UNLOCK Book Club | What A Girl Wants by Roxy Bourdillon.

Author Roxy Bourdillon shares the creative process behind her debut book, with a review from Neil Hudson-Basing.

Have you ever considered writing a book to share your voice, expertise & passion with the world? If the answer is yes, the UNLOCK Book Club is for YOU!

Our network of experienced queer authors - leaders in their fields & spaces - are here to share their journeys, bring tough topics into every-day conversations and provide you with tips & guidance to help make your publishing dream a reality.

During our most recent instalment of the UNLOCK Book Club, we were joined by Roxy Bourdillon (she/her), editor-in-chief of DIVA, the world's leading magazine for LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people, to talk all about her debut book What A Girl Wants - A (True) Story of Sexuality & Self Discovery. Roxy’s memoir, in her own words, is all about her story growing up as a woman who happens to really really love women. In a world that can make you feel pretty terrible about that.

Roxy, also an award-winning writer, was in-conversation with Char Bailey (she/her), life coach, DEI educator & part of the WCS Collective. Roxy & Char work together regularly and so the hour was packed with authenticity, friendship & realness as they chatted all about the book:

• Roxy's creative process for bringing her story to life

• The lessons she learned through the book writing process about herself & her role as a Queer Leader

• The importance of What A Girl Wants for the LGBTQ+ community.

During the session, Roxy also delivered two standout readings for the book: the first a moment of realisation and reflection from her teenage years and the second, one of the book’s many interludes that are interwoven between each chapter and skillfully provide engaging context in the timeline of Roxy’s story and a dose of light, often comic, relief amongst some of the heavier experiences & themes.

We Create Space Events & Community Director Neil Hudson-Basing was privileged to read the book ahead of its release. Here's his short review of Roxy’s memoir and why you should read it…

"What a Girl wants is packed full of heartwarming, heartbreaking & HILARIOUS moments & escapades from Roxy's life. I love a ‘voicey’ writer - and Roxy’s voice rings beautifully & unapologetically throughout the memoir. Her humour, style & warmth ooze from every page. Through the teenage years to her struggling career and from her love life, travel adventures to where she is now. With so many memories of her gorgeous Granny who serves class, inspiration & main character energy that has shaped the Roxy we know & love today.  It's a queer time-machine ride back to special places & spaces from a beloved time on the scene that took me back to simpler, happy times & a deep craving to revisit some of the iconic venues we’ve lost over the years. Plus it has the gayest, nostalgic cultural references you could wish for.  It's a much-needed history lesson & a crucial call to action for allyship & solidarity. And finally, it's a deep & beautiful display of pure love & affection for the LGBTQ+ community. Roxy was a guest on my own podcast, Pause. And Rewind…, back in April where I got to speak to her about ‘What A Girl Wants’ and her origin story. During Lesbian Visibility Week at the Diva Awards, I saw Roxy deliver an empowering and passionate speech covering LGBTQ+ acceptance, the beauty of the lesbian community as well as the need to fight for and protect the dignity, freedom and rights of the trans+ community right now. She truly is a unique powerhouse of a leader and her memoir captures her journey that explains why.

Go buy ‘What A Girl Wants: A (True) Story of Sexuality & Self Discovery now! Wherever you buy your books, but preferably from an independent queer retailer.

Check out these upcoming instalments of the UNLOCK Book Club:

5 June | Do You Believe in Life After Loss by Andrew Flewitt - RSVP here.

18 June | Pride & Prejudices: Queer Lives & the Law by Keio Yoshida - RSVP here.

If you would like to discuss booking one of these speakers for your own session, please get in touch with us via email at hello@wecreatespace.co

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