Wild Iris Books - Florida's only Feminist & LGBTQ+ Bookstore!

Wild Iris Announces Closing Date of December 23, 2017

erica721 — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 13:04:06 +0000

Wild Iris Books will be closing our doors December 23, 2017. For 25 years, we have been your local feminist bookstore and we have loved being a part of your lives. Keeping the store going has taken love and sacrifice but it has also been a source of profound joy and goodness. Being a part of Wild Iris has been one of the most loving and sacred undertakings of our lives. The owners and volunteers have given their hearts and their labor to make sure feminist book-selling had a voice in Florida, but the time has come and we can no longer keep the store afloat.

We have some opportunities behind the scenes that may lead to a Wild Iris 2.0 and we hope to bring you good news in the next couple of months. If being part of the Wild Iris legacy is something you want to do, we’re open to having conversations with potential buyers as well, just reach out to us.

We are holding the image of the phoenix tightly in our hearts right now and while we cannot continue to exist as we are, with your support in these last months, we may yet rise from the fire.

Struggling to keep our doors open has left us with a considerable amount of debt and we will be selling all inventory and fixtures to close out these accounts. If what we have stood for over the last 25 years has served you, we ask that you come by - tell us your stories, give us your hugs, and help buy out the inventory on our shelves. Please think ahead about holiday shopping - we'll still be available for special orders through December and our entire store will be deeply discounted to move out current inventory.

If you don't need books or aren't close by but would like to help us close the doors to this chapter in good financial health, we'd be honored to take your donation.

If our behind the scenes plans have any hope of re-inventing the Iris, we must first submit to the fire so that like the phoenix we can rise from the ashes stronger and more beautiful. Again, we have loved being a part of your lives and we thank you for trusting us to do this valuable work as long as we have been able to.

We're still in this feminist fight and we'll meet you on the front lines.

With deepest gratitude and solidarity,

Wild Iris Books

Becoming Cliterate - Book Signing with Dr. Laurie Mintz - Mon Sept 25th, 3pm

erica721 — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 14:54:07 +0000

Join Wild Iris as we welcome local author Dr. Laurie Mintz for a book signing and discussion of her new book, Becoming Cliterate! Laurie will help us all become more cliterate and answer all your questions, Monday, September 25th at 3pm in the Ustler Hall Atrium.

We’ve been thinking about sex all wrong. Mainstream media, movies, and porn have taught us that sex = penis + vagina, and everything else is just secondary. The problem is, people with cl,itorises don’t orgasm this way. We’ve separated thier most reliable route to orgasm—clitoral stimulation—from how they feel they should orgasm—penetration. As a result, we’ve created a pleasure gap.

In Becoming Cliterate, psychology professor and human sexuality expert Dr. Laurie Mintz exposes the broader cultural problem that’s perpetuating this gap, and what we can do about it. By dispelling the lies, misunderstandings, and myths that have been holding us back, Becoming Cliterate tackles both personal and political problems and replaces them with updated outlooks and practical skills needed to change our collective perspective on sex.

The revolution is cuming—and Becoming Cliterate offers a radical, simple solution to progress and pleasure for all.

Eve Ensler, Author of the Vagina Monologues, had this to say about Becoming Cliterate – “An excellent, thorough, inspiring and much needed guide to the source of our deepest energy, pleasure, and power—the clitoris. Everyone needs to read this book and become CLITERATE.”

Order your copy today!

Special thanks to the UF Department of Psychology and the UF Center for Gender, Sexualities, and Women’s Studies Research for supporting this event.

Find out more about becoming cliterate through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Dr. Laurie Mintz's website!

Check out these related products:

Becoming Cliterate: Why Orgasm Equality Matters--And How to Get It (Hardcover)

By Laurie Mintz

$25.64

ISBN: 9780062484383

Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days

Published: HarperOne - May 9th, 2017

We've been thinking about sex all wrong. Mainstream media, movies, and porn have taught us that sex = penis + vagina, and everything else is just secondary. Standard penetration is how men most reliably achieve orgasm. The problem is, women don't orgasm this way. We've separated our most reliable route to orgasm--clitoral stimulation--from how we feel we should orgasm--penetration.

A Tired Woman's Guide to Passionate Sex: Reclaim Your Desire and Reignite Your Relationship (Paperback)

By Laurie B. Mintz

$14.95

ISBN: 9781605501079

Availability: Special Order

Published: Adams Media Corporation - September 1st, 2009

"Honey, I'm too tired" may sound like just another excuse--but for millions of American women, it's simply the truth. They may settle for no sex at all or the obligatory "I'd better do this for my marriage" sex--often to the detriment of their relationships. In this guide, Dr. Laurie B. Mintz shows women how to bring their libido back to life--and put the passion back into their lives.

