Traveling While Queer: A Conversation with Alden Jones, editor of EDGE OF THE WORLD, and contributors Nicole Shawan Junior, Andrew Ellis Evans, Zoë Sprankle, and Raluca Albu (in person only)

The Bureau is pleased to welcome writers Alden Jones, Zoë Sprankle, Andrew Ellis Evans, Nicole Shawan Junior, and Raluca Albu for a discussion about what it means to be queer and moving through the world, the subject of Alden’s new book, Edge of the World: An Anthology of Queer Travel Writing. Alden will read briefly from Edge of the World and then lead a discussion with four contributors who consider the joys—and the unique challenges—of traveling while queer.

After the conversation and audience Q&A, Alden and contributors will be available to sign copies of Edge of the World.

To reserve a copy of Edge of the World: An Anthology of Queer Travel Writing (Blair, May 6, 2025, paperback, $19.95) please write to us at contact@bgsqd.com with “please reserve Edge of the World for June 7 event” in the subject line.

Thank you for supporting the Bureau by purchasing books from us!

This event will take place in person at the Bureau of General Services—Queer Division, on the second floor (room 210) of The LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th St., NYC, 10011.

Registration is not required. Seating is first come, first served.

The Bureau will solicit donations at the beginning of the event—we especially encourage donations from those who do not plan to purchase any books.

All are welcome to attend, with or without a donation.

We will pass a bag for donations at the start of the event, but we can also take credit card donations at the register or on Venmo @BGSQD

Participants’ biographies:

Alden Jones is the editor of Edge of the World and the author of The Wanting Was a Wilderness, The Blind Masseuse, and Unaccompanied Minors. Her travel writing has appeared in the inaugural edition of the Best American Travel Writing and named Notable Essays in Best American Travel Writing 2005 and 2011. A current Fulbright Specialist and a former professor on Semester at Sea, Alden is an assistant professor of creative writing and literature at Emerson College.

Raluca Albu is a writer, teacher, editor, and advocate. She was a recent Center for Fiction fellow, a New York Foundation for the Arts fellowship finalist, and has written for the Guardian, BOMB, Guernica, The Village Voice, Doctors Without Borders, Authors Guild, and others.

Andrew Ellis Evans is an author of award-winning memoir The Black Penguin, named one of “summer’s best travel books” by the New York Times. As National Geographic’s Digital Nomad, Andrew reported live from all seven continents. He lives in Virginia’s Blue Ridge mountains.

Nicole Shawan Junior’s creative nonfiction appears in Oprah Daily, Guernica, The Rumpus, The Massachusetts Review, and elsewhere. They have attended residencies at Hedgebrook and Tin House and have received fellowships from Lambda Literary, the New York Foundation for the Arts, and more.

Zoë Sprankle is a writer based in Brooklyn, NY. Her work has been featured in Roxane Gay’s The Audacity, The Bellevue Review, Quarter After Eight, and Go Magazine. She holds an MFA from the Newport MFA at Salve Regina University.