Sharing the Phracking Love

I have succumbed to all that is MFMM. I choose to feed this madness by connecting with others who are similarly afflicted.

[afterdinnerminx-blog]

What The Actual Fuck? ...is what I’m saying to myself when I discover my fiction submitted as part of a previous phicathon -- along with all of the lovely reader comments -- was deleted with no notice. It was totally possible to remove herself as an author in order to leave the work up. It was totally possible to warn me in advance. But no. This was done to everyone who participated. All our history...GONE. The move was callous af. Thanks but no thanks @phrynesboudoir -- enjoy your fucking hiatus. I’m out.

[omgimsarahtoo]

Miss Fisher’s Bookshelf, part 9: The Fics We Missed

Wow, fandom - there are LOTS of fics that we missed, obviously! Some of these came in via private message, some came as replies to a previous Bookshelf post, and some came in via Slack chat (and it’s possible that we added a few more ourselves, but who’s counting, right?). I just hope we captured them all! If we missed yours - or you didn’t get around to sending them - please let us know or just reblog. Let’s share all the fic love!

We’ve compiled two lists from what you all sent us: new fics to the Bookshelf and ones that had already been listed. But who doesn’t have those books that you’ll buy from a used bookstore just so that it doesn’t languish on the shelf by itself? No? Just me? *cough* Moving on.

We’ve even collected a couple of rec lists we found on Tumblr if you want to start with someone else’s bookshelf! None of these lists are in any particular order, so feel free to cherry-pick in whichever way you like (want to read the smutty ones first? All about a specific writer? We won’t judge!). Thank you all for coming along on this adventure with us - this fandom is the absolute best!

Recs from Tumblr Readers

Little Moments by theblue-swallow (and the Lilyverse series). This story is changed to a random set of one shots from my AU. “The Dinner” being the first. Time frames may change from chapter to chapter. (Rated T)

Kick Off by Sassasam. They stayed for the match from kick off to conclusion but neither of them had sport of that nature on their minds. (Rated M)

Twenty Questions by Sassasam. Phryne and Jack’s first time together proves to be an interrogation as much as it is an assignation. (Rated E)

The Search by Sassasam. Takes place during the events of Murder a la Mode. At the House of Fleuri Jack must search Phryne for the missing Aubergine pearls. (Rated T)

Days of Jade, Nights of Onyx by Elliott Silver. A pastiche of scenes from Jack and Phryne’s newest joint venture. Where there is an ending, there is also a beginning. (Rated M)

You Always Surprise Me Don’t Ever Stop (collection) by RakishAngle (afterdinnerminx). Three works. (Rated variously)

A Lack of Pretense by mardia. He leans into her hand, and murmurs, “So you found me. Thought you would.” Phryne’s throat is too tight for her to speak at first, but she eventually manages to smile. “Yes. Of course I did.” (Rated T)

Inappropriate by PromisesArePieCrust. Liquor-loosened tongues. Season 2. And alternate ending. (Rated M)

Speechless by PromisesArePieCrust. A short break from City that Works this week for some fluffflufffluff, romanceromanceromance, with my favorite trope of all time, kissing in the rain. (Rated T)

A Grown Man by LadyRoxie. Jack’s had a rough day… Kissing Miss Fisher was just the start. (Rated E)

The Unexpected Perks of Knotting a Tie by xfphile. He really, *really* needed to start thinking things through before he opened his mouth. (Rated E)

The Next Morning by pulpriter. “And then what happens?” pulpriter’s feeling puckish–and so are Jack and Phryne. (Not rated)

Interpretation by pulpriter. Filling in the blanks for Jack. (Not rated)

Authenticity by Fire_Sign. A smutty, drabbley ficlet for the first PFF. (Rated M)

Just This Once by leafingbookstea. The twin brother I created on Tumblr gets his story - ONE TIME ONLY (Not rated)

Dance Me to the End of Love by leafingbookstea. Phryne and Jack and one last dance. (Rated T)

Too Wise to Woo Peaceably by flashofthefuse. After Phryne left for England, Jack did not follow, but attempted to woo her from a distance with unsatisfactory results. Phryne returns to Melbourne and the two of them stumble as they work to reestablish their connection, with some assistance from well meaning friends. (Rated M)

Strange Capers by Fire_Sign. Two years ago, Phryne Fisher returned her father to England; Jack hasn’t seen her since. At least until he arrives at his latest crime scene and spies a very familiar figure crouching over the body… (Rated M)

Angles and Positions by Dispatch22705. 25 drabbles, one posted each day from now until Christmas. Sexy Jack and Phryne times, each one 100 words and featuring a different angle or position. (Rated E)

The Betrayal of Memory by TheHonorableMrsMcCarthy. Set after the events of Cocaine Blues. Jack is at home processing his day. (Rated M)

We’ll Build Our Alter Here by youspeakmysoul. Jack was ignoring her, surely he would see that breaking and entering was her only viable option. (Rated E) When His Pants Begin to Go by missingMelbs. Jack is here to do some gardening. Phryne is drooling. Fate intervenes. (Rated T)

