Pearls: Fiction, Romance, & Poetry

The following authors will be reading excerpts from their work: Nisi Shawl, DT Bush, Stephanie Shea, Misa Sugiura, Elizabeth Andre, Sara Yager, and EF Schraeder.

• Nisi Shawl from “The Things I Miss the Most,”
• D T Bush from Sweet Honey Wine,
• Stephanie Shea from Whispering Oaks,
• Misa Sugiura from Love & Other Natural Disasters,
• Elizabeth Andre from Trail of Hearts,
• E.F. Schraeder, from Judy Garland Is Not a Sunrise,
• Sara Yager, “Twelve Poems”

Nisi Shawl is best known for fiction dealing with gender, race, and colonialism, including Nebula finalist Everfair, an alternate history of the Congo. They’re the coauthor of Writing the Other: A Practical Approach, a standard text on inclusive representation, and cofounder of the Carl Brandon Society. Their criticism and essays appear widely, in one case as part of a volume of the Library of America. Shawl edited Strange Matings: Science Fiction, Feminism, African American Voices, and Octavia E. Butler; Stories for Chip: A Tribute to Samuel R. Delany; and New Suns: Speculative Fiction by People of Color. Awards include the World Fantasy Award, two Locus Awards, and FIYAH’s Ignyte Award. For more information about this author and to view book purchase information, visit the Authors page.

DT Bush’s publications of adult fiction include: Anton’s Place, Necessary Lies, Stars Above The Forest Dark, and No Other Man. Published Poems: Poetyr. Children’s Picture Books: Grandma’s Glasses, Rebecca’s Song. All are available through Amazon. For more information about this author and to view book purchase information, visit the Authors page.

Stephanie Shea is a self-proclaimed introvert, who spent her days in corporate daydreaming of becoming a full-time novelist. Her favorite things include binging TV shows, creating worlds where no character is too queer, broken or sensitive, and snacks. Lots of snacks. Someday, she hopes to curb her road rage and get past her anxiety over social media and author bios. For more information about this author and to view book purchase information, visit the Authors page.

Misa Sugiura’s ancestors include a poet, a priestess, a samurai, and a stowaway. Her first novel It’s Not Like It’s A Secret, won the Asian Pacific Islander American Librarians’ Association’s Award for Young Adult Literature; her highly acclaimed second novel, This Time Will Be Different, made the Best of 2019 lists of YALSA, Kirkus Reviews, the New York Public Library, and the Chicago Public Library. Her short story, “Where I’m From” appears in Come On In, a young adult anthology of stories about immigration. Her latest book, Love & Other Natural Disasters has been praised by the American Library Association as “hilariously awkward” and “honestly poignant.” For more information about this author and to view book purchase information, visit the Authors page.

Elizabeth Andre writes lesbian romance, science fiction, and paranormal adventure. She is a lesbian in an interracial same-sex marriage living in the Midwest. She hopes you enjoy her stories. She certainly loves writing them. For more information about this author and to view book purchase information, visit the Authors page.

EF Schraeder is the author of Liar: Memoir of a Haunting (Omnium Gatherum, 2021), the story collection Ghastly Tales of Gaiety and Greed: Unauthorized and Haunted Cedar Point (Omnium Gatherum, 2020), and two poetry chapbooks. Awarded first place in Crystal Lake Publishing’s 2021 Poetry Contest, E.F. Schraeder was also semi-finalist in Headmistress Press’ 2019 Charlotte Mew Contest. For more information about this author and to view book purchase information, visit the Authors page.

Sara Yager feels fortunate to have found the Carefree community since it inspired her to make films and also begin writing. She writes short pieces and haiku, taking common experiences and everyday events and trying to find some humor in them. Her short films have won several People’s Choice awards at Carefree film festivals. For more information about this author and to view book purchase information, visit the Authors page.