The book follows two women across generations whose intertwined lives explore courage, identity, and resistance during pivotal moments in twentieth-century American history. “An inspirational and sometimes heartbreaking tale of two women’s resilience in the face of hardships.” —Kirkus Reviews
Why this story matters to me
Part of my inspiration for the novel came from the battles fought by previous generations. Here’s my mother, third in the arraignment line, being arrested in 1950.
She was eight months pregnant at the time. I was born a month after this picture was taken. Two hundred angry residents had gathered outside during a peaceful, integrated meeting in a private home. The police arrived, ignored the mob, and arrested the eight inside the home for disturbing the peace, including my parents. When I look at this picture, I remember John Lewis’s call to make good trouble, necessary trouble. My mother didn’t set out to be arrested; she simply stood up for justice, for peace, for people who needed allies.
That same thread runs through my novel: ordinary people pushed into extraordinary choices, finding courage. It’s also why I’m donating all author net royalties to Outright Vermont, a nonprofit standing up for LGBTQ+ youth with the clarity and courage our moment requires.
When so many corporations, financial institutions, politicians, and universities have sought favor or remained silent in the face of the corruption, power grabs, cruelty, and toxic masculinity we’ve witnessed this past year, Outright Vermont has not backed down.
This is a local project. My writing friends and family helped shape and edit the book. My neighbor, graphic designer Tara McCarthy, created the cover and laid out the interior. Phoenix Books—a locally owned bookstore—has stepped up to help get The Queen of New York into readers’ hands. I’m avoiding massive retailers like Amazon and relying on local connections and friends to get the word out.
Michael Freed-Thall
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