The Good And The Bad News
The Bad News First:

Along with the horrifying tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, last month we suffered a blow at Amazing Dreams Publishing. Two of the largest GLBT book distributors in the US, Alamo Square Distributors and Koen Book Distributors, closed their doors after years of struggle. Sad but true--they could no longer survive because our book stores are rapidly going the way of the dinosaurs.

Our founder, Tracey Stevens, had a very long conversation with the man who was managing Alamo Square Book Distributors before it went under. Following is a summary of the conversation that deals with what may be fueling the demise of our GLBT bookstores:

During my phone call with Dennis, we discussed the fact that it just doesn't seem like gay people are supporting each other in businesses, especially independent gay and lesbian bookstores. There are less than 100 bookstores in the US and Canada that we have contacts with, and more are closing every day.

While speculating why this is happening, the conversation moved into how it seems that the GLBT community is just not unified in any way, shape, or form, and how this thing of judging people because they are gay men or lesbians, or transgendered lesbians, or transgendered gay men, or not butch enough, or too fem, or whatever we as GLBT are supposed to be on a given day, is what gives the government and the fundamentalists power over us. Until we are able to not judge each other, and stand together and fight for our rights as human beings, why would we ever expect anyone outside of our own culture to to do anything any different?

If we spend our time being negative with comments like "Lipstick lez is so out." "He's such a queen!" "She's a big dyke!" we will never get the equal rights we deserve as tax paying citizens of this country.

Keeping our culture separate is the way to our own demise as far as our businesses and our own rights. If we do not come together and fight for what is ours as human beings, then we have no one to blame but ourselves.

I have been an out lesbian since the 1970s, and I have seen our community slowly deteriorating because deep inside some of us are actually buying what is being shoved down our throats in the media and from society. As a whole, gay people are not supporting each other, and our businesses are folding up and closing their doors. It is happening right before our eyes--our own extinction--our own being shoved back into a closet that was recently starting to open--and we are just standing here and letting it happen!

WE NEED TO STAND TOGETHER NOW! Until we do, there will be little change, and the death of our bookstores and businesses will be the result of our apathy.

It is very important for us all to stand together and empower each other through both the good and the bad times. If you have GLBT stores or businesses in your area, please think of them the next time you need to make a purchase. We all need to support each other, because there is little support from outside sources.

It is also equally important that women network together to fight for our rights as human beings on this Earth. This is one of the reasons we decided to open our Lesbian Networking Groups in every state in the US. Our Moderators are setting up online chats, lunch get-togethers, and coffee meetings in their areas, so please feel free to join your state's group, make new friends, and network with other women in your community.

And Now Some Good News:

Two of our lesbian Ecard artists, AKA Private Pink, had sent over 600 calendars from Australia to Alamo Square Book Distributors in CA. When Alamo closed its doors, our artists wrote asking for help. They could not afford to have these calendars shipped back to Australia, and they could go bankrupt if they lost all of their stock.

We went to work here, putting it out to our networking and support groups, all of us brainstorming ways to help our two Aussie artists. Well, talk about when one door closes--after we received the following email, we think this door blew right off its frame:

Our calendar and work has been the discovered by the producers of "The L Word!" They commissioned the artwork for the month of March for reproduction on the set of "The L Word" Season 3 as a mural backdrop in the Planet Café. More than that - the painting of the mural itself has been woven into the story line!!! This has been opening quite a few doors for us, and proved to be a very powerful marketing tool, as far as publishing some articles regarding this thanks to "The L Word" sensation! Again, both Keren and myself are grateful for your involvement and help! Best , Noa

Look for this art from our Ecard Artists, Private Pink, featured in the Planet Cafe on the L Word!

We can not believe this! One day these Ecard artists are freaking out and about to go bankrupt, and then a few days later their artwork will be featured on one of the hottest shows both here and in Australia!

