top of page
Search

QUEER AUTHOR MILES WHITNEY LAUNCHES DEBUT NOVEL "MIDLIFE MUSICAL" CELEBRATING SECOND CHANCES AND AUTHENTICITY THIS PRIDE MONTH

  • Jun 15
  • 2 min read

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



South Lake Tahoe, CA - Bootstrap Publications, in our ongoing mission to publish impactful and meaningful works, is proud to announce the release of Midlife Musical by Miles Whitney. This contemporary literary novel brings an insightful perspective as a queer debut novelist and contemporary storyteller to the forefront, offering readers a powerful exploration of forgotten dreams, personal awakening, second chances, and the profound journey of finding one's authentic voice.


Midlife Musical provides an inspiring, emotionally resonant look at the power of creative reclamation, showing that it is never too late to find the voice we thought we left behind. Drawing on Miles Whitney’s unique insights and lived experiences as a queer creator, Miles presents a triumphant narrative that offers hope and validation to anyone navigating the quiet crises of lost passions and buried family truths.


Key Highlights of Midlife Musical:

  • A poignant exploration of the psychological struggle between comfortable suburban routine and the fierce, undeniable call of creative self-expression.

  • A rich, melody-driven exploration of the raw vulnerability of songwriting, the rediscovery of childhood passion, and the hard-won courage it takes to share your art with the world.

  • A raw, honest look at how bringing long-buried secrets into the open can mend fracturing marital and parental connections.


Midlife Musical introduces readers to Karla, a suburban real estate agent living a quiet double life as a late-night songwriter, providing a compelling narrative that empowers readers to step out of their comfortable routines, face their fears, and reclaim their own forgotten passions.


Beyond his debut novel, Miles Whitney has built a prolific literary presence with an extensive catalog of published essays and creative works. Most notably, he was named the first-place winner of the prestigious 2025 New Feathers Award for his profound nonfiction piece, "Artifact of Death, Artifact of Life," published on July 21, 2025, in the New Feathers Anthology.


About Miles Whitney: Miles Whitney is a queer, trans, Jewish attorney based in Sacramento, California. As a research attorney for the trial court, Miles channels his passion for justice into both his legal work and his creative writing. After the unexpected loss of his daughter, Isabel, in 2022, Miles began writing nonfiction essays and fiction that explore themes of grief, identity, and resilience.


​Miles’ work has been featured in a variety of publications, including Freedom Fiction Journal, Homo Works, and Discretionary Love. Outside of writing and law, Miles enjoys reading Torah and training dogs, weaving together his love for storytelling, faith, and community.


Connect with Miles Whitney:

For more information on Midlife Musical or to schedule an interview with Miles Whitney, please contact: info@chibur.info


Industry(s): Book Publishing, Creative Writing, LGBTQ+ Media, Arts & Entertainment


Bootstrap Publications Author CJ Spears Awarded Hudson Valley Writers Residency to Finalize Afro-Surrealist Debut

  • Feb 19
  • 2 min read

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



TAHOE CITY, CA - Bootstrap Publications, dedicated to amplifying voices that challenge the status quo and foster deep cultural connection, is proud to announce the upcoming completion of "The Book of Cadence" by Chasejamison Akilah Manar-Spears (CJ). This Afro-surrealist climate fiction brings CJ’s background as a revolutionary thinker, yoga teacher, and ecological advocate to the forefront, offering readers a powerful exploration of Black womanhood, magic, and liberation in the face of a changing world.


Drawing on CJ’s unique insights into the intersection of spirit and ecology, she presents a transformative narrative that offers hope and visionary solutions to the specific challenges of post-capitalistic survival and environmental collapse.


“I am building worlds that feel like rain falling over this forest fire we call capitalism,” CJ said in her artist statement. “I’m excited for what will be born here [in the residency], and I’ll be sharing updates as the work unfolds.” — She further shared on her socials.


Key Highlights of her upcoming book:

  • Afro-Surrealist Vision: A "purple sky" world that explores the intersection of ancient nature connection and futuristic speculative fiction.

  • Matriarchal Frameworks: A centralization of Black womanhood and ancestral wisdom as the primary tools for navigating a dystopian setting.

  • Climate Fiction (Cli-Fi) Innovation: The first in a planned trilogy exploring the Ocean as the mother of all life and the rise of indigenous post-capitalistic societies.


CJ will be spending the first week of March (March 1st–8th) in residence at the Hudson Valley Writers Center in New York. Staying in the historic James Baldwin room, they will complete the final manuscript due for submission on March 10th.


"The Book of Cadence" introduces readers to a world where ecology and spirit blend to shape new realities, providing a compelling narrative that empowers readers to "surrealize" the world as a means of survival and transformation.


About CJ Spears: Chasejamison Akilah Manar-Spears (CJ) is an imaginative writer whose words bloom at the intersection of poetry and speculative fiction. With their work in the Black Seeds Bloom collective, CJ has helped connect the writing process with community building and revolutionary healing, creating lasting change through ancestrally informed storytelling. They are also known for their self-published poetry collection, "Becoming Friends With Trees & Other Creative Prophecies."


Connect with CJ Spears:

Learn more about Bootstrap Publications: https://www.bootstrappublications.com/ 


For more information on The Book of Cadence or to schedule an interview with CJ Spears, please contact:info@bootstrappublications.com



Industries: Book Publishing, Literary Arts, Environmental Justice, Wellness & Spirituality, Social Change, Creative Arts




The Powerful "Why" Behind Carolyn Meers’ Work: Her Vision Boards

  • Feb 19
  • 2 min read

For author Carolyn Meers, a vision board is more than just a collection of clippings—it is a map of a life reclaimed. As she prepares for her upcoming book release, Carolyn is opening up about the deeply personal experiences that fueled her creativity and her mission to spread hope.


A Superpower for Seeing Love



The "Heart" vision board serves as a vibrant testament to her belief that love is a tangible, guiding force in the world. The board features a world shaped like a heart and the bold declaration, "I Have a Superpower.”

For Carolyn, that superpower is the ability to spot hearts in the everyday world—a gift she views as a direct message from her "angels, spirit guides, and mom.”


This isn't just about aesthetics; it’s about survival. "I believe love conquers all," she shares, "because my love saved my life.”


Her board reflects this global perspective, sparking memories of hearts she has encountered across the U.S. and around the world.


Finding Grace in the Struggle


If the heart board represents her "why," the "Finding Grace" board represents her "how.” This second board is a raw, honest look at the obstacles she has overcome. It is a collage of heavy truths:


  • Adversity: References to addiction, drug abuse, and "no more hiding".

  • Health: Her "amazing cancer journey" and her battles with anxiety and depression.

  • Identity: The complexities of adoption, bullying, and revealing secrets that "no one really knew".


Despite the weight of these topics, the board is crowned with words like Grace, Healing, and Risen from the Ashes.


A Message of Hope


The ultimate goal of her book is to provide a lifeline to those currently walking the difficult paths she once navigated. By telling her story on her terms, she hopes to show readers that regardless of the mistakes or the diagnosis, there is a way forward.


"Most of all," Carolyn says, "the vision board represents HOPE.”



bottom of page