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Lambda Literary Foundation · award year

Lambda Literary Awards 2008

The 2008 Lambda Literary Awards went to First Person Queer by Richard Labonte and Lawrence Schimel (Anthology), The View From Here by Matthew Hays (Arts & Culture) and Split Screen by Brent Hartinger (Bisexual), with winners in 19 more categories. 113 books were finalists across 22 categories.

Winners

Anthology

  1. First Person Queer by Richard Labonte and Lawrence Schimelsource (opens in a new tab)

Arts & Culture

  1. The View From Here by Matthew Hayssource (opens in a new tab)

Bisexual

  1. Split Screen by Brent Hartingersource (opens in a new tab)

Children’s/Young Adult

  1. Hero by Perry Mooresource (opens in a new tab)

Drama

  1. Return to the Caffe Cino by Steve Susoyev and George Birimisasource (opens in a new tab)

Erotica

  1. Homosex: 60 Years of Gay Erotica by Simon Sheppardsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Debut Fiction

  1. A Push and a Shove by Christopher Kellysource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Fiction

  1. Call Me By Your Name by Andre Acimansource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Memoir/Biography

  1. Mississippi Sissy by Kevin Sessumssource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Mystery

  1. Murder in the Rue Chartres by Greg Herrensource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Romance

  1. Changing Tides by Michael Thomas Fordsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Debut Fiction

  1. Among Other Things, I’ve Taken Up Smoking by Aoibheann Sweeneysource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Fiction

  1. The IHOP Papers by Ali Liebegottsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Memoir/Biography

  1. And Now We Are Going to Have a Party by Nicola Griffithsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Mystery

  1. Wall of Silence by Gabrielle Goldsbysource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Romance

  1. Out of Love by K. G. MacGregorsource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. Gay Artists in Modern American Culture by Michael S. Sherrysource (opens in a new tab)

Poetry

  1. Blackbird and Wolf by Henri Colesource (opens in a new tab)

Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror

  1. The Dust of Wonderland by Lee Thomassource (opens in a new tab)

Spirituality

  1. The After-Death Room by Michael McCollysource (opens in a new tab)

Studies

  1. Between Women by Sharon Marcussource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender

  1. Transparent by Cris Beamsource (opens in a new tab)

Finalists

Anthology

  1. Baby Remember My Name by Michelle Teasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Juicy Mother 2 by Jennifer Campersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Men of Mystery: Homoerotic Tales of Intrigue and Suspense by Sean Meriwether and Greg Whartonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Vital Signs by Richard Canningsource (opens in a new tab)

Arts & Culture

  1. Art That Dares by Kittredge Cherrysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Feeling Backward by Heather Lovesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Media Queered by Kevin Barnhurstsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Other Men’s Sons by Michael Rowesource (opens in a new tab)

Bisexual

  1. Becoming Visible by Beth Firestein and Edsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Look Both Ways by Jennifer Baumgardnersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Stray by Sheri Josephsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Tourists by Jeff Hobbssource (opens in a new tab)

Children’s/Young Adult

  1. Freak Show by James St. Jamessource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlingersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Saints of Augustine by P.E. Ryansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You by Peter Cameronsource (opens in a new tab)

Drama

  1. Dose: Plays & Monologues by Dan Bernittsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Niagara Falls by Victor Bumbalosource (opens in a new tab)

Erotica

  1. Ardennian Boy by William Maltese and Wayne Gunnsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Every Dark Desire by Fiona Zeddesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Red Light by J. D. Glasssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Golden Age of Lesbian Erotica by Victoria Brownworth and Judith M. Reddingsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Mammoth Book of New Gay Erotica by Lawrence Schimelsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Debut Fiction

  1. Freak Show by James St. Jamessource (opens in a new tab)
  2. SoMa by Kemble Scottsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Tales from the Town of Widows by James Canonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. That Was Then by Michael Quadlandsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Fiction

  1. Dark Reflections by Samuel R. Delanysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Fellow Travelers by Thomas Mallonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. First Person Plural by Andrew W.M. Beierlesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Faith Healer of Olive Avenue by Manuel Munozsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Memoir/Biography

