The Scales of Seduction by Rien Gray [historical fiction, retelling, erotica]: An erotic lesbian monster novella reinterpreting the Medusa myth. Romance between Medusa and a basilisk warrior. Transfem butch protagonist.
Reverse Tomboy by Auto Anon [literary fiction, autofiction, essays]: A novella about a trans woman who struggles with relationships, familial dynamics, and reclaiming her masculinity after transitioning. Comes with an essay on transfeminine butchness and masculinities. Transfem Jewish butch protagonist and author.
Hot Girls with Balls by Benedict Nguyen [litfic, satire]: A contemporary satire novel about two trans lesbian volleyball players, who have to grapple with the anxieties of stardom as well as their their own off-court relationship drama. Transfem Asian-American protagonist. Transfem author.
Little Blue Encyclopedia (for Vivian) by Hazel Jane Plante [litfic]: A trans lesbian mourns her straight trans friend, and comes to terms with her death by writing a personalized encyclopedia/love letter about the latter's favorite obscure TV show. Transfem soft butch protagonist. Transfem author.
Herculine by Grace Byron [litfic, horror]: A disaffected and traumatized young woman arrives at an all-trans girls commune founded by her toxic ex-girlfriend, only to discover something sinister afoot. Transfem butch love interest and side characters. Transfem author.
Our Monsters by Jemma Topaz (mystery, erotica, satire): In a futuristic city inhabited by monsters, a human woman tries to solve a series of grisly murders, while romancing several monster girls. Transfem butch love interest (poly romance, not the only love interest). Transfem author.
Always open to recs. Transfem butches are loved and appreciated, and I don't tolerate invisibilization of transfeminine people when speaking of butchness and lesbian masculinity.
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I've learned a lot about novel writing over the last few years, especially as an AuDHD self-published author. I keep seeing a lot of the same stuff over and over on social media, and I have a lot of thoughts about it
And because I'm having a "everyone's wrong on the internets" kind of day, I'm going to write it all down. Take what you like, leave the rest:
One person's trash is another person's treasure. This is the big one and the hardest one I had to learn as an author. Not everyone's going to want to read or like my book. That's just how it is, and really, that's ok. Everyone has different tastes when it comes to what they like to read. Just because someone doesn't read or like your book, doesn't mean your writing is shit. All it means is that your story wasn't for them.
Adjacent to that: Just because a friend or family member doesn't read your book, it doesn't mean they don't support your writing. They just may not be interested in the genre you're writing in, or they're not big readers, etc. I'm super lucky and grateful that both my Wife and my Mom both like the genres I write in AND are big readers, but a lot of my friends and family haven't read anything I've written. Again, it just means that my stuff wasn't for them, it doesn't mean my writing sucks.
Don't let just anyone read your first drafts. Vet your first (alpha) readers like a good therapist. They need to a) want to read the genre you write in and b) be able to give critique about the draft without being cruel. Your first readers DO NOT need to bludgeon your mental health to help you write better.
Find a good editor (or beta readers) under the same criteria that you'd use for a first reader. Again, people who edit your work to any degree DO NOT need to bludgeon your mental health to make you write better.
You don't necessarily need to break the bank to find a good editor or cover artists for self publishing. I can tell you that there are a lot of editors and artists floating around who need work. Ask your author friends for referrals. Go to the Writing & Reading, Co-working, and Artist categories on Twitch and poke around. Check r/HungryArtists on reddit. Be honest about your situation with a potential new editor/artist and ask if they can work with you. Maybe you can do some sort of payment plan, or some sort of work-trade, or a mixture of both. DO make sure you come up with a fair and equitable solution, though, and DO make sure you have a contract that allows either of you to leave the situation if it isn't working out. Ask your artist/editor/freelancer friends about how to write these. I can guarantee that someone you know will know someone who can help you.
Don't worry about whether your story is "original enough" or if it's been "done before." Sure, the concept you have for you story may not be something brand new, but it'll be unique because it's *your* story and *your* voice. There will be someone out there who will read it and your story will be important to them. (See point #1.) You never know, your story may even save a life.
Adjacent to #6: Don't worry about bullshit things like "Mary Sue/Stu" or tropes, or anything like that. Lots of what we consider classics these days have some or all of these tropes in it. Just because you self-inserted doesn't automatically mean your story sucks. Just because you have a trope or whatever doesn't mean your writing sucks. Good lord, have you read some of those classic American literary novels??? (I am so NOT a Hemingway/Faulkner/etc fan. Talk about tropes and self-inserts...)
