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SOUTHERN VOICE
OCTOBER 21/1993
At 19, DiMarco is a writer trying to outrace time
Seattle lesbian author is topping
the best seller lists—and writing
her autobiography
Seattle—Lesbian author Jennifer DiMarco is just 19, but
already, her latest novel, “Escape to the Wind,” a post-Arma
geddon lesbian adventure, edged out “Jurassic Park” to take
the top spot on tire Seattle Times best seller list.
“It’s so incredible to be able to show the mainstream
world dial even diough we are gay and lesbian, the world is
still our oyster—we can accomplish all our dreams and reach
all of our goals,” says DiMarco.
She created the world of New Seattle, and elusive
Windriders, and their Warrior leader, Tygcr, in “Escape to the
Wind” before she even graduated high school. Her first novel
was written at die age of 10, to simply pass the fifth grade. To
her credit, DiMarco has stacked a total of 13 novels, four
screenplays and two stage productions. Eight of DiMarco’s
novels have been self-published.
Days after the release of “Escape,” DiMarco’s publisher
sent her off on a tour to Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles,
New York and Boston. All along the way, DiMarco appeared
on radio and television shows and was interviewed by numer
ous newspapers and magazines—an experience she says left
her feeling “intense and very empowered.” She says that the
most memorable experiences she encountered weren’t with
the media, but with the people she met along the way.
“I talked to about 80 people a day on a personal basis
about their lives and their dreams. There were people who
cried at the readings because they finally felt like someone
was speaking for them and their community, and there were
others who were angry at me because I am a lesbian daughter
of lesbian parents,” she said. (Indeed, during a book signing
Jennifer DiMarco wrote her first novel at the age of 10
by DiMarco in Portland, Ore., bigots picketed, while others
verbally threatened her in Los Angeles for being a lesbian).
Three different publishers are bidding for her recently-
completed novel, “Jackie Falcon, Pride.”
In this book, DiMarco challenges us to stare at a dark and
hidden side of ourselves, and just for a moment, imagine
setting it free. As a “young blood vigilante,” Jackie’s purpose
is revenge, which she seeks for her lesbian mother’s death and
for anyone else who has fallen victim to hate. “Jackie is a little
bit of darkness feeding on darkness to make more light,”
DiMarco says.
DiMarco’s achievements—she is a two-year winner of
the Pacific Northwest Writer’s Conference First Place Award—
best describe the degree of her ability. But DiMttrco is much
more than just a writer and much more than just a lesbian. Her
talent is indeed her words, but her gift is her humanity.
Last year, Karen Driver of Clarcsholm, Alberta, Canada
read a DiMarco article in a local magazine. She wrote and told
DiMarco how lonely it was living as a lesbian in a very small
town. Driver asked DiMttrco if she could send more of her
works. Not only did Driver receive the books, she got a visit
from DiMarco herself.
“My partner and I drove 20 hours in winter snow just to
meet her,” says DiMarco. “The first thing I am is my words. I
write to reach people, to make that connection. That’s all I
want to do.”
While DiMarco’s base of readership is in the gay and
lesbian community, and her main characters are gay and
lesbian, about 45 percent of her readers are straight.
“I write about the human community,” she says. “1 have a
large heterosexual following because 1 don’t hate heterosexu
als. I hate bigots, no matter what their sexual oricntaLion.”
DiMarco’s style is singular and raw. Some have called her
a prodigy. Her talent spans a wide spectrum of diversity and
leaves us racing from shelf to shelf to explore children’s tales
or mystery or horror novels. “I write across the board in every
genre. I write about life, and life is diverse,” she says.
Currently, DiMarco is working on two stage plays and her
own autobiography, titled “Speed...The First 20 Years.”
“I’m living as fast as I can,” she said. “Since the time I
started writing, I have had this feeling in the gut of my
stomach that I am trying to outrace time.”
JR STONE
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778 Rays Road, Suite 101
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
(404) 297-0350
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