Tag: LGBT Poetry

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Interview with Author Pavlos C. Hunt

Pavlos C. Hunt is a New York CIty based author and poet. You can follow him on Twitter as well as Instagram. I had the opportunity to interview Pavlos, which you can read below.

First of all, welcome to Geeks OUT! Could you tell us a little about yourself?

Thank you for having me at Geeks OUT, it’s an honor! I am Pavlos C. Hunt, author of Little Beach, Little Bitch, a queer poetry collection that explores the themes of love, loss, and hope, through the lens of a queer immigrant. I was born and raised in Nicosia, Cyprus, and I moved to New York ten years ago to pursue my creative dreams. I’ve worked in TV, theater and book publishing, but my dream is to get to a place where I can wake up and write until the sunset.    

How did you find yourself drawn to the art of poetry and storytelling? 

It started as a need to understand myself better. Every poem has a part of me, something I once felt, or something I once was. The same goes to my characters in fiction. They are all a reflection of me to some extent.

What can you tell us about your latest book, Little Beach, Little Bitch? What inspired this project?

Little Beach, Little Bitch started ten years before I was even aware of it. I was in the army in Cyprus back then, hiding my sexuality, and finding escape in the poetry of Walt Whitman, drafting my own poems at the watch tower to kill time. When I moved to New York, I thought everything would suddenly be wonderful in my life, but I was naïve, and I threw myself into bad relationships. Again, I used poetry to navigate all that. A few months ago, I was packing to move apartments, and I opened a box with more than a hundred notebooks in it. I read every single page, realizing that my entire life story was in there, and I decided to do a selection together and see where it takes me. 

As a queer author of Cyprus descent, do you believe your background has influenced your poetry or writing in any way?

The older I get, the more I understand the depth of the connection I have with my motherland. Certain cultural aspects are engraved in me, so my point of view in life is always filtered by my experiences growing up in Cyprus. Even after ten years, I still feel like an outsider in New York. I don’t know if I belong here. There is a poem in Little Beach, Little Bitch about Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus and my birthplace, and there are a few other poems with references to my heritage and the topography of Cyprus.   

For many years I resented Cyprus, because I was in the closet there, and I saw New York as my gay sanctuary. I didn’t come out to my parents until last year, at 27 years old, and it’s only now that by being my authentic self, I have completely transformed my relationship with Cyprus in a positive way.  

How would you describe your writing process? Is there anything you do to help yourself in terms of motivation or creativity?

I revisit my work a lot. I edit and I re-write sometimes for years; it’s an endless process. However, a few of the poems in Little Beach, Little Bitch flew out me so naturally that I kept them intact since their inception. I stay motivated because I want to improve myself. I know my limitations, and I notice my improvement with every new piece of writing. I can only hope that by keeping at it, I’ll one day write something great. I believe that when a good poem touches your soul, it can transform your understanding of the entire world. And if I can do that even just for one person, then it’s worth it to me. 

As a writer, who or what would you say are some of your greatest creative influences and/or sources of inspiration?

I observe how human relationships change through time. I lost friends I thought I’d had forever, and that was a catalyst in my writing. The queer community and culture are also an inspiration to me, and I try to find the connections and the nuances, and how the queer experience expands and how it diverges. In terms of people that inspire me, Cavafy was an archetype for me and my poetry. He has a poem about running away to a new city in hopes of change, but ultimately bringing yourself with you, which means it’s all just the same. That poem sums up my life. I also love reading lyrics to songs without the music, as if they were poems. 

What are some of your favorite parts of writing? What do you feel are some of the most challenging?

It’s cathartic. As I mentioned above, my favorite part of writing is that it helps me understand myself and the people around me. The most challenging part to me is finding an audience and making them relate to something so personal. All the logistics that come after the creative process is a challenge to me as well, but I made a conscious decision recently to let go, put myself out there, and trust the process. 

Aside from your work, what are some things you would want people to know about you?

I love drag shows. I even tried to be a drag queen in the past, but I didn’t commit to it. Doing drag takes a tremendous amount of time, and so does writing, so it wasn’t a viable option for me. I couldn’t give my heart to that craft. The drag queens that I love have a wildfire inside of them. I’m thinking of Pixie Aventura and Jasmine Rice now.

What’s a question you haven’t been asked yet, but wish you were asked (as well as the answer to that question)?

