#transfem literature

[autolenaphilia]

Transfem authors of fiction: a list

I wrote a version of this list in Swedish for a meatspace friend, figure I might redo it for a tumblr audience. The books recommended are usually novels, and in case of prolific authors, the one recommended is usually the most successful and acclaimed one. I haven't read all of these, but I'm working on it. The list is in alphabetical order after the author's last name. I added some notes to the list, to introduce the authors and their books.

Nota Bene this list is based on my personal research, and largely reflects my own tastes in fiction, as in what I've read and considered reading. And it is of course not at all complete. And it's a transfem authors list, so no transmasc authors no matter how worthy. And it's about authors of fiction, not memoirs or non-fiction. So no Christine Jorgensen, even if she wrote a book I want to read. And Jan Morris gets in based on her two Hav novels, not her more prolific non-fiction work. Links are to my reviews on this blog if they exist.

Anders, Charlie Jane - SF/F writer, debuted with Choir Boy (2005), but most famous for All The Birds in the Sky (which won a Nebula).

Aoki, Ryka - her latest sf/f novel Light from Uncommon Stars is her most popular, but she has published both fiction and poetry before.

Becker, Saga - Våra Tungor Smakar våld (Swedish author, her book is untranslated, although quite good)

Binnie, Imogen - Nevada

Daniels, April - Dreadnought and its sequel Sovereign. Novels about a teenage trans girl superhero.

Deane, Maya - Wrath Goddess Sing

Felker-Martin, Gretchen - Manhunt (horror novel)

Kaveney, Roz - Tiny Pieces of Skull (also wrote the Rhapsody of Blood fantasy series, plus numerous poetry collections and non-fiction)

Kiernan, Caitlin R. - Usually categorized as a horror author, written numerous novels and short stories since her debut novel SIlk in 1998. The most acclaimed are probably her novels The Red Tree and The Drowning Girl (which won the Bram Stoker Award)

Leitz, May - Fluids and Girlflesh (review forthcoming)

Morris, Jan - Hav (mostly wrote non-fiction, history books and travel literature, Hav is an omnibus of her two novels about Hav, both "imagined travelogues" about a fictitious country)

Peters, Torrey - Detransition Baby

Plett, Casey - Little Fish (Lambda award winner)

Pollack, Rachel - Prolific writer of several kinds of books, including a pioneering career as a sf/f writer. Did her fictional debut with a short story in a 1971 anthology (credited under her deadname) and published her first novel Golden Vanity in 1980, which are literally the earliest pieces of fiction by an out trans person (not memoir or non-ficton) I've been able to find. So very much a pioneer. Her most acclaimed book is probably Godmother Night (1996) which won the World Fantasy Award. Also wrote comics, most notably Doom Patrol.

Rumfitt, Alison - Tell me I'm Worthless

Serano, Julia - 99 Erics (her debut as a novelist after years of pioneering transfeminist writing and poetry)

Thornton, Jeanne - Summer Fun (Lambda award winner)

[campgender]

I had the knowledge that there were others like me. Sure, most of the femmes whom I read about didn’t start off as trans. But I loved their power and their determination to be themselves despite conflict with their own community. I felt such affinity not only because I felt like I was in fact femme, but also because being femme and being trans were so closely related for me.

And so it was by defining myself as femme that I finally call myself trans in the way that I do now.

from “Not so Much ‘MTF’ as ‘SPTBMTQFF’: The Identification of a Trans Femme-inist” by Josephine Wilson

published in Visible: A Femmethology, Volume 1 (2009)

[floral-ashes]

Remember when I published this in a serious journal and everyone thought it was very funny?

Well, Gender/Fucking: The Pleasures and Politics of Living in a Gendered Body is basically where I stake my claim at being a depraved freak. 😉

Don’t wait! Get your copy now! Available on Bookshop and plenty more.

[disacurveball]

god the mad scientist trope is so trans. the lone figure- partaking in the act of creation, the innovation of body and flesh, seen as monstrous and unnatural by wider society. rejecting societal rules and embracing radical science- the creation becoming the creator. transforming what once was to something so other, and it is magnificent. it is so horrible, it is so beautiful, it is me.

[dharlingdhalia]

Hey lovelies 😘💖💐

Old blog got trashed by Tumblr.

