This Queer Book Saved My Life

The book that showed you what a positive queer future could be. And then literally came true. Today we meet Brendan Gillett and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: Uncle Bobby's Wedding by Sarah S. Brannen. And Sarah joins us for the conversation! Brendan is a high school English teacher in Brooklyn, New York. He works with English language learners to create poetry, pictu...

This book sparked a five-year long career and life journey. In a first for us, we have two guests today! They are Arden Harris and Emily Autenrieth. We’re talking about the queer book that saved their lives: The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon and she joins us for the conversation! Arden Harris is the buyer and lead bookseller for A Seat at the Table Books, an aspiring writer, and ov...

I was hungry for language. And stories. And how to tell our stories. That's what this book gave me. But let's not make a Bible out of it. Today we meet Kris Kleindienst and we’re talking about the queer book that saved her life: Diving Into The Wreck by Adrienne Rich. Kris is a 72-year old queer lesbian writer, bookseller, and activist. She owns Left Bank Books, a 56-year old progressive...

What would it feel like for other people to love me if they were to truly see me and truly know me as I am right now? Today we meet Esmé and we’re talking about the queer book that saved their life: The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. And Martha joins us for the conversation! Esmé has been slinging radical books at Firestorm since 2019. They wear multiple hats including communications, event fa...

What would it happen if I allowed my thoughts about my gender become known to me? Today we meet Dr. Christina Neuwirth and we’re talking about the queer book that saved their life: Something That May Shock and Discredit You by Daniel M. Lavery. And Daniel joins us for the conversation! Dr. Christina Neuwirth is a writer, researcher and bookseller based in Edinburgh. Their 2018 novella Amphibian wa...

I was 8,000 miles from home asking is it ok to be gay? That's when I wandered into a shop found this book. Today we meet Stephanie Beardslee and we’re talking about the queer book that saved her life: Dare Truth or Promise by Paula Boock. And Paula joins us for the conversation! Stephanie Beardslee is the owner of Wolf & Wyld’s Queer Bookstore, an online and pop-up bookstore based in Mani...

How was I going to reshape my life into something new after this fundamental part of me had been buried? Today we meet Casey Holland and we’re talking about the queer book that saved her life: Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett. And Kristen joins us for the conversation! Casey is one of the owners of Wayfaring Booksellers, a queer bookstore in MI. She's worked in bookstores for the last six...

How do you get out of a spiral of shame and guilt and try to make the world a better place? Today we meet Max Yeshaye Brumberg-Kraus and we’re talking about the queer book that saved their life: The Once and Future King by T.H. White. Max studied classics and theatre at Beloit College, received their MA in Theology and the Arts from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and an MFA in Inte...

When a queer book elevates our own expectations of ourselves and moves us to honor ourselves by saying: we deserve something more. Today we meet Blair Fell and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: The Persian Boy by Mary Renault. Blair Fell’s television work includes Queer as Folk , and the Emmy Award–winning California Connected . He’s written dozens of plays including the awar...

Ok, I've started to embody my transness. Now what? Today we meet Seth Anderson-Matz and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: The Nearest Exit May Be Behind You by S. Bear Bergman. And Bear joins us for the conversation! Seth Anderson-Matz is a queer & trans community organizer and minister. He has lived and worked in the Twin Cities area all his life, and currently resi...

When you find the book that gives you the resilience, strength, and willingness to be yourself. Today we meet Louisa Hext and we’re talking about the queer book that saved her life: Ruby Fruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown. Louisa is a transformational coach, speaker, and mediator with over 30 years of experience helping individuals and families navigate forgiveness, healing, and personal growth. Drawi...

How do I keep going when my one support person isn't there for me anymore? Today we meet Edwin Santos Lepiz and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera. And Adam joins us for the conversation! Edwin is a gay first-generation Mexican-American graduate student at the University of Utah College of Social Work. Edwin is pursuing a Master...

Is the loss of innocence the beginning of compassion and wisdom? Today we meet Dean Backus and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh. Dean is a playwright, essayist, screenwriter, journalist, filmmaker, and high school English teacher. He is the author of Darts and Flowers and the forthcoming The Deep End of the Pool . Harriet the Spy is a timel...