Raising Our Voices: Survivors of Violence Art Exhibit Opens March 31st

erica721 — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 17:58:52 +0000

Join Alachua County Victim Services and Rape Crisis Center for our 4th annual show, "Raising Our Voices: Survivors of Violence Art Exhibit," featuring artwork and performances from victims and survivors of interpersonal violence in our community. We hold this show every April in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness, and are grateful to be able to bring it to our community again for 2017!

To kick off the show this year, a reception will be held on Friday, March 31st from 7-9pm at the Civic Media Center and Wild Iris Books, where it will remain open until Thursday, April 6th.

The exhibit will then move to the Cafe Level of the Harn Museum of Art, where it will be displayed from Tuesday, April 11th to Sunday, April 23rd. Join us on April 13th from 6-9pm for our opening reception as a part of the Harn's monthly Museum Nights.

The show and receptions are free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Danielle Bent at dbent@alachuacounty.us or (352)393-7682.
For media inquiries, please contact Ashley Flattery at aflattery@alachuacounty.us

The Vagina Monologues - Feb 14th, 17th & 18th - Tickets on Sale Now!

erica721 — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 23:04:00 +0000

Gainesville’s Benefit Production of The Vagina Monologues has opened ticket sales for the 2017 shows on February 14th, 17th, & 18th. Eve Ensler shook foundations and language when she created The Vagina Monologues, a legacy of over 200 voices and stories that over the years have helped so many women claim or reclaim their own skin.

The Gainesville producers have enhanced the experience by cultivating a space for the voices of transwomen, women of color and additional performances focused on topics such as abortion and rape. We hope you can join us at the Hippodrome for solidarity and celebration.

Doors will open 30 minutes before the production start time. We encourage patrons to show up early to enjoy a drink and peruse this year's art installation, "The Art of Women's Diversity." The production has an approximatley 2-hour run time, including a brief 15-minute intermission.

Keeping with the spirit of V-Day and the cause of protecting all women from violence, proceeds from the show benefit local organizations contributing to intersectional feminist issues. Peaceful Paths and Wild Iris Books will receive a portion of the proceeds to continue our feminist work in the community.

Select one of the show times below and get your ticket today!

Tuesday, February 14, 2017 – 6:30pm to 9:30pm – $30

Friday, February 17, 2017 – 6:30pm to 9:30pm – $30

Saturday, February 18, 2017 – 12:00pm to 2:00pm – $30

Check out these related products:

The Vagina Monologues (Paperback)

By Eve Ensler

$16.15

ISBN: 9780345498601

Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days

Published: Villard Books - December 26th, 2007

A landmark in women's empowerment--as relevant as ever after a year marked by unprecedented political protest--that honors female sexuality in all its complexity.

At the Dark End of the Street: Black Women, Rape, and Resistance--A New History of the Civil Rights Movement from Rosa Parks to the Rise of Black Pow (Paperback)

By Danielle L. McGuire

$16.10

ISBN: 9780307389244

Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days

Published: Vintage Books - October 4th, 2011

Rosa Parks was often described as a sweet and reticent elderly woman whose tired feet caused her to defy segregation on Montgomery's city buses, and whose supposedly solitary, spontaneous act sparked the 1955 bus boycott that gave birth to the civil rights movement. The truth of who Rosa Parks was and what really lay beneath the 1955 boycott is far different from anything previously written.

Excluded: Making Feminist and Queer Movements More Inclusive (Paperback)

By Julia Serano

$17.00

ISBN: 9781580055048

Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days

Published: Seal Press (CA) - October 1st, 2013

While many feminist and queer movements are designed to challenge sexism, they often simultaneously police gender and sexualitysometimes just as fiercely as the straight, male-centric mainstream does. Among LGBTQ activists, there is a long history of lesbians and gay men dismissing bisexuals, transgender people, and other gender and sexual minorities.

Women and Violence (Paperback)

By Barrie Levy

$12.95

ISBN: 9781580052443

Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days

Published: Seal Press (CA) - October 14th, 2008

When women decide what to wear, where to go, how to get there, what time of day to be outdoors, and what affects their sense of security and safety, are they aware that they re afraid of being sexually assaulted? Violence against women is, on a global scale, so common that some experts consider it a normal aspect of women's experiencesand yet research on the issue is subjective and inconsistent.

