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?
Sophie Stern
🏳🌈 How many books have you written? Do you have a favorite?
Over 300 across both of my pen names (L.C. Mortimer and Sophie Stern). I have this problem where every book I write is my favorite! Ha! Right now, I’m working a short story collection featuring pirates and sirens with a lot of bisexual characters, so that’s my current favorite.
🏳🌈 Do you write one book and finish it completely before starting the next? If not, how do you keep yourself from confusing the projects?
I tend to work on multiple projects at once. I also tend to fully immerse myself in each story, so when I’m working on one, I just stay focused on it and don’t think about the other one. I also keep a lot of notes, so that helps me keep details straight if I find I have a question about something.
🏳🌈 What font do you write in? Do you actually care or is it a default setting?
I’m a default girlie!
🏳🌈 How do you ensure your LGBTQ characters feel authentic and mutifaceted, rather than just serve a plot function?
As a bisexual author, I approach my stories with the understanding that characters, like people, are complex. I know that sometimes, people look at me and assume that because I’m married to a man, I must be straight. I’m not, but I am complicated. My characters are the same way. When I write LGBTQ characters, I do so with the understanding that different characters may have different relationships with their identity based on how long they’ve been out, how they’re perceived, what type of world they live in, and so on. For example, in my Sweet Nightmares series, every character is very fluid with their attraction to others and this presents itself in different ways. Some characters have a harder time accepting those identities while others are just naturally very comfortable. And, because I write vampires, I can play with the idea that vampires don’t concern themselves with labels, which I appreciate. I think that sometimes, labeling characters, especially when we’re working with bisexual characters, can be complicated. I don’t want my readers to be experiencing one of my books but worried about whether a character is “bisexual” enough. I want them to know that my character is comfortable with their sexuality, and that’s what matters most.
🏳🌈 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.
It’s not a movie, but Grey’s Anatomy (Callie!) played a big role in me realizing that I was a bisexual woman. I’m also a fan of any sapphic romance by Erica Lee.
🏳🌈 Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what are some of your favorite genres or songs?
Lately, I’ve been really into Caroline Kingsbury and Maris! I got to see them in concert in Lawrence, Kansas last year, and they were a delight.
What are your purchase links?