It's #BannedBooksWeek. If nothing else, you can buy, borrow, read, and review banned books or books under threat of being banned.  If you want to know more, check out our bonus episodes 9 and 12, which cover the threats of book bans at https://www.queerlyrecommended.com/category/bonus-episodes/

• The last week has been a wonderfully chaotic relay race of working with @s-a-s-s.bsky.social and other partners to gather the information needed to roll out our #SapphicsWithTheBanned initiative this week.

• • Albany, @goldencrownls.bsky.social , and @gcls-wa.bsky.social , Thank you for a week full of so many memories I will hold for decades. It’s humbling to know how many of you are working to keep our stories in print, on record, and that many more are performing ‘good trouble.’

• #gcls2025 officially kicks off today! See many of you at registration (starts at 11am) and looking forward to geeking out at today’s first panels! A few quick answers to questions I received yesterday:

• Okay. So when do I get to see y’all? I’m in Monday afternoon/early evening. #gcls2025

• Did you hear?! Thanks to the hard work of @kd_rye, Albany is hosting a Drag Night on Thursday during Con. Donors have chipped in to pay the performers (but still bring tips), so the event is open and available to all. See you there!! (11 Days until #gcls2025)

• Anyone else ready to be in a shared space where we are constantly reminded that people care about the work and practice radical empathy? All of us going to Con? Heck yeah. 12 Days! #gcls2025

• #gcls2025

• Support Request @ericaleeauthor.bsky.social’s newest book is out today! Erica is forever giving to all of us. This season has been one of personal heaviness/loss for her, limiting her time to promote herself. So we will! Check it out: www.amazon.com/Racing-Heart...

• This is NOT GCLS related; this is me (Becks) talking to those who move their books through Amazon as one of the many ways for readers to reach them. Authors and Narrators, Prime Day(s)were announced. Four (4) day event this July instead of two (2). July 8-11, ‘25 Reminders Below ⬇️

• The Books That Helped Me Out Myself to Myself And The Books That Started My Sapphic Meanderings to Find @goldencrownls.bsky.social 29 Days & Counting!

• (On A) Mission The @goldencrownls.bsky.social mission statement attached as a graphic. I, Becks, believe it is our collective voice that amplifies this work. Thank you for your part! 31 Days & Counting!

• Albany Peeps, What/Where Should We Go Outside of Con?! 32 Days & Counting!

• Did you read any of this year’s nominees? So many great choices 33 Days & Counting!

• 🎧Who Are You Listening To? 🎙️ 34 Days & Counting! #pride2025 #gcls2025 #gclscon2025

• Curious Minds Want To Know, Who Sees This Post AND Is Going To Albany? (I’m the curious mind) 35 Days & Counting! #pride2025 #gcls2025 #gclscon2025

• (high five!) You’re following @goldencrownls.bsky.social ! Now, go follow @gcls-wa.bsky.social 1) Support Writers! 2) The leadership team here is (chef’s kiss)! 36 Days & Counting #pride2025 #gcls2025 #gclscon2025

• Collecting Data Expanding Presentation Prepping To Provide Anyone Interested with 30 Day Scale Insights and Amazon Ads (for your novel) 101 For transparency, I will continue to share Instagram/Meta data up until the event. 37 Days & Counting #pride2025 #gcls2025

• Over 12+ Hours of Queer Anthems Link: open.spotify.com/playlist/6p1... Thanks Everyone Who Sent Me Their Songs One Heck Of A Playlist This Year 38 Days & Counting #pride2025 #gcls2025 #gclscon2025

• Are you following @goldencrownls.bsky.social? If yes - heck yeah! If no - why not?! 39 Days & Counting! #pride2024 #gcls2025 #gclscon2025

• Super excited to attend the @abiggaymarket.bsky.social event at this year’s con and find the next piece of art for our eclectic collection 40 Days & Counting! #pride2024 #gcls2025 #gclscon2025

• But first, let us take a shelfie 📸 📚 CURIOUS MINDS WANT TO KNOW: WHO are you reading?! 41 Days & Counting! #pride2024 #gcls2025 #gclscon2025

• I am always humbled by the amount of thoughtful detail that goes into the @goldencrownls.bsky.social programs every year. Can’t wait to see this year’s! Pictures: Denver 2023 (Goldie Awards) 42 Days & Counting! #pride2024 #gcls2025 #gclscon2025

• One of my favorite things during con is getting lost in the museums and installations unique to the cities. Looking forwarded to seeing the largest Nipper this summer. Pictures from MN ‘24. Peppermint Patty, Marcie, and the Science Museum 43 Days & Counting! #pride2024 #gcls2025 #gclscon2025

• Many powerful friendships are built over drinks at Con each year. (coffee, tea, something stronger) Looking forward to toasting the absolute badassery of all of you this summer. 44 Days & Counting! #pride2024 #gcls2025 #gclscon2025

• To be seen is to be loved. Books have always been my access point to our community. My joy. My shared pain. My lifeline. I challenge you to keep reading and writing them. Resistance is not only sexy but incredibly vital. 45 Days & Counting! #pride2024 #gcls2025 #gclscon2025

• 🎧 Annual Pride/Riot Playlist is Live! 🎶 Add your songs here: open.spotify.com/playlist/6p1... Note: first round of songs from Instagram suggestions, room for so many more!! (Don’t want your name attached, just message me and I’ll add your song annoymously)

• Authors and Narrators!! Let Me Know If I Can Highlight You! #gcls2025

• See you soon!