Rape Is Rape: How Denial, Distortion, and Victim Blaming Are Fueling a Hidden Acquaintance Rape Crisis (Paperback)

By Jody Raphael

$18.95

ISBN: 9781613744796

Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days

Published: Lawrence Hill Books - April 1st, 2013

More than half of women and girls lie about rape . . . Feminists exaggerate rape prevalence to demonize men and raise money for their cause . . . Girls cry rape when it's nothing more than regret over bad sex . . . Such emotionally charged false accusations have convinced much of the general public and the media that acquaintance rape is a figment of the imagination.

Yes Means Yes!: Visions of Female Sexual Power and a World Without Rape (Paperback)

By Jaclyn Friedman, Jessica Valenti

$16.10

ISBN: 9781580052573

Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days

Published: Seal Press (CA) - December 2nd, 2008

In this groundbreaking new look at rape edited by writer and activist Jaclyn Freidman and Full Frontal Feminism and He's A Stud, She's A Slut author Jessica Valenti, the way we view rape in our culture is finally dismantled and replaced with a genuine understanding and respect for female sexual pleasure.

Mayor's Book Club; "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates

deffendk — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 20:50:59 +0000

The city of Gainesville will be holding its first Mayor's Book Club on September 12, 2016. It will be help at 6:00pm in meeting room A at the headquarters branch of the Alachua County Library District. The book that mayor Lauren Poe has announced "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates will be the first selection. People from the community are welcome to join and share their views on the book, race, and other concepts that are brought up throughout the novel.

Winner of the National Book Award and highly praised by author Toni Morrison as well as the New York Times, "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates is a must-read book. Coates is considered by The New York Observer “the single best writer on the subject of race in the United States." Written from the intimate perspective of a father to his adolescent son, Coates explains how "racism has been woven into American culture" and how this focus on race has the heaviest effect on black members of society. Addressing challenging questions about race and the oppression faced when living in modern-day America in a "black body," this is Coate's attempt to address and answer these questions. In merging historical accounts, personal experiences, and a depth of understanding, Coates creates a painfully honest account of how the world works and how to live in it.

Coate's book is truly spectacular, and if you are in need of buying your own copy, Wild Iris has copies available on discount for the book club. If you come in to buy the book and mention to book club you will be given 10% off of "Between the World and Me." Come support your local feminist bookstore and experience the beauty of Coate's book.

Check out these related products:

Between the World and Me (Hardcover)

By Ta-Nehisi Coates

$23.75

ISBN: 9780812993547

Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days

Published: Spiegel & Grau - July 14th, 2015

Hailed by Toni Morrison as "required reading," a bold and personal literary exploration of America's racial history by "the single best writer on the subject of race in the United States" (The New York Observer)

Sinister Wisdom - Southern Lesbian-Feminist Herstory - Available for Pre-Order

erica721 — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 20:33:36 +0000

Sinister Wisdom has long been a champion of lesbian, feminist and minority voices. Help us celebrate this very special edition focusing on Southern Lesbian-Feminist Herstory.

As you can guess, lots of our friends and local feminist legends are featured in this issue!

Issues are now available for pre-order at Wild Iris Books! Don't forget that shipping is always FREE when you pick up your order in store.

Call the Iris or reserve your copy online today!

Southern Lesbian-Feminist Herstory 1968-1994
Rose Norman and Merril Mushroom, Guest Editors

Interviews With:
Byllye Avery
Pat Hussain
Calla and Laurose Felicity
Garnett Harrison
Founders of SONG

Creative Work By:
Corky Culver
Merril Mushroom
Kate Ellison
Gail Reeder
Lenny Lasater

And More!

If you're new to Sinister Wisdom check them out in their own words and check out their back issues available at Wild Iris Books.

Sinister Wisdom is a multicultural lesbian literary & art journal that publishes three issues each year. Sinister Wisdom, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that publishes the journal and provides outreach and educational programs in support of building vibrant lesbian communities.

Sinister Wisdom provide free subscriptions to women in prison and mental institutions; currently, Sinister Wisdom mails about fifteen percent (15%) of each issue of the journal to women in prison and mental institutions. Sinister Wisdom offers reduced price subscriptions for lesbians with limited/fixed incomes.

Sinister Wisdom 93 / Southern Lesbian-Feminist Herstory 1968-1994 - $12.00

Help Us Fill Our Site with Book Reviews!

wildirisbooks — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 15:20:29 +0000

We've been working behind the scenes to keep our online presence evovling and growing. Did you know you can check real time stock levels on our website? Check out our recommended reading lists if you're new to feminism, trying to become more sustainable, looking to love your self a little better or just want to check out some staff recommendations...

