Excellence in Disability Literature
Ever wonder where your mind goes during a three-hour surgery sedation? I’m here to tell you I have an exquisite recall of the event. My surgeon begs to differ, but I briefed myself before the propofol ran wild, causing my left arm to freeze before blowing apart. Continue reading “Mer-folk Passage by Suzanne Nielsen”
By David-Elijah Nahmod
“Fox Foxerson” is the brainchild of queer cartoonist, illustrator, oil painter and mental health advocate Christi Furnas. In many ways, Fox is a reflection of Furnas’ own life. Like Furnas, Fox is queer and lives with mental illness. Continue reading “Fox Foxerson: Cartoon Advice Column a Reflection of Its Author”
By David-Elijah Nahmod
Oleb Books is pleased to be publishing Face Up: A Collection of Outlaw Poems, a new collection of poems by Suzanne Nielsen, who is also a writing professor at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, Minnesota. She’s right at home at Metro State, and no wonder: St. Paul is her hometown and she’s a former Metro State student. Continue reading “Author Suzanne Nielsen: Saved by Writing”
By Belo Miguel Cipriani
Six years ago, celebrated historical fiction writer Nomi Eve was hired by Drexel University to develop a master of fine arts (MFA) program for the institution. “I decided on a low-residency format because of the flexibility it offers,” said Eve. “Most of the instruction is delivered remotely, but students and instructor still meet in person three times during the program.” Continue reading “New Graduate Scholarship Opportunity for Writers with Disability”
By David-Elijah Nahmod
Eight books have been chosen to be honored in the 2022 Schneider Family Book Awards — a prize that acknowledges the artistic expression of disability by authors or illustrators who created their work for child or adolescent readers. The awards are administered by the American Librarian Association, and were announced on January 24, 2022, during the association’s LibLearnX, which was held virtually from January 21-24. Continue reading “8 Award-winning Disability Children’s and YA Books to Read in 2022”
By Natalie Watkins
Do you feel as though the writing life comes with a vow of poverty? Does it seem like a lifetime supply of Top Ramen should come with a subscription to Writer’s Digest? For many scribes, it can sometimes feel this way, however, do not despair! There are resources out there to help defray some of the costs of the writing life for writers with disabilities. Continue reading “5 Funding Sources for Writers with Disabilities”
By Natalie Watkins
A few years ago, author and activist Naomi Ortiz found herself wondering why there were so few elders engaged in social justice work. After some digging around, she discovered that many encountered “hard barriers,” and that the model of self-sacrifice for a collective cause was not mentally sustainable longterm. As a result, Ortiz researched self-help strategies — reading a wealth of literature in the field of self-care and self-help. Alas, she discovered that Continue reading “Disabled Author Naomi Ortiz Shares Self-Care Tips for Activists and Writers”
By Natalie Watkins
Finally! After investing blood, sweat and a sea of tears, you have completed your manuscript. You spent untold hours painstakingly editing and proofreading it, and it feels as if your brain will simply ooze out of your ear in a gelatinous mass if you give it even one more cursory look.
What is the next step on your path to publication? Continue reading “3 Query Letter Tips for Writers with Disabilities”
By Mannette Morgan, Author of Finding Your Voice: A Path to Recovery for Survivors of Abuse
As a little girl, I knew I wanted to be a writer “when I grew up.” The problem was, I couldn’t read or write. I realized at a young age that I didn’t learn like everyone else. I felt stupid, different, and disconnected from others. I struggled to read, write, and spell for the entirety of my childhood. Continue reading “How I Found My Voice and Learned to Thrive”
By Jacob Lesner-Buxton
Leroy Moore identifies as a black journalist, poet and activist with a disability. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, his work addresses important issues, such as the marginalization of Black people in the disability rights movement, as well as the relationship between racism, ableism and police brutality. Additionally, Moore is also one of the founders of Continue reading “Black Journalist, Poet and Activist Leroy Moore”