Happy Pride Month everyone! Twinsie Tenise here. I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who took the time to answer the questions for our pride month celebration. I thought hard about the questions and had fun coming up with them. I love that the authors seemed to have as much fun answering them. We will be celebrating all month with author spotlights as well as reviews for some of the LGBTQIA books we’ve read this year. Check back daily to learn more about that days featured author or book and add to your TBR piles. I hope you enjoy getting to know a little about all of these wonderful authors and their work.
🏳🌈 Tell us your name and a little about yourself?
Cassie Lein – Mom of 6, northern Illinois resident, Special Education para in school to be a SPED teacher. I love sitting on my deck listening to my family swim sipping a cocktail.
🏳🌈 How many books have you written? Do you have a favorite?
14 by myself.
🏳🌈 Do you write one book and finish it completely before starting the next? If not, how do you keep yourself from confusing the projects?
Yes I only write one by myself at a time. Now I can write one by myself and 1 as a cowrite and be fine.
🏳🌈 What font do you write in? Do you actually care or is it a default setting?
Times new roman! It’s usually Arial by default but I dont fuck with that lol
🏳🌈 How do you ensure your LGBTQ characters feel authentic and mutifaceted, rather than just serve a plot function?
One of the most important things I focus on is character depth outside of their sexuality. My LGBTQ characters have goals, fears, careers, family dynamics, humor, and flaws that exist independently of the romance plot.
🏳🌈 Do you have a favorite piece of LGBTQ history or fun fact you would like to share?
One of my favorite pieces of LGBTQ history is the Stonewall Riots in 1969. It’s often considered the turning point that sparked the modern LGBTQ rights movement in the United States. At the time, police raids on gay bars were very common. On June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a popular gathering place for LGBTQ people in New York. Instead of quietly dispersing like people had been forced to do in the past, the patrons and neighbors resisted. The confrontation turned into several nights of protests and demonstrations in Greenwich Village.
🏳🌈 What is one of your favorite books or movies with LGBTQ representation?
Feel free to share more than one, I know it is difficult as a reader to pick one favorite of anything. Especially if its book related.
Book would be Pretty Little Monster by Z Storm.
🏳🌈 What is something you have used for a bookmark that IS NOT a bookmark?
String, Receipt, Card, Envelope
🏳🌈 Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what are some of your favorite genres or songs?
🏳🌈 What is a super specific detail you know about one of your characters that has no relevance to the story?
Obsessed with Dr Pepper