I think it’s fun when people talk about what superpower they’d like to have. I’m obsessed with everything magical. I hope to write fantasy one day, if I can bring my voice to the genre. So, the answer to that question for me would be teleportation, so I can close my eyes and, in a blink, appear in Cyprus and then back to New York. I’m just terrified of planes, and I always have to take two of them to get home. 

Are there any other ideas or projects you are currently working on and at liberty to speak about?

I wrote a screenplay called MISS MYKONOS about a teenager that goes to the island of Mykonos with his grandmother and competes in a drag queen pageant with her help. It’s a light comedy; very different in style and aesthetic from Little Beach, Little Bitch, but still very queer. I am also writing a novel loosely based on my sexual experiences in New York City. The themes are very similar to my poetry, but the novel has a love story that carries the plot. It’s the journey of an innocent soul slowly getting broken into pieces by all the wrong people he lets in his life. In the end, there’s not much to give to the one he loves. Lastly, I also write lyrics for musicians, and I would love for people to check out another queer artist named Louis Bluehart who has some very fun songs out on Spotify and all other music platforms. 

What advice would you give to other aspiring creatives?

I don’t think I have accumulated a lot of wisdom yet, but what really helped me stay creative was giving up the idea of perfection or originality, and just embracing every step of the way. Personally, I’m not sure if I have natural talent in writing, but I thought, “It’ll get better if I keep doing it, anyway.” 

Finally, what queer books/writers would you recommend to the readers of Geeks OUT?

I already mentioned classics like Cavafy and Walt Whitman. Another book that I loved recently is The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. I also want to read A Previous Life by Edmund White and Memorial by Bryan Washington. 

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Interview with Author Dean Atta

Dean Atta is a British author from London. He is a member of Malika’s Poetry Kitchen and a patron of LGBT+ History Month. His young-adult novel in verse, THE BLACK FLAMINGO (Hachette Children’s Group / Balzer + Bray), won the 2020 Stonewall Book Award and was shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal, Jhalak Prize, Los Angeles Times Book Prize and Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. 

I had the opportunity to interview Dean which you can read below.

First of all, welcome to Geeks OUT! Could you tell us a little about yourself?

My name’s Dean Atta, my pronouns are he/him, I’m an author from London, England, and I now live in Glasgow, Scotland. I’m listening to Taylor Swift’s folklore album as I write my answers to these questions. 

How did you find yourself drawn to the art of poetry and storytelling? What drew you to write young adult content specifically?

I began writing poetry as a teenager as a way of expressing myself. I performed at open mic events and eventually published a book of poems. That led me to getting an agent who encouraged me to broaden my horizons regarding the types of books I could write. Young adult fiction appealed because I have a lot of experience working with young people leading poetry workshops in schools. In both my novels the main characters write poetry at some point. Michael in The Black Flamingo performs poems on stage, whereas Mack in Only on the Weekends only writes a poem because it’s set as homework. Mack’s main form of self expression is wearing makeup. When I was a teen I didn’t see stories about boys like me, i.e. Black queer boys into makeup and poetry. So I write these books now to make up for the representation I lacked when I was younger. 

What can you tell us about your latest book, Only On The Weekends? What inspired this project?

Only on the Weekends was partly inspired by me and my boyfriend moving from London to Glasgow. He had lived in Scotland before and it was much harder for me because it’s the furthest I’d ever lived from my family. Luckily, I had the excitement of being with my boyfriend and making a home with him. But for the book I flipped it and wrote about a boy moving to a new city and having to leave his boyfriend behind. Mack really wants to make his long-distance relationship work with Karim but this becomes infinitely more difficult when local boy Finlay comes into the picture and finds every opportunity to hang out with Mack and introduces him to new and exciting experiences. 

Your first novel, The Black Flamingo, is such a beautiful piece of work in its lyricism and how it explores identity. Had you always intended to write it as a novel in verse? And were there any novels in verse or poets/authors in general who inspired you while writing it?

The Black Flamingo was just one poem at first. I wrote the moment when Michael is with his grandad and they see a black flamingo in a television news report. Michael sees himself in that image of a black flamingo in a group of pink flamingos. To write the novel I expanded the story backwards and forwards in time from that pivotal moment. The novel in verse that inspired me most when writing The Black Flamingo was The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevado. I was also looking at books by Jacqueline Woodson, Jason Reynolds, Kwame Alexander and Sarah Crossan. 

How would you describe your writing process? Is there anything you do to help yourself in terms of motivation or creativity?

