I’m Crying: Reborn In Shadows Has Been Requested for Review by the ALA’s Stonewall Book Awards
I don’t even know where to begin.
Today, I opened my inbox and found an email from the American Library Association’s Stonewall Book Awards Committee—requesting review copies of my debut novel, Reborn In Shadows: From The Ashes, for consideration for the Barbara Gittings Literature Award.
And I cried.
Not because it’s guaranteed—I know this is simply a request for review, not a nomination or a win. But because of what this represents.
The Stonewall Book Awards are one of the most prestigious recognitions in LGBTQ+ literature. They honor books of “exceptional merit with significant LGBTQ+ themes,” works that have shaped our understanding of queer identity and storytelling. Seeing my book—the story I poured every ounce of myself into—land in front of that committee feels surreal.
Why This Means So Much
When I started writing Reborn In Shadows, it wasn’t about awards or accolades. It was about survival. It was about telling the story of Miriam Ryder—a transgender woman and recent amputee navigating witness protection in a small Appalachian town—because I knew what it was like to feel invisible in the very place you call home.
I wrote this book to give voice to those who are too often erased: queer people in rural spaces, people living with disabilities, those who carry trauma but still choose to fight for love and hope.
To now have it in the hands of a committee dedicated to amplifying LGBTQ+ literature? It’s more than I ever imagined.
Why I’m Overwhelmed
This journey hasn’t been easy. From battling gatekeeping in local libraries to building my own publishing imprint, there were countless moments I questioned if anyone would even care about this story.
Now, not only has Reborn In Shadows won Best LGBTQIA+ Fiction in the National Indie Excellence Awards and been selected for inclusion in the Library of Congress, but it’s also being reviewed by the ALA Stonewall Committee—a milestone I never dared to dream.
For a self-published author from rural Virginia, this isn’t just validation. It’s a reminder that our stories matter. That queer, Appalachian, indie voices belong not just on shelves but in the national literary conversation.
What Happens Next
This is just the first step. I’ll be submitting my review copies to the committee for evaluation. Final awards and honor books will be announced in January 2026, with recognition at the ALA Annual Conference in June 2026.
Whatever the outcome, the fact that Reborn In Shadows is even being read and considered at this level is something I will never take for granted.
Thank You
To every reader who’s picked up my book, every librarian who’s fought to get it on their shelves, every friend who’s cheered me on—you made this possible.
For me, this isn’t just about a book. It’s about queer visibility in the rural South. It’s about showing that indie authors can break through the walls that try to keep us out. And it’s about proving that our stories—raw, fierce, and unapologetic—deserve to stand beside the greats.
I’m honored. I’m overwhelmed. And yes, I’m crying.
📚 If you haven’t read it yet, you can find Reborn In Shadows: From The Ashes here:
👉 https://www.authormayafisher.com/the-emporium
Here’s to every queer writer out there who thinks their story doesn’t matter: it does. And I hope this moment reminds you to keep going.
