Golden Crown Literary Society

The Golden Crown Literary Society (GCLS) is an American non-profit organization established in February 2004 as a literary and educational organization for the study, discussion, enjoyment, and enhancement of women loving women literature. Since 2005, the GCLS has presented Golden Crown Literary Awards ("Goldies") in various categories of women loving women fiction at its annual conference. The GCLS states that its mission is "to increase the visibility and quality of women loving women themed literature".[1] An all-volunteer effort, GCLS membership includes publishers, distributors, authors, and readers of lesbian fiction.

History

In 2004, the GCLS was established, and from 2004 to 2009, informal organizational officers operated in their roles with Advisory committees. In 2009, a formal Board of Directors with an Executive Director was established, along with Bylaws and formal reporting to the members. The first formal Executive Director was Patty Schramm from 2009-2014. Elizabeth (Liz) Gibson served as Executive Director 2014-2016, and the latest Executive Director is Mary Phillips (2016 - ). In 2011 (and retroactive to 2007), the GCLS attained federal nonprofit status.[2]

The primary event - both educational and promotional - is the annual conference which was first offered in 2005, where authors, readers, and publishers come together to share their love of literature, publishers, authors, and reading. The conference has been held yearly since 2005 and offers an author educational Track of Master Classes and sessions, a Panel Track of discussions on various topics related to writing, and one or more General Tracks composed of author chats and readings. The GCLS annual conference and organization has experienced success over the years and grown significantly. In 2019, the GCLS celebrated its 15th year of conferences around the nation.

In 2014, the GCLS opened the GCLS Writing Academy, offering educational support and classes to new and upcoming authors of women loving women fiction and creative non-fiction. GCLS also offers one-on-one mentoring for authors nearing the publication stage of a book as well as "GCLS Presents..." - a new video series of author interviews and presentations.

In addition to the mission of the organization, the GCLS has participated in charitable functions. In response to Hurricane Katrina, which took place just after the organization's first conference in New Orleans, members of the organization raised thousands of dollars in direct aid to lesbians affected by the disaster.[3] Books and other materials have often been donated to charities (such as GLBT libraries). Each year, scholarships are offered to readers and writers for conference attendance, and other charitable activities are also underway.

Conferences

In 2005, the organization held the first conference where lesbian writers, teachers, and speakers joined readers, fans, publishers, and others to document lesbian literary history,[4] award "Goldies" to top finalists in the book awards categories, and share needed information about writing craft and technique in multiple workshops. Fundraising efforts began in 2006 to support scholarships, a Mentoring Program was added in 2007,[5] and in 2008, seventeen scholarships were awarded to enable more individuals to attend.

Conference attendees cite the event as a crucial social, educational and professional link, important in maintaining a strong lesbian literary field. Since 2005, in addition to a variety of genre category awards given to specific books, the Society has awarded a "Trailblazer Award" to a lesbian writer for lifetime achievement, in recognition of the contributions she has made to the field of lesbian literature. Since that time, the Lee Lynch Classic Book Award has been added, along with additional genre categories, such as Young Adult.

Conferences, both past and future:

GCLS "Goldie" Awards

GCLS promotes lesbian fiction through the Goldie awards,[9] a yearly awards program with the awards bestowed at the annual conference. Since their inception, the awards categories have expanded from four categories in 2005 to fourteen categories in 2016 plus five special awards. Eight finalists can be shortlisted in each of the categories with a maximum of three equal winners named in each category.

In recent years, more than 250 titles from more than three dozen publishers (such as Alyson, Bedazzled Ink, Bella Books, Blue Feather, Bold Strokes Books, Carroll & Graf Publishers, Copper Canyon Press, Farrar Straus Giroux, Haworth, Intaglio, Launch Point Press, Sapphire Books, Spinsters Ink, St. Martin's Press and various university presses) have been nominated for consideration.

In 2015, Jacob Anderson-Minshall became the first openly transgender author to win a Goldie award from the Golden Crown Literary Society. He shared the award for best creative non-fiction book with Diane Anderson-Minshall for Queerly Beloved: A Love Story Across Genders.[10]

