Naming Conventions: I was called “an icon and an elder” in the writeup for the “Queer Women/Queer Spaces” event at Lighthouse on June 4, which served as a double paperback launch for Jane Cholmeley’s lovely A Bookshop of One’s Own and my A Place of One’s Own! As always, Lighthouse made a recording of the event available on YouTube.

Reading: It’s apparently the month of re-reading. So far in June, I’ve read four books, one for the second time, and one for the third! A Bookshop of One’s Own, by Jane Cholmeley is the inspiring, infuriating story of the travails of running a feminist bookstore, specifically London’s Silver Moon (1984-2001); I loved it. Mean Moms, by Emma Rosenblum is a fabulous summer read set in an exclusive private school in downtown Manhattan. Very dishy, but restrained in the best possible way. The first re-read was Parisian Lives, by Deirdre Bair, in which she takes readers behind-the-scenes of the writing of her biographies of Samuel Beckett and Simone de Beauvoir. So clear and controlled and absolutely gripping. (Having read this “making of” twice, it’s definitely time to read one of her biographies!) I also re-read Rubyfruit Jungle, by Rita Mae Brown to prepare for the Queer Fiction Reading Group at Topping in Edinburgh. The response—including my own!—was so interesting and unexpected. This was also my first ever reading group! I loved it and signed up for the next two meetings!

Stationery: Stationery-wise, I’m either in a rut, or I’ve found my ideal tool set. I’ve been using Leuchtturm 1917 notebooks (B7-ish and A6-ish), Uni One P gel pens, Spoke Design Axle S, Kaweco Sport (after a run of mediocre nibs, I finally got one a great one—thank goodness I kept trying), and Schon Dsgn fountain pens. None of this stuff is particularly showy, but it’s working.

Tech Toys: A couple of months ago, after hearing Matt Gemmell talk about the Supernote Nomad on an episode of the Mac Power Users podcast, and then watching a bunch of his YouTube videos, I ordered one of these e-ink devices, and I love it. Highly recommended.

Browsing: August is just around the corner, so I’ve been browsing the catalogs of the Edinburgh International, Edinburgh Fringe, and Edinburgh Book Festivals.

Slate: It’s June, which means two things, Pride and Supreme Court decisions. Slate’s Outward podcast is great every month of the year, but especially this one, and between the Amicus podcast and the Jurisprudence department, Slate will answer your legal questions.

Updated June 12, 2025