I stumbled upon the Lavender Library while on Outword magazine’s website. I have been friends with publisher Fred Palmer for many, many years, so even though I live in New York City, I check the site occasionally to see what’s going on in my hometown of Sacramento.

I note in your letter above that there are self-published author events at the Library, which got me to thinking – how does one get their book in your Library? I would be honored to be considered for inclusion in your wonderful organization on so many levels, first off being that I was born and raised in Sacramento. Also, I’m a gay writer of an erotic novel that definitely documents a current time and place which should be “archived” and treasured. And lastly, I have an almost obsessive love for libraries and book stores that just can’t be taught or acquired. I practically grew up in the Carmichael Library, one of my favorite places in the world as a child, and couldn’t help but end up working in the school library all through college and law school at my alma mater, Pepperdine University.

In August of 2009, I self-published “The Three Red Lines,” a gritty erotic novel that takes four New Yorkers on a psychedelic trip through tattoo parlors, shared dreamscapes, haunted visions, and exotic Mardi Gras-inspired fantasies. I truly believe there’s nothing like it out there right now – it’s got a startlingly original voice and is totally New York-centric, dirty, dreamy, fantastical, and balls-to-the wall hardcore in its honest depiction of sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll in the Big Apple.

Please let me know what the process is to include my work in the Lavender Library. I would be HONORED.

All my best,
Dario Dalla Lasta

So who’s reading from “Mr. Benson” @ Dirty Words on the 27th? I might be up for the gig…