Mock Turtle by jasbo. Phryne sipped her cocktail and scanned the room, wondering how long it would be before she could leave. She would say this for literary parties: the alcohol was excellent. (Rated Gen)

The Green-Eyed Monster by PhrancesP. Phryne feels a bit inadequate compared to St. Kilda’s voluptuous new widow. (Not Rated)

What the Water Gave Me by missrainydays. Surrendering was not something that Detective Inspector Jack Robinson was accustomed to doing, but the ocean made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. (Rated T)

The Messenger by girldetective. The mark was placed with calculated precision. Low enough on the neck that the bearer would think it hidden by his collared shirt, high enough that it would be revealed when he turned his head to beckon the waiter. (Rated T)

A Moment in Queenscliff by Sassasam. A single moment told from two different but strangely similar points of view. (Rated T)

Wise Gifts by Blacksquirrel. If you love something set it free. If it comes back it’s yours. If not, it was never meant to be. (Rated E)

The Female Gaze by Sarahtoo. Five times Jack Robinson was caught in the shower and one time he acted on it. (Rated E)

Then the Sky Will Seem More Blue by meldanya. During World War II, Dot and her family start a new project. (Rated T)

He Calls Her Beautiful by LadyRoxie. He calls her many things when she is Miss Fisher. (Not rated)

An Abbotsford Man by Sarahtoo. Phryne and Dot bring refreshments to a pick-up footy game. (Rated T)

500 Words You Should Know: 422. Rubenesque by JackPhryne4eva. Dottie undresses on her wedding night. (Rated T)

Chaff and Grain Together by gaslightgallows. Even the most amazing and wonderful of detectives can be laid low by a cold. (Rated G)

Undercover Escort by PlayfulMay. Jack goes undercover as an escort to the persuasive Miss Fisher. (Rated M)

Sweltering by Collingwoodgirl. Melbourne is suffocating under a heat wave. Phryne uses the Inspector’s weakened state to her advantage. (Rated M)

And I Do Lift My Aching Arms to You by gaslightgallows. A simple diversionary tactic turns into something a little more involved, when an undercover Phryne and Jack have to allay the suspicions of their fellow party-goers. (Rated E)

The Worrying Kind by whopooh. Jack Robinson is a worrier and Phryne Fisher hasn’t appeared in his minimal office for more than ten days. What has happened? Why does Dot Williams seem to feel guilty about it? And does innocent Hugh understand more than people give him credit for? Part of The SmitCoin Challenge. (Rated G)

A Bed for My Friends by gaslightgallows. Jack sits down to breakfast with one of Phryne’s lovers. Or rather, several of them. (Rated T)

To See Each Other Whole Against the Sky by Sassasam. Someone is sending Phryne Fisher gifts. It is a mystery she wants to solve as soon as possible. (Rated E)

Not (yet?) completed: Coded Expressions by Sarahtoo; Addicted by Dispatch22705; Jessa Called Jay by Elliott Silver; Paint Chips by divingbell; Phracking Fridays by PromisesArePieCrust; When in Rome by satin_swallow; Marked by Fire_Sign.

Had to Get a Second Copy

(Or: recs that were already on the Bookshelf)

Finally by Evendale. What if Aunt Prudence had not interrupted that fateful moment in episode 12? An exploration of Jack and Phryne’s relationship, mostly bedroom-related :) Each chapter has a different theme, so they can be read more or less separately. (Rated E)

Death at the Warrny by Miss_Lilian. Jack gets the thighs out… in the line of duty, of course! (Rated T)

The Wager by soupsouffle. Jack makes a wager with Phryne. Fluffy, smutty romping ensues. (Rated E)

The Cream in My Coffee by Sassasam. Modern AU; Cafe 1928 is the hippest dining destination in Melbourne, but when Phryne Fisher moves in across the road, things will never be the same again. (Rated E)

City that Works by PromisesArePieCrust. Modern AU with role reversal. Set in Chicago. (Rated M)

Ulumbarra by Idolatrous. Phryne is receiving death threats, and Jack does what it takes to keep her safe. (Rated M)

Lucifers to Light by gaslightgallows. Bert intercepts Jack at the engagement party in “Murder in the Dark” before Phryne does. (Rated E)

I Ask No Man Pardon by TheHonorableMrsMcCarthy. An unexpected friendship between Rosie and Phryne forms, which leads to an unexpected journey of personal discovery. (Rated E)

You Asked For It by gaslightgallows. 400 drabbles strong and still going, every pairing you’ve ever thought of, and some you’d never guess. (Rated M overall, but many are Gen/T level)

But Not Out of Mind and its sequel Kiss of Death: A Sydney Interlude by Francophilly. Phryne and Jack have gone their separate ways, but what happens when they’re out of sight? (Rated M)

A Series of Optical Illusions by Fahye. Miss Phryne Fisher sets a trap, throws a party, and reconciles her differences. (Rated M)

The God Abandons Antony by counterfog. At its base, this is about Jack and Phryne’s first time. But it’s more than that. (Rated E)

Under a London Sky by theblue_swallow. She breathed in sharply when she saw him and she immediately felt her heart rate quicken. She gripped her bag tighter, forcing herself to calm down. She was a grown woman. She had had enough men to be calm about this, mature about this. (Rated M)