  1. Dog Years by Mark Dotysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Forgiving Troy by Thom Bierdzsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The History of My Shoes and the Evolution of Darwin’s Theory by Kenny Friessource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Worlds of Lincoln Kirstein by Martin Dubermansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. What Becomes You by Aaron Raz Link and Hilda Razsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Mystery

  1. Double Abduction by Chris Beakeysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Drag Queen in the Court of Death by Caro Solessource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Mahu Surfer by Neil Plakcysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Pierce by Roberto Ferrarisource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Stain of the Berry by Anthony Bidulkasource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Romance

  1. A Few Hints and Clews by Robert Taylorsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Secret Edge by Robin Reardonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Broadway Nights by Seth Rudetskysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Right Side of the Wrong Bed by Frederick Smithsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Debut Fiction

  1. Breathing Underwater by Lu Vickerssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Dahlia Season by Myriam Gurbasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Lockjaw by Holly Farrissource (opens in a new tab)
  4. O Street by Corrina Wycoffsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Fiction

  1. Biting the Apple by Lucy Jane Bledsoesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Greetings from Jamaica by Mari San Giovannisource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Child by Sarah Schulmansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Kind of Girl I Am by Julia Wattssource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Mandrake Broom by Jess Wellssource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Memoir/Biography

  1. An Army of Ex-Lovers by Amy Hoffmansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Comfort Food for Breakups by Marusya Bocurkiuwsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Two Lives: Gertrude & Alice by Janet Malcolmsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Waiting for the Call by Jacqueline Taylorsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Mystery

  1. In the Name of the Father by Gerri Hillsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Laura’s War by Ursula Stecksource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Mortal Groove by Ellen Hartsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Selective Memory by Jennifer L. Jordansource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Romance

  1. For Now, for Always by Marianne K. Martinsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Sheridan’s Fate by Gun Brookesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Road Home by Frankie J. Jonessource (opens in a new tab)
  4. When Dreams Tremble by Radclyffesource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. Between Women by Sharon Marcussource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Imagining Transgender by David Valentinesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Other Men’s Sons by Michael Rowesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Pink Harvest by Toni Mirosevichsource (opens in a new tab)

Poetry

  1. A Gathering of Matter/A Matter of Gathering by Dawn Lundy Martinsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Fata Morgana by Reginald Shepherdsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Human Resources by Rachel Zolfsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Otherwise Obedient by Carol Pottersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Second Person by C. Dale Youngsource (opens in a new tab)

Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror

  1. A Companion to Wolves by Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bearsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Ha’penny by Jo Waltonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Spaceman Blues: A Love Song by Brian Francis Slatterysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Wicked Gentlemen by Ginn Halesource (opens in a new tab)

Spirituality

  1. Mobius Trip by Giti Thadanisource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Sex & the Sacred by Daniel Helminiaksource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Spirited by Lisa Moore and G. Winston Jamessource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Singing of Swans by Mary Saracinosource (opens in a new tab)

Studies

  1. Caribbean Pleasure Industry by Mark Padillasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Once You Go Black: Choice, Desire, & the Black American Intellectual by Robert Reid-Pharrsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The First Man-Made Man by Pagan Kennedysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Writing Desire by Bertram Cohlersource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender

  1. Male Bodies, Women’s Souls by LeeRay M. Costasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Nobody Passes by Mattilda and aka Matt Bernstein Sycamoresource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Marrow’s Telling by Eli Claresource (opens in a new tab)
  4. What Becomes You by Aaron Raz Link and Hilda Razsource (opens in a new tab)

About the Lambda Literary Awards

Winners and finalists in every book category, from Lambda Literary's own Lammys Directory (an Airtable embed on the cited page). Year is the ceremony year: the 18th annual awards (2006) through the 37th (2025). The directory lists each book under its publication year, one year earlier, so year = directory year + 1. Ties are recorded as Winner. For 2025 the directory labels non-winners "Shortlist"; Lambda's announcement calls them finalists, so they are Finalist here. Editor and illustrator role tags are dropped from author names; translators go in the translator field. Special Prizes (career and emerging-writer awards to people) are out of scope.

Organization: Lambda Literary Foundation. Years are award years, which can differ from publication years. Official site (opens in a new tab)

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