This week is Banned Book Week, taking place from October 4-10 with the official 2026 theme, “Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read.” But I write today’s post from the perspective of also advocating for protecting the freedom to write. Because any time the subject of banned books arises, I become keenly aware that the feminist, political satire content of my Other Worldly novels, seven and counting, would be ripe for banning were I ever to become wildly successful via the traditional publishing process.
After all, being a feisty female alone makes me enough of a target in this current toxic and vicious climate for women and girls. Something that has been too difficult and too personal for me to even attempt writing about these past weeks.
Hence, as I have been diligently drafting and obtaining editorial assistance on a query letter for literary agents who might somehow take a chance on a self-published author, it has come down to a classic scenario of be careful what you wish for.
I’m an author who focused on writing and subsequently self-publishing one book after another during the height of insanity after the 2016 US presidential election. Followed by the quarantine limitations of Covid after my first novel, Alienable Rights, launched in early 2020.
Indeed, had our nation not returned to that cruel joke of an administration in 2024, Alienable Rights would not be nearly as ripe for revival. But because it is, I have endeavored to revamp and produce a second edition.
Freshly returned from my editor last week, the manuscript that was initially written and published during an extremely difficult time in my life has now evolved into something I am thrilled with—and downright ready to re-release.
The question is, how should I do it? Should becoming popular enough to be banned be a goal as opposed to a concern? Either way, I have to be willing to put myself out there, and at my age that’s more daunting than ever.
It’s never been easy in terms of getting all your ducks in a row—and crafting your marketing lingo just so. The odds are fully stacked against most authors who aren’t already famous or connected in some way to the industry. Plus, it’s not as if I’ve whitewashed my series to conform to a corporate cookie-cutter mindset of profit over verve, imagination, and passion.
The hurdles are daunting, with many completely out of my control. And not just for traditional publishing, where I mistakenly presumed that certain literary agents would maintain what was once a typical schedule of being closed to submissions for the summer, then reopening in September.
Who knew that wasn’t necessarily a thing anymore? Who knew that it’s probably never been a thing in an alternative option my editor suggested I consider?
Knowing that the Big 5 publishing houses in NYC, which only work with agented authors, would present an uphill climb in inclement weather for already self-published me who did not have thousands in sales the first week Alienable Rights was released—as if—my editor recommended that I consider small press publishers in the science fiction and fantasy genres.
The exciting thing I discovered is, there are small presses that actually include speculative fiction as a genre, which is how I see Alienable Rights in particular among my Other Worldly series. My novels have never been typical sci fi or fantasy simply because they involve aliens of the extraterrestrial kind. Plus Rowan Layne doesn’t even go into space until book three, Aliens Abound, something I’d never fathomed when I first began writing the series.
The bummer is, after researching and comprising a list of roughly two dozen small press publishers who dabble in fantasy and sci fi, I was stunned and dismayed that, of the majority who don’t require an agent (several do), all of them except one are closed to submissions. With no indication as to when they will reopen, though two provided dates (Dec/Jan and—ugh— July). Apparently I just missed the “spring submission season” that lasted through the summer for many of these publishers.
The greatest discovery among these—and biggest heartbreaker—is an all-female team (what could be more fabulous?) out of none other than Albuquerque, New Mexico. I’d love to know if they will reopen for submission anytime soon, but based upon so many others being indefinitely closed, it is hard to remain hopeful.
Should I wait, and how long? Because it’s not actually fame and fortune I’m after. But I would like to reach a wider audience with whom I can interact on the subject of my Other Worldly novels. Especially now. It’s not as if there aren’t hordes of over-fifty progressive, pissed off women out there who like to read, and are in desperate need of a laugh. But there are also a lot of vicious and potentially dangerous crazies intent on tearing anyone and everything down.
Having initially drafted this post yesterday, I slept on it and had an epiphany at approximately four in the morning. If it truly is about the freedom to write what I desire, then why reverse course and give up control now? I’ve wanted to republish Alienable Rights for some time, and it is just about ready to go.
Why wait for what will be almost near-certain delay and rejection? Why not continue to focus on finishing the eighth Other Worldly novel, Alien Origins, and come full circle in 2027 on this cathartic, novel journey that began in November 2017?
If I choose to continue writing beyond the OW series, I can decide at that point if I’m willing to put myself out there and attempt to traditionally publish. Or perhaps by then some of these small press publishers might be open for submissions. As well as a couple of literary agents I’m particularly interested in who are also closed, with no indication of when they will be on the prowl again for new authors.
We’re in exceedingly turbulent times of book-banning and female-bashing in the US right now, and my best course of action might be to maintain as peaceful and serene an environment as possible in my new life in New Mexico. Which will be featured in Alien Origins. Who knows what I might want to write about beyond next year? But I can feel the tension lifting from my aching shoulders already…
Coming in early 2027: Alienable Rights, 2nd—and fabulous— edition, followed by the eighth OW installment, Alien Origins later in the year. I’ll keep you posted 🙂