Holy moly have I got some books for you.

Fair warning - this isn't for everyone. But me? I LOVE a good zombie book or flick. And this? This is LESBIANS VS. ZOMBIES. Does it get better than that? I don't think so.

Linda Kay Silva brings us two books in the series. First, Man Eaters.

Dallas, your new favorite firelady hero, meets up with cowgirl Roper and their nerdy sidekick at the beginning of a zombie apocalypse. It's hot, it's heavy, and it's a whole lot of fun.

And just when you're ready for more, there's The Horde. From Amazon:

They just keep coming.

Dragging their lifeless limbs and gnashing their broken teeth, the horde of man eaters presses forward. For every man eater Dallas and Roper put down, twelve more are created.

After spending nearly a year in the bayou, the survivors once again, set out in search of a safe haven where they might do more than survive, but thrive. 

Thrive among the hordes bearing down on them. Thrive amid government attacks on the new compound they call home.

As Dallas and Roper build a new life, the ever present military launches surprise attacks, the bloody horde keeps on clawing at the walls, and the rest of mankind devolves into something barbaric and unrecognizable.

Can Dallas and Roper lead their people through the maze of thinking and brain dead killers? Can they find a place to once and for all go on the offensive?

Or it is, as some survivors believe, too late?

Now, a slight caveat. Both books start off slow. In both cases I wasn't entirely sure I was going to make it past the first couple chapters. But oh, how they pick up and get going. I promise, if you keep reading (and you're a zombie fan), you'll have a great time. I read both books in one week and enjoyed almost every minute of it. The second book does suffer from middle-book-fever - it doesn't feel complete unto itself - but I'm sure Silva will bring us another book to make it all worth it. Get started now and then wait with me with baited breath for the conclusion. 

And now my conclusion:

ZOMBIES VERSES LESBIANS. Did you really need more than that? 

READ THIS NOW! The Furthest City Light: The Book of the Summer

Well, it's been a while, my friends. I was out of commission for a bit, and then went through several books before finding THE lesbian summer reading book. And then I found it! And here it is. The Furthest City Light, by Jeanne Winer, from one of our favorite publishers, Bella Books.

Now, first of all, those of you who have been constant readers know my wishes, but for those of you who are new, I'll state them here since it's been a while. (1) A damn good book. (2) About a lesbian. (3) Where the book isn't just about BEING a lesbian, but about a real woman who loves women and something else happens other than discovering she loves women. Should be easy to find, but it's not.

THIS is that book.

I have to admit I was skeptical. Here's the Amazon summary:

"Like most public defenders, Rachel Stein is an adrenaline junkie. Inspired by the case of a battered woman who stabbed her husband to death, she devotes herself tirelessly to the woman’s defense. It’s the kind of case every public defender was born for. The case could change the course of law, but it ends up changing the course of Rachel’s life instead.

A story of resourcefulness in a treacherously unstable world where bad things happen to good people, The Furthest City Light illuminates a journey of hope and revelation for a woman who cares too much."

So I figured, okay, it's a legal thriller. Neat. And then I got a little farther into the book, and it's a story about traveling to a war-torn country in Central America. Also cool. Also a love story of sorts. These three things shouldn't all go together. But oh, how they do.

Ladies, put your money where your fingers go (on the keyboard, silly!) and buy this book immediately. Literally Lesbian is hereby naming The Furthest City Light as the Literally Lesbian Book of the Summer 2013.

This is a personal, funny, character driven, beautiful adventure story. Our heroine is an out and proud lesbian who you will, dollars to donuts, come to adore and love. Rachel is a character we can all see a bit of ourselves in. Yes, she fights legal battles (which I don't) and experiences life-changing moments in Nicaragua (where few of us will ever go), but she's a real, full, intense woman with a long-term love at home in constant danger of destructing. You will love her. You will root for her. You will want to be her.

Through her challenges and triumphs, you will follow her, gladly. And the tension will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. I was panting by the end, and that's with a nice glass of wine in my hand. If you're reading this, and you're a lesbian who likes to read about lesbians, go buy this book. I'll stake my reputation on it - you'll love it.

P.S. Oh, and for those of you who care, the sex scenes are hot enough for this summer.

OH. MY. GOD.

I am a well-educated, professional lesbian, but all I can say is OH. MY. GOD.

This morning I got an e-mail. From Lesbian Lounge. You know who they are. If you don't, you are missing out on the BEST podcast for lesbians. Denise and Donna, the hosts of the online radio show/podcast are absolutely hysterical and hot as hell (God, those voices!).

And this e-mail I received? Said they were going to be featuring your very own Literally Lesbian (ME!) on tonight's show! And then I ran around the room like an overexcited puppy and managed to get NOTHING done today.

Listen in tonight at 8PM EST at www.mylesbianradio.com, or download the podcast later (free on iTunes).

Now, I have to go do my hair, put on makeup, slip into a slinky dress, and pour myself a glass of wine to enjoy the show.

But! They'll also, out of the goodness of their amazing hearts, be mentioning my business, Murdock Editing. If you're a writer who found your lovely way here to check that out, send me an e-mail with Lesbian Lounge in the subject, and you get 20% off any service you might need (limited to copy editing, proofreading, and manuscript evaluations - not other services - stop thinking so dirty!).

