Legacies of Lesbian Literature Project

Those of you who attended the Golden Crown Literary Society conference last year may have attended a presentation done by Sandra Moran and Marianne K. Martin about a project they were starting. Many of us have realized that some of our heritage is beginning to disappear and it needs to be preserved so that people, not just lesbians, will know how our literature has developed and the women who have played a part in it. Marianne and Sandra came up with a project to do something about this......and then we lost Sandra. Fortunately, Sandra's wife, Cheryl Pletcher, has stepped forward and is determined to finish this as part of Sandra's legacy.

This is going to be no small undertaking, folks. It's not just a matter of writing a paper or making a PowerPoint. The plan is to do video interviews of some of our pioneers while they're still here to tell us our history. Marianne has already started with these and the list includes Dorothy Allison, Ann Bannon, Rita Mae Brown, Emma Donoghue, Rita Mae Brown, Katherine V. Forrest, Jewell Gomez, Jenifer Levin, Lee Lynch, Alice Walker and Jeanette Winterson. Others will be added as the project progresses. They intend to produce a documentary and DVDs so that this information can be stored and shared with people for years to come (assuming we don't blow the world up first.)

I've uploaded a picture of the project logo, designed by Ann McMan. It's really striking.

They need help. Eventually, they're going to need people to help them with script writing, research, production, editing, graphics, promotion, distribution....you name it and they'll be asking for people who can participate. What can you do right now?

All of the royalties from Sandra's books are going to fund the project, but more is needed. You can make a contribution by going to https://www.crowdrise.com/legacies-of-lesbian-literature-project. Contributions aren't tax deductible yet, but they're working on getting that status filed. The site only takes credit cards at the moment, but they're going to work on getting a PayPal link. Cheryl says, if you don't want to donate online, you can send donations to her at 9951 Fountain Circle, Lenexa, KS 66220.

You can also friend the project on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LegLesLit. You can link to the site so that other people will see it and you will receive updates about how the project is progressing.

Maybe it's the history teacher in me, but I was excited about this project when I heard about it last year. I'm impressed with how far they've gotten already in the planning and will be giving them some of my time. A lot of my time if you listen to Marianne.

If you want to contact them, their email addresses are mkmbywater@aol.com or cpletcher54@gmail.com.

They will be happy to have the smallest contribution, time or whatever you can do to support the project. This is OUR history and literature. I hope some of you will be inclined to help in some way.

Lynne  

All Things Gay Radio

All Things Gay is the first gay radio program in New Hampshire.  It's located on Portsmouth community radio at WSCA 106.1 FM.  Marianne Martin and Joan Opyr were recently interviewed, so I thought I'd give you the links in case you want to listen to them talk about their books, careers and experiences.

Marianne Martin: http://audio.wscafm.org/audio/ALLGAY/WSCA_08-29-2011_08-00.mp3

 

Joan Opyr: http://audio.wscafm.org/audio/ALLGAY/WSCA_08-15-2011_08-00.mp3:

Dance in the Key of Love by Marianne K. Martin

Publisher:               Bywater Books

Dance in the Key of Love is the sequel to an earlier novel by Marianne K. Martin called Dawn of the Dance. You don't have to have read the first novel to enjoy this one, but, if it is available, it might be helpful to review it, especially in understanding what is going on in the beginning of the new book.

Paige Flemming is a woman on the run, from the law and from her past. She has been running for sixteen years to stay out of prison for a crime that she didn't commit, but for which she is willing to take the blame. Sometimes though she needs to stop in a safe place and rest and that means visiting with her friends Moni and Katherine. While she is with them, she feels she'll be safe from the hunters, but she's underestimated the determination of Detective Jack Beamon. He doesn't like unsolved cases and this one has a personal aspect to it. He'll do anything to find her, including establishing a relationship with her mother, Geri, not expecting that it will have surprising consequences for himself.

Marissa Langford was a beautiful and talented professional dancer with a flourishing career until a drunk driver left her broken in many ways. Though she has recovered more than doctors had hoped for, it means nothing because she cannot dance. She is struggling to rebuild her life and determined to prove that she can still choreograph the musical at the local college. She will need help though and the last person she wants that help from is Paige. They have a history that stands between them. Eventually, Marissa faces the fact that she cannot do the job without Paige and that she will have to put aside her feelings. Working together, they will find a relationship that has the potential to solve the emotional and physical injuries both of them have suffered. Even as they help either other though, Jack Beamon is getting closer to his goal of making Paige pay for what he thinks she did.

Marianne K. Martin is an experienced and accomplished writer. That shows through clearly in Dance in the Key of Love in the way she weaves what are actually three stories together - Paige and Marissa, Jack and Geri, and Jack's relationship with his daughter who is in an abusive relationship. The stories intertwine in such a way as to complement and shed light on each other. For example, Jack comes to learn through his daughter's relationship what Geri's early life was like and what might have motivated Paige to do the crime she is accused of committing. 

Martin's words flow smoothly across the page creating very clear images of her characters and their feelings. She also doesn't talk down to her readers and isn't concerned about using complex sentences and images to tell her story. The one point that might have been stronger in this book was having more explanation or flashback sequences about what happened in the original book. That would have been extremely helpful to the reader who hasn't read it or read it when it originally came out years ago. Not knowing that story makes it a little difficult to get a grasp about what is happening in the first chapter of the book, but the story in Dance in the Key of Love establishes itself quickly after that. Overall, Martin has written a strong and moving story. Well worth reading.

