Be There, Be Fair, or Be Where?

Table of Contents

• Be Where - Getting Dragged and Loving It

• Be Fair - A Writing Prompt to Balance Your Scales

• ✨ Glitter Spotlight: Podcasts of Recent Past ✨

• This Week’s Wish (The Book Got There!)

• Language Corner: Inclusive Communication Tips

Be Where - Getting Dragged and Loving It

Events you simply can’t miss in Madison, if you know what’s good for you:

• Dina Nina Martinez “Text Messages From The Edge of Erasure”

  • Friday, May 2nd, 7:30 PM - 9 PM

  • Overture Center, Madison, WI

    “This show is community, advocacy and appeal to humanity. Part storytelling, part poetry and prose, and part community conversation, Text Messages is resistance.”

  • PS- I’ll be there in the audience, enjoying my friend work the stage.

• Gallery Night! Theme: Vivid Visions

  • Friday, May 16th, 5 PM - 8 PM

  • 100State, 17 S. Fairchild St, 7th Floor, Madison, WI.

    “Over a dozen local artists will showcase their work alongside live painting, immersive music, VR demonstrations, and refreshments in an electrifying evening that captures the essence of Madison’s vibrant arts scene and cultural diversity.”

  • PS- I’ll be there with my books and freebies! Send friends!

• OutReach Trans Day of Joy Event

  • Saturday, May 17th, 1-4 PM

  • Warner Park

  “The Madison Area Transgender Association and OutReach present the return of TRANS JOY! Join us on Saturday May 17th at Warner Park for a day of fun and celebration for the Trans+ Community!”

• THE Big Gay Market!

  • June 13-15th

  • Alliant Energy Center, Madison, WI

    “LGBTQ+ organized market series that focuses on creating safe and fun events for our LGBTQ+ communities”

• QueerSPEAKS!

  • July 16 & 17th

  • Majestic Theater, Madison, WI

    “Popularity has no place here….well, maybe a little. Comedy, music, education, and leading thoughts captured in one place. Two days.”

  • Fun fact: I will be there as the MC!

Stay tuned for upcoming writing workshops and events!

On that… if you recommend I apply for any specific events to teach a writing workshop or set up a table to sell my book, let’s chat!

Be Fair - A Writing Prompt to Balance Your Scales

1. Think of an injustice: Journal out the who, what, where and why of that event/moment.

2. Flip the Script: Journal out what the opposite looks, sounds, and feels like.

3. Take notice: What is fair? Who/what matters?

4. Plan action: List out what you can do to find fairness, peace and justice.

5. BONUS: send gratitude to those you believe will help you maintain balance and fairness in these peaceful actions.

✨ Glitter Spotlight: Podcasts of Recent Past ✨

Last newsletter I mentioned I had been super sick and had two podcast videos yet to edit and publish. Catching up since then has been… special. I beg you for your patience once more and expect next week’s newsletter to be almost exclusively about the podcast (and a little freebie to look forward to).

Here are some funny freeze frame teasers for you:

This Week’s Wish (The Book Got There!)

Finally! Licensed to Sell is on The StoryGraph- the anti-Goodreads/Amazon site to review and discover books!

My wish: You’re Rave Review 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Step 1: Check out my book (if you haven’t already)

Step 2: Create an account on The StoryGraph (you can transfer your Goodreads stuff over in a click)

Step 3: Write your meaningful review for LTS.

Bonus: Tell me (Reply to this newsletter) so I can send you my gratitude!

Language Corner: Inclusive Communication Tips

This week's communication focus: Cultural respect. Remember how using someone's correct pronouns is a simple yet powerful way to create immediate safety and respect? Same goes for your BIPOC and Latin communities.

✨ Simply ask, “What do you prefer? (African-American? Black? Latina? Latinx?)”

✨ Repeat it out loud so you are more likely to use it correctly.

✨ Express your gratitude to them for sharing.

🌟 That’s a big step towards a respectful relationship.

On LinkedIn? Know anyone I should know? Look out for my post about this newsletter and please tag someone you think will enjoy it. Wouldn’t it be great to see this newsletter and collaboration grow? Thank you!

Sending you lots of love,

Laura