A Glass Splinter (aka SuperAngst) by Fire_Sign. What if Henry Fisher hadn’t inherited the barony? (Rated M)

There Are Bluebirds Over by Sassasam. It’s 1940, and Phryne and Jack meet again during WWII. (Rated M)

The Gift by Heavyheadedgal. Mr. Butler prepares for Miss Fisher’s return. (Rated Gen)

They Tell A Story by TheEyeOfTheOncomingStorm. Inspired by Illusion of Freedom by Yeoyou. Soulmate AU. Jack’s POV.  (Rated T)

All Sorrows Are Less With Bread by Sarahtoo. Concetta finds her happy ending. (Rated E)

The Melody Lingers On by meldanya. Jack and Phryne’s marriage has crumbled. Can they put it back together? (Rated M)

Fighting Vainly the Old Ennui by Fahye. In which Inspector Jack Robinson is having a fairly uneventful year, divorce notwithstanding, until he acquires a lady doctor for a drinking buddy and receives a series of flirtatious notes from a jewel thief. (Rated T)

Other Tumblr Rec Lists

http://aljwritesphryne.tumblr.com/post/150926714036/fic-recs

http://whopooh.tumblr.com/ReadingMissFisherIndex

Recommendations by: @reibenpat, @balticprincess, @quiltingmom, @jojogaldi, @babsmd, @221aubrina, @flashofthefuse, @ladygrayluvs, @michele02132, @bill0014, @olderbynow​, @bumblemama

Earlier posts in the Miss Fisher’s Bookshelf series:

Part 1: Collections and Series

Part 2: Tropes and Genres I

Part 3: Tropes and Genres II

Part 4: Alternate Universes and Outside of Canon

Part 5: Secondary Characters and Relationships - Queer Friendly

Part 6: Phrack I

Part 7: Phrack II

Part 8: Smut

There’s a post on Firesign23’s blog and one on mine where we’ve archived all of these too, in case you feel the need to go back to them! Happy reading, everyone!

Lots of love from the original Bookshelf gang: @whopooh​ @omgimsarahtoo​ @firesign23​ @whilenotwritingmyphd​ @kanste​ @jasbeaux​ @thehonorablemrsmccarthy​ @afterdinnerminx​ @gaslightgallows​ @heavyheadedgal​ @jackphryne4eva​ @jeneenp​ @meldanya44​ @mollidraws​

[afterdinnerminx-blog]

The quintessential, all-encompassing thing!  Thanks to the gang for putting this together (my involvement was minimal) and to all the readers for submitting their faves. Makes my heart warm and gushy to feel the love!

[ifoundmyselfreading]

How to Review a Trans Book as a Cis Person

I have seen countless reviews written by cisgender people that as a trans person make my stomach turn. In the majority of reviews written by cisgender readers, the trans characters are misgendered, transness itself is sensationalized, and the cisgender author is commonly called “brave” for writing about “such a controversial issue.” To top it off, most of these reviews contain the phrase: “this book opened my eyes so much!” It hurts to see these. It makes me feel so helpless to see people who care about trans people accidentally spread harmful misconceptions that contribute to transphobia.

Most of these harmful reviewing methods come from confusion and misinformation, not ill intent. The layers of complexity around transness can be incredibly difficult to understand. Learning about and understanding transness is a process—I’m trans, and I’m still confused about some things, and learning lots of stuff! So I am not here to point fingers or blame anyone. My intention is only to educate.

I think that a major source of misinformation for readers can come from the book’s blurb and marketing material. Whichever way the blurb/marketing material describes transness is often (understandably) seen by many readers as an appropriate way to talk about it. Unfortunately, most blurbs of trans books are written by cis people and are often transphobic (for an extreme example, a transphobic slur is used in one of the recs on the jacket copy of I Am J). So the fact that problematic reviews have become commonplace is understandable.

Why is it important that reviews get better? Because trans books do not exist in a vacuum and neither do reviews. If a cis person reads a book with a trans character and it opens their eyes—great. But that’s not enough. That newfound inner understanding and empathy needs to be translated into outward actions. A really big part of treating trans people right has to do with the language you use. If you don’t do things as simple as referring to trans people by the correct pronouns, and by their chosen name, you are not treating trans people with respect.

It’s also about changing the culture of the YA community, and ensuring that it is a respectful and safe place for trans people. Because, right now, it’s not. I and so many other trans people can barely stomach reading the reviews of trans books by cis readers, and don’t even want to touch discussions of trans representation that are led by cis people. Transphobic reviews and language make us uncomfortable in a place that should first and foremost be for us. That just shouldn’t be the case, not in an area that’s full of people claiming to understand and support us.

So, this is my guide to reviewing trans books as a cis person. I’m not the only trans person out there, obviously, and there are for sure many other trans people whose opinions differ from my own. So I offer this guide as a starting point to shifting the conversation to a trans person’s perspective, and encourage you to listen to the perspectives of other trans people as well.  