One of my favorite things is to attend workshops on topics I’m writing about. For example, yesterday I attended an online workshop by London Queer Writers facilitated by Katlego Kai Kolanyane-Kesupile. The workshop title was “Writing as Rioting” and I chose to write about the concept of a riot of empathy because I’m exploring this in my writing at the moment. This evening I’m attending an in-person workshop at Glasgow Zine Library facilitated by Sean Wai Keung. The workshop title is “Memory & Food” and I hope to write about my memories of food and the cultures of my mixed race family. I know Sean explores his own mixed race identity in his work, which is why I picked this workshop. When I can’t find a workshop on any given topic I want to write about, I’ll read books, watch films and listen to podcasts on the topic, which usually sparks new ideas and connections when I sit down to write. 

As a writer, who or what would you say are some of your greatest creative influences and/or sources of inspiration?

New experiences, new hobbies or activities or putting myself in new and unfamiliar situations is all really inspiring for me. During the first lockdown of 2020 I learned to ride a bike properly and so bike rides feature in Mack’s story in Only on the Weekends. Since moving to Scotland I’ve also done lots of hiking and this helped form a structural backbone to Only on the Weekends. Over the course of the book you see Mack attempting to summit three mountains, each time with different levels of enjoyment and success. Without having done these things myself, I don’t think I’d have written them. 

What are some of your favorite parts of writing? What do you feel are some of the most challenging?

My favorite part of writing is when I feel I’m in the zone, when the story is flowing and I can’t type fast enough to keep up with the rush of words. Unfortunately, this is perhaps the least common experience. The main challenge is sitting to write when I don’t feel so inspired. This may be when I turn to doing more research, making playlists of songs my characters would listen to, thinking about outfits they’d wear. This stuff may not all make it into the book but it helps to keep me immersed in the world of the book until the words come again. 

In addition to the written form, you’ve also done some spoken-word poetry (including this gorgeous video). Do you find yourself tapping into different parts of yourself or your creative energy when you switch between mediums (whether on the page or stage, poetry or prose)? 

I definitely used my experience of spoken-word poetry and drag when writing The Black Flamingo. Michael performs his poetry at an open mic and goes on to perform in drag at the end of the book. The page/stage dynamic was ever-present throughout the book and there are many sections when I’m describing a performance, e.g. when Michael sings “Lady Marmalade” in the school playground, when he sings “Where is Love?” from the musical Oliver! for an audition, as well as the spoken-word and drag performances at university. Since I’ve had experience with all these types of performance they were easy for me to write. 

Aside from your work, what are some things you would want people to know about you?

I love food! Yesterday I made really good egg fried rice and I’m still thinking about it today. I’m keen on meditation and yoga but I’m by no means an expert. I love going to see live music. My favorite gig recently was a Glaswegian singer called Joesef. He’s actually mentioned in Only on the Weekends and I definitely recommend you check him out. I’m going to see Harry Styles when he plays here in Glasgow in June and I’m very excited about that! 

What advice would you give to other aspiring creatives?

Don’t be shy to lean all the way into the topics you’re fascinated with, even if they seem too specific and niche. Write about things that excite you. Whether you’re an expert or an enthusiast, both are good starting points for exploring an idea in writing. I think the common advice we’re given is to ‘write what you know’ but I’d say ‘write what you love.’

Finally, what queer books/writers would you recommend to the readers of Geeks OUT?

I would recommend Gay Club! by Simon James Green. It’s about the election of a high school LGBTQ+ society president. It’s packed with drama, twists and turns. It depicts many of our real world struggles for LGBTQ+ rights and respect. It has a diverse set of characters that feel fully-formed and loveable but who are also absolutely infuriating at times. It’s an emotional rollercoaster of a book!

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Interview with Author Amanda Lovelace

amanda lovelace (she/they) is the author of several bestselling poetry titles, including her celebrated “women are some kind of magic” series as well as her “you are your own fairy tale” trilogy. she is also the co-creator of the believe in your own magic oracle deck. when she isn’t reading, writing, or drinking a much-needed cup of coffee, you can find her casting spells from her home in a (very) small town on the jersey shore, where she resides with her poet-spouse & their three cats.

