Torquere’s Annual Charity Sip Blitz: OutServe

Torquere Press to donate proceeds from Charity Sip Blitz to LGBT nonprofit

AUSTIN — Every year, the authors at Torquere Press come together to write for a reason. Torquere’s Annual Charity Sip Blitz gives authors an opportunity to make a difference and donate their time and money to a noble cause. Authors donate all proceeds to a chosen organization, and Torquere matches those donations 100 percent. In previous years, the Charity Sip Blitz has raised $5,000 for Lambda Legal, over $3,000 for the Matthew Shepard Foundation, and more than $10,000 combined for organizations such as NOH8 and Doctors without Borders. This year’s chosen charity? OutServe-SLDN.

OutServe is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing legal services and support to LGBT military individuals and families, as well as working toward equal representation and benefits. Fittingly, this year’s theme for Charity Sip Blitz submissions is “In Uniform,” and authors were encouraged to submit stories about soldiers, EMTs, park rangers, or anyone else who helps save lives in a sexy uniform.

Laura Hughes’ decision to write for Torquere’s Charity Blitz was an easy one. “I’d never heard of OutServe before, but it’s a natural and perfect fit for me and my work,” Hughes said. “Military service, gay identity, and the intersection of those worlds are at the center of my young adult novel Don’t Ask.”

Don’t Ask was recently released from Prizm Books — a subsidiary of Torquere Press — and centers around Mike, a gay high school student who’s involved in his school’s military club during the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Mike’s club is also the core of Hughes’ contribution for Torquere’s Charity Blitz — Camp Spartacus. “The story will definitely appeal to fans of the novel,” Hughes assured. “Like Don’t Ask, Camp Spartacus blends adventure, honor, gossip, and crushes!”

More than 20 authors have written short stories for Torquere Press’ 2013-2014 Charity Sip Blitz, which will premiere September 18th and coincides with the company’s tenth anniversary. Readers will be able to purchase sips as individual stories or in a bundle from torquerebooks.com or rainbowebooks.com; all profits will be matched and donated.