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@KALAAuthor Mindy StokesBook Release CelebrationMama Baby Mama, Story of a Knocked-Up Lesbianby Dinah UrellKALA@HIFISHMONTHLY PROUDLY presents authorMindy Stokes, in a Book Release Celebration event,TUESDAY, JULY 26, at 7pm. Mama Baby Mama,Story of a Knocked-Up Lesbian, is a heartwarming andsaucy memoir of two womenon their way to motherhood.This is Stokes’ fi rst book,a memoir born of desirebetween she and her lifelongpartner Katie and their journeyto bring daughter Soleil, intothe world.An Astoria resident, and norecluse writer is she; Stokesis a vibrant fi xture at ClatsopCommunity College, at leastsince 2008, when she andher family moved across theUS to Astoria, Oregon fromFlorida. A counselor and instructor in the Lives inTransition program, she also runs her own WellnessEducation practice, and is involved in numerous communityvolunteer positions. And, if you saw the mostrecent staging of The Vagina Monologues at ClatsopCommunity College, it was a production driven byStokes as part of Women’s History Month, and aperformance “Herstory” project she has spearheadedfor 3 years.Mama Baby Mama, is a culmination of 5 years of“writing and mothering,” and as Stokes admits, “Theydon’t go hand in hand. Finding the time to write wasthe most challenging aspect of completing the book.”Friends who own a writing studio in Oysterville, Washington(established writer’s retreat location), loanedout the place, “and that’s how I fi nished my book,”says Stokes.Mama Baby Mama is Stokes’ foray into narrativewriting. Prior to that she had written predominantlyfor academia, with an M.A inWomen’s Studies and B.S. in Dietetics.But about 6 months into her pregnancy,Stokes refers to episodes in themiddle of the night -- she would wake upwith paragraphs of the book stamped intoher head. And she wouldn’t be able to goback to sleep until she got up and wrote.Once she began the process, she knewshe was destined to turn these vignettesinto a book.Mama Baby Mama is a series of shortpieces in three parts, and begins with thetrials and tribulations of home insemination,(endearing episodes of a gay male friend whowasn’t destined to be a sperm donor, and spermshipped by UPS to remote mountain vacation spots),progresses to conception and the rigorous duties ofpregnancy (being as big as a billboard and hatingeveryone with whom she comes in contact, includingher entire pre-natal yoga class) and then eventuallythe falling in love with a newborn baby girl.If you do have the pleasure of knowing MindyStokes, you know that humor is her arsenal; she’sstraightforward as hell, and a passionate, outspokenfeminist. In MAMA BABY MAMA, her voice is loud,clear, and true to heart.In the beauty of her storytelling, Stokes doesn’thold back, soften or sugar coat the details, as shebusts on through to the next practical revelation inchildbirth. Be it fi nding sperm donors, sex whilepreggars, her fears adinfi nitum on becominga mother; she’ll haveyou in stitches, andin tears. Mama BabyMama also keenlyobserves the effectsof discrimination andhate-fi lled laws thatsame-sex partnersface, as well gives usnew concepts of familyand friends, alternativeparenting, today’schanging values putinto practice.In February of2007, just monthsafter Soleil’s birth,Stokes submitted anabstract to the Assoc.for Research onMothering (ARM) in,Toronto, Canada. They were planning a conference inToronto and were looking for submissions on varioustopics relating to feminist mothering. Stokes was acceptedand read her narrative pieces (the beginningsof Mama Baby Mama).“The response was positive,” says Stokes, “Professorsof Women’s Studies asked me to let them knowwhen I was fi nished with my work so that they coulduse my book in their classrooms. “Stokes has gone the indie author route. After queryingpublishers for two and half years she has joinedonto an online eBook publishing vehicle Smashwords,and has done a fi rst print in hard copy through a selfpublishingcompany.Says Stokes, “Getting published these days isextremely diffi cult. Who you are and your platformis more important than your craft. When I did getrejection letters with feedback, they’d always tell methey liked my sardonic humor, sense ofplace, etc… but their company wasn’tdoing my type of book. So I decidedto do it myself. Decided I’d be the AniDifranco of publishing. “Of course today, indie publishing, beit music or literature is running a steady,viable course. The many online vehicles,from ipads, to laptops, iphones andKindles have readers going for easy access.An online publishing company likeSmashwords directly links your book withonline book companies and tutors youon how to reach and publicize to yourpotential audience. Self-publishingcan draw attention to mainstreampublishers. But with the high qualityand accessibility of indie publishing, apassionate author such as Stokes, canreach out to a target audience and beginthe work of getting her book read.When Stokes moved to the region,she met Jan Bono, an accomplished columnist,and writing coach from the Washington Peninsula.Bono became her editor throughout the processof fi nishing the book. And now with the satisfaction ofsoon having a hard copy in her hands, says Stokes,“It’s a dream come true.”Every Tuesday Stokes sends out her blog, alsotitled STORY OF A KNOCKED-UP LESBIAN. With a titleas brazen, this is a taste of Stokes’ refreshing andspicy lesbian feminist personae. You can sample orbuy her book at smashwords.com/books/view/61371.But you can also meet her, have her sign acopy of her book and help celebrate an exciting,local, independent author. Refreshments too!Tuesday, July 26, 7pm, KALA at 1017 Marine Dr.in Astoria. 503.338.4878Permanent Cosmetics“Always Look Your Best!”Darcy WiegardtPermanent Cosmetics TechnicianLicensed & Certified503.338.5555Now accepting appointments . . .We have a great selection of everythingCall for a consultation you need for indoor gardening!MEDICAL SPA LACOST • 1428 COMMERCIAL ST • ASTORIAGreen AngelGardensOrganic Farm StoreOpen Daily 8am - 7pm • (360)244-00646807 Sandridge Rd. Long Beach, WAgreenangelgardening.comWhat YouCan Find!Fresh Organic Fruitsand Vegetables fromOur Farm and OR &WA Farms.CSA sharesavailable too!We have a great selection of ALL youneed for indoor gardening!• indoor organic soil gardening• soilless medium gardening• hydroponics• nutrients, horticultural spectrumlighting, pest control, fertilizers & more!www.astoriaindoor.com13th and Exchange in Astoria • 503.468.0606 • Open Every Day 10am – 6pmjuly11 hipfishmonthly.com 16Bicycle the Historic River WalkFree Helmetw/bike rentalsNorth Coast Leaderin Sales and Service11th and Marine Drive in Astoria503.325.2961 • www.bikesandbeyond.comSummer Hours are:10am ‘til 6pm Mondays through Fridays9am ‘til 6pm Saturdays • 11am ‘til 4pm Sundays