The Lesbian Lounge airs on www.mylesbianradio.com on Wednesday nights from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (EST). It's a LGBT talk show that streams live and has the long-time best friends catching up weekly, as Denise resides in the U.K. and Donna is in the U.S. The topics range from food, travel, books, recipes, TV, promoting events from all over, discussing news, gossip, and music. There is also an interactive chatroom where 20 to 30 people go to chat during the show. The ladies usually have special guests lined up to call into the show to talk about their various products, projects or schedules (depending on if it is a business or a musician, etc). The podcasts average over 2,000 downloads a month and the show has been featured on/in AfterEllen.com, Curve Magazine, Diva Magazine, Shewired.com, SHE Magazine and About.com as the #1 Lesbian Podcast. 

A Little Cinnamon and Spice and Everything Nice to Go With Your Pumpkin Beer

You are, I assume, settling into Autumn along with me. Welcome to Fall.

You know you need a little spice to warm things up.

Now, I don't generally do "coming out" or erotica on this site, but I have something you must read if you want to add a little extra heat to your reading list.

Dreaming of Her, by Maggie Morton, published by Bold Strokes (one of our favorites!) is sugar, spice, and everything nice. Granted, the first fifty pages or so are slow, but get to page 130 (don't skip ahead!) and you'll be so glad you kept going.

Their description:

"Isa has begun to dream of the most amazing woman—a woman named Lilith with a gorgeous face, an amazing body, and the ability to turn Isa on like no other. But Lilith is just a dream...isn’t she?

Lilith is indeed real. She is a sexual Dreammaker, a being who exists solely to bring pleasure to humans while they sleep. And soon, Lilith finds she is falling for Isa, falling hard, something a Dreammaker is never supposed to do. Is there any way they can truly be together, or will their relationship have to remain as it is – just a dream?"

Okay, yeah, that sounds hot. But I'll give you one better: ever had that perfect sex dream that you couldn't wait to go back to? Isa gets to have that fantasy and more. And I promise, after you read this book? You'll be fantasizing right along with her.

Enjoy, ladies.

The straitening of LGBT characters in YA

While you're waiting for the next Literally Lesbian book review (coming later this week!), read this great article from Autostraddle!

"Regardless of veracity, the conversation has indeed begun, and perhaps there’s still time for it to be redirected. Gay teens are more visible on television than ever before, and a large reason for that is how vocal the LGBT community has been about needing that representation. Can we make the same change for LGBT literature? I think we can.

I predict, based on nothing besides my own psychic instincts, we’re going to see the numbers of LGBT-identifying high schoolers skyrocket over the next five years and this is a huge opportunity for the LGBT YA market."

Jennifer Weiner Listened to Me! The Review

Look! I'm back! This is what happens when all of you lovely ladies put out the word that my super secret alternate identity, Murdock Editing, is looking for new submissions. I love you all, and much thanks!

Now, if you'll recall, back when Ms. Jodie Picoult came out with her latest novel, I asked here and on Twitter what mainstream author you'd like to see write a lesbian character. I got loads of responses, but I held fast to my favorite - I wanted a lesbian written by the wonderful Jennifer Weiner.

And then it happened. 

Weiner's new novel, And Then Came You, is, like all of her books, gorgeously crafted and perfectly written. It's the kind of book you want to stretch out with in the sun or curl up with in bed. Told from the point of view of three women: a surrogate, an egg donor, and a woman desperate to have a child, the story loops through the twists of fate that bring them all together without ignoring the vast differences that set them apart.

AND THERE'S A LESBIAN.

Now, I know we all get a little nervous when a (I assume) straight lady with such a wide following writes about one of our own, fictional or not. Will she seem real or familiar? Will she just go back to the dude in the end? Will she just be desperate for a baby? (Please, please, authors, stop writing this trope - we get it. We want babies. All of us. It's the only thing we ever think about. Nice to meet you! Hey, wanna go on a date? Can we have a baby now?)

But Weiner handles her lesbian with such grace that you just have to assume her bestie is one of us. Jules, one of our new favorite lesbian characters (can someone get on making this into a movie, please?), is NOT the I-need-a-baby-now-where-is-the-sperm stereotype. Instead, she's a complex and full character choosing to donate her eggs to help another woman - and save her family. And yes, she comes out during over the course of the novel, but it isn't a moment of High! Lesbian! Outing! Drama! It's quiet and hopeful. And Ms. Weiner goes so far to let our girl have sex with her partner, and even that is far from salacious - it's beautiful and tender and exactly what we always dreamed would happen with that best friend we had a crush on once-upon-a-time.

If you haven't already purchased this book, do it now. Do it right here. Because while we love to support our fellow lesbian writers, we also need to support our sisters who are supporting us by adding us into their stories like it ain't no thang. Weiner handles a story that feels familiar and true with such aplomb that I'm giving her the Literally Lesbian Book of the Month award. Sit back, read, and enjoy.

Oh, and if you haven't come out to your mother yet, and she happens to be fan of Chick Lit, send her a copy too - Jennifer Weiner will teach her just how to handle it. (Note: I sent a copy to my mother even though I've been out for ages - never hurts to see one of her favorite authors show us some love!)

Fun with Blogger Stats: Traffic Sources

(image from Enchanted Designs)

Dear Reader,

You searched for "mermaids and dragons wallpaper." How on EARTH did you end up here???

But, you gotta give the reader what she wants, so, here.

Love,
Literally Lesbian