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Changing Lesbian Women’s Views of Themselves through Literature

April 2008– a group of sassy Brazilian women decides to publish books for lesbians.

Coming from different professional backgrounds, they miss imaginative, fun and hot books for women like themselves and then they start the first L2L Publishing company in Latin America, Editora Malagueta (Red Chilli Pepper Publishers), directed by Laura Bacelar, a famous name in the book market, especially in the book-for-minorities market. She kindly answered some of my questions about the Brazilian lesbian reading scenario, via e-mail.

Do you have any idea how many lesbian novels there are written by Brazilian women?

Not really, but I know it’s a few. There are many short stories on the Internet in sites like xana in box and more recently abcLes. When you look at the amount of pages written, you quite say the production is reasonable, but most of it doesn’t exactly fit the ‘novel’ format. Printed lesbian novels, we certainly have no more than 30.

In your opinion, do Brazilian lesbians read little?

Brazilian people in general read little but there’s no doubt it’s NOT a ‘writing’ country. It’s not difficult to find talented women willing to show their good works, but they lack the knowledge of what are characters, plot and written text.

What do you think is the most important lesbian novel ever?

That’s a complicated question to answer once it depends a lot on personal taste, history and stuff. My first book was Patricia Hihgsmith’s Carol, later I discovered this was the first lesbian happy-ending book ever, what made me a lot of good, as well Isabel Miller’s Sarah & Patience, Desert hearts and Curious wine. But despite of representing the tension between inner desire and “social oppression, I guess nowadays they are not seen as good books for the new readers.

List three strong characteristics of Editora Malagueta’s books.

They are well-written, charming and positive, because suicidal, drug addicted and lonely lesbians, well, they are everywhere in other books. This view must change.

Lezzie is half-closeted Brazilian Philosophy High School teacher writing on everything she has the opportunity to read, listen to and see (as a good Gemini).You can find out more about here by checking her profile at http://lezgetreal.ning.com/profile/Boudecca.