First-time author Sam Kalin of Dallas, who wrote the moving autobiography First Stone: A Gay Daughter’s Survival in a Religious World, has been nominated for a Goldie Award in the Golden Crown Literary Society’s annual competition.
Kalin is one of seven finalists in the Creative Non-Fiction category. Her book, published last year by Canyonwalker Press, tells the gritty, often heart-wrenching story of her life, growing up as the only daughter of a evangelical preacher, who himself was the son of a preacher. In First Stone, Kalin tells how she survived her father’s physical abuse, her uncle’s sexual abuse and the spiritual abuse that comes with growing up gay in a religious family, and how she is still working to overcome the scars her early years left on her soul.
Read my review of Sam’s book here.
The Golden Crown Literary Society is a nonprofit, volunteer organization founded in 2004 and dedicated to educating people about and promoting and recognizing lesbian literature. The organization aims to provide learning opportunities, encouragement and assistance to new and established authors in developing their craft; support and strengthen quality lesbian writing by providing educational programs and creating opportunities for readers and writers to interact; and to recognize and promote lesbian literary work. Membership in the society is $25 a year.
GCLS sponsors conference each year for lesbian writers. This year’s event will be held July 22-26 at the Hilton Riverside in New Orleans. Keynote speaker will be Dorothy Allison, award winning author of Bastard out of Carolina. Cuban-born, Louisiana-based author Ali Vali will also speak, and lesbian literary icon Rita Mae Brown will attend, as well.
For more information or to register, go here.
