Summer Book Conventions: El recaps BookExpo America & BookCon 2018!

Better late than never, eh?

This year I attended the final day of BookExpo America (BEA) and the two days of BookCon, which took place from June 1-3 in New York City.

This is book-lovers’ paradise– a massive convention hall filled with publishers. And most of them are really eager to sell (or give away) their upcoming releases.

But before I get to the exciting part– the ARCs, of course! (and maybe a giveaway of my own…?)– I want to share some of my experiences from the Cons.

Check it out. And don’t forget to read to the end of the post, where you might find some awesome surprises.

BREAKING NEWS: ‘Supergirl’ introduces Nia Nal, the first trans superhero on TV!

DC’s hit TV show Supergirl has some big news– three new characters will be joining the show for Season 4, including Nia Nal (aka Dreamer), player by Nicole Maines! Even more exciting is the news that Maines, a trans actress, will portray the first transgender superhero on television!

Maines is a trans activist and actress who has appeared on Royal Pains, The Trans List, Becoming Nicole book, and more. The character of Nia Nal is a precog who sees the future in her dreams. DC enthusiast will recognize the Nal name from the Legion of Superheroes, where her great great (great?) granddaughter lives in the future.

Executive Producers Jessica Queller and Robert Rovner confirm that they sought out a trans actor for the role. “We found a real life superhero in Nicole Maines,” Queller said. “We did a worldwide talent search for this role we always were seeking a trans actress. That was always our intention.”

“The show is about inclusion,” Rovner said.

Supergirl returns this Fall for a new season on the CW.

Looking Ahead: San Diego Comic Con + All Things Queer!

By the time you read this, San Diego Comic Con will just be getting underway. The convention is one of the biggest in the world, and a must for fans of the geeky– comic books, video games, TV, movies, and more are on display over the four (and a half) day convention.

It’s also an oasis for queer geeks, and the convention has grown over the last few years to be more diverse and inclusive. This year’s SDCC will have several fantastic panels focusing on queer culture and characters in media, so we wanted to take a few minutes to highlight those.

We’ll also have two Just Love bloggers at the Con– El and DMac are on duty, and we plan to report back with the hottest upcoming books, shows and movies… and maybe a few super awesome interviews! We also have our top three “must see” items for the con.

So check it out!

DMac Recaps the LA Times Festival of Books and YallWest

Summer is Book Convention Season, and the Just Love team is out and about! (We’re also all traveling, so apologies for the delays on getting these recaps up. –el)

I had the busiest few weeks thanks to these two events, but it was so worth it to go! Sorry in advance for the wonky picture quality. It was SUPER sunny for both events and my phone camera is already not the best, but I did what I could.

Happy Canada Day! Here are some queer reads set in the Great White North!

Happy Canada Day! Joyeuse fête du Canada!

To celebrate, we’d like to share with you a brief list of queer Canadian lit, as recommended by folks on our twitter! I’ve tried to separate these by province/territory whenever possible. For multi-book series, I’ve just listed the first book. One note:

If I’ve made a mistake with regards to orientation/gender identity in the book, genre, or location, please do not hesitate to correct me. I’m basing everything on Goodreads and user tags, which may not be accurate.

One more note: Casey the Canadian Librarian has an incredible list of Canadian Queer Women’s Classics, which I highly recommend you check out.

Now go curl up with a nice cup of Timmies and have a lovely Canada Day! (And if you have other recommendations, toss ’em in the comments and we’ll add them to the list. If possible, please include where in Canada the book is set!)

DMac Goes to Wonder Con 2018!

So last weekend I was lucky enough to attend Wonder Con in Anaheim, CA on Saturday! I went with my roommate and her friends so we had a fun group going.

A taste of the chaos within…

MLB Pride Games 2018

Happy Opening Weekend, baseball fans!

Major League Baseball (MLB) is one of the biggest sports in the United States, and has taken great strides in recent years towards inclusivity. In 2018, most (if not all) of the MLB teams will host a Pride event at one of their regular season games.

Maybe you’re a die-hard fan of baseball. Maybe you’re just looking for a nice way to spend a summer evening. Or maybe you’re just looking to get some cool rainbow merch with your local sports team on it. Whatever your reasons, we’re here to tell you all about the MLB Pride Games in 2018!

(Please Note: In order to get any exclusive Pride Game item(s), attendees MUST purchase a ticket via a special event code/link! Wherever possible, we’ve included information about how to buy these promotional tickets.)

Here is the schedule of confirmed Pride Games so far (with Home Team listed first):

Hockey Is For Everyone: At Home with the Penguins

Photo by El @ Just Love

We spent part of February talking about Hockey Is For Everyone month and the impact that it has on us as queer fans. This past Monday, I had the chance to attend my second Hockey Is For Everyone game of 2018, and the first that highlighted the LGBTQ+ community.  That it was in my home arena, with my local team made it even more important to me.

PITTSBURGH, PA – MARCH 05: at PPG Paints Arena on March 5, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) ©Pittsburgh Penguins 2018

Top of the Stack: March 2018

Spring is finally on the way (or fall, for our antipodean friends), and we’re looking forward to rain on the windows, flowers blooming, and lots of exciting new books! So it’s time again for our Top of the Stack!

Here are our most anticipated releases of March!

Hockey Is For Everyone: Actions Speak Louder Than Words

February is Hockey is For Everyone month in the National Hockey League. The NHL devotes one month each season to elevating diversity and inclusivity in professional sports, pairing with organizations like You Can Play to help bring together “all people who play or watch hockey, including fans of every race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and those with disabilities.” (Source) Using the hashtag #HockeyIsForEveryone, the League hopes to spread awareness and open conversation on social media.

El recently appeared on SB Nation’s Fear the Fin blog to discuss the emotions after watching a Hockey Is For Everyone game earlier this month, and what it’s like when your team fails you in their inclusion efforts.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

 

Also check out Part 1 | Part 2