By Zena Sharman
A remarkably frank memoir about interdependence, grieving, and parenting as a queer femme that doesn't leave out the messy or the erotic
Staying Power, Zena Sharman's memoir in essays, is a beautiful and honest journey of care work, grief, parenting, and chosen family in the wake of intergenerational trauma. Exploring the lessons and inheritances of being raised by survivors of complex traumas, the book challenges the notion that one must be healed in order to parent well and celebrates the transformative power of queer family-making beyond gay marriage and assimilation into the nuclear family.
The book, which recounts the author's experiences of raising three children in a four-parent queer family, asks, "If leaving has helped you survive, how do you learn to stay?" Sharman finds answers in queer kinship, femme erotics, leatherdyke lineages, and the radical possibilities inherent in doing motherwork outside of motherhood, recognizing that sometimes you fight the thing you want most.
Staying Power is a moving, deeply personal account of one person's journey of unlearning independence through an experiment in queer collective care.
Paperback, 192 pages
Published by Arsenal Pulp Press (Feb 2026)
ISBN-13: 9781834050164
Dimensions: 15.24 x 5.08 x 22.86 cm
Returns & Exchanges
Items are final sale unless defective.
We do not accept returns or exchanges on adult products or intimate wear for hygiene reasons.
If your item arrives damaged or stops working within 30 days, contact us to arrange a replacement. Select products may also be covered by extended manufacturer warranties.
For full return details or help, visit our
Returns & Exchanges Policy.
Shipping
Little Sister’s offers discreet shipping across Canada, with Free Shipping on orders over $75. Otherwise, orders under $50 ship for a flat $15 fee, and orders between $50 - $75 ship for a flat $25 fee. All packages are sent in plain, unmarked boxes for privacy.
Orders are typically processed quickly, but delivery times vary depending on your location. You will be provided with tracking information once the item is ready to ship.
International shipping is currently suspended, but Pickup for visitors is still available; simply change your address to our store address when checking out.
Within the Lower Mainland, same-day delivery is possible for orders made before 12:00PM, through Trexity. All other orders will typically arrive through Canada Post within 1 to 7 days.
