I am honored to accept Lambda Literary’s Publishing Professionals Award for 2024! Watch my acceptance speech above!
Lambda Literary is an LGBTQ organization who champions LGBTQ books and authors:
We believe that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer literature is fundamental to the preservation of our culture, and that LGBTQ lives are affirmed when our stories are written, published, and read.
I was flattered and thrilled when Lambda Literary and Spotify invited me to accept the Publishing Professionals Award at this year’s Lammys. Lambda Literary has partnered with Spotify as part of an effort to better integrate audiobooks and audiobook industry professionals into Lambda Literary’s work. I was humbled and happy to accept the recognition because of our alignment in values, and in particular, something that Lambda Literary said that moved me:
[We’d like to] platform your achievements while challenging norms around whose contributions to this industry should be viewed as monumental.
Narrating audiobooks helped me find my voice, both literally and figuratively. Every Trans person knows the pressure and anxiety that comes with the journey of accepting (and oftentimes modifying) our voices. My acceptance of my own voice came when I realized that it’s more than a sound — it is a perspective. The gift of that realization has empowered me as an artist, collaborator, and professional both in my personal life, and in every project I get to work on. It was falling in love with audiobooks, and especially Queer authors and their words, that helped me accept and love my voice: because my voice also amplifies theirs. To be acknowledged so specifically for this by a Queer organization who champions Queer voices, is an incredible honor.
Also! I was chuffed to bits to see that CHEF’S CHOICE, the T4T RomCom by TJ Alexander I had the pleasure of narrating, was also a finalist in the LGBTQ+ Romance & Erotica category!
See also: Spotify’s FOR THE RECORD interviews Nicky
🖤🤎❤🧡💛💚💙💜 { progress rainbow heart emojis }
Cheers!
Nicky