Sub-Lebrity*


Book Description

"Vividly written... a superb memoir of a life well lived" - David-Elijah Nahmod, Bay Area Reporter A droll, oddly inspirational memoir from the actor Breitbart called "a gay leftist activist," SUB-LEBRITY by Leon Acord (Old Dogs & New Tricks) is an honest, sometimes bitchy but always sincere story about growing up (very) gay in rural Indiana, achieving acting success outside the closet, and generating headlines with his very-public smackdown with Trump-loving Susan Olsen (Cindy, The Brady Bunch). "A life in the arts is richly rewarding, even if it doesn't reward one with riches."From Indiana farm boy to San Francisco queer-theatre veteran...From creator/star of the seminal gay web TV series Old Dogs & New Tricks to his infamous role as Cindy Brady's political arch-enemy...Actor Leon Acord's story, told in his singular, cheeky voice, is "like any other Hollywood memoir...the only difference is, I'm not famous!"With photos & stories from dozens of film & theatre roles, plus tales of bad auditions and a sampling of his hate mail, you'll learn exactly why Acord never became a star!




Confessions from the Velvet Ropes


Book Description

New York's top doorman, Thomas Onorato, raises the ropes and gives readers a sneak peak into some of the world's most exclusive parties. "If you are not on the guest list or if I don't know you or if I don't like you, you are NOT GETTING INTO THIS PARTY!" The doorman. The gatekeeper of the night. These silent observers see it all and yet say nothing. Until now. In Confessions from the Velvet Ropes, New York's top club doorman, Thomas Onorato, lifts the ropes and lets ordinary readers into this exciting world. The book is an entertaining and hilarious collection of tales from the worlds of nightlife, fashion shows and celebrity parties. Highlights include: The night Madonna DJed at an intimate downtown club, Courtney Love's surprise concert that ended in her arrest, the crazed stalker who attacked Pulp's Jarvis Cocker, the aerial attack on Adrien Brody's birthday party, Diddy's surprise appearance at an electro-punk event and more. Onorato was always on hand and brings his insider info and nightlife wisdom to readers of Confessions from the Velvet Ropes. Combining elements of juicy gossip columns, rock star fan memoirs and nightlife social studies, Confessions from the Velvet Ropes is a tell-all with style, including humorous side-bars and tips on how readers might make it past the velvet ropes.




Sexed Up


Book Description

The author of landmark manifesto Whipping Girl exposes the violent ways we are all sexualized–then offers a bold path for resistance Feminists have long challenged the ways in which men tend to sexualize women. But pioneering activist, biologist, and trans woman Julia Serano argues that sexualization is a far more pervasive problem, as it’s something that we all do to other people, often without being aware of it. Why do we perceive men as sexual predators and women as sexual objects? Why are LGBTQ+ people stereotyped as being sexually indiscriminate and deceptive? Why are people of color still being hypersexualized? These stereotypes push minorities farther into the margins, and even the privileged are policed from transgressing, lest they also become targets. Many view sexualization as a mere component of sexism, racism, or queerphobia, but Serano argues that liberation from sexual violence comes through collectively confronting sexualization itself.




How to Stitch an American Dream


Book Description

Faith, family, hard work, and second chances are at the core of every great American story, and Jenny Doan’s story is just that. In her new memoir, How to Stitch an American Dream, readers will discover the behind-the-scenes success story of the Missouri Star Quilt Company and Jenny’s remarkable journey to overcome hardship, claim the abundance of family, and ignite the power of giving—all while revitalizing a small town along the way. Over the last decade, the Doan family business, the Missouri Star Quilt Company in tiny Hamilton, Missouri, has grown from Jenny’s corner shop--with one quilting machine and two bolts of fabric for sale in the back--to become the largest supplier of pre-cut quilting fabric in the headquarters of Jenny’s world-famous YouTube tutorial videos. Jenny is now giving her fans, the business world, and moms of all ages (and grandmas too!) what they’ve been asking for: the full story of her journey, from her humble beginnings as a homeschooling mom, to founding MSQC in her fifties, through the remarkable success and inspiration she’s so well-known for today. In this book, you’ll learn: How she and her beloved husband, Ron, raised seven children on a shoestring budget— and had fun doing it; How, after a string of bad luck, the family made a prayer-based decision to leave California behind and start over again in rural Missouri, even though they had no place to live, no jobs lined up, and no idea how they were going to make it; How Jenny, Ron and their children worked side-by-side to patch together a family home out of a crumbling shell of a farmhouse; And how their faith, hard work, and generosity not only carried them through the hard times, but led directly to the success of the Missouri Star Quilt Company. How to Stitch an American Dream will make you laugh, cry, say “bless your heart.”




