A few months ago when I received the Counterpoint catalog I was very pleased to see the NF title Down and Dirty: The Inside Guide to Roller Derby. I've been fascinated by this sport for awhile, although I can not skate to save my life. (I'm serious - I was on skates as a kid and never got any kind of good at it. I can make it around the rink slowly and that's about it. And don't even ask me about ice skating. Please.) I reviewed Derby Girl (the book Whip It was based on) way back when it first came out and thought the book was a total sweetheart. What I liked about the book (and the sport in general) is that it celebrates boldness in women. It rewards those who take chances and push forward and go for the win. And while a lot of other sports do that as well there is a toughness to roller derby that is all its own.

It's a messy sport and honestly, girls just don't get celebrated for messy all that often.

Down and Derby is written by two members of the LA Derby Dolls who also happen to be professional writers and journalists. Which is awesome. I haven't gotten a copy yet (it's due out in June) but I'm seeing a big combo review/feature on all things derby at some point in the near future. Just because I can. And just because it's not the only cool book on this subject that's coming down the pike.

Pamela Ribon aka blogger extraordinaire Pamie has a new novel out and it is derby based, due in no small part to her own experience as a member of the Derby Dolls. Here she is on Going in Circles at John Scalzi's Whatever:

"I didn't want to write what felt like all the words that had already been written before about a broken relationship. Equally important to me was finding a way to write about a sport most people have never even heard of, nor do they understand. I've joked elsewhere that describing the rules to such a visual sport as roller derby made me feel like I was trying to reinvent Quidditch. How do you get people who aren't inside this world — who have never intentionally thrown their body into another person with the intent to knock her over — to understand why you'd want to play such a dangerous sport? Why would you spend all that time doing something that actually costs you time, money and sometimes blood? How do you explain the passion it takes to stick with something that forces you to confront all of your flaws, insecurities, and weaknesses –all while wearing a helmet and a mouth guard?"

Going in Circles is out now.

And then, because we have covered YA, nonfiction and adult fiction, OF COURSE there had to be a derby graphic novel. Here's the scoop from the pub on a new anthology, JAM, coming out from Oni Press in June:

"Jam! Tales from the World of Roller Derby is a full-color anthology written the people who make the roller derby happen! The stories range from the slice of life to the fantastic, and are drawn by professional comic book artists, including such talents as Eric Powell (The Goon) and Ray Fawkes (The Apocalipstix, Mnemovore). Also featuring cover art by Joëlle Jones (You Have Killed Me)."

Take a look at some of these contributors: Monica Gallagher (Whipstick for Charm City Roller Girls), Allison Blackwell (Rhoda Perdition for Providence Roller Derby), Jennifer Stevenson (Flash Hottie for Windy City Rollers), April Bozoda-Armstrong (Chewblocka for Ohio Roller Girls), Erica Tremblay (Go-Go Gidget for Angel City Derby Girls), Lea Maxwell (Gonnolea for Burning River Roller Girls), Michelle Goodin, (Angry Mayfly for Lava City Roller Girls)....and more!

This one just flat out sounds like fun. In fact all three of these sound like fun and I'm hoping to get my hands on them all. Sound like the perfect package for anyone of the female persuasion looking to find her way in the world - and hoping to be as fearless as possible as she gets out there.

[Post pic from the Renegade Roller Derby of Oregon site.]