Crime Ink: Iconic Book Launch

Celebrate the release of Crime Ink: Iconic: An Anthology of Crime Fiction Inspired by Queer Icons! Authors Anne Laughlin, J.M. Redmann, Mia P. Manansala, and Renee James will be in attendance.

Please note: This event is free to attend, but registration is required.

Prepare for intrigue, suspense, and unforgettable twists in this groundbreaking anthology of queer crime fiction.

In 2023, crime fiction anthologies featured 517 stories across 30 titles--but shockingly, fewer than 1 percent were penned by LGBTQ+ writers. Crime Ink: Iconic (An Anthology of Crime Fiction Inspired by Famous Queer Icons) is a resounding response to this glaring disparity, offering a vibrant collection of stories by and about queer authors and characters.

Drawing inspiration from queer icons--James Baldwin, Oscar Wilde, Candy Darling, Radclyffe Hall, Babadook, Megan Rapinoe, Laverne Cox, Dolly Parton, Vita Sackville-West, and many more--these tales span the rich spectrum of crime fiction, from cozy mysteries and whodunits to noir, psychological thrillers, and police procedurals. Each story is a testament to the depth, ingenuity, and thrilling originality of queer voices in the genre.

This anthology showcases an incredible array of talent, including New York Times Best Crime Novels of 2024 honorees Margot Douaihy, Robyn Gigl, John Copenhaver, and Katrina Carrasco; Lambda Literary winners Ann Aptaker, Greg Herren, Ann McMan, and J.M. Redmann; and other celebrated writers like Cheryl Head, Penny Mickelbury, Christa Faust, Jeffrey Marks, and Kelly J. Ford. But that's not all--this collection also includes many more decorated and emerging voices, ensuring a dynamic reading experience that is as inclusive as it is entertaining.

With a foreword by Ellen Hart and an afterword by Katherine V. Forrest, two luminaries of queer crime fiction, this anthology is more than a collection of stories--it's a movement. Bursting with intrigue, twists, and unforgettable characters, Crime Ink: Iconic is essential reading for fans of crime fiction and anyone who craves representation in the stories they love.

J.M. Redmann has published twelve novels featuring New Orleans PI Micky Knight. Her first was published in 1990 and was one of the early hard-boiled lesbian detective stories. Her books have won multiple awards, including three Lambda Literary Awards and the Publishing Triangle’s Joseph Hansen Award. Her third book, The Intersection of Law & Desire, originally published by W. W. Norton, was an Editor’s Choice of the San Francisco Chronicle and a recommended book on NPR’s Fresh Air.

Mia P. Manansala is a writer from Chicago who loves books, baking, and bad-ass women. She is the author of the multi-award-winning Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series and the YA novel Death in the Cards. She uses humor (and M**der) to explore aspects of the Filipino diaspora, queerness, and her love for Millennial pop culture.

Renee James took up fiction writing after a career in magazines as a writer, editor, and owner. She has published seven novels under various bylines. Her latest novel, BeatNikki’s Café, was a finalist for the Joseph Hansen Award for Crime Fiction, and her screenplay adaptation of the book won honors in the 2023 Chicago Script Awards. James has published short stories in several anthologies and edited collections for Off Campus Writers Workshop.

Anne Laughlin is a multiple-Goldie-winning author of seven crime novels. She has received three Lambda Literary Award nominations and the 2022 Alice B Award for excellence in lesbian fiction. She reviews books for The Gay & Lesbian Review and volunteers to teach adults to read at Literacy Chicago. She lives in the city with her wife, Linda, and their proverbial two cats.

Accessibility: This event is hosted at the bookstore, which is a wheelchair accessible space. Masks are required. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. To request ASL interpretation for this event, please email [email protected] by no later than 14 days before the event. For scholarship tickets or other access needs please email .

Host or Publisher Women & Children First