Your first draft isn't always complete shit, and you DO NOT have to hate your first draft. You will, always, always, always have to edit it, however. Multiple times.
You DO NOT have to attend a writing workshop, participate in a writing group, or traditionally publish to be a "legit" writer. This is especially important for my neurodivergent folks, because a lot of writing groups, online or in person, follow a format that has been known to be cruel, racist, and shit for marginalized/neurodivergent authors. I'm not saying that ALL writing groups are like this, but honestly, follow #2, 3, and 4 for writing groups, too. Ask if you can observe a meeting or observe the Discord/online group for a bit before committing fully. If they've got people there who are being gatekeepers about what writing is legit or not, run, don't walk, to the nearest exit.
Adjacent to #9: If you're a fanfic writer, or just write for fun, and you post your story somewhere where the general public can consume your writing, then you are a published, legit author. Just because you don't get money for your writing doesn't mean you aren't a "real writer."
And on that note: If you're writing to get rich, you might want to reconsider. No one truly knows how or why certain books will sell or get famous, just like marketers don't truly know why certain ads will work one day and fail the next. Most books that get famous quickly are either done by folks who already have a large following, are already celebrities, or plain dumb luck. And if you try to "write to market" just because some so-called writing guru said so, are you truly writing *your* story?
And finally, since my grah is starting to slow down and my head is emptying: There is no "one true way" to write a story. Anyone who tells you that you must do X, Y, Z to write a good story is lying to you. Do you like to make detailed outlines that are about the same number of words as your finished novel? Then do that. Are you a consummate pantster and allergic to anything smacking of an outline? Fine,. Are you somewhere in between? Then do that. Only really write between midnight and 4 am? Have to write on your iPad while lying flat on your back? Prefer to use fountain pens and write the entire novel by hand before typing it up? Great! All of these are legit ways to write a novel. Do whatever you have to do to get your story written, my friend. DO NOT let anyone else tell you can't write it because you didn't write it the way they think someone should write a novel. Honestly, pretty much all of the writing advice out there is suggestion, not Holy Writ. You are not beholden to some amorphous Writing Cabal that decides who is and isn't worthy of slapping some words together and calling it a story.
Happy Pride! Read the first 5 chapters of a trans couples horror book called "Incinerate"!
TL;DR: Me and my partner wrote a horror book and you should check out the first five chapters!
Been working on this book with my partner for a while now and we are happy to say the first 5 chapters of the book are done! Me and my partner are so happy and truly have just wanted to put a little piece of ourselves out into the world in someway. Started off as a Silent Hill/House of Leaves fan-fiction experiment that turned into something else. A story of trauma, grief, and questioning of how much is one willing to take from an awful situation. We have been pouring ourselves into this book and loving every damn second of it and we would love it if you checked out the first 5 chapters!
Synopsis: Ā When 31 year-old Violet Chambers receives a mysterious letter, she is forced to return to her childhood home and the trauma that made her leave in the first place.
Influences: House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski, Silent Hill, Uzumaki by Junji Ito, and David Lynch.
So here is the first 5 chapters of the book with an anonymous questionnaire form for after you read. Not needed but greatly would appreciate some feedback on what can be improved and what you liked! Please feel free to ask me anything about the book at any time!
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Finished my first three books for the Trans Rights Readathon!
Three books in the first four days, bodes well how many more I can get through. They were suuuuper interesting, I tore right through them!
I got access to all three of them through the Queer Liberation Library. ( @queerliblib here on tumblr)
Surviving Transphobia, edited by Laura A. Jacob (She/He/They/None)
Non-fiction
Surviving Transphobia is an anthology by transgender and gender nonbinary celebrities and experts on endurance during times of severe hostility. We share the moments when we were vulnerable, were bullied, had needs dismissed, or were discriminated against, revealing our determination and how we have (sometimes) managed to thrive. We offer loving support as you brave agony and seek joy. We also speak to our allies.
We are activists, actors, athletes, authors, lawyers, doctors, nurses, therapists, sex workers, clergy, diplomats, and military veterans. We are of many ethnicities. We vary socioeconomically, educationally, and geographically. Some are neurodivergent. Several are disabled or have chronic illnesses. A few are HIV+. A small number were born elsewhere.
We have survived, hereās how. And if we can surviveā¦ so can you.
I really did myself a disservice, not really taking my time with each essay, but I donāt usually read nonfiction and Iāll get my own copy sometime to reread at my leisure.
This one was definitely a heavy read, as you can probably guess from the title.
