Lawrence Schimel

Lawrence Schimel(born October 16, 1971) is a bilingual (Spanish/English) American writer, translator, and anthologist. His work, which frequently deals with gay and lesbian themes as well as matters of Jewish identity, often falls into the genres of science fiction and fantasy and takes the form of both poetry and prose for adults and for children.

Lawrence Schimel, 2008

Biography

Early life

Schimel was born inNew York City.He is Jewish and identifies as apost-Zionist.

Education and career

Schimel obtained a B.A. in literature fromYale University.

Schimel is a member of theNational Book Critics Circleand theAcademy of American Poets.He is a founding member of thePublishing Triangle,an organization of lesbians and gay men in the publishing industry, which he chaired for two terms (1996–1998).

Schimel's short stories and poetry have appeared in a wide range of anthologies and literary journals. He has also acted as editor or co-editor of numerous short story anthologies fromArsenal Pulp Press,St. Martin's Press,Cumberland House,and others; many of these collections feature work engaging in LGBTQ+ themes.

In addition to his work as a writer and editor, he is a prolific translator to and from Spanishof poetry, prose fiction, and children's books.

In 2021, Schimel's rainbow family board booksEarly One MorningandBedtime, Not Playtime!caused controversy in Hungary, with a Hungarian bookseller being fined for selling these books on the grounds that putting books depicted same-sex couples was an unfair commercial practice, as "[C]ontent which deviates from the norm.... The book was there among other fairytale books and thus committed a violation,"Pest CountyCommissionerRichard Tarnaisaid. "There is no way of knowing that this book is about a family that is different than a normal family."

Published works

Short story collections

• The Drag Queen of Elfland(Circlet)
• His Tongue
• Two Boys in Love
• Una barba para dos

Poetry collections

• Fairy Tales for Writers(A Midsummer Nights Press)
• Deleted Names(A Midsummer Nights Press)
• Desayuno en la cama

Graphic novel

• Vacation in Ibiza(Nbm)

Children's books

Schimel has written over sixty children's books, including:

• Bedtime, Not Playtime!- originally written in Spanish
• Early One Morning- originally written in Spanish
• Read a Book With Me
• Let's Go See Papá!Archived2021-10-22 at theWayback Machine
• ¡Qué suerte tengo!,by Lawrence Schimel, illus. by Juan Camilo Mayorga (Rey Naranjo)

Translations into English

• The Wild Bookby Juan Villoro (Restless Books,USA;HopeRoad Publishing,UK)
• Monteverde: Memoirs of an Interstellar Linguistby Lola Robles (Aqueduct)
• I Offer My Heart as a Targetby Johanny Vázquez Paz
• Out In the Openby Jesús Carraso, adapted by Javi Rey
• Buñuel: In the Labyrinth of Turtlesby Fermín Solis (SelfMadeHero)
• La BastardabyTrifonia Melibea Obono

Translations into Spanish

• Collective AmnesiabyKoleka Putuma,with Arate Hidalgo
• Nos llamaron enemigo, graphic novel memoirby George Takei (Top Shelf)
• Bluetsby Maggie Nelson (Tres Puntos)
• El Arte de la Crueldadby Maggie Nelson (Tres Puntos)
• Tú Eres Túby Richard Van Camp and Julie Flett (Orca)

Recognition

PoMoSexuals,an anthology co-edited by Schimel, won the 1998Lambda Awardfor Best Transgender Book.First Person Queer,edited by Schimel, won the 2008 Lambda in the Best LGBT Anthologies category. Several other books written, translated, or edited by Schimel have been shortlisted in other categories of the Lamba Award over the years.

In 2002, Schimel's poem "How to Make a Human" placed first in the Long category of the annualRhysling Awards.His translation to English of Sofía Rhei's short-form poem "embalsamado" (as "embalmed" ) won the 2019Dwarf Stars Award.

In 2005, Schimel'sNohay nada como el originalwas selected by theInternational Youth Library,Munich, as a White Ravens Book.In 2020, his picture bookQué suerte tengo!,translated into Maltese asMeta Mmur għand Sieħbi CarlosbyClare Azzopardi,was a finalist for the Maltese National Book Prize.Also in 2020, Schimel's translation ofSome Daysby María Wernicke (AmazonCrossing) was chosen as a 2021 USBBY Outstanding International title by the United States Board on Books for Youthand as a Notable Translation of 2020 byWorld Literature Today.

Schimel's¡Qué suerte tengo!was also chosen by IBBY for Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities.

Hatchet,Schimel's translation ofCarmen Boullosa's poetry collectionHamartia,won the Cliff Becker Book Prize in Translation.Schimel's translation ofPoems the Wind Blew Inby Karmelo C. Iribarren won a PEN Translates Award (EnglishPEN)and a Highly Commended Award from the CLiPPA.Schimel's translation ofVoice of the Two ShoresbyAgnès Agbotonwas a recipient of a PEN Translates Award (EnglishPEN).

I Offer My Heart as a Target,Schimel's translation of Johanny Vázquez Paz'Ofresco mi corazón como una diana,is a recipient of thePaz Prizefor poetry.

Several other translations by Schimel have been shortlisted or longlisted for other literary translation awards.

External links

• Author's blog
• Detailed bibliography at Fantastic Fiction siteArchived2008-01-14 at theWayback Machine
• Lawrence Schimel on Words Without Borders site
• Lawrence Schimel on Worldcat
• Lawrence Schimelat theInternet Speculative Fiction Database