{"id":35803,"date":"2026-06-06T08:59:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T13:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/?p=35803"},"modified":"2026-06-02T20:33:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T01:33:01","slug":"celebrating-pride-with-twinsie-talk-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/?p=35803","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating Pride with Cassie Lein #WOTR26 #attendingauthor #spotlight"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/twinsietalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TTP1.webp\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-35788\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/twinsietalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TTP1.webp?resize=300%2C100\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"100\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Happy Pride Month everyone!\u00a0 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\u00a0 as well as reviews for some of the LGBTQIA\u00a0 books we\u2019ve read this year.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/twinsietalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TTP2.webp\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-35789\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/twinsietalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TTP2.webp?resize=300%2C100\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"100\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/twinsietalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_6436.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-36519\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/twinsietalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_6436.jpg?resize=169%2C300\" alt=\"\" width=\"169\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/twinsietalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_6436.jpg?resize=169%2C300&amp;ssl=1 169w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/twinsietalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_6436.jpg?resize=576%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 576w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/twinsietalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_6436.jpg?resize=768%2C1365&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/twinsietalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_6436.jpg?resize=864%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 864w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/twinsietalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_6436.jpg?resize=1152%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1152w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/twinsietalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_6436.jpg?w=1242&amp;ssl=1 1242w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/twinsietalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_6436.jpg?w=948 948w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 169px) 100vw, 169px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/twinsietalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_3485.jpeg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-36520\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/twinsietalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_3485.jpeg?resize=300%2C300\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/twinsietalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_3485.jpeg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/twinsietalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_3485.jpeg?resize=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/twinsietalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_3485.jpeg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/twinsietalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_3485.jpeg?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/twinsietalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_3485.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/twinsietalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_3485.jpeg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/twinsietalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_3485.jpeg?w=948 948w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/twinsietalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_3485.jpeg?w=1422 1422w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"Qr7Oae\" role=\"listitem\">\n<div class=\"OxAavc NVbRL\" data-item-id=\"1421055974\">\n<div class=\"pYfr3c\">\n<div class=\"prOLdf\">\n<div class=\"g53bl\">\n<div class=\"cTDvob D1wxyf RjsPE\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"3\" aria-describedby=\"i.desc.1421055974\"><span class=\"M7eMe\"><b>&#x1f3f3;&#x200d;&#x1f308; Tell us your name and a little about yourself?<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ih4Dzb\">\n<div class=\"q4tvle JqSWld yqQS1\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"textbox\" aria-label=\"Tell us your name and a little about yourself?\" aria-disabled=\"true\">Cassie Lein &#8211; 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.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Qr7Oae\" role=\"listitem\">\n<div class=\"OxAavc NVbRL\" data-item-id=\"64655687\">\n<div class=\"pYfr3c\">\n<div class=\"prOLdf\">\n<div class=\"g53bl\">\n<div class=\"cTDvob D1wxyf RjsPE\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"3\" aria-describedby=\"i.desc.64655687\"><span class=\"M7eMe\"><b>&#x1f3f3;&#x200d;&#x1f308; How many books have you written? Do you have a favorite?<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ih4Dzb\">\n<div class=\"q4tvle JqSWld yqQS1\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"textbox\" aria-label=\"How many books have you written? Do you have a favorite?\" aria-disabled=\"true\">14 by myself.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Qr7Oae\" role=\"listitem\">\n<div class=\"OxAavc NVbRL\" data-item-id=\"1031660428\">\n<div class=\"pYfr3c\">\n<div class=\"prOLdf\">\n<div class=\"g53bl\">\n<div class=\"cTDvob D1wxyf RjsPE\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"3\" aria-describedby=\"i.desc.1031660428\"><span class=\"M7eMe\"><b>&#x1f3f3;&#x200d;&#x1f308; Do you write one book and finish it completely before starting the next? If not, how do you keep yourself from confusing the projects?<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ih4Dzb\">\n<div class=\"q4tvle JqSWld yqQS1\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"textbox\" aria-label=\"Do you write one book and finish it completely before starting the next? If not, how do you keep yourself from confusing the projects?\" aria-disabled=\"true\">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.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Qr7Oae\" role=\"listitem\">\n<div class=\"OxAavc NVbRL\" data-item-id=\"1733589705\">\n<div class=\"pYfr3c\">\n<div class=\"prOLdf\">\n<div class=\"g53bl\">\n<div class=\"cTDvob D1wxyf RjsPE\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"3\" aria-describedby=\"i.desc.1733589705\"><span class=\"M7eMe\"><b>&#x1f3f3;&#x200d;&#x1f308; What font do you write in? Do you actually care or is it a default setting?<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ih4Dzb\">\n<div class=\"q4tvle JqSWld yqQS1\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"textbox\" aria-label=\"What font do you write in? Do you actually care or is it a default setting?