First of all, welcome to Geeks OUT. Could you tell us a little about yourself? 

thanks so much, and of course!

my name is amanda lovelace, and i’m an author, poetess, and oracle deck creator.

i’m most known for my first poetry series, “women are some kind of magic”, which includes some bestselling and award-winning titles: the princess saves herself in this one, the witch doesn’t burn in this one, and the mermaid’s voice returns in this one. there’s also an oracle deck based on the series, believe in your own magic, which i co-created with illustrator janaina medeiros.

my more recent releases include my modern-day persephone collection, flower crowns & fearsome things, as well as my “you are your own fairy tale” trilogy: break your glass slippers, shine your icy crown, and the yet-to-be-released finale, unlock your storybook heart (march 15th, 2022).

most of my works explore things like trauma, feminism, and empowerment.

What first drew you to poetry? Do you remember any poets or poetry collections that inspired your love for the medium?

music, actually!

the lyrics in songs always moved my soul and helped me cope with the more serious things going on in my life, especially as a child and teen. i loved bands like linkin park and evanescence, and i eventually began writing my own “lyrics”, which i realized later were also poems.

in terms of poets, though, emily dickinson is always the first name that comes to mind. her simple-yet-intricate verses about nature, religion, and death continue to haunt me through adulthood. i’ve visited her old home in amherst, massachusetts (which was turned into a museum) a few times now, and i’m moved by the beautifully intense energy there every time.

What can you tell us about your latest book, flower crowns and fearsome things?

as you may or may not know, persephone is the greek goddess of spring as well as the queen of the underworld. on the surface, these titles directly oppose one another. how can someone frolic through a meadow yet still manage to reign over a place like the underworld? regardless of how impractical it may seem, persephone chooses to be both, embodying them for equal parts of the year.

flower crowns & fearsome things begins with a poem that reads, “who said you can’t / wear a flower crown / & still remain / a fearsome thing?”, and it’s titled “make persephone proud.” 

i wanted to write a collection about a modern-day speaker who seeks to make persephone proud—embracing both the sensitive wildflower and the angry wildfire inside of her. much of it is loosely based on the myth of hades and persephone, but i would call it an archetype exploration more than anything. 

the poems are a little messy and contradictory, and they’re supposed to be, because that’s the whole point of the collection: women should be allowed to be those things and so much more. this collection is me shamelessly reveling in that.

From the looks of your poetry, fairy tales seems to be strong component of your work. Why do you feel you keep getting drawn to these stories?

i’ve asked myself that a lot, haha!

i think it’s because fairy tales and fantasy books were my coping mechanisms growing up—when things felt hopeless, the magic in those stories inspired me to keep living to see another day, even if it was just to read another chapter. 

since my very first collection, the princess saves herself in this one, i’ve wanted to write my past and present struggles into those fairy tales and give myself a happy ending. it gives me a renewed sense of hope, and people have told me it gives them hope, too, so i keep doing it, and luckily, people keep reading.

though my more recent collections (i.e., the “you are your own fairy tale” trilogy and flower crowns & fearsome things) are a *little* more fictional than my previous collections, there’s always a piece of my truth in everything i write, whether it’s a feeling, a belief, or a personal experience. these collections have given me the chance to explore topics that didn’t fit into other collections, so in some ways these ones feel even more personal to me, and they give me just as much hope.

Aside from fairytales, is there anything else you feel inspired by?

magic—real life magic, which some people might spell like magick. 

when i started to call myself a witch, my perspective on the world and on life itself completely changed, and i think that’s something that can easily be seen when you look at my earlier works versus now. i see the sparkle and purpose in everything, and that inspired me to create the believe in your own magic oracle deck, and it’s inspiring even more projects that i can’t wait to share! ?

As a queer/ Aspec person, I just want to say it makes me really happy to see more asexual/ queer writers out there? Are there any times you would say this part of your identity plays into your work? 

yes, absolutely! 

it’s not always very obvious because, well, poetry, but that piece of me is in almost every collection i write.

in shine your icy crown, the second installment in the “you are your own fairy tale” trilogy, the speaker realizes that she has “much more interesting things to do” than to kiss boys. she ultimately chooses herself, not one of the many princes vying for her attention. as the collection goes on, she makes it clear that she wouldn’t mind ending up with someone else, but she’s not totally attached to the idea, either – it would just have to be the right person, the one who will “let in more stardust than storm clouds”. that’s something i can definitely relate to as someone who’s demisexual (which is on the asexual spectrum). i view her as demisexual as well.

in my next collection (and the finale of the “you are your own fairy tale” trilogy), unlock your storybook heart, the speaker is pansexual, which is another one of my queer identities. i can’t say a lot about this project yet, but i will say that i’m super excited—and admittedly also very nervous—for it to hit shelves. sadly, some readers made it known to me that they didn’t appreciate it when the speaker in break your glass slippers (the first installment) expressed her attraction to women. i’m not going to let that hatefulness effect my work, however.

