Here is a list of discussion questions for Curious Minds, intended for classrooms, book groups, scholars, or enthused readers. Following the questions are a few bonus exercises you can try out if you want to engage even more deeply with the text.
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Given that we’re in a particular time in American history, I’m adding more resilience and resistance to my class, LGBTQ2S+ Literature in America, in spring 2026. This includes adding more indigenous voices and more Black voices—as well as more play and magic (all of which often overlap). Here’s a sneak peek of the additions students will get to experience in the spring:
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When people discover sapphic and LGBTQ+ literature, it’s a miracle. The first time I walked into a queer bookstore, it was a miracle. And it’s a miracle that repeats for me every year at the Golden Crown Literary Society (GCLS) conference–my favorite conference to attend and a haven of sapphic literature.
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Happy July, readers! This month, I’m going to be part of two exciting LGBTQ+ literary events on the East Coast. If you’re in the area and interested in queer/trans lit, I’d love to see you there. You can find the full details below.
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My first published novel, Being Emily, has now been adapted to audio! In the decade since its release, this book has garnered praise from critics and trans girls everywhere.
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Next month, I’ll be involved in the Golden Crown Literary Society’s annual conference here in Minnesota, from July 10-14, 2024. The GCLS is a nonprofit organization supporting an international community of folks interested in sapphic and women-loving-women literature.
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My new novel is out! I read from it below and you can find it most anywhere books are sold. I wrote this wanting to marry spiritual depth with awkward teen comedy -- and I'm so glad I picked a lighthearted story for 2019-20. I started this long before the pandemic hit, but was still editing it last spring. Working on humor and theology turned out to be a perfect combination for 2020. I hope you'll agree! Check out this story summary and then scroll down a bit more for a video of me reading part of the first chapter: The summer before her senior year, Emma Synclair decides to find her true love: either a girl or God. Since she has a crush on her best friend—and on her best friend’s girlfriend—Synclair figures she’ll have better luck with God. Which God? How will she know? Wicca, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity? Her atheist parents are out of the country for three months, so Synclair has the space to try some religions in peace. Or so she thinks, until her friends decide that her house is the party house—that is: the dinner party house! How can she tell them no? She sneaks away to start her
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After taking the summer off the social internet, I've come back to a month of wow! In the Silences won the silver medal at the 2019 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards for Pre-Teen - Mature Issues. I love this book and I'm so glad it already has an award. (And I dorkily feel like my characters won the award rather than me, though in truth I should split it with my amazing team of beta readers, consultants and editor.) Jae interviewed me on her site (which has many great author interviews). Along with the interview, we're doing a book giveaway of In the Silences that you can enter by leaving a comment on the interview. Click here to read the interview! I will be at two book festivals in October: Oct. 12: Twin Cities Book Festival — from 3 - 3:45pm I'll be on the panel "Never Too Young for the Tough Stuff" with Lana Wood Johnson and Kirstin Cronn-Mills, talking about race, gender, sexuality, grief and more. We'll be on the teen stage! Oct. 19: Boston Book Festival— from 1:30 - 2:45pm I'm on the panel "YA: Love and Relationships" on the stage at BPL Teen Central 700 Boylston St, Boston. Below is the whole description and here's a link
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This year Stephanie Burt and I have the same publication date! So we made a video talking about our books. Hers is Don't Read Poetry: A Book About How to Read Poems, and mine is In the Silences. You can find out more about both in this video (and see below the video for the transcript): Key moments in the video (in case you're looking for something specific): 2:17 — Rachel describes her novel, In the Silences 5:30 — Rachel's cat Seeley interrupts the video and Stephanie insists they keep this footage in. (Rachel's note: my older cat had three canines removed and is now nicknamed "Captain Holepunch" for his one remaining canine; this cat is not Captain Holepunch.) 6:23 — Stephanie describes her book, Don't Read Poetry 11:54 — Stephanie talks about why writing about poetry felt like writing about comic books 16:06 — Rachel and Stephanie talk about de-centering whiteness, fighting implicit/systemic racism, and white people talking to white people about racism. For more info about Rachel's launch events, check out this post. For more info about Stephanie's launch events, follow her on Twitter: @accommodatingly. And stay tuned for more information about both of us being at the Boston Book Festival in October! Video Transcript Rachel Gold: Stephanie Burt, [pointing to self] Rachel Gold, we have been friends since 2012. We met
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You can buy my new novel starting today! The official publication date is May 21, but my publisher, Bella Books, has made copies available early on their site (click here!). The launch party will be June 1 at the Roseville Barnes & Noble, HarMar Mall, 2100 Snelling Ave N, Roseville, MN 55113. You can RSVP to the Facebook event here or just show up! I'll read from the new book and have special guests with me to talk about the beta reading process, plus we'll take audience questions. I will sign books and happily geek out about comic books and gaming with anyone who wants to. I will also have copies available at the Reclaim booth at Twin Cities Pride on Saturday, June 22. (There might still be copies on Sunday, June 23 also, but I won't be there to sign them for you.) You can get a copy with a donation of $15 or more to Reclaim, which is a great organization that connects queer and trans you to therapy and other services (check them out). Wondering what people are saying about my new novel? My publisher posted it to NetGalley and here are some of the early reviews it's received: goodreads Lex Kent’s Reviews
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