1) Use the right pronouns. Even if it is never explicitly discussed in the book. For example, in Gracefully Grayson, Grayson never specifically she says that she wants she/her pronouns. But it is clear that she is a trans girl, and while there are certainly cases of trans people not wanting to change pronouns until they’ve transitioned, that is a personal choice and not an OK method of referring to trans people as a whole.

I cannot overstate the importance of this. Using “he” for someone whose pronoun is “she” or vice versa is saying that you don’t see them as the gender they are, which is one of the major catalysts of transphobia.

If the character is genderfluid, genderqueer, nonbinary, or a similar identity and hasn’t stated a pronoun preference, use they/them, other gender neutral pronouns, or simply the character’s name.

2) Use the right name. This is as important as using the right pronouns. Never use a character’s birth name (often referred to by trans people as their dead name) to refer to them, unless they have not picked a different name. So, for example, it’s okay to refer to the trans girl in Gracefully Grayson as Grayson— she never talks about a different name that she’d like to use. But referring to Gabe in Beautiful Music for Ugly Children as Elizabeth, or Luna in Luna as Liam is not ok: those characters have stated a new name for themselves.  

3) How do you describe a character being trans?

Here’s a brief guide from GLAAD that should help. After you read that (and seriously—read it. Especially the “Terms To Avoid” section. It’s short, yet very very important) here are my own additions:

My general thoughts on language—the simpler the better. It’s not necessary to be flowery when explaining that a character is trans. You can simply say “This character is [a trans girl/a trans boy/nonbinary]” or “she is a girl that the rest of the world sees as a boy.” Trans people are trans people—it’s not necessary to use flowery language to describe them being trans, like “when Grayson looks in the mirror and spins around, he sees a girl looking back at him.” Simply say that the character is trans!

In particular, please stay away from phrases like these (in the case of describing a trans girl): “Believed he was meant to be a girl,” “he wants to be a girl,” “a boy who is transgender”. These are not appropriate ways to explain that someone is trans. When someone is trans, it means they are the gender they feel they are. Grayson (from Gracefully Grayson) does not want to be a girl—she is a girl!

The phrase “born in the wrong body” is a highly contested phrase in the trans community. Some feel that it’s a completely inappropriate way to characterize being trans, some identify heavily with it. It’s fine for trans people to define themselves that way. I don’t think, however, that it’s an OK way to characterize transness in whole, and I think it’s inappropriate for cis reviewers to describe transness in that way.

4) Lots of reviewers will talk about how “brave” the cis author is for writing about “such a controversial issue.” (I just love being called a “controversial issue”!) Why is it brave for a cis author to write about a trans character? Being trans is not something they’ve experienced. When I see this in reviews, it makes me feel like the reviewer sees trans people as an issue, a topic, a taboo, and not as real people. It dehumanizes trans people, positions them as something to be talked around. It assumes that trans people won’t be reading the review. And it positions the cis person as doing trans people a favor, of somehow finding it in themselves to write about these freakish people.

5) Put a “cisclaimer” at the beginning of your review! Something along the lines of “Cisclaimer: I am cis! I know/don’t know [x amount] about trans issues.” This doesn’t alleviate your responsibility to refer to the character respectfully, but I believe it is an important step to show that your opinion on the book, as a cis person, is not the most important one.

6) Try to find a review of the trans YA book you’re reviewing from a trans person. Even if you don’t agree with all of it, or understand it, having the perspective is vitally important. (If you can’t find one, it doesn’t mean you can’t review the book! But please remain aware that your perspective on a trans book is not as important as a trans person’s. :))

Please, leave me a comment or tweet me @findmereading if you have any questions! Also, if any trans readers have thoughts to add, or disagree with something I said, let me know! I want to hear your thoughts.

Thanks for listening! :)

(originally posted on my blog)

[alexdemorra]

The Men In His Life, Pt. I

Chapter 15 - Fence Sitter

28-year-old Micah’s professional distance is affecting his personal relationships. He might have to start resolving his past in order not to lose his future.

Inspiration/Photo Credit - Jordy Baan by Lachlan Bailey

Want to start this book from the beginning? 

Fence Sitter starts here – http://archiveofourown.org/series/550201

[afterdinnerminx-blog]

Just my irregular boosting of this series. Have any of you guys read it? What do you think?

[alexdemorra]

Before I’m In The Air

Chapter 14 - Fence Sitter

Twenty-one year old Micah is competing in his last gymnastics meet with his school team. With his imminent graduation, it feels like he’s experiencing a lot of “lasts” to go with new opportunities. There are also a lot of coincidences with people seemingly appearing out of nowhere to remind him of his past.

Jordy Baan as inspiration for Micah (Photo by Robin Joris)

Haven’t started Fence Sitter yet?

Start here: http://archiveofourown.org/series/550201

[afterdinnerminx-blog]

If you like stuff by Rakish Angle or Afterdinnerminx...but wish there was an m/m story written by them...here you go!

[alexdemorra]

Tico Bait

Chapter 13 – FENCE SITTER

28-year-old Micah has been dating Dante even though they’ve had a long-distance relationship after he returned to the Bay Area at the end of the summer.

