oh, i'm steaming
I am profoundly sad and mad about this cancellation. OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH was a breath of fresh air, like nothing else being made on TV right now. David Jenkins, Taika Waititi, Rhys Darby and the whole cast and crew made something weird and wonderful and wholesome with this show about killers and thieves. I admire them so much.
On a personal note, the pure love & enthusiasm surrounding this show is a big reason my debut novel sold. If you’re mourning the queer rep & body-positivity of OFMD, I would so appreciate it if you checked out my book, THE FINAL CURSE OF OPHELIA CRAY (coming from Page Street YA on April 9, 2024). This book is a YA pirate adventure very much in the spirit of OFMD, especially in terms of queer rep, neurodivergence and body-positivity.
THE FINAL CURSE OF OPHELIA CRAY is the story of two half-sisters, Ophelia and Betsy. Ophelia is the daughter of an infamous pirate queen, but she was raised alongside Betsy by their father. The local townspeople absolutely haaaaate her ass because they think she's cursed. Meanwhile, Betsy is a homebody and incredibly talented seamstress struggling with anxiety. Ophelia decides she'll be best-served by going to sea and making a new life for herself in the navy, but wouldn't you know it, the navy won't accept the daughter of a pirate.
Naturally, Ophelia does what anyone would do: she steals her sister's identity to join the navy anyway. As one does.
When a family crisis reveals to the navy that Ophelia's committed fraud, Betsy needs to conquer her many, many fears and take to the sea in order to warn Ophelia before she gets caught and hanged for her crimes.
On the way, the sisters make friends & enemies, battle in pistol duels & set ships ablaze, struggle through hurricanes and pirate attacks, travel to distant shores and magical islands, discover long-lost relatives and fall in love.
It's a story about sisterhood, legacy, and self-acceptance. Plus, it's chock full of queer characters and body-positive representation, just like OFMD! Ophelia is canonically aroace and Betsy is a plus-sized woman who finds true love at sea.
If any of this sounds up your alley, consider pre-ordering the book at any of the links below the Read More! Nothing helps first-time authors more so I'd really appreciate it. Adieu, beloved crew-mates!