Announcement! So fricken stoked how many people are invested!! We’re incredibly excited about the upcoming Big Gay Market on Friday, July 18 at Common Roots Brewpub! Read More Below ⬇️

📚 Meet the GCLS Board 💖 Next we have the fabulous Becks Quirk as our Director of Outreach! 🤝 Come say hi in Albany! #gcls #sapphicliterature #gcls2025

• No Con Teasers Today Just a loud “THANK YOU!” to so many people who are doing so many things to make sure others can continue to just be themselves. (You know who you are. I appreciate all the labor you are investing!) 83 Days to #gcls2025

• I spy with my little eye — A growing attendees list www.goldencrownliterarysociety.org/conference-a... 84 days and counting #gcls2025

• (Looks at last time she fed the algorithm consistently) “February nine-…” (Looks at metrics) 📉 (Looks at Calendar) “85 Days!” (Lots of random things being pulled from desk drawers, images in resizing software, and excel sheets) Let the official countdown begin! (Sly smirk) #gcls2025

• Thanks to a phenomenal Albany resident, there may be a Late(r) Thursday Night event in the works. Can’t share as it is IN THE WORKS — But I can ask. What would your drag song be? open.spotify.com/track/6JgXQT...

• I spy — Heck yeah 2025 @goldencrownls.bsky.social nominees!

• (Has so many fricken updates — trying to space them out) Countdown to Con: 90 Days

• We heard you want to be with the community & you wanted more local events. We are partnering with A Big Gay Market and doing both! Friday, July 18 at Common Roots, A Big Gay Market is hosting artists and showcasing local talent from 6-10. Karaoke at the hotel same night! 2-for-1 Perfection!

(Here. Been busy doing the things. Have some FUN Albany updates. Stick around…)

Feeding the Algorithm: 10/14 X16 day hiatus. Returned to see some (new to here/familiar to me) faces. Hiya.

Feeding the Algorithm: 9/14 We can be honest that we really dig BlueSky but it isn’t proving fast enough for us to connect to, build, and engage our followings from other social, right? It’s faster, more familiar, and easier to reach people on the very platforms we all want to leave.

Starting on February 26th, 2025, Amazon is removing a feature from its website allowing you to download purchased books to a computer and then copy them manually to a Kindle over USB. Back up your files now. www.theverge.com/news/612898/...

Feeding the Algorithm: 8/14 Three day hiatus. Cause life. Wonder how BlueSky positions posts for those who have been absent a few days… Also, what’s your comfort movie(s) you can quote line by line? Beauty & the Beast Devil Wears Prada 10 Things I Hate About You D.E.B.S.

Feeding the Algorithm: 7/14 “Super Bowl” has been federally trademarked (and enforced) since 1969. This is why you hear other outlets and companies refer to it as “The Big Game,” which is synonymous with Super Bowl in February in the USA.

youtu.be/ZptdnP_QZPU?... #lesfic #saphicwriter #gclswa

Feeding the Algorithm: 6/14 Anyone doing Signal or Discord? (DM - Will share privately)

Feeding the Algorithm: 5/14 Don’t mind me. Just listening to 90s/00s alternative and letting the emotions of yesteryear move through my body. ‘Cause it’s less stressful than the constant drip of doom today. Also reminding myself that you can’t fight for good if you can’t rest and do triage.

Feeding the Algorithm: 4/14 Bluesky turns 1-year today. I’m still finding everyone. If you’re any of the following, please let me know you’re here: Queer/LGBTQ Chosen WLW/ Sapphic Romance Writers VA Women’s College Alumn(a/i) Louisiana Peeps DMV Metro Friends All Trails Lied to Me 🥾 Denver

Let me be clear about something. The goverment does not give a shit that you write closed door romances. At the end of the day, the crackdown on Romance is not about sex. It's about control.

Feed the Algorithm Day 3/14: Highlight a new-to-you author and 10/10 connection for GCLS @kd-rye.bsky.social Some may know KD from her review series The Lesbian 52, others from her books Women In Grey (audio read by @jercarparvo.bsky.social), Ten Dry Years, or Tales of Future Mornings