by Diane S. Bauden. $16.95; Intaglio; 227 pages
Tomahawk'd is not a new book, but it's one I recently came upon because Diane's real name is Diane Stuercke, and she's the editor of our Windy City Queercast online radio program. I knew Diane wrote lesbian fiction, and was interested in finding out more.
Tomahawk'd is a wonderfully sweet tale of two young girls who meet during summer vacation and fall slowly in love over time. Jackson lives at the resort with her lesbian aunt, while Erin comes with her family to the Wisconsin resort every summer.
Through letters and annual visits, we watch their attraction grow, but it remains unnamed uncomfortably long for them both. Erin becomes a professional artist and marries a man. Jackson is a musician drifting from woman to woman, never quite finding the right one.
While Erin may not realize what is behind her friendship with Jackson, her homophobic mom certainly sees what's going on, even when Erin is young. As Erin becomes an adult, her mother's hatred only increases, and causes a rift with her father, who seems genuinely loving and supportive of whatever path his daughter follows. Erin and Jackson come back together as adults, after many years apart, due to a health-related crisis. Can they mend their wounded hearts?
Tomahawk'd is an easy read, with lots of passion and fun, and it feels like a modern campfire re-telling of the lesbian classic Patience and Sarah. I'd definitely recommended it for fans of lesbian fiction.