Edited by Lori L. Lake, this anthology contains stories, essays, and memoirs by some of the brightest stars in the lesbian writing world.

Cameron Abbott , Georgia Beers , Meghan Brunner , Carrie Carr , Caro Clarke , Katherine V. Forrest , Jennifer Fulton , Gabrielle Goldsby , Ellen Hart , Lois Hart , Karin Kallmaker , Marcia Tyson Kolb , Lori L. Lake , SX Meagher , Radclyffe , J.M. Redmann , Jean Stewart , Cate Swannell , Therese Szymanski , Talaran , Julia Watts , Marie Sheppard Williams , Kelly Zarembski

Don't miss this incredible collection, featuring "Hiding in Plain Sight" by Carrie Carr:

How does a young woman move from desperation to acceptance of her life, herself, and what the future holds? 

How does the path she chooses affect her relationship with the mother she'd do anything to spare?

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Short Excerpt

My shaky hand stretched upward, found and gripped a cold, metal object, and pulled it from the high shelf. Then, through bloodshot eyes, I took a long moment to check over the small-caliber revolver. Everything appeared to be in order, so I trekked back through my family’s quiet house. On my way to the back door, I dropped a sealed envelope on the kitchen table, then gathered up the cordless phone and the fifth of Captain Morgan’s Spiced Rum.

The immaculately kept yard held no interest for me this day, as I slipped the gun into the waistband of my jeans and tucked the phone under one arm. Moments later, I was at the far end of the yard. I struggled with the heavy back gate, finally able to pull it open far enough to slip through. The back alley was vacant at this time of the day, for which I was thankful. I didn’t want or need an audience.

Once through the gate, I sat down against the fence, leaned back, and closed my eyes. A wave of despair washed over me, and tears leaked out .The pain of hiding who I was to everyone I loved was wearing on me, and I could think of no other way to get through the agony that was my life. I pulled the gun from my jeans and looked at it carefully. The snub-nosed thirty-eight belonged to my mother, although she had never actually used it. It had been a gift from my father on their last wedding anniversary, and he kept it cleaned and loaded for her.

After an entire life of denying who and what I am, I had finally come to the sad realization that I was the one thing my father and brother had railed against for as long as I could remember - I was gay. Almost thirty years old, and I knew I should have gotten a clue years ago. Some of the people I worked with had been trying to get me to “come out” for the past couple of years, but I vehemently denied their good-intentioned pestering. Five years prior, I’d had a brief relationship with another woman, but in my denial, I chalked it up to loneliness and experimentation.

  Placing the gun in my lap, I picked up the cordless phone and prepared to dial nine-one-one, to let them know where to find me so my family could be spared that awful detail.

Copyright 2008 Carrie Carr

All Rights Reserved