For Now, For Always by Marianne K. Martin

Publisher:                Bywater Books


What would you give up to save your family? Would you give up college and a career? Would you give up a chance at a decent job and live on public assistance? Would you give up love? 

Renee Parker never stopped to think about her choices. She was seventeen, her stepfather had committed suicide because he couldn't take care of the family, and her mother was sent to prison for embezzlement. Someone had to take care of her four younger sisters and brothers and she was obviously that person. She's been handling the responsibilities and it hasn't been easy. Renee is trying to provide stability in the children's lives, go to school, and work a job.


Then there's the social worker assigned to their case, Millie Gordon. Gordon's years of experience tell her that Renee can't do the job and her personal prejudice against Renee's lesbianism confirms that the young woman shouldn't be given the chance to influence the children's lives. Fortunately, through numerous hearings, the skill of Renee's lawyer has kept the family intact, but each case gets harder. 

The youngest child, Rory, has developed epilepsy, and his attacks are becoming more frequent. One of these attacks brings nurse Olivia Dumont into their lives. Olivia's love for children draws her into the family where she discovers a different kind of love for Renee. Finally, Renee has found someone who can and wants to help her with the many responsibilities she has, but not if Millie Gordon has her way. When everything else fails, Gordon will use the women's relationship as an attack on the family and Renee has to make some serious decisions. She has always promised the children she would be with them "for now, for always," but she may have to break the law to do it and leave Olivia behind as a consequence.

Marianne Martin is one of the true wordsmiths of lesbian literature. She uses rich vocabulary to paint the images in her stories, both characters and settings. For Now, For Always is another of her books that gives the reader much to think about. The nature of family duty is explored as Renee tries to do what's right for her siblings and deal with the anger she feels at her parents for leaving them in this situation. The role of the court in family issues is also scrutinized, especially in how a dedicated, but misguided, social worker can try to misuse the system. 

Anyone reading the book has to feel the frustration and absolute fear that radiate from Renee as she tries to cope with all of this and the yearning she feels for the love and support that Olivia can give her, but which she is terrified to take. This is the type of story that makes you want to take up a sword and sign petitions. Another well told, engrossing, intricate story told by an author who isn't afraid to step outside of the constraints of traditional formulas. For Now, For Always is definitely a book to be placed in your "to be read" pile.

The Indelible Heart by Marianne K. Martin

Publisher:                   Bywater Books

One of life's lessons is learning where boundaries are and how to live within them.  Marianne K. Martin takes that subject and wraps it in a story so skillfully that the reader might absorb a message without realizing it.  In The Indelible Heart, Martin uses the interactions between friends to show how boundaries can be difficult to maintain.

The book picks up a story line first addressed in Martin's book Love in the Balance and brings it forward ten years.  Charlie Crawford murdered two neighbors who were lesbians and now his family is trying to get him out of prison early because he is dying.  The killings nearly destroyed the life of Sharon Davis who was a friend of the slain women.  The trauma of the incident drove her into alcoholism and caused her relationship with her lover Laura to fail.  Years later Sharon thinks she has finally put her life back together and then the effort to free Crawford sends her back into the bottle.  On top of that, Laura has returned to town to care for her ailing mother.  Sharon has two obsessions and they're about to slam into each other.  She can't resist Laura and she cannot forgive Crawford.  People who know her, especially her best friend and business partner Kasey Hollander, are afraid Sharon is going to lose control of her life again, but disagree over what they should do about it.  What they do not want is a repeat of what happened ten years ago.

The Indelible Heart can be read and appreciated as a story of a woman who is trying to find balance in her life and her chance to possibly recapture the love she once knew.  If the reader is looking for a romance, then this book suits that purpose.  Marianne Martin has a habit though of going deeper with her characters and sometimes that can make the observant reader uncomfortable.  Martin can cut pretty close to the bone.

Sharon, for example, cannot just commit to an action, she becomes consumed by it.  Movements need people like Sharon, but they can be very difficult to live with, even when someone loves them.  Sharon becomes so focused on revenge against Crawford that she cannot see the fact that, no matter what is done to him, it will never bring her friends back.  Her boundary failure is that she cannot turn off her campaign for justice at appropriate moments.  Her way of coping with frustration is to get drunk.  Even when she has an opportunity to get Laura back there is still the chance that she will turn to alcohol instead.

Sharon is not the only character with boundary issues.  Kasey hates Laura for what she perceives was done to Sharon.  Even while Kasey is pointing out Sharon's failure to deal with the Crawford situation, she cannot see Sharon's responsibility for what happened with the relationship.  Then Kasey crosses the ultimate line when she confronts Laura and tries to drive her out of Sharon's life.  Even best friends have to realize there are limits they should not exceed.  Laura has to learn not to let her experiences in her early life interfere with what she can have with Sharon.  Sage Bristow and her partner Deanne deal with different barriers as they try to raise their daughter with pride in her ethnic background in a society that never makes that easy.

One of the things that makes reading The Indelible Heart interesting is that it deals with the characters realistically.  These people make mistakes.  They have emotional reactions that ring true and sometimes those reactions are totally inappropriate.  Readers will be able to say "I know someone like her" or, perhaps, "I am her."  Ultimately however the message is about survival.  It is about how, even when you make mistakes, friends and family will be there when you figure out what you have done wrong.  They will forgive you and you will forgive them.  Most importantly, you will understand each other even when you do not agree.  That is what real relationships are about.

The Indelible Heart is not a dark book, but it is a thoughtful one.  It will not take long to read it.  Not nearly as long as it will cause the reader to think about what it says.  For those who say they want to see more stories that deal with real issues in an entertaining way, this is the answer.