Please help me find my friends back on by re-bloging 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

[al1ie56]

🍓❤️🍓

[thedawnofcrime]

Monika DDLC just taught me how to do an authentic girl voice for the first time ever, and I am entirely 100% serious

She is such an ally confirmed

[a-thread-of-green]

I just came across a headcanon that everyone in Doki Doki Literature Club is a trans girl (including the main character, she just hasn't realized it yet), so I wanted to flesh out that a little bit. Imagine an AU where the entire literature club is Sayori's ploy to create a safe and supportive environment for the MC to figure herself out in. All the poems are really on-the-nose trans allegories (Yuri would lean into the body horror of male puberty and dysphoria; Natsuki might have a butterfly metaphor somewhere in there), but the MC is still too dense to pick up on what is going on. But see, the MC's poems are all basically just copying what the other girls are writing, so she inadvertently writes a poem that doubles as a coming-out letter, triggering a comedy of errors where the Dokis all celebrate and ask about new names and offer to do her makeup while the MC stands around, blushing and confused. Then Monika, realizing what has happened and terribly embarrassed on the MC's behalf, alters the game's code for a quick and painless transition and they all live happily ever after.

[that-butch-archivist]

"red like a femme" by Trish Salah

source: Brazen Femme: Queering Femininity, edited by Chloë Brushwood Rose & Anna Camilleri

[dharlingdhalia]

Beautiful Dhee ❤️‍🔥💖💝💐🌹🪷

[ruger35mm]

can we really trust trans women?

no males in female spaces!

[androgynealienfemme]

"Legally, at that time, one was required to wear at least three-gender appropriate articles of clothing. Otherwise you were subject to arrest. Few heterosexuals were aware of the law. The archaic ruling was of major consequence only for the queens of the queer community. For my late-night forays, I generally wore two socks and a silky, if male, tank top under my very feminine slacks and top.

My outer garments had for years been very non-gender specific: velvet tops over stovepipe-cut slacks; oversized shirts over tight, tight jeans. I did not, however, hit the streets in cute little skirts and cashmere sweaters. I was conscious of the dress code and the fact that I was known to every cop on our block.

The city's finest were often found kibitzing with the owners at the club. In the years leading up to San Francisco's "gay-ola" scandal of the early 1960s, it was common practice for the owners of gay clubs to "grease" the legal system. Financial consideration in the right blue pockets allowed talented "fairies" to work and play without constant police harassment. The cops on Broadway knew who I was, and I knew them for what they were. Like everyone familiar with gay life, I carried a healthy fear of our law-enforcement officials. I played by the rules and only slightly bent the dictate that you arrive and exit the club... male.

"I know you think you're real, Girl," Stormy would fret, "But you're still almost six feet tall and bear a striking resemblance to that popular drag queen Lee Shaw. Don't think you're invisible to the police."

My friend was concerned for my safety, but her primary fear was not of the men with whom I danced at the Street of Paris. She knew how badly I would be treated if picked up by the police. I would be unceremoniously tossed into jail, if not worse."

“The Woman I Was Not Born To Be” by Aleshia Brevard (2001)

[sowerbot]

Wow wow wow I got a lot of new followers so I better make a real introductory post.

*clears throat*, Hi, I'm Sowerbot, my pronouns are she/her, and I'm a trans woman. I'm trying to become a filmmaker, but for now I'm mostly posting my writing. My main project is "Grow A Pair (Not That Kind)" over at Scribblehub, a story about a conservative pundit undergoing HRT to prove how people are using it to infiltrate women's sports.

I have a Ko-fi page if y'all want to send some money my way. All donations will go towards my living expenses and HRT.

Thank all y'all for taking an interest in my work; I'm hoping to write many more stories for y'all to enjoy!

Update: I have a Patreon now too, for those who prefer it as a means of supporting their favorite creators.

[yourreality-mp3]

Natsuki is transfem!🏳️‍⚧️🩷🧁

The rest of the Literature Club supports and helps to fund her transition too!♡

[galaaxica]

ddlc pride hc icons!

Feel free 2 use pls reblog and give credit tho <33

These r just my headcanons dont get mad at me pls 😭 yes theres 2 bi ones,,,,

I wanted 2 make one of em for myself but i thought i would do all 4 of em just cuz !

[traaaaaaaansnerd]

just finished The Spirit Bares It’s Teeth

once again, Andrew Joseph White has knocked it out of the park

go read The Spirit Bares It’s Teeth, it’s really really really good