Telling Our Stories: Queer Joy and the Craft of Storytelling Author Panel

Join Da Book Joint for an engaging conversation celebrating queer storytelling, creativity, and community.

As part of Slay The Lake Book Fest, Telling Our Stories: Queer Joy and the Craft of Storytelling brings together four dynamic voices for a discussion on the power of representation, the importance of authentic storytelling, and the joy of seeing ourselves reflected on the page.

Whether through horror, romance, literary fiction, scholarship, or social justice work, these authors are helping shape narratives that expand our understanding of love, identity, resilience, and belonging.

Featuring:

Phrique – A rising voice in splatterpunk, horror, and bizarro fiction whose work blends the strange, the unsettling, and the unexpected.

Katrina Jackson – Historian, professor, and acclaimed author of erotica, romance, women's fiction, and historical fiction featuring diverse and often queer characters navigating love, life, and connection.

Dr. Britney Daniels – Doctor of Nursing Practice, educator, and advocate for health equity whose work explores intersectionality, culturally responsive care, and creating spaces where all voices are valued.

Frederick Smith – Novelist, journalist, and social justice advocate whose storytelling examines identity, community, and the complexities of the human experience.

Together, they'll explore questions such as:
• What does queer joy look like in literature?
• How do writers create authentic and inclusive stories?
• Why does representation matter?
• How can storytelling build empathy, connection, and community?

There are 15 free tickets available. The ticket price is just $2 afterwards as we want to keep costs low so you can buy books from the participating authors.

Books by all featured authors will be available for purchase, and attendees will have an opportunity to meet the panelists and get their books signed following the discussion.

Sunday, June 28
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Da Book Joint

Come celebrate the stories that inspire us, challenge us, and remind us that joy itself is worth documenting.