The Challenges of Writing Sapphic Fiction Across Genres

A round table discussion of the challenges of writing sapphic fiction across multiple genres.
About this Event

Six working authors discuss in a round-table setting the challenges of writing sapphic fiction in their respective genres. Their experiences include novels and short fiction in mystery, thriller, science fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, and of course romance. Learn how to best represent sapphic romance in your fiction and what difficulties you might experience in writing and publishing.

When she isn't taking shooting lessons or cave-swimming, Elle Ire writes science fiction and paranormal romance featuring kickass women who fall in love with each other. Elle currently has ten novels in publication, her most recent one being Speak EZ, a paranormal romance from Bywater Books. Elle's work has won two Goldie awards from the Golden Crown Literary Society and numerous Royal Palm awards from the Florida Writers Association, including being first runner-up for their book of the year.

Virginia Black is the author of Consecrated Ground and No Shelter but the Stars (both from Bywater Books), and short stories in anthologies from Sapphire Books, Brisk Press, Bold Strokes Books, Bywater Books, and Flashpoint Publications. She and her wife live in the Pacific Northwest with their savagely witty teenage daughter.

Cathy Pegau is the author of The Demon Equilibrium and Blood Remains, historical paranormal Sapphic romances from Bywater Books. She's also written science fiction romances and three historical cozy mysteries set in the early days of the Alaska Territory, among other things. The first of her two historical cozy-ish mysteries featuring queer professional women in 1912 New York will be out in the fall of 2025.

Meredith Doench is the author of the Luce Hansen sapphic thriller series and the stand-alone, Whereabouts Unknown. Meredith is an avid armchair detective and amateur web sleuth who loves all things mystery. She’s also a board member of Mystery Writers of America, Midwest Chapter and a principal lecturer of creative writing and literature at the University of Dayton in Ohio.

A hopeless, queer romantic from the Bible Belt, Riley Scott spent her young years with her nose in a book, falling in love with sapphic characters. Today, she writes novels featuring strong queer women and their journey to happily ever after. She has written six standalone novels—Conservative Affairs, Small Town Secrets, Backstage Pass, A Time to Speak, On the Rocks, and Take Your Shot—all published by Bella Books. She lives in Florida with the love of her life, her sons, and a variety of beloved animals.

MB Austin is a mild-mannered civil servant by day. She lives with her fabulous wife in Seattle, an excellent town for coffee-powered writers who don’t need too much sun. MB writes what she loves most to read or watch, stories about badass women in love and danger (because saving the world is sexy). Her Maji Rios thrillers feature a covert operator whose work intrudes on every attempt at vacation or romance. Closer to home, her forthcoming novel Blursday’s Revenge features an over-50 lesbian lead reluctantly playing amateur sleuth in a darkly funny, mid-pandemic mystery.

Attend live OR download a recording of the workshop after the event!