This week, Kris and Tara sit down with Salem West and John Copenhaver, editors of the queer crime fiction anthology, Crime Ink: Iconic. The hook for this collection is pretty damn cool, since the stories draw inspiration from queer icons throughout history.

The last time Salem and John were on the podcast, they discussed the urgent threat of LGBTQ book bans. Now, they’re here to sound the alarm about the need for more visibility of queer crime writers and their stories. We should all be listening.

Note: In the opening, Tara says this is a bonus episode, but life got in the way of our recording schedule, so we're running this as a regular episode.

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It’s back-to-school season and illness is in the air! Kris returns from her deathbed with tales of the flu (definitely NOT a recommendation) and Tara encounters her first COVID romance (which is a recommendation).

Kris lays out tips for eBay seller success and Tara discusses her reaction to James Dobson’s death as an ex-Evangelical (TL;DR: fuck that guy).

Official Recommendations

From Kris: Giant Little Ones (2018)

Kris’s official recommendation this week is Giant Little Ones (2018). It's a film about two high school boys who are teenage royalty and adored by the girls, whose lives are changed during an epic 17th birthday party. According to Kris, this story is full of drama, reminding her of how awful those teenage years are. There is some violence against gay people in this movie, but Kris still thinks the quality and the story are worth the discomfort if you’re able.

From Tara: Make or Break by E. J. Noyes

Tara’s official recommendation this week is Make or Break by E. J. Noyes. It's a sapphic romance novel that takes place on the set of a police drama between one of the leading actors and the key makeup artist. They've each had a crush on the other for years, but never knew if their crushes were returned. Tara says this one is a gentle romance with excellent character arcs.

Works/People Discussed

• K-Pop Demon Hunters (2025)
• Alone (History Channel)
• Alone Australia (SBS)
• Hightown (STARZ)
• Hostage (Netflix)
• Great Canadian Baking Show (CBC)
• Somebody Feed Phil (Netflix)
• Forever Theirs by Anna Stone (Mistress, book 3)
• Guarded Desires by Anna Stone (Mistress, book 4)
• Sweet, Spicy, Delicate by Allison Ashton
• Who We Could Be by Chelsea M. Cameron

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Basement daddies? Going down the reality hole? What sort of podcast have you stumbled along? Luckily Kris and Tara, are here to educate and enlighten.

This week, Kris recounts her most recent card show, while Tara sighs wistfully at the memory of a week’s staycation before heading back to work.

Official Recommendations

From Kris: The Old Guard 2 (2025)

Kris’s official recommendation this week is The Old Guard 2 (2025), starring Kris’s wife from another timeline, Charlize Theron. Andy leads a group of do-gooder immortal mercenaries known as the Old Guard while processing her grief from losing her love 500 years ago, when shitheads dumped her in the sea. But the love survived and is back for revenge on Andy for giving up on finding her (to be fair, though, she put in a solid half-millennium). Kris and Tara also share their thoughts on immortality. Good? Bad? You decide!

From Tara: Learning Curves by Rachel Lacey

Tara’s official recommendation this week is Learning Curves by Rachel Lacey. It's a cozy sapphic romance set in a Vermont university. A bubbly new professor returns to her alma mater to teach, only to learn that her undergrad advisor and former crush is still hot, but super grumpy. A charm offensive ensues, and so does a beautiful story. Tara loved this one!

Works/People Discussed

• About Last Night (1986)
• The Perfect Match (Netflix)
• Alone Australia (SBS)
• My Life with the Walter Boys (Netflix)
• Wednesday (Netflix)
• Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE (Netflix)
• Date Everything! (Sassy Chap Games)
• Tangled Vows by Anna Stone (Mistress Book 1)
• Ensnared Hearts by Anna Stone (Mistress Book 2)

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