Dante visited over the weekend and is taking the first flight back tomorrow morning. Micah’s feeling sorry for himself until he’s interrupted with an unexpected proposition.

[alexdemorra]

For Every After, There’s Bound To Be A Before

Chapter 12 - Fence Sitter

Thirteen-year-old Micah is reunited with his best friend Tyrell Johnson, who returned six weeks ago after living in Phoenix with his dad for several years.

It’s Christmas Eve. The boys have a bus pass and they found their way to the part of the city with an active LGBT community.

http://archiveofourown.org/works/8928103/chapters/20449777

Haven’t started Fence Sitter yet?

It starts here: http://archiveofourown.org/series/550201

[afterdinnerminx-blog]

👀

Hey guys - if you like M/M fiction...

[alexdemorra]

The Gamut – Fence Sitter, Chapter 11

Sixteen-year-old Micah comes home from a long day to find his mother enraged. The fallout changes everything. It also brings up past memories that haven’t been dealt with.  

Note: Trigger warnings apply

Haven’t started Fence Sitter yet? Start here.

Micah Swaeler doesn’t fit in. Anywhere. His family hardly speaks to him, his friends come and go, and he can’t quite figure out how to love somebody. Or how to be loved.

Until he does. And when he does, he learns how much support he’s had all along.

Micah’s story is told in a series of short stories that take place from the time he is four until the time he is thirty-four. While the stories go back and forth through time, each one reveals something more about things that have happened to him, things that he’s done, things that he’s told himself. Each story explores identity through family, athletics, friendship, sexuality, of one man’s transition from being a victim to being a survivor.

Eventual HEA for a slightly broken, definitely imperfect guy who is kind of lovely. Bisexual love and sex stories interspersed throughout

[rejectedprincesses]

“Women’s Work” by Chris Crisman 

Photographer Chris Crisman went around photographing women who worked in lines of work that are considered by many as unusual, to represent and normalize women in those spaces. Determined to show his children that they could be anything they wanted, he sums up the photo series’ message in one sentence: “Gender should not determine professional opportunities.”

[more info here] [Crisman’s website here]

[rejectedprincesses]

So I posted this yesterday on the RP Facebook page, and something amazing happened: women started showing up by the hundreds and posting pictures of themselves doing stereotypically “non-female” jobs. It’s pretty amazing.

The photographer himself waded into the thread and started taking feedback and suggestions (he knows there need to be more PoC and he’s working on it). We even had a number of armchair OSHA inspectors helpfully pointing out that these carefully-staged pictures from an obvious photoshoot didn’t meet food handling standards! Good looking out, random internet guy!

Anyway, check out the thread here, it’s pretty cool: https://www.facebook.com/rejectedprincesses/posts/1497308330283560

[alexdemorra]

Alex de Morra on Twitter

“Just think of how cool u will be when ur future self says, "I read Alex's M/M story before anyone knew who he was!" https://t.co/eeHx5nH4IU”

Dante

Jax - Micah - Dante

Keep reading

[afterdinnerminx-blog]

If you like M/M fiction with sex and angst, give this one a shot. 

[troyxxx]

[afterdinnerminx-blog]

Reblogging because I needed it on my dash for...erm...reasons.

[schoolofburlesque]

We love these “spellbound” signature #pastiesoftheday by the genius @manugeettoi ! #thepastieproject #burlesquepasties

https://thepastieproject.org/

“Preserving Burlesque Costume History, One Pastie at a Time“

[ladygrayluvs]

Lordy - Pasties of the Day - clearly I need to re-*vamp* by naughty knicker draw. 

[foxspirit1928]

Announcement from MFMM Facebook page

(link here)

“What is next for #MissFisher? We are working hard to bring Miss Fisher back to her legion of fans. With Essie Davis living permanently in London with her family, there is no Season 4 of Miss Fisher at this stage. However, she is signed on to reprise her role in the Miss Fisher feature film which is currently being scripted, and we’re also working on a prequel series of the 17-year-old Phryne running amok around Melbourne. Watch this space!”

(Posted 04-Nov-2016)

[whopooh]

My two cents here is that the idea of the prequel could be great. For me, it is the execution that will decide how much I like it, the idea is not bad at all. It would not be the same show, and it would have to have a different rationale, different important relationships and a different point, but it could definitely be of interest. I cannot see more of Phryne being an inherently bad idea, and I do trust Every Cloud to do something clever and interesting and female-centered of this. I would probably not be part of the primary target group here, and I would most likely not rewatch the heck of it like I do with the Miss Fisher we have now, but I would watch it and be willing and open to like it. 

Thinking further about this, yes, some of the wonderful and beloved characters would not be in there, but there are actually quite a few that do go back to Phryne’s adolescence: most importantly MAC, but think of Aunt P with her whole family still intact <3 (adolescent Guy, young Arthur, uncle Edward), Ray, Victor Freeman, Phryne’s teacher Miss Charlesworth, perhaps Lydia Andrews, the baron, and we would finally get to see Phryne’s mother and their likely very fraught and special relationship. Also, of course, new characters, people that Phryne will relate to in different ways, and a very interesting time period at that!

