Choices Pride + Summer Updates
Celebrating Pride
The sun is out, the birds are chirping, and the iced tea is about to be spilled. We’re here to celebrate Pride and let you know a little bit more about some folks from our studio. After that, we’ll share details on details about upcoming Choices books!
First up, we’d like to take this time to celebrate Pride Month with the Choices community! Whether you’ve been longing for a romance that you see yourself in or a character whose gender journey you empathize with, we hope that Choices is a place where you can feel comfortable being yourself. It means the world to us when we hear that Choices has made players feel seen or more comfortable in who they are. In a time where LGBTQ+ rights continue to be debated, remember that you are worthy and loved, no matter your identity.
With that being said, we’re so excited to have this space to share a little bit about a few of our LGBTQ+ studio members!
Hello, Pixelberries! What will you be doing to celebrate Pride Month?
Bii: Going to events around the Bay and appreciating all the Queer people around me!
Isa (They/Them): Playing video games and smooching my boyfriend
Saran (She/Her): Thriving
Dahlia (She/Her): Celebrating the publication of my newest queer YA book, Going Bicoastal, and appearing on a Pride Panel at Barnes & Noble in NYC with some other YA authors!
Meric (He/Him): Hosting a pride party, attending NYC pride, I might fundraise for a Turkish organization founded by parents of queer kids
Claire (She/Her): Supporting local drag and getting a Sappho tattoo! (Might go to a G-Flip show, iykyk)
Tera (She/Her): Watching some queer-focused media, going to my local pride, and donating to help fight the increase of laws targeting trans people.
Emi (She/They/He): Spending time with my queer friends, buying cute Pride merch from small businesses (in my opinion, you can never have too many pins with Pride flags on them), speaking up in support of trans people, and donating money to organizations that are doing the same.
Olivia (She/Her): Donating to local and national orgs that are fighting against transphobic legislation, and going to my new city's Pride festival for the first time!
Katie (She/Her/Hers): I dyed my hair the colors of the Bi flag. Also, I'm going to Disneyland.
Jay (He/They): I'll probably go to Pride in SF and just enjoy summer with all of my queer friends!
Frank (They/Them): Going to SF to see the Pride Parade with friends!
Alex (They/Them): This year I will be having Pride celebrations with all of my queer friends at home! Throwing some little kickbacks, eating good food, and watching queer movies together. :)
Lil (They/Them): Volunteering and outreach along with encouraging everyone to bring a little more high camp into their lives.
What’s your favorite piece of queer media?
Bii: The Handmaiden (2016)
Isa: But I'm A Cheerleader, Boyfriend Dungeon, Hades
Saran: I recently enjoyed playing Romancelvania! It's camp, it's queer, and it's full of hot monsters to love <3
Dahlia: Too many books to choose from, but I'll go with the book The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros!
Meric: RuPaul’s Drag Race, Queer tv (The Other Two etc.), Books like The Priory of the Orange Tree
Claire: Yellowjackets, A League of Their Own (reboot), The L Word (classic AND reboot), The Hours, Life is Strange
Tera: Life is Strange
Emi: AMC's Interview with a Vampire. Love how it took the subtext in the early books and just made it text so we got to explore that nuanced queer relationship in all its details. Plus gay vampires. What's not to love?
Olivia: Don't judge me, but my answer has to be Orphan Black. It came out at a pretty important time in my life, helped ME come out for the first time, and led to me meeting my partner!
Katie: A classic TV Show for me is Sense8, and I have an undying love for Will Solace and Nico di Angelo in the Percy Jackson books <3. If we're going really out there, I love Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Jane the Virgin for the queer representation in later seasons.
Jay: Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
Frank: Scream
Alex: I love a good video game, especially any visual novels or RPGs that let me romance anyone I want! A good one that has me hooked right now is "Roots of Pacha". I also love a good wholesome TV show, like "Heartstopper" on Netflix, which is based on a graphic novel series by Alice Osman!
Lil: "Pride" (2014) is a really great movie about direct action and intersectional solidarity, "D.E.B.S." is just formative and fun, and I strongly recommend revisiting the work of the Wachowski sisters because there are so many metaphors for trans identity in there amid all the beautiful visuals.
Thanks to these team members for sharing with us! We hope June has been and continues to be a fantastic month for you all! Moving on to some scorching summer sneak peeks! Pull out those shades, because these details are HOT!
Highly-Anticipated Upcoming Releases (Book 1 Spoilers Ahead!)
You’ve been asking, and we’ve been so excited to share! Here are a few updates and sneak peeks of four highly-anticipated sequels in the Choices library! (PS: All of these books are gender of choice!)
Blades of Light and Shadow 2
Oh, do we have a story for you! When you face the Shadow Realm once again, your skills are put to the ultimate test. Are you back in the Realm of your own accord? Or are you there against your will? Only time will tell, in the September 2023 premiere!
Unbridled: An Untameable Story
Saddle up, partner! In the spinoff of Untameable, you’ll play as a brand new character, but you'll still see some familiar faces around. So get ready for a rodeo of a good time!
The Cursed Heart 2
Coming 2024: The Cursed Heart 2! After a grueling battle to rid Kieran of their curse, you may think all has been put to rest. But friends, that could not be further from the truth. A new threat stands to rid the land of fae – no matter which Court they belong to.
Immortal Desires 2
Another sequel is in the works! Immortal Desires 2 will also premiere in 2024! After your Turning at the end of Book 1, your kindling romance with both Cas and Gabe soon turns to jealousy when you are faced with the ultimate decision – which coven will you dedicate your life to?
Upcoming Themes
Sometimes, the community will request a certain type of book, and we love to hear those ideas. We often can’t share details about books that will come out way in the future, but we dug up a few hints that we wanted to share. In 2024, you can expect to see books about:
👻♥️
🔪🧐
🏒🔥
AND SO MUCH MORE!
Have you read these books yet?
Before we sign off, we’d like to share a few summer reading recommendations!
If you love historical fiction, try:
Guinevere
If you’re a magical kind of person, try: Kindred
If thrills and chills are more your thing, try: Crimes of Passion 2
We loved taking this time to tell you about a few members of our studio, as well as some juicy hints at books you’ve been looking forward to! As always, thank you for being a part of the Choices community. We couldn’t do it without you! From all of us on the Pixelberry Choices team, H.A.G.S.! 😉
<3 The Choices Community Team