WHERE’S THE NEXT ISSUE?!

October 23, 2022 / Celenia Delsol / Leave a comment

A year ago today, we released what we thought would be the first (of many) issues of our creative journal. We were so excited to put this beautiful collection of visual art and words out into the world, and to give our lesbian community’s creativity a new platform.

That first issue was a resounding success, and we are PROUD of it. There was great enthusiasm and support for this project, and we are grateful to ALL of our contributors and readers.

Sadly, at least for now, the journal is on hold. It’s not dead, but it is definitely on life support. My co-publisher has had a change in life circumstances and has had to step away from this endeavor. That affects the bottom line, but MORE importantly this was never meant to be a solo project. I do not wish to carry the entire weight – financially, creatively, energetically – on my own.

The success of our first issue may have been due to an already existing community of lesbians in the San Francisco Bay Area (more specifically, Walnut Creek’s Rossmoor 55+ community), who were thrilled to contribute to and support our journal. The creativity that emerged from (mostly) this community, was awesome indeed. But our mission from the start was to reach a larger and more diverse lesbian community in terms of age, ethnicity and geography.

As we attempted to sift through submissions for a second issue, we realized we had not attracted the diversity we’d hoped for. Admittedly, some of that was lack of skill in promoting/marketing our project to a wider audience. We wondered whether we had simply created a “one hit wonder” – although I don’t really believe that; I think there’s a hunger for what our journal offers.

SO…

I’m looking for a partner, someone who is willing to invest financially, as well as someone who has that marketing skill set I lack. If you think you are that person (or you know of someone who might be) please contact me. justabunchoflesbians@gmail.com.

In the meantime, for those of you who have submitted work for what was going to be our spring (and then fall) issue, please feel free to submit your work elsewhere. We’ve held onto your work long enough, and want you to find a place for it to “live” beyond your imagination.

The digital version of our inaugural issue is still available for purchase HERE.

I hope this is not “goodbye.” – Celenia Delsol, Publisher

SOLD OUT!

January 6, 2022 / Celenia Delsol / Leave a comment

person walking on empty aisle on grocery store — Photo by WeStarMoney on Pexels.com

We certainly dreamed this day would come, and it actually has. We are SOLD OUT of our print copies of the inaugural issue of “Loud & Proud: A Journal Of Lesbian Creativity”! Thanks to all of you for your support of our journal.

The digital version of our first issue will always be available, so if you missed your chance to buy an actual copy that you can hold in your hands, there is still the digital option. Simply go HERE to make your purchase.

The deadline for submissions for our second issue is quickly approaching. February 1. Less than a month. Don’t delay if you would like your writing or your art to grace the pages of Issue #2! If you go HERE, you will find our instructions.

Again, thank you so much for making the publication of this new lesbian journal a success.

MEET US ONLINE

December 1, 2021December 1, 2021 / Celenia Delsol / Leave a comment

December 1, 2021

woman using smartphone and taking notes in notebook — Photo by George Milton on Pexels.com

On Sunday, December 5 from 4-5:30pm (Pacific), contributors of our first issue will be guests of Women On The Net. We will be reading some of our poetry and stories, as well as sharing some of the art in our inaugural issue. There will be time for Q&A. Go HERE for more details and to register. There is a $5 fee for non-members of Women On The Net.

There are still about 25 print copies left if you are interested in purchasing our inaugural issue. The digital version of this issue will ALWAYS be available, but we may sell out of our print version…so don’t wait! Purchase your copy HERE.

We are beginning to focus on submissions for Issue 2! Writers, artists, photographers, musicians, videographers…if you are a woman who identifies as a lesbian, this is your chance to share your creativity with a larger audience. February 1, 2022 is the submission deadline. Please review the requirements for submissions HERE.

LESBIAN JOURNAL LAUNCH!

November 4, 2021November 4, 2021 / Celenia Delsol / 1 Comment

November 4, 2021

The weather goddesses were generous, delaying the San Francisco Bay Area’s first torrential downpour of the season for several hours so that we could celebrate un-drenched.

On Saturday, October 23, 2021, our NEW lesbian magazine, “LOUD & PROUD: A Journal Of Lesbian Creativity,” was launched. It had been gestating for several months, and its birth was midwifed by fifteen lesbian contributors and cheered on by a supportive community of women.

Approximately forty of us gathered in Rossmoor (a 55+ active living community in Walnut Creek CA) to celebrate. Some music, some wine, some foodies. LOTS of joyful conversation.

Copies “flew off the shelves.” (Well, there weren’t actually any shelves; there weren’t even any walls!) Copies “flew” off the picnic table…and have continued to sell since.

We knew we were creating something that would be satisfying to hold in our hands, but did we fully appreciate the need and desire there was in our community for this? Not quite.

It is remarkably satisfying to flip through the journal’s pages, to gaze upon our art and to read our words. But it is a dream come true to have created a platform that spotlights lesbian voices and creativity, and reflects our lesbian lives. The final product turned out to be even more fulfilling than the sum of its parts. We’re proud and humbled and excited all at once.

The deadline for our Spring issue is FEBRUARY 1, 2022. How are YOU going to express your creative genius in our pages? We can’t wait to see. Go HERE to submit your work. And if you haven’t purchased your copy yet…GO HERE.