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Lambda Literary Foundation · award year

Lambda Literary Awards 2009

The 2009 Lambda Literary Awards went to Our Caribbean by Thomas Glave (Anthology), Open by Jenny Block (Bisexual) and Out of the Pocket by Bill Konigsberg (Children’s/Young Adult), with winners in 19 more categories. 106 books were finalists across 22 categories.

Winners

Anthology

  1. Our Caribbean by Thomas Glavesource (opens in a new tab)

Bisexual

  1. Open by Jenny Blocksource (opens in a new tab)

Children’s/Young Adult

  1. Out of the Pocket by Bill Konigsbergsource (opens in a new tab)

Drama

  1. The Second Coming of Joan of Arc by Carolyn Gagesource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Debut Fiction

  1. Finlater by Shawn Stewart Ruffsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Erotica

  1. Best Gay Erotica 2009 by Richard Labonte and James Learsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Fiction

  1. We Disappear by Scott Heimsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Memoir/Biography

  1. Edward Carpenter: A Life of Liberty and Love by Sheila Rowbothamsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Mystery

  1. First You Fall by Scott Shermansource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Poetry

  1. Fire to Fire by Mark Dotysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Now You’re the Enemy by James Allen Hallsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Romance

  1. Got ’til it’s Gone by Larry Duplechansource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Debut Fiction

  1. The Bruise by Magdalena Zurawskisource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Erotica

  1. In Deep Waters 2: Cruising the Strip by Radclyffe and Karin Kallmakersource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Fiction

  1. All the Pretty Girls by Chandra Mayorsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Sealed Letter by Emma Donoghuesource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Memoir/Biography

  1. Sex Talks to Girls: A Memoir by Maureen Seatonsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Mystery

  1. Whacked by Josie Gordonsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Poetry

  1. love belongs to those who do the feeling by Judy Grahnsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Romance

  1. The Kiss That Counted by Karin Kallmakersource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. Loving The Difficult by Jane Rulesource (opens in a new tab)

Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror

  1. Turnskin by Nicole Kimberlingsource (opens in a new tab)

Studies

  1. Criminal Intimacy: Prison and the Uneven History of Modern American Sexuality by Regina Kunzelsource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender

  1. Intersex (For Lack of a Better Word) by Thea Hillmansource (opens in a new tab)

Finalists

Anthology

  1. A Casulty of War: Gay Short Fiction by Peter Burtonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Big Trips: More Good Gay Travel Writing by Raphael Kadushinsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Live Through This by Sabrina Chapadjievsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Love, West Hollywood by Chris Freeman and James J. Bergsource (opens in a new tab)

Bisexual

  1. Kinsey Zero Through Sixty: Bisexual Perspectives on Kinsey by Ron Jackson Sureshasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Rimbaud by Edmund Whitesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Sexual Fluidity: Understanding Women’s Love & Desire by Lisa M. Diamondsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Bishop’s Daughter by Honor Mooresource (opens in a new tab)

Children’s/Young Adult

  1. Hit the Road, Manny: A Manny Files Novel by Christian Burchsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. How They Met & Other Stories by David Levithansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Love & Lies: Marisol’s Story by Ellen Wittlingersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Mousetraps by Pat Schmatzsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. What They Always Tell Us by Martin Wilsonsource (opens in a new tab)

Drama

  1. Phi Alpha Gamma by Dan Bernittsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Radical Acts: Collected Political Plays by Martin Dubermansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Two Truths and a Lie by Scott Schofieldsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Vile Affections by Vandasource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Debut Fiction

  1. Light Fell by Evan Fallenbergsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Shuck by Daniel Allen Coxsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Screwed-Up Life of Charlie The Second by Drew Fergusonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Steve Machine by Mike Hoolboomsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Erotica

  1. Hard Working Men by William Maltese, Victor J. Banis, Jardonn Smith and J.P. Bowiesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Secret Tunnel by James Learsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Fiction

  1. Stray Dog Winter by David Francissource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Boomerang Kid by Jay Quinnsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Conversion by Joseph Olshansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Torturer’s Wife by Thomas Glavesource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Memoir/Biography

  1. Assisted Loving by Bob Morrissource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Bringing Him Home by Aaron Coopersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. King of Shadows by Aaron Shurinsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Swish by Joel Derfnersource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Mystery

  1. Mahu Fire by Neil Plakcysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Spider Season by John Morgan Wilsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Sundowner Ubuntu by Anthony Bidulkasource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Fisher Boy by Stephen Anablesource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Poetry

  1. My Vocabulary Did This to Me: The Collected Poetry of Jack Spicer by Jack Spicer; Peter Gizzi and Kevin Killiansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Please by Jericho Brownsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Want by Rick Barotsource (opens in a new tab)

Gay Romance

  1. Mexican Heat by Laura Baumbach and Josh Lanyonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Protector by N.L. Gassertsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Debut Fiction

  1. Closer to Fine by Meri Weisssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Love Does Not Make Me Gentle or Kind by Chavisa Woodssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Passing for Black by Linda Villarosasource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Red Audrey & the Roping by Jill Malonesource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Erotica

  1. Lipstick on Her Collar by Sacchi Green and Rakelle Valenciasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Periphery: Erotic Lesbian Futures by Lynne Jamnecksource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Fiction

  1. Breaking Spirit Bridge by Ruth Perkinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Map of Ireland by Stephanie Grantsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Slow Fix by Ivan E. Coyotesource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Memoir/Biography

  1. Case of a Lifetime by Abbe Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Intersex (For Lack of a Better Word) by Thea Hillmansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Sex Variant Woman by Joanne Passetsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Wrestling with the Angel of Democracy by Susan Griffinsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Mystery

  1. Blind Faith by Diane and Jacob Anderson-Minshallsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Calling the Dead by Ali Valisource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Losers Weepers by Jessica Thomassource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Sweet Poison by Ellen Hartsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Poetry

  1. Interpretive Work by Elizabeth Bradfieldsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Kissing Dead Girls by Daphne Gottliebsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Same Life by Maureen N. McLanesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Two Minutes of Light by Nancy K. Pearsonsource (opens in a new tab)

Lesbian Romance

  1. A Pirate’s Heart by Catherine Friendsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Finding Home by Georgia Beerssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Hotel Liaison by JLee Meyersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Lonely Hearts Club by Radclyffesource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. Beyond (Straight & Gay Marriage) by Nancy Polikoffsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Dishonorable Passions: Sodomy Laws in America 1861-2003 by William N. Eskridge Jrsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Drifting Toward Love by Kai Wrightsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. If I Could Write This in Fire by Michelle Cliffsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Me as Her Again by Nancy Agabiansource (opens in a new tab)

Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror

  1. Sea, Swallow Me and Other Stories by Craig Gidneysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Archer’s Heart by Astrid Amarasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Magician and the Fool by Barth Andersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Wilde Stories 2008 by Steve Bermansource (opens in a new tab)

Studies

  1. Political Manhood: Red Bloods, Mollycoddles, & the Politics of Progressive Reform by Kevin P. Murphysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Screening Sex by Linda Williamssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Dividends of Dissent: How Conflict and Culture Work in Lesbian and Gay Marches on Washington by Amin Ghazianisource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Tomboys: A Literary & Cultural History by Michelle Ann Abatesource (opens in a new tab)

Transgender

  1. 10,000 Dresses by Marcus Ewert and Rex Raysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Boy with Flowers by Ely Shipleysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Transgender History by Susan Strykersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Two Truths and a Lie by Scott Schofieldsource (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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