The problem here, as I see it, is that we love our grown-up Phryne so deeply and intensely and want to see a continuation of this incredibly well-made and clever and necessary show – and this idea could never be a compensation for that. But if we look past that disappointment, I think this could be fun, and also tell an interesting story on its own merits.

And oh, if that movie were really to happen, I would be so so happy. And if at some point there would also be a season 4 – that would just be :happy sigh:

[firesign23]

Well said as ever @whopooh!

[skirtswithpocketsplease]

I agree with you 100%, @whopooh!

[ladygrayluvs]

wise words @whopooh and while prequels and sequels can be hit and miss they can also be terrific fun - I absolutely adored Morse in my *younger days* when it was first broadcast - it took me a while to settle into Lewis - which kinda hit the airwaves as I moved overseas to the US but I came to delight in it so much - yes Hathaway helps but the changed dynamics after the passing of time for the Lewis himself was handled so well as I inched closer to being Lewis’ age myself - and now Endeavor - which I cannot bring myself to watch yet even though it’s sposed to be - why? Well I adored Morse and how can it possibly compete……….

[wah-pah]

I have to confess I wasn’t exactly sold on the prequel idea due to some qualms already presented by some other members of the phandom, but I have to confess I don’t hate it that much anymore because some of the reasons above do make quite some sense.

And hopefully we will get the film with the ‘version’ of Phryne we know and love, so not everything is lost.

[afterdinnerminx-blog]

@whopooh

I love how that beautiful brain of yours works.

[wordsnquotes]

People are not rain or snow or autumn leaves; they do not look beautiful when they fall.

Nav K.  (via wordsnquotes)

[adventuressclubamericas]

A few things....

It has come to our attention that there are some folks who feel the idea of a Miss Fisher Con is operating outside the bounds of…well, we’re not quite sure what, to be honest.

What is a “Con” but a chance for fans to gather and let their freak flag fly for their favorite thing. Whether that is ComiCon, which encompasses all manner of geekery goodness, or something like Sherlocked, or of course the legendary Star Trek conventions that have been around for decades.

Why shouldn’t the inspiring and vivacious Phryne Fisher not have her own gathering as well we thought?

Gosh, wouldn’t that be something?! Hundreds of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries fans gathered in one spot at the same time from all over the world. Wow, that’s like a song. No, wait Sarah, we didn’t mean actually sing. No that was lovely, you do have a beautiful voice. Wait, what? We’re still rolling? Oh! So seriously, how fun would that be?

So, what are the Adventuresses’ Club members here for? FUN?! Adventure! Community!

What are we not here for? Drama, passive-aggressive comments on social media, or fandom policing (ew, ick that feels awful even to type).

Keep reading

[afterdinnerminx-blog]

Honestly, the coolest, most creative, most supportive, kick-ass women I know are putting this together. This will be the queen of all fandom events!

[lucaskieran-blog]

how good the Austen men would be in bed

okay it’s Eleanor @queerandgrumpy’s fault that I’ve given this so much consideration but it’s time for official scores

Edward Ferrars okay so he’d be gentle and sweet and would stroke your face a lot, but sense without sensibility only gets you so far, you know? Edward is the guy you can take home to meet your mum but you don’t feel any particular compulsion to take him to bed. there’d be no passion, and he’d also have no idea what he was doing, but he’d be very nice about it which it why I moved him up from my original 2/10 to a: 3/10

Colonel Brandon he’s got the brooding and the passion, as well as the intense longing, but on the other hand, he’s on the older side, and not in a sexy way, and he’s so scrupulously moral in a really straightforward way that he probably wouldn’t do anything, well, particularly interesting 5/10

Willoughby (just looked it up and his first name is John?? I refuse to accept that, it never even occurred to me that he would have a first name) okay so Willoughby is everything Brandon isn’t, sure, that’s the point, and he’d think he was fantastic, but he’s that guy who does no foreplay, finishes after five minutes, falls asleep immediately, and then smirks at you later like he thinks he gave you a really good time 2/10

Fitzwilliam Darcy okay here’s the thing, Darcy would be really good, but only once. so much repression, so much longing, the single best night of your life, but after that he goes back to being shy and awkward and also he feels really weird about what you did together and it makes him even more awkward than before (yes, even if you marry him) 7/10

Charles Bingley oh god can you even imagine? there’s nothing hot about that level of earnestness. he has no idea what he’s doing and neither do you if you even consider going to bed with him 2/10

George Wickham he’s got a bit more game than Willoughby but you can tell how little he respects you and it makes you feel dirty. he’s also probably into some weird shit and gets all defensive and strange if you don’t feel like indulging it 3/10

Mr Collins I refuse to even picture this 0/10

Colonel Fitzwilliam he’s reasonably attractive, he’s nice, he’s considerate, he knows what he’s doing, he doesn’t really want to get involved but he still cuddles you and gets you breakfast in the morning 6/10

