QueerFM Featured Guests : Karen Marshall one of the co-founder of Fleurs de Villes/ Jeffrey Sotto Canadian author

Karen Marshall (she/her) As co-founder of Fleurs de Villes and with a long-term international career in publishing and the digital space, Karen has put together countless programs bringing key community organizations and media together to create outstanding promotions and immersive experiences through the joy of flowers. With Fleurs de Villes, she has produced 23 flower-powered shows across 5 countries on three continents. “Flowers for Joy, Flowers for Pride, Flowers for All.”From July 27 to August 1, Yaletown and the West End will bloom with flower-bombed benches, rainbows, swings and selfie-frames in conjunction with the Vancouver Pride Festival. Fleurs de Villes’ famous floral mannequins will pay homage to iconic drag artists, (such as Jimbo and Bob The Drag Queen) for this joyous week of celebration culminating with the Pride Parade on July 31st. To learn more about this unique Pride-themed initiative, visit www.fleursdevilles.comKaren Marshall (she/her) As co-founder of Fleurs de Villes and with a long-term international career in publishing and the digital space, Karen has put together countless programs bringing key community organizations and media together to create outstanding promotions and immersive experiences through the joy of flowers. With Fleurs de Villes, she has produced 23 flower-powered shows across 5 countries on three continents. “Flowers for Joy, Flowers for Pride, Flowers for All.”******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************Jeffrey Sotto Based in Toronto, JEFFREY SOTTO's (he/him) first novel Cloud Cover, won a Best Indie Book Award and an Independent Publisher Book Award in 2019. His new novel, The Moonballers: A Novel about The Invasion of a LGBTQ2+ Tennis League … by Straight People (GAY GASP!) was released in May of this year and for book titles alone, is a queer “must read”!The Moonballers is a social satire about an LGBTQ tennis club whose president wants to "Make Tennis Gay Again!" And don't worry – as the author is a gay Toronto man who was actually in an LGBTQ tennis club, so he speaks from the experience.Jeffrey is also an advocate for mental health and eating disorder awareness/recovery and we delve into an often overlooked demographic, male eating disorders. He's been on CBC Radio and Global News to speak on that topic, and will be in an upcoming docuseries Wicked Bodies by Truefaux Films, which will focus on fostering positive culturally competent engagement in treatment and support centres, universities, and non-profit programs working with LGBTQ+ groups with disordered eating and body dysmorphia. His books can be purchased on Amazon Books and you can learn more about Jeffrey on his website Jeffreyasotto.com or on socials at @jeffreyasottoFrom July 27 to August 1, Yaletown and the West End will bloom with flower-bombed benches, rainbows, swings and selfie-frames in conjunction with the Vancouver Pride Festival. Fleurs de Villes’ famous floral mannequins will pay homage to iconic drag artists, (such as Jimbo and Bob The Drag Queen) for this joyous week of celebration culminating with the Pride Parade on July 31st. To learn more about this unique Pride-themed initiative, visit www.fleursdevilles.com