Friend and fellow author Shelley Thrasher sent me this photo of the Goldie that Loving Eleanor won last night. The Goldie is awarded by the Golden Crown Literary Society at their annual conference, "the premier lesbian literary event for both authors and readers." Hick, Mrs. R, and I are doing a little happy dance--so pleased to be recognized by our lesbian friends and colleagues.
This makes the eighth important recognition for this biographical/historical novel. When I first began working on the project in 2014, I was daunted by the multiple challenges. The story would be told by a lesbian who was in love with the woman who rapidly became the most famous First Lady of all time. It was a story that centered on Eleanor Roosevelt's romantic love for another woman, not exactly the kind of thing most people would associate her with. I would have to do a great deal of research in the primary documents, in an era of American history in which I had not much more than a basic knowledge. After the novel was written, I submitted it to a dozen publishers and got exactly a dozen rejections--so added to the challenge of writing the book was the challenge of publishing it myself.
But I love a challenge. (Say "no" to me and hear me shout "YES!") I had a deep, strong conviction that this was a story that had to be told--and that now was the time to tell it. When Hick died in 1968, she had to hide the correspondence that documented the 30-year friendship, sealed in the FDR Presidential Library. In 1978, the letters (over 3000 of them!) were unsealed, and the story became public. But it was immediately and unfortunately mangled by a biographer who was afraid of linking Eleanor Roosevelt with a lesbian and did her best to diminish the relationship and negatively portray the subject of her biography. Some of the letters were published in 1998, and more of the story became available. But when it was discussed, it was still denied, "explained," and trivialized.
But we're in a new place now. There is still a long, long way to go—but the forward progress can’t be held back. And I am thrilled beyond words that a straight author can write a book about a deep, enduring, loving friendship between a lesbian journalist and the First Lady of the World (as Harry Truman called ER); publish it herself; and win an array of awards. Please accept this deeply grateful thank you to all of you--readers, friends, and sponsors of these award programs. You made this possible.