Introducing Queer-Owned Arledge Comics & The Book Bazaar
All answers were provided by Jordaan Arledge (he/they), Founder of Arledge Comics
Image provided by Jordaan Arledge, Founder1. Tell us about your journey. how did your queer-owned business come to life?
The Book Bazaar is an online annual event for indie writers and publishers with the nostalgic feel of going to a book fair when you were a kid. A book launch can cause so much anxiety and feel so high-risk. The Book Bazaar tempers that by centering the book launch in a group setting.
Join a variety of authors, small press, and indie publishers as we celebrate all things book with a number of simultaneous literary crowdfunding campaigns. Find your new favorite author, series, anthology, or stand-alone at The Book Bazaar event running November 12th, 2025 to December 3rd, 2025. Here you won’t find just novels, you’ll also find projects funding audiobooks, anthologies, poetry, picture books, comics, and more!
Image provided by Jordaan Arledge, Founder
2. What mission or values guide your work and how does being queer-owned shape that vision?
Being queer and creating queer content has historically exempted writers and creators from going mainstream. And even today, it’s still extremely difficult to tell authentic stories in the mainstream. Because of this, many queer writers decide to self publish instead. Self publishing can feel so isolating! Self publishing alongside two dozen other writers through The Book Bazaar provides community and support to aid in making that book a success.
Image provided by Jordaan Arledge, Founder
3. What is the book bazaar?
To put it simply, authors/indie presses run their own crowdfunding campaign during the event, as part of the event, with hopes of funding their publishing project. All campaigns run at the same time, and each campaign cross-promotes one another. Each campaign runs on an all-or-nothing basis, like all crowdfunding projects, which means if they don’t meet their minimum goal, they can’t create their projects. 🙁 That’s why we’re hoping to count on you, the lovely reader, to help uplift these publishers and really make this Bazaar something special!
Image provided by Jordaan Arledge, Founder
Plus, the more projects you back, the more rewards you’ll get. Some Bazaar projects are paired with another project, and by backing both Bazaar projects, you’ll get EXTRA free rewards! Back all Bazaar projects to maximize your rewards... And get a really cool exclusive anthology for more awesomeness!
4. The Book Bazaar includes many queer writers and stories. Here’s a sampling of who and what to expect when you check out The Book Bazaar!
A whole slate of books from Space Wizard Science Fantasy, a queer science fiction and fantasy indie publishing company started in 2016 to publish William C. Tracy's books. Ten books, six years, a pandemic, and quitting a day job later, the publishing company opened its doors to more authors. Our intent has always been to showcase quality science fiction and fantasy stories with queer characters, because they don't get enough exposure in the publishing world.
Nezbrael’s Legacy from Arledge Comics! Founded by Chickasaw siblings, Arledge Comics is an indie press and design studio that spotlights the creativity rising from underrepresented communities. We believe everyone has a story worth telling, and we’ve developed a library filled to the brim with amazing stories. Native founded, queer owned and operated: we’ve been publishing comics for the whole family since 2016.
Image provided by Jordaan Arledge, Founder
A new short story collection from Publishing Goblin, featuring stories from the world of the Alleyman. Follow Jimmy & Alexcia, find out what happened to Juli & Kent, what does Dr. Okoye get up to? Seven Dane Asmund is The Publishing Goblin. Seven has designed the Goblin's Oracle Dice, The Hot Housewives Tarot, The Misery Tarot, as well as put together the Alleyman's Tarot and Alleyway Oracles, and so much more. As a queer designer, author, and business owner, 7 really wants to center the importance of being openly queer at a time when it's more important than ever.
BOOM Goes the Bride - A pulpy lesbian romance between an elven thief from another world and a corporate princess whose company is built on her clones. 300,000 and counting, and the woman they're made from wishes they didn't exist. Danger, spice, and everything not-nice.
The Chosen One Con - the first book in the Lost in the Aether duology—a queer gaslamp fantasy of industrial magic in a world of designer enchantments and celebrity-branded potions from the author of The Cruel Gods.
Honeycomb Heart - Becoming an adult is already hard. Add in involuntary wanderlust, young love, a swarm of bees, and one extremely sassy octopus — Vivian and Frieda will have their hands full as they start new lives with their new familiars!
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