Queer Life, Queer Love Anthology

 

 

 

This incredible anthology is a global showcase of diverse and confident queer writing. A heady mix of poetry and prose, fiction and non-fiction, it is powerful and punchy, subversive and boundary-pushing, full of courage and attitude – forty-three different writers exploring all the complexities and experiences of living a queer life. The book, published by Muswell Press, is dedicated to Sarah Beal’s trans-daughter Lucy who died, age 20, in March 2020. It is a particularly fitting way to honour her life, as it was an idea she had discussed with Sarah, with the aim of encouraging new writers and rejoicing in the richness of queer life.

 

You can buy a copy here

Review from Amanda McLeod

I was thrilled to wake up to a thoughtful review from Amanda McLeod today. Here's a taster and the link to the full review:

Review – ‘Crossing the Lines’ by Amanda Huggins

Amanda Huggins is a writer with an eye for the details in the everyday that bring a story to life (see my reviews of All Our Squandered Beauty and Scratched Enamel Heart). In her novella Crossing the Lines, we follow Mollie as her mother Ella drags her from her home on the New Jersey shore to a farm a thousand miles away, on the promises of a man. 

From the beginning, Mollie is distrustful of Sherman; there’s something in his eyes that gives him away. As the story unfolds it becomes evident that Ella is also conscious that Sherman was not the man she hoped, but expectation and humiliation force her hand and she goes ahead with the move to the farm knowing it puts both her and Mollie in danger. As dreams unravel and Sherman’s nature becomes fully apparent, Mollie realises that if she doesn’t save herself, no one else will. 

There’s a diverse cast of characters here, quite disparate but all joined to the narrative by their interactions with Mollie, no matter how fleeting. The messages in these interactions follow two main streams. The first is that kindness heals, offering a kind of catharsis that allows people to release their pain and move forward. The second is that the vulnerable, over and over, are let down by those who are meant to keep them safe and that cycle is difficult to break. Mollie is let down by almost all the adults in her life; Ella’s own issues with abandonment are a precursor to her treatment of Mollie; even Sherman, a victim of childhood abuse, is able to recognise in the end but not break the pattern in his own life. (continued)

You can read the full review here

Crossing the Lines is available for preorder now from Victorina Press.

Just a month to go before the release of Crossing the Lines!

 

 

It's nearly publication day for Crossing the Lines! The physical proofs are about to go out, and I've already had some lovely reviews from readers who've read the e-book proof.

This novella is a little darker than some of my other fiction, a little grittier, so I was wary of how it would be received by readers who've enjoyed my other work. But luckily they seem to really like it – sigh of relief!

THE BOOK

When Sherman Rook walks into the Jupiter diner, Mollie’s mama is instantly smitten. Despite her daughter’s reluctance, they leave the New Jersey shore behind and move to his isolated farmstead over a thousand miles west.

Fifteen-year-old Mollie distracts herself from Rook’s cruelty by befriending a stray dog she names Hal, but when Rook crosses a final line Mollie realises that sometimes we must leave behind those we love in order to save ourselves.

With only $20 to her name, she sets out from Oakridge Farm, relying on luck and the kindness of strangers as she makes her way back home across five state lines.

You can pre-order here

THE REVIEWS

'This is a beautifully written novella, where layers of the narrative build to offer insight into two communities and many relationships. Mollie, the young protagonist, travels treacherous landscapes and grows wiser for the journey. Crossing The Lines shows it’s possible to break intergenerational cycles of behaviour . . .  or not. Amanda Huggins uses skilful, sensory prose to offer a wonderful reading experience. What a joy!' Gail Aldwin - author of This Much Huxley Knows

'An atmospheric and haunting coming-of-age story of a young girl escaping her fate and returning to her roots. With compelling characters and evocative prose, this is a journey of self discovery that will stay with you long after you read the last line.' Sarah Linley, author of The Trip

'A road trip across America, the mistakes and lessons that pass across generations – Crossing the Lines by Amanda Huggins follows the journey of mother and daughter Ella and Mollie as they head west with the dubious Sherman Rook. First loves, lost loves, an unsettling and lingering threat of violence, Huggins creates a dusty, middle American landscape that acts as a backdrop for Mollie’s incident filled trek home to the East Coast. This is a beautifully written, tightly constructed novella, almost poetic in its descriptions. Huggins has a masterful grasp of language and within a few pen strokes creates characters that are wholly believable. The narrative arc works well within such a few pages and Huggins controls the pace and direction of the story with great skill.' Mike Lewis, author of If God Will Spare My Life

'Another beautiful novella from Amanda Huggins. I read in one sitting. It feels darker and edgier than some of her other stories and is drawn with an expert hand. As always, her writing style gives the reader enough but never too much; profound and unpretentious. Narrated in the third person, the novella shows a variety of characters’ perspectives, switching in each chapter. It felt unobtrusive, almost seamless. That is quite a feat. Though Mollie is the protagonist, I found myself sympathising with most of the characters, even the unpleasant ones, because they are well-rounded and believable with fleshed-out backstories. Amanda draws you in and before you know it you’ve reached the end. It is satisfying but makes you curious to know what happens next. It would have been easy for her to tie up the loose ends, but she chooses a subtler, more nuanced ‘open conclusion’. I love this realistic depiction of life, in all its messy complexity! Through her empathetic depictions, we experience the intricacies of the human experience, their vulnerabilities, and their desire to be saved. Some of the characters end up in a good place; perhaps the other characters can overcome their inner demons and choose a better path too. Who knows? Well…I sensed that there was hope.' Hannah Ruth Retallick