Ahoy there! Wondering where I’ve been? Frankly, so am I.

In case you missed the last post in this series (see what I did there?), here’s the drill: Rather than making a newsletter I know I won’t keep up with or spreading myself thin across every social media platform that isn’t Instagram, occasionally you’ll see a post just like this rounding up my recent work, links to pieces that have been occupying my brain, comics and art I like, and basically whatever else I want to share. My goal with each “ICYMI” post is to share a curated list of content that I think y’all will appreciate, with the dual purpose of making sure my work finds its way to your eyeballs and boosting things that have come across my various feeds.

What I’ve Been Up To

For Polygon,

• I wrote about cutting my own hair as a child because of a Barbie doll, only later realizing the queer implications of that moment and its ensuing trauma.

• I wrote about why Outlander fans are so invested in the impossible love story of Claire and Jamie Fraser and why they’ve stayed invested for the last 32 years.

For The Mary Sue,

• I reviewed:

  • Mail Time, a cozy mail-delivery sim set in a pastel forest by Kela van der Deijl

  • Kesha’s latest album, Gag Order

  • Netflix’s Nimona, adapted from the comic by ND Stevenson

  • Netflix’s Survival of the Thickest, loosely based on Michelle Buteau’s memoir

  • The official The Dark Crystal Tarot Deck and Guide Book illustrated by Tomas Hijo and written by Casey Gilly

• I interviewed:

  • Zelda voice actress Patricia Summersett

  • Lesbian Love Story author Amelia Possanza

• And last but definitely not least, I wrote about the surprising queer history of Mattel’s Barbie dolls and the inescapable ties between them and the LGBTQIA+ community.

In addition to writing and more writing (in between rest/healing time from procedures and hospital stays, which I’ll write about more in a different post), I’ve been working closely with K. Kerimian, founder of The Nonbinarian Book Bike, to get the organization’s monthly newsletter (ironic, I know) and book club started! For Fat Liberation Month, I did a 24-hour Instagram takeover with dozens of book recommendations, information about fat liberation and The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA), and suggestions for fat creators and organizations you should follow. I had a great time putting everything together and I hope you’ll take the time to check it out!

Last but not least, if you love messy, emotional monsters and you missed Vana’s Apocalypse Keys mini-series sponsored by Evil Hat Productions… what are you waiting for?

Great Reads

• Autostraddle’s New Owner Promises a New Era. Readers and Writers Have Questions, Colleen Hamilton, them.

• Get Ready for Some Real Fibroid Talk, Anne Helen Peterson, Culture Study

• Husband, Baby, Shell, Phoebe Kranerfuss, Hey Alma

• Seeking Safety as a Black Woman in New Cities, Norell Edwards, Yes!

• Split Ends, Rowan McCandless, CRAFT

• Stop apologizing for enjoying romantic comedies, Petrana Radulovic, Polygon

• The Voice of the NYC Subway Is a Trans Woman With an Inspiring Story, Samantha Riedel, them.

Excellent Zines

Zines get their own category today because I’ve been reading and loving so many zines and chapbooks all summer. Here are just a few (that should still be available for purchase).

• 6 Indisputable Reasons Shrek Is About Lesbians, Zooey Kim

• Cyberjunk, Jenn Woodall

• Fruit for Free: A Foraging Zine, Melanie Gillman

• Lesbian Gender Outlaw, Ren Strapp

• Por La Sombrita, Barbara Perez Marquez

• Tiny Dreams: A Kirby Zine, Michiums

Other Stuff

💊 COVID is on the rise again, and the symptoms of this wave are different than they were in previous ones. If you’re using an at-home test to determine whether you’re COVID+, use this updated guide for a more accurate reading.

✏ Entries for the annual Broken Pencil Zine Awards are open until September 15! You can submit up to three zines for consideration, with an initial submission fee of $26 and an additional fee per zine after the first one. For a fuller breakdown about the cost of submission including info for how to inquire about a waiver, check out the entrance guide.

💣 The first trailer for the animated Netflix adaptation of Scott Pilgrim is delightful! I can’t wait to watch when this drops in November, and I am pleasantly surprised to discover that the movie cast is returning to voice their roles for the series.

🐇 I’m also excited for the Adventure Time spin-off Fionna & Cake, which is (somewhat surprisingly) slated for release on MAX at the end of August. I’m crossing my fingers for lots of Prince Gumball and Marshall Lee content… please.

Thanks for touching base with me and where my brain has been all summer! What have you been reading? What’s new in the world that excites you? Tell me about it in the comments!

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