The Lowdown of Sistahs on the Shelf

What?
Sistahs on the Shelf is a website dedicated to black lesbian literature and authors. Features include monthly book reviews, a book database, links, info on new releases, and an online discussion group with discussions on various topics from literature to lifestyle topics.

When?
The brainchild of Sistahs on the Shelf is a project I hatched for almost a year, but didn’t become a reality until August 2005.

Where?
Right here, at www.sistahsontheshelf.com, of course!

Who?
I am a ravenous reader who’s been glued to a book since I could remember. I try to read a little bit of everything, however, like most readers, I am drawn to stories that mirror my experiences. This generally includes African-American and lesbian fiction. The reviews on the site are books I have read myself, and I try not recommend a book I haven’t read or heard good things about.

How?
With Sistahs on the Shelf, I researched several literary Web sites and used my own membership experiences with several reading groups. It is a melange of everything I wanted to see within a reading site–a little bit of the things you wanted to see.

Why?
So why Sistahs on the Shelf? The answer encompasses more than just an outlet for readers and authors of Black lesbian literature. It entails more than just an informational Web site with news and reviews about your kind of books. And it’s also much more than a place to express our views without criticism or prejudice.

No, I was on a mission.

As a member of online reading groups, the pivotal question women would ask was, “What is there for us to read?” They wanted to know where the black lesbian books were that are for us and by us.

So the answer to me was simple: Sistahs on the Shelf. I wanted to connect women with the books that describe our lives. I desired to give back something to our community given to me through the books I’ve read and enjoyed, the first being April Sinclair’s Coffee Will Make You Black. I wanted to help sistahs in the life realize that there are stories with our love, our feelings, our dreams and our interests at heart.

My goal is create a space for us and fill a void I believe hasn’t been satisfied.

So welcome to Sistahs on the Shelf. Enjoy what you find here and don’t hesitate to let me know what you think.

22 thoughts to “The Lowdown of Sistahs on the Shelf”

  1. Thank you so much for starting this website. I went out after work yesterday and bought Laurinda D. Brown’s Walk Like A Man and I’m loving it. Next, I’m getting Strapped, which is written by her as well. Again, thanks for a place where I can come to and get the low-down on new Authors and their work.

    Dee Ray

  2. Thank You for creating this website. Without it, I would have never known fiction books that focused on Black Lesbian characters.

  3. Thank you so much for your compliments of Sistahs. I’m glad you enjoy the reviews because I love to write them. This is a passion of mine that I’m grateful to share with women like me. I invite you keep coming back again and again.

  4. Thank you so much now i have somewhere i can go and relate. knowing that i’m not the only one that have these type of issues or to find out more info regarding my sexuality. as a black lesbian woman.

  5. I BELIEVE THIS WEBSITE IS A BEAUTIFUL THING AND CAN DEFINITELY BE APPRECITED BY A YOUNG BLACK WOMAN SUCH AS MYSELF, FOR THAT I DO THANK YOU VERY KINDLY.

    COOKIE C.

  6. I am a lesbian that write Coming of Age and straight books with dominate lesbian characters. My books are a four-part series. They are Camille’s Dilemma, A Slice of Life, Temporarily Insane & Small Lie, Big Outcome. If you enjoy reading books with lesbian characters, you will get a kick out of these. Thank you for such a wonderful site. More need to be established.

  7. Thanks for this site. I think that it is awesome. How about including a link so that these books can be purchased on this site???

  8. What happened to this site???? Where are the author’s links? I think the new site LOOKS nice, but you’ve trashed the CONTENT….

  9. I love that this site exists but I would like to see new reviews. There hasn’t been an update since Feb 1. There are some books I’d really like to know the scoop on. I also agree with Tee, I liked reading about the authors in their interviews.

  10. I absolutely love this site. I’m greatful I got the internet back (lol)so I can keep abreast to the new reads coming out. Keep up the good work. I’ll always be a fan.

  11. I AM THRILLED THAT I FOUND SOTS AND PLAN TO KEEP UP WITH YOUR BLOG/SITE. I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM SOTS BECAUSE I’M WORKING ON CREATING MY OWN BLOG POSSIBLY TWO FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A BLACK STUD LESBIAN. DEFINITELY NOT ENOUGH REPRESENTATION OF BLACK LESBIANS AND LESBIANS OF COLOR OUT IN THE WORLD MEDIA. I’M ON A MISSION TOO. THX. WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL. COOL.

  12. Hello. I love your site and I think that it successfully fills the void for up and coming writers, like myself, within our community. I know this might be an airhead of a question, but where do I go to submit my novel for your reading enjoyment? It’s a lesbian erotica novel for the modern lesbian female and can be found in paperback and digital format at http://www.SapphoInternational.Webstarts.com . Thanks and keep doin’ what you’re doin’.
    Amillion points of light and love.
    Max.Amillion

  13. Hi there,

    I am researching African lesbian writers and there seems to be very little out there. I was wondering if you were aware of any on the continent?

    1. Hi Nadia, I found several links to sites about African LGBT literature. Links include http://www.africanbookscollective.com/books/in-search-of-happiness and http://www.genderacrossborders.com/2012/04/06/a-look-at-lgbt-literature-in-sub-saharan-africa/

      Also there is an anthology featuring African authors called Walking the Tightrope: Poetry and Prose by LGBTQ Writers from Africa that’s available on Amazon.com.

      Also, we have a couple of reviews of African novels on the site such as I Ain’t Your Bitch by Jabulile Bongiwe Ngwenya and Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta.

      I hope this info helps. ☺

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.