The Private Pink 2006 calendar may become a collectors edition, so get them while they are hot:
www.privatepink.net. You can also send free Ecards of Noa and Keren's work here: Private Pink Ecards, and see their biography here: Private Pink Biography

AND SPEAKING OF THE L WORD . . . While searching for new movie reviews, we also found a nice big $20 off the list price sale on the entire The L Word Season One, and a preorder sale on The L Word Season Two too! Visit our Film Reviews Page for the best in lesbian movies.

MORE GREAT NEWS AT AMAZING DREAMS PUBLISHING
This month we have new Ecards from Mara, and a new Lesbian Sports Column by Patricia Nell Warren. We've added another category to our Bookstore, LGBT in Education/Gay & Lesbian Studies, and now all of our books are available through Amazon.com! We've also been contacted by Women's Entertainment Network about a great new show that is coming out soon, and we are in the middle of negotiations with a brand new mystery writer coming onboard here at Amazing Dreams Publishing!

Even though we've been hit with some hard times from the publishing industry, we are still providing some of the best resources for women online. Make sure to check out the great products and services offered below. Any purchases that you make from our website helps us to continue to provide free services for women worldwide!

AUGUST WEB STATS
In August we had 94,718 visits and 2,497,903 accesses--another record-breaking month! Today, our websites are number 1, 2, and 3 out of 144,000 websites on Google when searching for Lesbian Ecards, and when you search for Lesbian Coming Out, we are number 2 out of 3,010,000! Thinking we must be doing something right, because the site and what we are providing for women worldwide is finally getting out there!

OUR LESBIAN NETWORKING GROUPS
Our 58 Lesbian Networking Groups are thriving with one in every US state, and several more in English Speaking Countries. These groups now have over 1,350 members, both single women and women in couples, but we still need moderators. Being a moderator means you get to meet lots of women from your local area, a perfect way to make new friends or more. Our Moderators are setting up online chats, lunch get-togethers, and coffee meetings in their areas, so join in the fun, make some new friends, and network in your community.

The following Networking Groups now have moderators: AZ, CANADA, CO, FL, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, MS, VT, NC, NY, NZ, OH, PA, RI, TX, UK, VA, VT, and W VA. We have 36 more that need good women to make sure that the groups are a safe space with no men joining or lurking. If you are an honest, caring, woman who would like to volunteer some time for your community, please join your state's, or country's, Lesbian Networking Group and then email the List Owner that you would like to volunteer as moderator. The email address for the List Owner is listed under Group Email Addresses at the bottom of the Networking Group's home page.

SUPPORT GROUP FOR OUR MODERATORS
To help our moderators, we also have opened a group just for them. As a member of the Lesbian Networking Moderators group, you can get support and information to help run your group both smoothly and successfully. All the members of this group have been very supportive of each other, and are sharing ideas and information on a daily basis.

SUPPORT FOR LESBIANS COMING OUT GROUP
Our Lesbian/Bi Women Online Support Group now has 233 members from all over the world. Here's a recent comment from one of our members:

"It is really difficult to put into words just how much this group means to me. The amazing ladies in this group walk along side me in my journey to be a fully self expressed woman, accepting all aspects of my sexuality. I am also blessed to be able to have the opportunity to contribute to the lives of women that I may never meet in person but that hold a very special place in my heart. I live in a small town in New Zealand where there is no support for women coming out, and it is 5 hours to the closest big city. By being a part of the SFLCO group I know that there is always someone at the end of the keyboard through the ups and the downs. I have learnt so much from the sharing of others and know this is a safe place to ask what feels like even the silliest question. To all the woman in this group, thank you for allowing me to be connected to this chain of friendship and growth. Being part of this group has meant so much to me over the past year and it has been an honor to be apart of it and watch the group and the members blossom. I don't think I could ever put into words what it has meant to be a part of this group. To find a community of women who offer love, acceptance, and support unconditionally has been the light at the end of my tunnel."

See more quotes from members of our support group.

As always, sending huge THANKS to everyone who has spread the word about our website and our support and networking groups.

How we fund our free services is by selling our books and products, which are selected especially for lesbian and bisexual women, from our website. If you'd like to help us to help other women worldwide, be sure to check out what we are offering from our website below.

