10 Books Published by Firebrand Books on AALBC — Book Cover Collage

Soul Poems for My Sistas glimpes into the souls of modern day relationships; the times in which we live; and hope in the midst of despair. Through poems Ms. Washington tells stories of Sista love; romance; and what’s up with the brothas. From the poem about dreaming with your girlfriend, Back in the Day, to the one that acknowledges the Taken Care of Business Brother, this book of lyrical prose inspires.

With insightful candour, Toi Derricote’s poem explores the ways in which her confusion about love and sex and longing took away from the pleasures of pregnancy and motherhood.

Well-versed in the traditions of African-American writing, Gomez moves from lesbian life in Boston in the late 1960s to a futuristic fantasy. The central piece in this collection, Lynx and Strand, explores some of the darkest dreams and fears of our culture.

Cheryl Clarke is perhaps the pre-eminent African-American lesbian poet writing today. With a heady command of language and the ability to work in a variety of forms, she continues her thematic explorations of love objects and death subjects.

Popular, respected, and widely published author Jewelle Gomez combines exciting new work with classic stories in this memorable collection of short fiction.

As in The Gilda Stories, her acclaimed Black lesbian vampire novel, Don’t Explain is marked by the writer’s trademark rich, highly sensual language. Here, too, we find a layering of themes: the complexities of relationships exploring racial, class, and generational boundaries; the abuse of children; the hunger for love and connection.

Well-versed in the traditions of African-American writing, Gomez moves from lesbian life in Boston in the 1960s (the title story) to a futuristic fantasy, “Houston”, a previously unpublished Gilda story. The centerpiece novella, “Lynx and Strand”, explores some of the darkest dreams and fears of American culture as we hurtle toward the millennium.

The breadth of Jewelle Gomez’s literary reach is amply illustrated, as she continues to entice and entertain her readers in Don’t Explain with her sweetly erotic excursions and encompassing vision.

About The Gilda Stories: “This intriguing vampire yarn features well-developed characters and philosophical excursions upon the angst of perpetual outsiderhood and the very human quest for companionship and love”. — ALA Booklist

About Forty-Three Septembers:

“In this collection of 15 personal essays…words flow with an ease, honesty, and intellect that is mesmerizing”. — Library Journal

Popular, respected, and widely published author Jewelle Gomez combines exciting new work with classic stories in this memorable collection of short fiction.

As in The Gilda Stories, her acclaimed Black lesbian vampire novel, Don’t Explain is marked by the writer’s trademark rich, highly sensual language. Here, too, we find a layering of themes: the complexities of relationships exploring racial, class, and generational boundaries; the abuse of children; the hunger for love and connection.

Well-versed in the traditions of African-American writing, Gomez moves from lesbian life in Boston in the 1960s (the title story) to a futuristic fantasy, “Houston”, a previously unpublished Gilda story. The centerpiece novella, “Lynx and Strand”, explores some of the darkest dreams and fears of American culture as we hurtle toward the millennium.

The breadth of Jewelle Gomez’s literary reach is amply illustrated, as she continues to entice and entertain her readers in Don’t Explain with her sweetly erotic excursions and encompassing vision.

Book by Clarke, Cheryl

Eleven stories deal with rape, humiliation, Caribbean life, childhood, teachers, American football, and war.

Spunky stories set in the Black small-town early 60s South. 1990 Pushcart Anthology selection.

Book by Lorde, Audre