Ten years ago, I attended a literary event in Nottingham run by Victoria Villasenor. I had only just found sapphic books and was ‘eyes wide open’ to a whole genre I didn’t know existed. I could write academic literature, creating an argument and devoid of poetic description and emotion, but could I write a sapphic book?
“How do I write a sapphic book?” I asked Victoria in the public question and answer section.
“Just start writing, and when you have something, we can start to see what you’ll need to do,” she said.
During the next five years I spent a lot of time fiddling about going nowhere, all the while pretending I knew what I was doing. I never managed to complete anything worthwhile until the short story I wrote and sent to Robyn Nyx (Nicci), which she accepted for LesFic (Sapphic) Eclectic Volume One.
After I received Nicci’s edits, I could see that there was a lot I didn’t know and asked to attend a writers’ retreat with Global Wordsmiths, run by Victoria and Nicci. They obviously saw something in me, and I’ve worked hard since. With their guidance, support, and a bucket load of patience on their part, I’ve managed to write three books, Nero, Breakout for Love, and Brave Enough to Love. Currently I’m working on book four with a working title of Love in Africa. I’ve written a short story for Sapphic Eclectic every year as well.
The moral of this story is that Victoria gives out good advice. If you’re thinking of writing and wonder where to start. Just start writing and see where it takes you. Good luck!
Butterworth Books 