T.B. Markinson

“I started publishing in 2013, which was an amazing feeling,” says T.B. Markinson. “However, it was a struggle to get noticed. Even sapphic websites and reviewers shut their doors in my face because I was a new, untested author.” Now the winner of two Golden Crown Literary Awards, the Massachusetts-based author also co-owns I Heart SapphFic, a website she founded in 2017. “I started I Heart SapphFic to help all sapphic authors avoid gatekeepers and gain visibility so they could have their stories seen by readers,” Markinson says. “I wanted to create a community of readers and authors who lift each other up.” In 2022, I Heart SapphFic launched the BookFinder, a searchable database that began with 1,000 sapphic titles and now has over 11,000 titles and growing. How does Markinson deal with setbacks? “I have a rule…I can wallow for three days if it’s a major setback,” she replies. “Then, on day four, I have to get up and find a solution. More than likely, it won’t happen on that day, but I know if I face a problem head-on and map out a way out of it, nothing can defeat me.” Even the toughest challenges, however, can’t deter Markinson and her mission: increasing visibility for sapphic books. “Being able to spread rainbows in a world that’s become increasingly terrifying for the queer community is so rewarding,” she says. “It’s my way of fighting fascism.” –LE