NEW LESBIAN SPORTS COLUMN
By Patrician Nell Warren
Diana Nyad: Marathon Swimming Champion
On Aug. 13, 1978, a 28-year-old American named Diana Nyad waded into the Caribbean waters at a beach near Havana, Cuba. Press cameras flashed around her. Her expression was grim, her eyes revealing a personality driven by iron will. She wasn’t going for a tourist dip. It was the start of her attempt at a world-record long-distance swim–130 miles from Cuba to the Florida Keys, through the powerful Gulf Stream. She checked the special grease coating on her body. This, and her swim cap, was the only protection she had–no wetsuit or flippers were allowed under the rules of her sport . . .
READ MORE

Our affiliates provide quality products for our supporters.
Profits from them and our own books help us to
keep our services free for women worldwide.

AMAZING DREAMS ONLINE BOOKSTORE
Our selection of books are now available from Amazon.com! At this time, we have an assortment of Lesbian Coming Out Books, Lesbian Sex Stories and Sexuality Books, Lesbian Partnership and Wedding Books, books on Lesbian Parenting, Lesbian and Gay Kids, and Lesbian Parents, and our newest section LGBT in Education/Gay & Lesbian Studies. All of our books are available through both Ecampus.com and Amazon.com.

If you have a book or product that you need more exposure for, please contact us about what we can do to help you with your marketing efforts. We are getting over 2.5 million hits from over 100,000 visitors a month.

FIND THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE AT MATCH.COM!
Still haven't found that special someone, and you've looked high and low? Have gay bars and potlucks got you down in the dumps? There is a better way to find great women in your area who are also looking for love. Match.com has millions of members worldwide, and many of these members are women looking for women! We searched for the best affiliate for our community, and these people are very nice to work with, and you can even try out their service for free!!
Click HERE for more information.

LESBIAN DISCOUNT TRAVEL
Ever dreamed of taking your partner on a vacation she will never forget? Orbitz is a lesbian friendly company, and they work hand-in-hand with Olivia Cruises and Resorts to bring affordable, all women, vacations to incredible places around the world. Orbitz makes it easy to find exclusive lesbian-friendly travel deals. You can become an Orbitz member and get great offers like: free travel, great discounts, and exclusive GLBT travel rewards. Check out our special offers on Olivia vacations, popular destinations, and premier women's guesthouses! Click the link below, and then look for great Lesbian Friendly Travel Deals!
Visit Orbitz Lesbian Travel

LESBIAN POSTERS, ART PRINTS, AND MAGNETS
We've got lesbian-themed posters, art prints and magnets. From sensual to radical, from pride to fun, these posters and magnets make great gifts for friends, lovers, and just about anyone who loves women!
Visit our Lesbian Poster Page for beautiful prints.
Visit our Lesbian Magnet pages for the best in miniature art.
Visit our Fantasy Women Page for beautiful prints of incredible women.

OVER 1,000 MAGAZINES AT DISCOUNT PRICES
There are over 1,000 magazines to choose from with discounts of up to 75% off the newsstand price! Help us to help others by purchasing a subscription for a birthday or an anniversary gift, or maybe you need to treat yourself to your own subscription today.
Visit our Magazine Page for huge discounts on subscriptions.

SEND FLOWERS TO SHOW HER YOU CARE.
Our online service for the people you love: flowers sent directly from the growers at half the price of many florists! We researched the best online flower distributor to find one who will provide quality products for our GLBT community. You can set up your own online account and send flowers for all occasions.

SPECIAL PROMOTIONS ON ROSES:
12 Short-Stem Red Roses or 12 Short-Stem Mixed Roses for $29.95 in the US.

12 Long-Stem Roses (all colors) for $34.95 in the US.

18 Red Roses or 18 Mixed Roses for $34.95 in the US.

On September 6, 2005 four new, beautiful, Fall bouquets, Fall Fields, Halloween, Give Thanks, and Indian Summer, will be available from our store!

Visit the Amazing Dreams Flower Shop and send your favorite woman flowers today!