Today is December 24, 2013—Christmas Eve.
One of the most sacred days in Christendom, this
inheritance of Jewish tradition is rooted firmly in the biblical story of
Creation:
"And God called the light Day, and the
darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.”
- Genesis 1:5 (King James Version)
Nations, cultures, and religions around the globe
celebrate Christmas Eve in vastly different ways. For instance, in Iceland, the
six week long Christmas celebration is called Jól, and its formally announced
by the tolling of bells across the countryside on December 24th.
The traditional Icelandic Christmas is framed
around 13 Santa-type figures. Known as Yule Lads—a different one comes every
night for 13 days to knock on the windows of children, and bring them presents.
They are joined by their mother, Grýla, part troll and part animal. She is
responsible for teaching all the naughty children good lessons. This
non-traditional family is then completed by a fashion-conscious Yule Cat who
eats any person who has not received an article of clothing as a gift.
Rumor has it that the legendary character of
Miranda Priestly, from The Devil Wears Prada, was based on the
Icelandic Yule Cat.
Here in good, old Winston-Salem, North Carolina, we
listen to Christmas Carols, eat stollen for breakfast, and debate how early is
too early to start pouring the good wine.
We like to think this tradition is based loosely on
the Moravian Lovefeast.
So, once again, in an effort to clear my calendar
such that I may properly get “in the holiday spirit” (i.e., ebrius funditus,) I
hereby declare:
Yea verily, another year is officially gearing
down, flipping on it’s bright yellow turn signal, and aiming its scrunched up
little nose towards the exit ramp for Auld Lang Syne.
And as the year careens around the late December
cloverleaf of festivities, I want to take you back through The Rainbow Reader
reviews, and bestow the Very Best of 2013 Awards.
However, before we jump into the good stuff, I want
to mention that in the last twelve months, TRR had the honor and
privilege of reviewing 17 books; and was fortunate enough to post Guest Reviews
by the ruby-red, sparkly peep toe slingback Louboutin wearing Michelle Brooks,
and the fabulous and feisty Jeanne Barrett Magill. In April, TRR
welcomed it’s 100,000th visitor, and in May I authored the epic diatribe, The
Lesfic Boomtown Foretold: A Cautionary Tale by Salem West. In June, I was
honored to moderate two panels and participate in another at the annual Golden
Crown Literary Conference in Dallas. And, in November, I had the distinct honor
of publishing the novel, Hoosier Daddy: A Heartland Romance, with my
wife and co-author, Ann McMan.
Not a bad run for a twitchy little dyke in
transition lenses, eh?
But seriously, as a reviewer, my most solemn goal
is to cover the full spectrum of lesbian literature, such that authors have an
expanding platform to showcase their work, and readers can consistently find
books and stories that they love. To that end, in 2013 TRR took on
a few mainstream books, an interactive app, fantastika, a Halloween romance collection,
an audio book, and a handful of humor, romance, social commentary, and period
works of fiction.
Heck, I even reviewed books about space pirates,
and a chess savant in a box just to cover as many Lesfic bases as possible.
But, I will admit that 2013 was a very hectic year
for me, and I didn't get to read and review as many books as I had hoped.
However, with 2014, I'm committing to the authors, publishers, and readers to
blog on a more regular schedule and kick things up a notch or two in the process.
Much as I do every year, I want to extend special
and sincere thanks to each and every one of my Victims (i.e., the brave and
valiant authors and their publishers) for having the guts, grit, and
determination to make your work available. It takes an amazing amount of
talent to write a book, and it takes a constitution of steel to voluntarily
become vulnerable to a world of readers and reviewers, and our myriad, sketchy
opinions.
I also want to thank you, The Readers, for stopping
by to read my reviews. Many of you have left comments on this blog, which
I appreciate. Many others have sent me emails or contacted me on
Facebook, and I want to thank each of you for letting me know what you think
and what you’d like me to talk about next.
So, with no further ado, I present The Rainbow
Reader’s Very Best of 2013 Awards
Book Title
|
Author
|
Publisher
|
Award
|
All That Lies Within
|
Lynn Ames
|
Phoenix Rising Press
|
The Gloria Swanson I'm Ready
For My Close-up Award
|
Beyond the Pale
|
Elana Dykewomon
|
Open Road Media
|
The ILGWU Uprising of 20,000
Award for Taking It To The Man
|
Family Jewels
|
Kate Christie
|
Bella Books'
|
The Alexandre Dumas La Tulipe
Noire Award for Twenty-Something Dyke Drama on the Streets of Antwerp
|
Frozen
|
Carla Tomaso
|
Carma Publishing
|
The Joan Crawford Reanimated
Mother of the Year Award
|
In Between
|
Jane Hoppen
|
Bold Strokes Books
|
The Inaugural Julia Child Freshness
Is Essential Award for Making All The Difference
|
Letters Never Sent
|
Sandra Moran
|
Bedazzled Ink Publishing
|
The F. Lee Bailey Award for Most
Lawsuits Generated by a Debut Novel Set in Kansas
|
Spoon & the Moon
|
Marie Davis/Margaret Hult
|
Wickedly Sisters/Davis Studio,
LLC
|
The California Milk Processor
Board's Got Milk Award for Best Bovine She-Bop
|
Starting From Scratch
|
Georgia Beers
|
Brisk Press/Dogear Audio
|
The Nina Totenberg Award for
Clearest Enunciation During a Foyer Sex Sceene
|
Step Into the Wind
|
Bev Prescott
|
Blue Feather Publishing
|
The Mutual of Omaha's Wild
Kingdom Award for Angst Wrestling in an Eco-Friendly Environment
|
Tactical Pursuit
|
Lynette Mae
|
Regal Crest Enterprises
|
The Cagney and Lacey Award for Romantic
Excellence in a Heart-Pounding Cop Story
|
The Daughter Star
|
Jane Bigelow
|
Candlemark & Gleam
|
The Iain M. Banks Consider
Phleabus Award for Deft Handling of Culture Wars in a Lesbian Novel
|
The Edge of Rebellion
|
Andi Marquette
|
Bedazzled Ink Publishing
|
The Vernor Vinge Award for Best
Use of Zooming Space Ships With That Go “Pew! Pew! Pew!”
|
The Ghost and the Machine
|
Bennie Lawrence
|
Bedazzled Ink Publishing
|
The Boris Spassky Leningrad
Variation for White in the Nimzo-Indian Award for Best Opening Move From
a Box
|
The Passion of Alice
|
Stephanie Grant
|
Bantam Books
|
The Mel Gibson Award for
Innovative Use of Biblical Metaphors
|
The Pyramid Waltz
|
Barbara Ann Wright
|
Bold Strokes Books
|
The Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve Award for Sexiest
Beast in a Land Far, Far Away
|
When The Clock Strikes Thirteen
|
Various
|
Ylva Publishing
|
The Things That Go Bump &
Grind In The Night Award
|
Women Float
|
Maureen Foley
|
CCCLaP Publishing
|
The Neptune's Daughter
Award for Esther Williams Envy
|
Well, that's it for TRR in 2013—here’s wishing each and every one of you a safe, happy, healthy, and festive holiday season, and a 2014 full of joy, love, peace, laughter, and wonder!
And, as always, thanks for stopping by The Rainbow Reader.
