Tagged business of books

Q & A with Eli Sachse

July 07, 2026

We catch up with the author of Next-Level Ally: How to Support Your Queer and Transgender Friends, now in paperback!

Eli Sachse, BSN, RN is a queer, transgender artist, author, and activist. He is the founder of LGBTQ Merced, GLSEN Merced, and the Merced Pride Center at the MAC. He has worked as a freelance writer for MyHealthTeam.com and Sonoma Medicine, and is the author of the zines Sex Without Roles and Next-Level Ally.

We caught up with Eli just after the spring release of Next-Level Ally, once a best-selling zine, now a full-length paperback. Want to know how they became a writer, or started in advocacy work, or what their favorite book genre is? Keep reading!

What inspired you to write your book?

I’ve been organizing and advocating for queer and transgender people in my rural California community of Merced since 2018. Things that I’ve seen and experienced while trying to interface with local government, school systems, and allies of varying levels of commitment have been disorienting and mind-boggling, to say the least. So, some of this book was an exercise for me in deconstructing and understanding my own experiences. From gaslighting, to big promises that evaporate without a sound, to just plain rejection of ideas and plans by leadership, it’s been quite a journey.

For example, I worked for Merced County for two years. Near the end of those two years, I approached my director about starting a pride affinity group for county employees. She actually sent an email to me with a sentence in all-caps forbidding me from trying. I still have trouble understanding why she would feel so strongly against the idea. Starting an internal affinity group would not even necessarily even be visible to the public, ever. Where would any controversy come from? To me, it seems like the most low-stakes step towards pride activities possible. I still don’t see what she thinks the dangers are by allowing me to organize a pride group at work.

Alongside that, I’ve worked with people who have turned out to be meaningful allies, and continue doing real work and speaking up for queer and trans folks in my community. Thinking about how they approach the problem differently is just something I do naturally, so writing about it just made sense to me.

Also, being as visibly out as I am, I am approached by people of all walks of life and working in every industry for advice on how to better support queer and trans people. People quickly identify me as a kind ear to hear the questions they might be afraid to ask others, so talking with would-be allies has just become part of my life, for better or worse.

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Microcosm’s Distribution Program Adds Three New Client Publishers

December 22, 2025 — by Daley Farr

In-demand independent publishers available via MCP in 2026!

Portland, OR—Microcosm Publishing & Distribution has entered distribution agreements with three new client publishers: Nine Ten Publications, a Canadian publisher specializing in art, craft, and creativity; Bellingham, WA-based Generous Press, focused on high-caliber romance writing by queer, BIPOC, and disabled writers; and Bobby Dazzler, a mission-driven imprint of Jim Dandy Books featuring non-fiction and self-help titles that offer support for mental wellbeing, illness, and discrimination.

Of the new partnerships, Microcosm founder and CEO, Joe Biel, says, “We’re excited about our growing collaborations with these publishers—they are solid complements to Microcosm’s own offerings in home and crafts, inclusive erotica and body positivity, and self-help and that acknowledges systemic injustice. They’re a breath of fresh air expanding genres in substantial ways that are honestly interesting. All of them are logical companions to what we publish while still being remarkably different from us editorially.”

Nine Ten’s newest release, Kate Atherley’s Math for Knitters, quickly skyrocketed to #5 on the Globe and Mail bestsellers chart of Canadian non-fiction and has been taking the U.S. by storm, selling out of its first print run as it landed in Microcosm’s warehouse. Kim Werker of Nine Ten is excited about the new partnership, explaining “Working with a values-aligned partner and such an enjoyable team to bring our books to a much wider audience of makers is a tremendous leap for Nine Ten.”

Generous Press has been racking up praise for Black romantic comedy novel Losing Sight by Tati M. Richardson and inclusive romance anthology Someplace Generous, edited by publishers Amber Flame and Elaina Ellis (formerly of Copper Canyon). Their previous titles were praised by the trade and continue to be popular. Elaina Ellis approached Microcosm for their new distribution relationship because “The inclusive romance market is surging, and Generous Press is growing along with it. Microcosm has cracked the code on scaling with integrity—they’re the ideal partner to help us meet this incredible moment.”

And Bobby Dazzler (co-led by Duncan MacLeod and Brenda Knight, formerly of Mango Publishing) is preparing its list of titles curated specifically for a collaboration with Microcosm. Knight says, “Microcosm is the stuff of dreams to me as a writer, publisher and fan of badass book people. I can’t wait for the day when the super cool feed store that sells gift books and CBD lattes is selling our books. Microcosm will put them there.”

Microcosm vice president Elly Blue noted of all the new distribution clients, “These books feel like a natural fit for us—I love the way they bring practical, political, and inclusive ideas into their respective lists.” Microcosm currently represents Nine Ten Publications and their full front- and backlist catalogs everywhere but Canada, and will begin worldwide distribution for Generous Press with their spring 2026 frontlist. Microcosm will offer worldwide distribution for Bobby Dazzler’s frontlist titles beginning in 2026.

Contact: Daley Farr, Publicist, daley@microcosmpublishing.com

Microcosm Teams Up with We Are Stronger Than Censorship Campaign

October 16, 2025

Portland, OR— Microcosm Publishing has entered a worldwide publishing agreement for the We Are Stronger Than Censorship campaign’s merchandise.

Founded in 2024 by the nonprofit Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and EveryLibrary Institute, We Are Stronger Than Censorship works to share inclusive books with readers in communities across the U.S., especially those impacted by efforts to restrict titles featuring Black, Queer, and other under-represented characters and themes. Microcosm will serve as distributor for the organization’s new sideline collection of stickers.

“This is a big deal, and one we’re proud to be part of,” says Microcosm founder and CEO, Joe Biel. “We Are Stronger Than Censorship won an award for innovation because they fundraised to put censored books into the hands of readers. They are ablaze with buzz and we expect stores will be excited to get behind their efforts, too.”

With each individual book “challenge”—i.e. with each ban attempt—We Are Stronger Than Censorship buys and donates two books to offset it. The campaign will purchase and donate two books to communities in need for every sixteen stickers sold through Microcosm.

Lee Wind, co-creator of We Are Stronger Than Censorship and Chief Content Officer of IBPA, explains, “The idea is to make the numbers work against the folks who are so eager to limit others’ freedom to read. Some people are challenging over 400 books at a time! If they knew that meant this program would buy and distribute over 800 books, maybe they would slow their roll. For us, this campaign is like pulling an emergency brake on a runaway censorship train.”

Since its founding, We Are Stronger Than Censorship has gained more than 75 institutional partners, including Microcosm, allowing the campaign to purchase and donate 2,800 books to offset 1,400 book challenges.

Microcosm’s sales director, Leslie Davisson, notes “This campaign pairs especially well with our upcoming re-release of Know Your Rights: Protect Yourself and Your Community from Police, ICE, the FBI, and the Justice System. We want to equip our customers and their communities with resources they need to make positive change, big and small.”

Wind adds, “I’m thrilled about our stickers being available through Microcosm. This is how we’re going to scale this thing: selling a lot of stickers, spreading the word, and coming together as a community that believes in the freedom to read.”

We Are Stronger Than Censorship items are now available for retailers and direct customers to order through Microcosm’s site and Edelweiss.

Contact: Daley Farr, daley@microcosmpublishing.com