Queering the State of USA Publishing with Ian Henzel

Ian Henzel launched Rattling Good Yarns Press in California in 2018, to fight LGBTQ+ book bans and amplify underrepresented queer voices. A lifelong activist since the 1970s, Ian now faces new threats in his work. In this timely talk, he explores how queer publishers are fighting back to protect our stories and our right to tell them.

Ian Henzel is a man who loves challenges. His 42-year career in technology marketing, product management, project management, and quality assurance, spanning Asia and Europe, was just the beginning. After retiring in 2019, he co-founded Rattling Good Yarns Press, LLC, a press that is dedicated to highlighting overlooked LGBTQ+ voices. As a lifelong LGBTQ+ activist, Ian’s mission is to give voice to the community. His podcast, “Bold Voices/Good Yarns,” is a platform that explores how authors’ lives shape their work. He resides in Cathedral City, California, with his husband of 38 years, and at 70, he’s embracing the challenges of his “second life” with Rattling Good Yarns Press, committed to producing quality work and treating people right.