GCLS "Goldie" Awards Winners- 2017
Anthology/Collections (Creative Non-Fiction)
Title Author Publisher
Rainbow Gap Lee Lynch Bold Strokes Books
Anthology/Collections (Fiction)
Title Author Publisher
Finding Ms. Write Jae & Jove Belle Ylva Publishing
Tales from Sea Glass Inn Karis Walsh Bold Strokes Books
Women of the Year Karen Richard Bedazzled Ink Publishing, LLC
Creative Non-Fiction
Title Author Publisher
Indomitable: The Life of Barbara Grier Joanne Passet Bella
Debut Author
Title Author Publisher
Four Steps Wendy Hudson Ylva Publishing
Love On The Red Rocks Lisa Moreau Bold Strokes Books
Salvation on Mission Street Cathy Arellano Korima Press
Dramatic/General Fiction
Title Author Publisher
The Big Sugarbush: Lesbian Romantic Comedy Ana B Good Hot Pants Press, LLC
The Urn Carrier Chris Convissor Bedazzled Ink Publishing, LLC
Trial by Fury KG MacGregor Bella Books
Erotica
Title Author Publisher
Best Lesbian Erotica of the Year, Volume 1 D. L King Cleis Press
Give me Thorns, A Lesbian BESM Reomance Elizabeth Andre Tullabella Ruby Press
The Club A.L. Brooks Ylva Publishing
Historical Fiction
Title Author Publisher
Dian's Ghost Justine Saracen Bold Strokes Books
Lovign Eleanor Susan Wittig Alper Prersevero Press
Shaken to the Core Jae Ylva Publisher
Mystery/Thriller
Title Author Publisher
Requiem for Immortals Lee Winter Ylva Publishing
Trigger Jessica L. Webb Bold Strokes Books
Walk-in T.L. Hart Bella Books
Paranormal/Horror
Title Author Publisher
1140 Rue Royale Karen D. Badger Badger Bliss Books
By the Dark of Her Eyes Cameron MacElvee Bold Strokes Books
The House at the End of the Street Stephanie E. Kusiak Sapphire Books Publishing
Poetry
Title Author Publisher
Acquired Community Jane Byers Dagger Editions
In and Out of Love Shelley Thrasher Sapphire Books Publishing
Torn from the Ear of the Night Jimmie Margaret Gilliam White Pine Press
Romantic Suspense/Intrigue/Adventure
Title Author Publisher
Final Cut Lynn Ames Phoenix Rising Press
The Copper Egg Catherine Friend Bold Strokes Books
The Fifth Gospel Michelle Grubb Bold Strokes Books
Science Fiction/Fantasy
Title Author Publisher
Paradox Valley Gerri Hill Bella Books
The Beast That Never Was Caren J. Werlinger Corgyn Publishing, LLC
The Broken Coil (The Glass Pantheon - Book 1) Sy Itha Desert Palm Press
Tee Corinne Outstanding Cover Design
Title Artist Publisher
Heartscapes Sheri Bold Strokes Books
Traditional Contemporary Romance
Title Author Publisher
Chef's Special Susan X Meagher Brisk Press
Perfect Pairing Rachel Spangler Bywater Books
The Color of Love Radclyffe Bold Strokes Books
Young Adult
Title Author Publisher
Gravity Juliann Rich Bold Strokes Books
Here's the Thing Emily O'Beirne Ylva Publishing
My Year Zero Rachel Gold Bella Books

Directors' Award

Ann McMan

Lee Lynch Classic Award
Title Author Publisher
Heather Has Two Mommies Leslea Newmon In Other Words Publishing

Trailblazer Award

Lillian Faderman

GCLS "Goldie" Awards Categories - 2016
  • Anthology/Collections (Non-Fiction)
  • Anthology/Collections (Fiction)
  • Creative Non-Fiction
  • Debut Author
  • Dramatic/General Fiction
  • Erotica
  • Historical Fiction
  • Mystery/Thriller
  • Paranormal/Horror
  • Poetry
  • Romantic Suspense/Intrigue/Adventure
  • Science Fiction/Fantasy
  • Traditional Contemporary Romance
  • Young Adult

In addition to the category book awards, there are special awards given:

  • The Lee Lynch Classic Book Award (inaugurated 2012, for classic books that have stood the test of time)[11]
  • Ann Bannon Popular Choice Award
  • Tee Corinne Outstanding Cover Design
  • The Directors Award
  • Trailblazer Award

References
  1. "Golden Crown Literary Society: About Us". www.goldencrown.org. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  2. "Golden Crown Literary Society". Goldencrown.org. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  3. Lynch, Lee (August 8, 2015). "The Amazon Trail: Dykey Dorothy and friends". Windy City Times. 30 (48): 12.
  4. Seajay, Carol (2005). "Golden Crown in New Orleans." Books To Watch Out For Archived 2008-08-28 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  5. O'Neill, Heather (June 2007). "Behind The Scenes in Lesbian Fiction." AfterEllen.com. Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  6. "GCLS honors lesbian writers". Windy City Times. 33 (44): 21. July 18, 2018.
  7. Anderson-Minshall, Diane (June 2007. "Curvatures: Golden Crown Literary Festival." Curve Magazine. Retrieved on 2008-06-01.
  8. Lee, Ryan (June 2007). "Stranger Than Fiction." Atlanta Voice.
  9. Golden Crown Literary Society Awards Archived May 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  10. "Historic Night at Golden Crown Literary Awards". Advocate.com. 2015-07-28. Retrieved 2015-08-06.
  11. "2013 GCLS Literary Awards Categories" (PDF). GCLS. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
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