Library. To read the full announcement and see the other finalists, click here. The winners will be announced at the ceremony. The event is open to the public and admission is free, so stop by to cheer on Judy!

Additionally, Judy just received a surprise 2013 Serpentina Enheduanna Award for Excellence in Women-Centered Literature for A Simple Revolution. She was honored alongside authors Mary Beth Moser and Mary Saracino at Sofia University’s annual celebration of the life and work of the first writer of record, Sumerian High Priestess Enheduanna. Check out the full article here.

If you haven’t yet read this amazing memoir, be sure to order your copy of A Simple Revolution today and see what all the buzz is about.

Upcoming events with Jo Scott-Coe

Aunt Lute — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 22:06:24 +0000

Jo Scott-Coe, author of Teacher at Point Blank: Confronting Sexuality, Violence, and Secrets in a Suburban School, will be reading and leading workshops at the annual Mount San Antonio College Writers’ Weekend. In the past, this event has featured writing workshops, manuscript preparation, panels, prizes, and more. This year’s event is scheduled for the weekend of April 26-28. Check the college website for more information.

On May 10th, Jo will be reading with memoirist Ana Maria Spagna at Cellar Door Books in Riverside, California. The event is sponsored by the Inlandia Institute, a non-profit center that supports literary activity in inland southern California. Keep an eye on Cellar Door’s event page for more details.

Nancy Agabian to host a writing workshop this April in Queens; e-version of workshops beginning in June

Aunt Lute — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 22:03:44 +0000

Nancy Agabian, author of Me as her again: True Stories of an Armenian Daughter, is holding a community-oriented writing workshop for creative nonfiction and autobiographical fiction in Queens, New York.

“Heightening Stories” is a ten-week long workshop from April 10 to June 12 held on Wednesday nights from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. Taking place in a supportive environment in the instructor’s home, the weekly sessions will include discussions of exemplary contemporary fiction and nonfiction, exercises to help you develop material and learn writing techniques, and constructive group feedback sessions. By the end of the ten weeks, you will have completed or revised up to twenty pages of writing (one long piece or a few short essays, stories or chapters) that will be ready to publish.

The workshop is designed for writers of all levels to contribute their unique skills to help each other improve; beginners are welcome.

To apply, please email nancyagabian@yahoo.com two paragraphs that 1) explain your interest and/or experience in contributing to a writing community and 2) describe your writing goals and/or the writing you would like to do with this group. Attach a 1-3 page sample of writing.

The cost of the workshop is $300, and the application deadline is April 6th — deadline extended!

Not in Queens but still want to write with this fantastic author? Agabian is planning to start an e-version of “Heightening Stories” in June for individuals residing outside of Queens. Keep an eye on http://nancyagabian.com for more information.

A Simple Revolution nominated for Best Lesbian Memoir/Biography by the Lambda Literary Foundation—come celebrate with us this Thursday!

Aunt Lute — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 22:04:00 +0000

Now in their 25th year, the Lambda Literary Awards celebrate achievement in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender writing. Selected from a record number of total submissions this year, A Simple Revolution is one of six finalists nominated in the Best Lesbian Memoir/Biography category for 2012. Winners will be announced on Monday, June 3, 2013 in New York City. Click here to read the full announcement on Lambda Literary’s website.

Join us this Thursday, March 14^th at 6:30pm to celebrate the launch of A Simple Revolution at Modern Times Bookstore. Enjoy cake, drinks, and a reading and signing from Judy, and congratulate her on this exciting nomination. Check out the event pag e for more details, and we hope to see you there!