First Bloom: Stories of Blossoming Black Lesbian Love

by Saydeah E. Howard (Editor)

First Bloom, a collection of stories about blossoming Black lesbian love, takes a look at the beginnings--and sometimes the middle and end--of the love that flourishes between same-gender-loving women of African descent.

From the sensual to the lyrical, the thirteen tales in First Bloom are as varied as Black lesbians themselves, and the collection introduces women as dynamic and bold as their stories. Readers will feel the excitement of love's potential in "The List," and the ache of love's fragility in "Days Gone By." While no single anthology could possibly tell all of the countless Black lesbian stories, this compilation is a powerful sample of the lives we live, the experiences we've been through, and the love we've been privileged to be a part of.

Renowned authors Fiona Zedde, Sheree L. Greer, and Anondra "Kat" Williams, along with literary poets Claudia Moss and Eternity Philops, lend their talents to create this soulfully intense anthology reflecting the joys and pains of love between Black women. Readers seeking to be entertained and moved are invited to explore First Bloom: Stories of Blossoming Black Lesbian Love . . . you may even find a piece of your story within.

Genres: Queer, Lesbian

170 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2016

Reviews

[La Toya Hankins · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the wonderful things about anthologies is that typically you read a selection from a writer you are familiar with and partake of the literary creations of someone new. This book allowed me to bask in the brilliance of Claudia Moss, Sheree Greer, Anondra Kat Williams Eternity Philops and Fiona Zedde outstanding writers who past works I have enjoyed and shared. It also gave me a chance to sample the creation of Monique B.T. Thomas who made my eyes mist with Days Gone By, celebrate the potential of young love in The List by Eva Drawoh and reminisce about love gone and self-love by in 17 Questions by Janine Haley. The collection of stories give birth to stories of women on two continents who find love and happiness, joy and pain in same gender relationships and encounters. I would say the title is a little bit misleading-some of the stories captured moments when love leaves or is destined not to be. However, the collection of short stories taken as a whole presents a narrative of the journey love takes . I found it to be a quick read and one I would encourage others to enjoy.