Hear's the Thing


Book Description

We live in a world of noise where everyone is so quick to speak. When we slow down and give someone our full attention, we offer them a safe place to be fully heard and accepted. Hear’s the Thing is a story about what is possible when someone is brave enough to listen to others… and, ultimately, themselves without judgement. For Cody Alan, one of country music’s most famous on-air radio and TV personalities, listening to other people has always been a crucial part of his role. It was by fostering his ability to hear others that he discovered the person he most needed to listen to was himself. Listening ultimately led him on a journey of self-discovery where he found the courage to come out as gay, the openness to question spiritually, and the strength to explore a new definition of parenting and family. In his debut memoir, Hear’s the Thing, Cody shares some of the many lessons he’s learned along the way such as: How to actively listen with empathy and without judgment Why a willingness to “let people in” better equips you to receive from others How genuine attentiveness can help you build healthier and deeper relationships The art of listening is often lost but Cody’s story will inspire you to hear that inner voice that is leading you to a deeper connection with yourself and the people around you.




No Way, They Were Gay?


Book Description

"History" sounds really official. Like it's all fact. Like it's definitely what happened. But that's not necessarily true. History was crafted by the people who recorded it. And sometimes, those historians were biased against, didn't see, or couldn't even imagine anyone different from themselves. That means that history has often left out the stories of LGBTQIA+ people: men who loved men, women who loved women, people who loved without regard to gender, and people who lived outside gender boundaries. Historians have even censored the lives and loves of some of the world's most famous people, from William Shakespeare and Pharaoh Hatshepsut to Cary Grant and Eleanor Roosevelt. Join author Lee Wind for this fascinating journey through primary sources—poetry, memoir, news clippings, and images of ancient artwork—to explore the hidden (and often surprising) Queer lives and loves of two dozen historical figures.




Annual Report


Book Description




Expletives Not Deleted


Book Description

"I've been trying very hard lately to not become a grumpy old queen... I fear I'm not being entirely successful." Actor/writer Leon Acord (Old Dogs & New Tricks) is annoyed. About cancel culture. About getting older. Precocious parents. Closeted actors. Technology. Racism. Facebook. Culture wars. MAGA. In his new collection of comic essays, queer curmudgeon (queer-mudgeon?) Acord tackles these subjects and more. But it's not all gloom and doom. There are also lighter pieces, about gay men's love of divas, how to embrace getting older, why trans rights benefits everyone, and an extensive catalog of movies made before 2000 that every gay man born after 2000 should see. He discusses how he finally kicked the cigarette habit, how show business has changed in the past 20 years, and why Leslie Jordan inspires him to remain happy even as the world seems to be falling apart. If you enjoyed Acord's 2020 tongue-in-cheek "Hollywood memoir by a non-famous actor" SUB-LEBRITY - The Queer Life of a Show-Biz Footnote, you'll love this new assortment of bitchy but bubbly ruminations on modern-day life. "Acord's own proclivity for trouble means that his accounts can be racy, offensive (to some), forthright, and satisfyingly political." Diane Donovan, Midwest Book Review (reviewing SUB-LEBRITY).




New Age Blues


Book Description




Don't Stop Believin'


Book Description

"Don't Stop Believin' pays tribute to the glorious mash-up of music, comedy, drama and social commentary that has put Glee and its band of misfits in the spotlight"--Page 4 of cover