Edmund Bertram look, he’s just not hot. it’s impossible to be that into him unless you’re Fanny Price, and you’re not. also you can kind of sense that he’s projected this idealised version of you onto you and it’s weird. all of it’s weird. you tell your best friend about it and she asks how it was and you say “it was weird” 1/10 Henry Crawford I mean we know he’s good, right? he’s “leave your obscenely rich husband” good. I didn’t want to get too detailed and specific on this post, but Henry Crawford gives you like a solid hour of oral before anything else happens, and he does that every time, not just the first time when he’s trying to impress you. but he’s such a shit human being that you feel kind of torn a lot of the time, and also you didn’t sign up for a threesome but his ego is a substantial third presence in the room and you’re kind of tired of having to stroke it 8/10

Mr Rushworth I refuse, and so does Maria 0/10

George Knightley (yes, his name is George, it surprises me every time too) god, okay, Mr Knightley, he’s that older man, the one who only really exists in your fantasies; he knows what he wants, he knows what you want, he’s not even doing the whole repressed longing thing for most of his life, it just genuinely doesn’t bother him that he’s not banging anyone and he only wants to do that with someone he cares about, so if he takes you to bed he really, really cares about you and he wants to make this good for you, he wants to make this so good for you and he’s going to make sure he does as though your sexual satisfaction is the single greatest goal of his life 10/10

Frank Churchill he should be good, right? you thought he was going to be so good, and you can’t even put your finger on anything specific that wasn’t good, but man, it wasn’t good. I mean it wasn’t bad, either, it was just… really, really average. but it seems worse than average because you had big expectations 5/10

Elton (his first name is Philip? I never knew this until now and I refuse to acknowledge it) I also refuse to acknowledge that Elton and sex could have anything to do with each other 0/10

John Knightley I know, no one else has thought about this, no one else cares, this one is just for me. John Knightley, the lesser known Knightley, he’s that guy who would be kind of hot if he only dressed better and wasn’t such a dick, you’ve never really talked to him but then at a party you end up sitting together and you realise that you hate all the same people and at some point you end up making out in a corner and then sneaking into a bedroom and just going for it and it’s not the greatest thing ever but it’s better than that shit party you’re at and he makes you laugh a lot while it’s happening and you never really hang out again but sometimes he catches your eye and winks at you 8/10

Henry Tilney okay so he may be a clergyman but this guy knows things, he’s read some scandalous novels, and has a scandalous older brother who probably never shuts up about his exploits: Henry Tilney knows things. how good would he be in application though? everything he does will be pretty okay, but he’s not hot enough or suave enough to make it really amazing. he’s definitely a good time AND he’s a guy you can take home to your mum, but he lacks that extra level of sex appeal that you get from someone like George Knightley or Henry Crawford 7/10

John Thorpe fuck that guy. by which I mean, do not, under any circumstances, fuck that guy 0/10

Frederick Tilney okay so he’s hot, and he probably knows a thing or two, but he’s too fundamentally selfish to care. he is entirely focused on his own pleasure, and he even knows that he could make it better for you, he just doesn’t give a shit. but like, he kind of makes you feel like you’re into that? 3/10

William Elliot you have an advantage over Anne Elliot here in that he’s not your cousin, but like with Anne he’s still totally just using you. he’s real charming though, and this boy has gotten around and knows exactly what he’s doing. he’d be a really good time if you couldn’t tell he was already figuring out who he wants to sleep with after you 6/10

Captain Frederick Wentworth jesus, okay, here we go, I just got all flustered just thinking about this. you’ve never seen so much repressed longing in one place and it doesn’t even matter if you’re not the one he’s longing for, he’s still going to pour so much pent up angst and lust into every movement that he’ll be the best thing you’ve ever had. he’s considerate and sensitive too though, he looks at you the whole time, directly at you, and holds your face in his hands when he kisses you, and he directs you so, so gently and holds you to him like you’re precious and fragile, even when he’s throwing everything into it in a way that leaves you literally breathless. you feel things you didn’t know could be felt, emotionally and physically. you think it’s over and he smiles knowingly at you and says “ready to go again?” when you’re falling asleep he pulls you closer to him and whispers that you’re beautiful. you’ve never felt as safe as you do in his arms, and even though you’re exhausted now you know you’re going to do it all over again in the morning and probably into the afternoon I can’t even give him a numerical score, whatever scoring system you’re using he’s better than the highest possible score

[ifoundmyselfreading]

How to Review a Trans Book as a Cis Person

I have seen countless reviews written by cisgender people that as a trans person make my stomach turn. In the majority of reviews written by cisgender readers, the trans characters are misgendered, transness itself is sensationalized, and the cisgender author is commonly called “brave” for writing about “such a controversial issue.” To top it off, most of these reviews contain the phrase: “this book opened my eyes so much!” It hurts to see these. It makes me feel so helpless to see people who care about trans people accidentally spread harmful misconceptions that contribute to transphobia.

Most of these harmful reviewing methods come from confusion and misinformation, not ill intent. The layers of complexity around transness can be incredibly difficult to understand. Learning about and understanding transness is a process—I’m trans, and I’m still confused about some things, and learning lots of stuff! So I am not here to point fingers or blame anyone. My intention is only to educate.