\" aria-disabled=\"true\">Times new roman! It&#8217;s usually Arial by default but I dont fuck with that lol<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Qr7Oae\" role=\"listitem\">\n<div class=\"OxAavc NVbRL\" data-item-id=\"338883553\">\n<div class=\"pYfr3c\">\n<div class=\"prOLdf\">\n<div class=\"g53bl\">\n<div class=\"cTDvob D1wxyf RjsPE\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"3\" aria-describedby=\"i.desc.338883553\"><span class=\"M7eMe\"><b>&#x1f3f3;&#x200d;&#x1f308; How do you ensure your LGBTQ characters feel authentic and mutifaceted, rather than just serve a plot function?<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ih4Dzb\">\n<div class=\"q4tvle JqSWld yqQS1\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"textbox\" aria-label=\"How do you ensure your LGBTQ characters feel authentic and mutifaceted, rather than just serve a plot function?\" aria-disabled=\"true\">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.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Qr7Oae\" role=\"listitem\">\n<div class=\"OxAavc NVbRL\" data-item-id=\"460669547\">\n<div class=\"pYfr3c\">\n<div class=\"prOLdf\">\n<div class=\"g53bl\">\n<div class=\"cTDvob D1wxyf RjsPE\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"3\" aria-describedby=\"i.desc.460669547\"><span class=\"M7eMe\"><b>&#x1f3f3;&#x200d;&#x1f308; Do you have a favorite piece of LGBTQ history or fun fact you would like to share?<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ih4Dzb\">\n<div class=\"q4tvle JqSWld yqQS1\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"textbox\" aria-label=\"Do you have a favorite piece of LGBTQ history or fun fact you would like to share?\" aria-disabled=\"true\">One of my favorite pieces of LGBTQ history is the Stonewall Riots in 1969. It\u2019s 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.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Qr7Oae\" role=\"listitem\">\n<div class=\"OxAavc NVbRL\" data-item-id=\"965728504\">\n<div class=\"pYfr3c\">\n<div class=\"prOLdf\">\n<div class=\"g53bl\">\n<div class=\"cTDvob D1wxyf RjsPE\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"3\" aria-describedby=\"i.desc.965728504\"><span class=\"M7eMe\"><b>&#x1f3f3;&#x200d;&#x1f308; What is one of your favorite books or movies with LGBTQ representation?\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<div><b>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.<\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ih4Dzb\">\n<div class=\"q4tvle JqSWld yqQS1\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"textbox\" aria-label=\"What is one of your favorite books or movies with LGBTQ representation? &lt;br&gt;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.\" aria-disabled=\"true\">Book would be Pretty Little Monster by Z Storm.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Qr7Oae\" role=\"listitem\">\n<div class=\"OxAavc NVbRL\" data-item-id=\"741316967\">\n<div class=\"pYfr3c\">\n<div class=\"prOLdf\">\n<div class=\"g53bl\">\n<div class=\"cTDvob D1wxyf RjsPE\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"3\" aria-describedby=\"i.desc.741316967\"><span class=\"M7eMe\"><b>&#x1f3f3;&#x200d;&#x1f308; What is something you have used for a bookmark that IS NOT a bookmark?<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ih4Dzb\">\n<div class=\"q4tvle JqSWld yqQS1\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"textbox\" aria-label=\"What is something you have used for a bookmark that IS NOT a bookmark?\" aria-disabled=\"true\">String, Receipt, Card, Envelope<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Qr7Oae\" role=\"listitem\">\n<div class=\"OxAavc NVbRL\" data-item-id=\"89207216\">\n<div class=\"pYfr3c\">\n<div class=\"prOLdf\">\n<div class=\"g53bl\">\n<div class=\"cTDvob D1wxyf RjsPE\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"3\" aria-describedby=\"i.desc.89207216\"><span class=\"M7eMe\"><b>&#x1f3f3;&#x200d;&#x1f308; Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what are some of your favorite genres or songs?<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ih4Dzb\">\n<div class=\"q4tvle JqSWld yqQS1\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"textbox\" aria-label=\"Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what are some of your favorite genres or songs?\" aria-disabled=\"true\"><a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/playlist\/6fLt5OibPFXRcD8vhDdxWL?si=eqTQuMLAQXG4y6W78YgVAg\">https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/playlist\/6fLt5OibPFXRcD8vhDdxWL?si=eqTQuMLAQXG4y6W78YgVAg<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Qr7Oae\" role=\"listitem\">\n<div class=\"OxAavc NVbRL\" data-item-id=\"1638212647\">\n<div class=\"pYfr3c\">\n<div class=\"prOLdf\">\n<div class=\"g53bl\">\n<div class=\"cTDvob D1wxyf RjsPE\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"3\" aria-describedby=\"i.desc.1638212647\"><span class=\"M7eMe\"><b>&#x1f3f3;&#x200d;&#x1f308; What is a super specific detail you know about one of your characters that has no relevance to the story?\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ih4Dzb\">\n<div class=\"q4tvle JqSWld yqQS1\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"textbox\" aria-label=\"What is a super specific detail you know about one of your characters that has no relevance to the story? \" aria-disabled=\"true\">Obsessed with Dr Pepper<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Qr7Oae\" role=\"listitem\">\n<div class=\"OxAavc NVbRL\" data-item-id=\"1139651052\">\n<div class=\"pYfr3c\">\n<div class=\"prOLdf\">\n<div class=\"g53bl\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/twinsietalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TTP3.webp\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-35791\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/twinsietalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TTP3.webp?resize=300%2C100\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"100\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"Qr7Oae\" role=\"listitem\">\n<div class=\"OxAavc NVbRL\" data-item-id=\"1139651052\">\n<div class=\"pYfr3c\">\n<div class=\"prOLdf\">\n<div class=\"g53bl\">\n<div class=\"cTDvob D1wxyf RjsPE\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"3\" aria-describedby=\"i.desc.1139651052\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ih4Dzb\">\n<div class=\"q4tvle JqSWld yqQS1\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"textbox\" aria-label=\"What are your purchase links?\" aria-disabled=\"true\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/stores\/author\/B0BDGH7BM6\">https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/stores\/author\/B0BDGH7BM6<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Happy Pride Month everyone!\u00a0 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 &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/?p=35803\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Celebrating Pride with Cassie Lein #WOTR26 #attendingauthor #spotlight<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paSW8H-9jt","jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35803","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=35803"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35803\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36521,"href":"https:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35803\/revisions\/36521"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=35803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=35803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twinsietalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=35803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}