Aside from writing, what are some things you would want readers to know about you?

what else is there?! haha~ ?

  1. the only place i like better than home is the woods.
  2. spearmint tea > peppermint tea
  3. i’m a huge swiftie.

What advice might you have to give to other aspiring writers?

write that idea, even if it’s a little weird. (weird is good, actually.)

write that idea, even if no one else has written anything like it before. (maybe that means you should be the one to do it.)

write that idea, even if everyone around you tells you that there’s no market for it. (who says you can’t make one?)

What’s a question you haven’t been asked yet but wish you were asked, as well as the answer to that question?

Question: You co-created an oracle deck, believe in your own magic, based on your first poetry series, “women are some kind of magic”. Will we also see an oracle deck based on the “you are your own fairy tale” trilogy?

there’s nothing currently in the works, but as that trilogy comes to a close, it has admittedly been on my mind more and more. may the stars align to make that happen!

Finally, what queer books/authors would you recommend to the readers of Geeks OUT?  

literally anything by anna-marie mclemore. they’re an extremely talented YA author, and they make me question my writing skills daily. if you’re looking for a more specific recommendation, then my personal favorite would have to be blanca & roja!

for poetry: nikita gill, renaada williams, and ari. b. cofer.

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Interview with Sean Avery Medlin

Sean Avery Medlin (he/they) is a gamer and Hip-Hop nerd, whose only wish in this world is to watch an unproblematic Black sci-fi T.V. show. Till then, Medlin teaches creative writing and guides cultural work for organizations across the U.S., while also creating rap, poetry, prose, and performance. Their music, literature, and theater all question the limits of Black masculinity, media (mis)representation, and personal narrative.

Medlin has shared stages with Saul Williams, J. Ivy, and Lemon Andersen. Their work’s been featured in Afropunk, Blavity, the 2018–2019 Chicago Hip-Hop Theater Festival, and the 2020 Tucson Poetry Festival. Their Hip-Hop play and album, skinnyblk, along with all their previous work, is available online at superseanavery.com. 808s & Otherworlds: Memories, Remixes, & Mythologies is Medlin’s debut collection.

I had the opportunity to interview Sean, which you can read below.

First of all, welcome to Geeks OUT. Could you tell us a little about yourself? 

Hi Michele! Thank you so much for doing this interview! I’m really excited and interested in Geeks OUT! 

So a little about me: I’ve been a self-proclaimed nerd most of my life, whether it’s rap music, poetry / spoken word, anime, video games, Greek mythology, or random science facts, ha. It took me most of my life to become comfortable with my geekiness, and I think that projections and stereotypes of Blackness or Black masculinity definitely interfered with that. 

Now as an adult I recognize, welcome, and respect that all the best people, and artists, are GEEKS!  🙂 AND that oftentimes Blackfolk are among the geekiness of them all! 

Judging from your book, you appear interested in a variety of subjects, such as poetry and literary non-fiction. How did you find yourself becoming drawn to these different forms of writing and do you think they ever play off each other for you?

For the longest time I did not understand the terms “literary nonfiction” or “creative nonfiction” for that matter. As a student of spoken word, slam poetry, and rap music, the norm is to write about your lived experience in creative, poetic, dramatic, and sometimes fantastical ways. So when I sat down to write what would become “808s & Otherworlds”, I was aiming for something like “creative nonfiction” or “literary nonfiction” because I’d seen MFA programs (and literary awards for manuscripts and pieces) in those genres. The more I tried to write for that specific category, the further away I got from what makes my writing special. 

The integration of non-fiction elements into poetry is almost natural for me, because I mainly construct poems based on my lived experience. Storytelling, extended metaphor, rhyme, those devices were introduced to me by a Hip-Hop musical / literary tradition. In short, I’ve always thought of my work as poetry, and it wasn’t until others used nonfiction terms to describe it that I began viewing it from that lens. 

As a writer, what drew you to spoken word and what do you think are the merits of this form of expression? Are there any poets you would say have inspired you or influenced your style?