I think that a major source of misinformation for readers can come from the book’s blurb and marketing material. Whichever way the blurb/marketing material describes transness is often (understandably) seen by many readers as an appropriate way to talk about it. Unfortunately, most blurbs of trans books are written by cis people and are often transphobic (for an extreme example, a transphobic slur is used in one of the recs on the jacket copy of I Am J). So the fact that problematic reviews have become commonplace is understandable.

Why is it important that reviews get better? Because trans books do not exist in a vacuum and neither do reviews. If a cis person reads a book with a trans character and it opens their eyes—great. But that’s not enough. That newfound inner understanding and empathy needs to be translated into outward actions. A really big part of treating trans people right has to do with the language you use. If you don’t do things as simple as referring to trans people by the correct pronouns, and by their chosen name, you are not treating trans people with respect.

It’s also about changing the culture of the YA community, and ensuring that it is a respectful and safe place for trans people. Because, right now, it’s not. I and so many other trans people can barely stomach reading the reviews of trans books by cis readers, and don’t even want to touch discussions of trans representation that are led by cis people. Transphobic reviews and language make us uncomfortable in a place that should first and foremost be for us. That just shouldn’t be the case, not in an area that’s full of people claiming to understand and support us.

So, this is my guide to reviewing trans books as a cis person. I’m not the only trans person out there, obviously, and there are for sure many other trans people whose opinions differ from my own. So I offer this guide as a starting point to shifting the conversation to a trans person’s perspective, and encourage you to listen to the perspectives of other trans people as well.  

1) Use the right pronouns. Even if it is never explicitly discussed in the book. For example, in Gracefully Grayson, Grayson never specifically she says that she wants she/her pronouns. But it is clear that she is a trans girl, and while there are certainly cases of trans people not wanting to change pronouns until they’ve transitioned, that is a personal choice and not an OK method of referring to trans people as a whole.

I cannot overstate the importance of this. Using “he” for someone whose pronoun is “she” or vice versa is saying that you don’t see them as the gender they are, which is one of the major catalysts of transphobia.

If the character is genderfluid, genderqueer, nonbinary, or a similar identity and hasn’t stated a pronoun preference, use they/them, other gender neutral pronouns, or simply the character’s name.

2) Use the right name. This is as important as using the right pronouns. Never use a character’s birth name (often referred to by trans people as their dead name) to refer to them, unless they have not picked a different name. So, for example, it’s okay to refer to the trans girl in Gracefully Grayson as Grayson— she never talks about a different name that she’d like to use. But referring to Gabe in Beautiful Music for Ugly Children as Elizabeth, or Luna in Luna as Liam is not ok: those characters have stated a new name for themselves.  

3) How do you describe a character being trans?

Here’s a brief guide from GLAAD that should help. After you read that (and seriously—read it. Especially the “Terms To Avoid” section. It’s short, yet very very important) here are my own additions:

My general thoughts on language—the simpler the better. It’s not necessary to be flowery when explaining that a character is trans. You can simply say “This character is [a trans girl/a trans boy/nonbinary]” or “she is a girl that the rest of the world sees as a boy.” Trans people are trans people—it’s not necessary to use flowery language to describe them being trans, like “when Grayson looks in the mirror and spins around, he sees a girl looking back at him.” Simply say that the character is trans!

In particular, please stay away from phrases like these (in the case of describing a trans girl): “Believed he was meant to be a girl,” “he wants to be a girl,” “a boy who is transgender”. These are not appropriate ways to explain that someone is trans. When someone is trans, it means they are the gender they feel they are. Grayson (from Gracefully Grayson) does not want to be a girl—she is a girl!

The phrase “born in the wrong body” is a highly contested phrase in the trans community. Some feel that it’s a completely inappropriate way to characterize being trans, some identify heavily with it. It’s fine for trans people to define themselves that way. I don’t think, however, that it’s an OK way to characterize transness in whole, and I think it’s inappropriate for cis reviewers to describe transness in that way.

4) Lots of reviewers will talk about how “brave” the cis author is for writing about “such a controversial issue.” (I just love being called a “controversial issue”!) Why is it brave for a cis author to write about a trans character? Being trans is not something they’ve experienced. When I see this in reviews, it makes me feel like the reviewer sees trans people as an issue, a topic, a taboo, and not as real people. It dehumanizes trans people, positions them as something to be talked around. It assumes that trans people won’t be reading the review. And it positions the cis person as doing trans people a favor, of somehow finding it in themselves to write about these freakish people.

5) Put a “cisclaimer” at the beginning of your review! Something along the lines of “Cisclaimer: I am cis! I know/don’t know [x amount] about trans issues.” This doesn’t alleviate your responsibility to refer to the character respectfully, but I believe it is an important step to show that your opinion on the book, as a cis person, is not the most important one.

6) Try to find a review of the trans YA book you’re reviewing from a trans person. Even if you don’t agree with all of it, or understand it, having the perspective is vitally important. (If you can’t find one, it doesn’t mean you can’t review the book! But please remain aware that your perspective on a trans book is not as important as a trans person’s. :))

Please, leave me a comment or tweet me @findmereading if you have any questions! Also, if any trans readers have thoughts to add, or disagree with something I said, let me know! I want to hear your thoughts.

Thanks for listening! :)

(originally posted on my blog)