We have a special Christmas episode of This Queer Book Saved My Life dropping next week! Today, Once Upon a Crime Books presents 7 Minutes in Book Heaven , the podcast where we interview LGBTQ authors about the new books they have coming out for us to love and cuddle up with. Once Upon a Crime Books is an independent bookstore specializing in mystery fiction. Located in Uptown Minneapolis, you can...

How do you go on in life after losing a child who is still alive? Today, Chloé Caldwell returns to the podcast! But this time, we talk about the queer book that saved her life: Love Me Tender by Constance Debré . Chloé is the author of the national bestseller, Women (Harper Perennial, 2024). Chloé’s next book, Trying , is forthcoming from Graywolf, on August 5th, 2025. She is also the author of th...

We have a new episode of This Queer Book Saved My Life coming up December 10! Today, Once Upon a Crime Books presents 7 Minutes in Book Heaven, the podcast where we interview LGBTQ authors about the new books they have coming out for us to love and cuddle up with. Once Upon a Crime Books is an independent bookstore specializing in mystery fiction. Located in Uptown Minneapolis, you can shop in the...

I don't know who I was fooling by bringing this book to school with me and being like, "I am not gay." Today we meet Haley Steinhilber and we’re talking about the queer book that saved their life: Annie On My Mind by Nancy Garden. Haley Steinhilber is a public historian and host of Q4Q: The Queer Personals Podcast. In Annie On My Mind , when Liza Winthrop meets Annie Kenyon at the M...

Today, Once Upon a Crime Books presents 7 Minutes in Book Heaven, the podcast where we interview LGBTQ authors about the new books they have coming out for us to love and cuddle up with.  Once Upon a Crime Books is an independent bookstore specializing in mystery fiction. Located in Uptown Minneapolis, you can shop in their store Monday through Saturday 11am – 5:30pm. Or, visit their website! Ther...

This is a level of "relate" that I hadn't read in other books. Today we meet René Zadoorian and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: I Will Greet The Sun Again by Khashayar J. Khabushani. And Khashayar joins us for the conversation! René Zadoorian, is an Armenian writer with a degree in creative writing from California State University, Northridge. He was born in...

This book gave me an understanding of the queer community that I hadn’t found anywhere else. Today we meet David Reddish and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: Angels in America by Tony Kushner . Self proclaimed uber-geek David Reddish is the award-winning author of Sex, Drugs & Superheroes trilogy. The third novel in the series, The Wrath of Comic-Con , came out earlier i...

Who am I going to be and what is my life going to look like? Today we meet Samantha Mann and we’re talking about the queer book that saved her life: The Hours by Michael Cunningham . Samantha writes essays & articles exploring culture, mental health, motherhood, & LGBTQ issues. Her work has been featured in The Cut , Vogue , Elle , TODAY , Romper , and more. Her forthcoming collection, Dyk...

Am I the only one who feels this crazy about what's happening to me right now? Today we meet Mia Arias Tsang and we’re talking about the book that saved her life: Women by Chloé Caldwell . And Chloé joins us for the conversation! Mia is a writer, freelance editor, and former biologist based in Queens, NYC. She has conducted extensive research in evolutionary virology and epigenetics, and has...

Is it possible that my family, my mother, could ever accept me? Today we meet Eric Marcus and we’re talking about the book that saved his life: Consenting Adult by Laura Z. Hobson . Eric Marcus is the author of a dozen books, including two editions of Making Gay History (the original 1992 edition is entitled Making History ), Why Suicide? , and Breaking the Surface , the #1 New York Times bestsell...

A new episode of This Queer Book Saved My Life drops next week on September 17! In our off weeks, we air the most recent episode of The Gaily Show which J.P. hosts for AM950 Radio. Today, the director of the new documentary Lover of Men: The Untold History of Abraham Lincoln is here. Also joining me are two historical experts from the film. It debuted in theaters on September 6. Check your local l...

Exile is not a choice that anyone wants to make. It’s something we come to through necessity. Today we meet seeley quest and we’re talking about the book that saved hir life: Exile and Pride by Eli Clare . And Eli joins us for the conversation! Seeley Quest (sie/hir) is a trans disabled environmentalist, working in literary and body-based composition, curation and facilitation. Eli Clare (he/they)...