Spoken Word really is the foundation of my writing. It’s a deeply Black american tradition, and I was introduced to it from a young age via musicians and bands like The Roots, Jill Scott, and Gil Scott Heron. The written word is always meant to be spoken, especially for my people, who were barred from formally reading or writing English for decades on end. A few of my biggest influences are Saul Williams, Danez Smith, Joshua Bennett, Jasmine Mans, and Aja Monet. 

Since Geeks OUT is basically a queer nerdy organization, how would you describe your own literary/geeky tastes and preferences?

I’m a big Marvel fan, more on the cinematic side than comic side, and even then what gets me most is the mythology. I’ll spend hours reading online about alternative timelines and universes within Marvel, reading superhero origin stories and abilities, and watching fan made versus videos, aha. Like I mentioned earlier I’m into anime too, but now I mostly watch it with a critical lens, looking for imperial propaganda or commentary haha (cuz Japan is also imperialist, lest we forget). 

The thing I geek out the most about is rap music, actually. I love listening in-depth to lyrics, breaking down double entendres, rhyme schemes, flow patterns, different kinds of rhymes, everything really. I’ll look up samples from my favorite songs, writing credits, the whole nine. Nothing makes me feel more alive than the goosebumps I get from hearing a good rap song. 

Is there anything you do to help you get inspired to write or facilitate the creative process?

I’m a big fan of the freewrite. Some of my best or most interesting work started as a freewrite. I try to do a certain number of freewrites a week, depending on what kind of project I’m working on, like poetry, music, essays, whatever. It allows me to always have my thoughts on paper somewhere, and I can revisit them, edit them, pull the juiciest parts, or just never look at it again. The freedom of the freewrite is what I enjoy the most, no pun intended. It’s fun, and that fun fuels my process, especially in the generative phases. Once I have a lot of writing that I think might be related by theme, aesthetic, or content, I begin a mass rereading of the freewrites that move me the most, which leads to rewrites and revisions. 

Two Dollar Radio

Aside from writing, what are some things you would want people to know about you?

I want people to know that you don’t have to be a fan of Hip-Hop, or an american Southwest citizen to enjoy my work. My work is mostly concerned with a kind of self-reclamation and declaration. Sure I write about specific identities, Blackness, nonbinary identity, bisexuality, etc. And I don’t hide my political and philosophical views. But at the end of the day, I’m trying to connect on an experiential and emotional level, I just want even a fraction of what I feel to be felt by the reader and listener. I want that, I want people to know that I want to connect with them. 

Are there any projects or ideas you are working on and at liberty to speak about? 

Well I just put out an EP titled “I Never Left” in August 2021, which can be found on all streaming services, Apple, Spotify, Tidal, Youtube, Amazon, Google, etc. The deluxe version, which includes an extra 7 tracks, is available on sale only at Bandcamp. My rap name is the same as my author name, Sean Avery Medlin. 

I’m also currently the Narrative Designer for an indie video game in early development stages, but I cannot say anything else about it! 

What advice might you have to give to other aspiring writers? 

Keep writing. That’s probably it. Keep writing. Make it a practice, and don’t be too hard on yourself if you can’t maintain a rigorous schedule. Building discipline takes time. And one more thing I guess: you don’t need an MFA to be a writer. You most definitely can get one, but it’s not a necessity. Okay wait, one last thing, forreal: find a community of writers who hold your work with care and rigor. That last one is actually the most important; all good art is collaborative. 

What do you hope readers will take away from 808s & Otherworlds?

I want people to have a taste of my world, that’s all. I want readers and listeners to experience the hodgepodge of cultures and circumstances that has crafted me into the artist and human that I am. I want people to put down the book with a renewed (or new) interest in contemporary rap, modern day abolitionist movements, and vulnerable conversations on intersectional identities and relationships. I want folks to actually look up some of the songs and poems listed in the “References and Credits” section. I guess I want a lot, aha. I want to be received. 

Finally, what queer books/authors would you recommend to the readers of Geeks OUT?  

BOOM! So two of them I’ve already mentioned: Danez Smith and Jasmine Mans. Also Billy-Ray Belcourt, who has a book with Two Dollar Radio as well. Marlin M. Jenkins has a book called “Capable Monsters” which uses Pokémon to explore his experience as a Black gay man, it’s really awesome, and perfect for Geeks OUT!  

Header Photo taken by Nina Paz Photography