Now we're calling out to all of you to help fill our site with book reviews so that our customers can find their way to their next great read! With your help and input we can create a resource for indie books filled with a voice that is truly reflective of our feminist and activisit society.

We're looking for reviews of all kinds - we'd obviusly love reviews that focus on feminism, lesbian/gay, queer, trans*, sex positivity, alternative families, and other activist issues. But sometimes you just want a page-turning mystery book, a surreal trip through a fantasy land or some good old fashioned romantic poetry.

Whatever you like to read ~ We wanna hear about it!

Submit your reviews quickly and easily with our online form below and we'll take care of the rest! Reviews should be 100-250 words in length. And don't hold back - tell us why and how the book changed you and let readers know why you fell in love it.

If you have young readers in your life - pass along the message to them and let them know we'd love to feature their recommendations too!

To say thank you - we'll send you a $5 Gift Certificate for your next in-store purchase.* AND, every review gets you a chance to win an additional $25 Gift Certificate to Wild Iris Books from our monthly Reviewer Raffle.

If you'd like you can also donate your Gift Certificate to Friends of Wild Iris to help them support Feminist Open Mic and Kids Story and Craft Time! For our out of town reviewers, contact us and we'll make arrangements to get you your perks!

*There is always at least a little bit of fine print, so here's ours. Gift Certificates may combined towards a single purchase and expire one year after date of issue. Consignment and other selected merchandise may be excluded. Wild Iris will accept a maximum of four reviews per user per month.

Become a Volunteer!

wildiris — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 00:32:00 +0000

We’ve put down some roots and now we’re ready to rebuild our volunteer team!

Have 4 or more extra hours a week?
Wanna hang out with a bunch of feminists in a bookstore?
Have mad love for the courtyard and want to spend more time in the space?
Looking for volunteer credit for class or a full blown internship?

If you answered yes to any of these questions - Wild Iris Books and our sister non-profit Friends of Wild Iris have just the opportunity for you. Volunteer training will be starting next week and we’ll be offering weekly training sessions to give you all the know-how you need to run the Iris. Here’s the answer to some of the basic questions, but if you need more info – contact us through Facebook or email!

Who can volunteer?

Anyone over 18 years old who wants to! You already know all about us – Feminist, Queer, Local, Inclusive Bibliophiles. Special note to parents – children 15 to 18 can volunteer with a guardians permission.

How long are the shifts?

Store shifts are four hours long and we ask that you try to work at least one a week. We’ll also have events and those hours will vary by need. The store is open from Tuesday through Saturday from 1-8pm. Shifts are broken down into 1-4pm and 4-8pm time slots.

What kind of stuff will I be doing?

General store stuff – cleaning, making displays, alphabetizing, helping customers, hanging out. There’s some data entry and if you have special talents let us know – we can always use graphic designers, blog writers and other creative peeps.

What’s all that training about?

Training Level 1 will get you the basics and help prepare you for the questions that customers are sure to ask. With Level 2 we’ll set up an individual time for you to come and learn the mechanics of the cash register, opening/closing duties and special orders. Level 3 happens as you need it – move into receiving inventory, helping to create purchase orders and beyond!

How can I get credit for class / internship credit?

If you need 10-15 hours at a non-profit for class, stop in and see us – our non-profit Friends of Wild Iris can hook you up with some projects and volunteer hours. If you’re looking for an internship, please forward your resume and personal information to Wild Iris Books and we will contact you for an interview. Currently we are on file with both UF and Santa Fe as an internship site.

What kind of Perks are there?

Glad you asked – besides hanging out in Florida’s only feminist bookstore which is nestled around several other amazing local and non-profit creatures we do offer some additional perks as our way of saying Thanks! After working for two weeks, volunteers can enjoy a free cup of coffee/tea from Rad Press per 4 hour shift. Enjoy discounts in the store and use Wild Iris like a library to read all those books you can’t justify buying (yet)!

Where do I sign up?

Wild Iris uses Volunteer Spot to keep track of volunteer training and schedules. Click here to go to the sign up site and get registered for Training Level 1. If none of the available training times fit with your schedule – send us an email and we’ll work something out for you. Sign up today at http://vols.pt/ooV9dV to sign up for Volunteer Training Level 1 on @VolunteerSpot today!

Sign up today, we’ll help you get your feet wet and before you know it – you’ll be a Wild Iris Pro!