But it really emphasizes the important of community. Of chosen family, of support, of finding or creating a safe space, the importance of finding other trans people and finding strength and love in community. That being trans often means feeling like youāre the only one going through what youāre going through, that being trans can often feel lonely. But weāre not alone.
I could go on, but Iāll leave it there. I highly recommend it. Itās a good read. But if you pick up this book, make sure you have the time to breathe between chapters. It can be a lot.
For the Love of April French by Penny Aimes (She/her)
Romance
April French doesnāt do relationships and she never asks for more. A long-standing regular at kink club Frankieās, sheās kind of seen it all. As a trans woman, sheās used to being the scenic rest stop for others on their way to a happily-ever-after. She knows how desire works, and she keeps hers carefully boxed up to take out on weekends only. After all, you canāt be let down if you never ask.
Then Dennis Martin walks into Frankieās, fresh from Seattle and looking a little lost. April just meant to be friendly, but one flirtatious drink turns into one hot night.
When Dennis asks for her number, she gives it to him. When he asks for her trust, wellā¦thatās a little harder.
This was definitely different from what I usually read! BDSM isnāt my usual schtick. (Not squick or anything, just not my thing.) Iāve read fanfics with kink elements, and been apart of fandoms where BDSM fics are pretty prevalent, but this was my first BDSM romance novel.
The couple starts flirting practically from the first page, which was quite a change for me! Iām used to having to suffer through a chapter or two before the leads even meet, let alone acknowledge their interest in each other. Whether thatās due to the genre or the writerās choice, I have no idea, but it was certainly refreshing!
Also refreshing, Dennis knows April is trans from the get-go (sheās wearing a shirt that says āI suffered testosterone poisoningā or smth like that) so thatās not a source of conflict for the plot. No, the conflict is another form of misunderstanding unrelated to April being trans.
A truly pleasant read, I loved April and Dennis and the supporting characters, my only complaint is itās so short! It was over far too soon.
Godly Heathens by H.E. Edgmon (He/They)
YA, Fantasy, Romance
Gem Echols is a nonbinary Seminole teen living in the tiny town of Gracie, Georgia. Known for being their peersā queer awakening, Gem leans hard on charm to disguise the anxious mess they are beneath. The only person privy to their authentic self is another trans kid, Enzo, whoās a thousand long, painful miles away in Brooklyn.
But even Enzo doesnāt know about Gemās dreams, haunting visions of magic and violence that have always felt too real. So how the hell does Willa Mae Hardy? The strange new girl in town acts like she and Gem are old companions, and seems to know things about them theyāve never told anyone else.
When Gem is attacked by a stranger claiming to be the Goddess of Death, Willa Mae saves their life and finally offers some answers. She and Gem are reincarnated gods whoāve known and loved each other across lifetimes. But Gem ā or at least who Gem used to be - hasnāt always been the most benevolent deity. Theyāve made a lot of enemies in the pantheonāenemies who, like the Goddess of Death, will keep coming.
Now THIS was more my usual style! I love magical ya. And oh my GODS this one was so good. The narration was great. The plot went in so many interesting directions that I never saw coming. I canāt think of anything else to say, except I canāt wait to read the sequel but thereās a waitlist š¢š
But WOW, that was a lot darker than I expected. (I mean, thereās literally a list of content warnings at the beginning of the book, but I was still caught off guard sometimes.)
Definitely wonāt be able to read the sequel in time for the readathon, but Iāve started another bookby H.E. Edgmon, The Witch King. Iāve read it before, but itās been ages and after enjoying this one so much, I figured a reread was the way to go!
Readathon books completed: 3
Currently reading: The Witch King by H.E. Edgmon and A Gentlemanās Gentleman by T.J. Alexander
It's still Trans Rights Readathon time! Hitting you with books I haven't recommended before, or not nearly enough. A hearty mix of trans characters and/or authors, with a wide range of genres. Hence, the chaos.
Trans Rights Readathon: Help Us Raise Money for the Trevor Project!
March 17th marks the first day of the Trans Rights Readathon. As their carrd explains, āThe Trans Rights Readathon is an annual call to action to readers and book lovers in support of Trans Day of Visibility (TDOV) on March 31st. We are calling on the reader community to read and uplift books written by and/or featuring trans, non-binary, 2Spirit, and gender-nonconforming authors and characters.ā
In the spirit of the Trans Rights Readathon, we wanted to bring your attention to our books that feature trans main characters and/or were written by trans creators. And, we wanted to do something tangible!
Duck Prints Press will donate $50 to the Trevor Project in mid-April to support their crisis intervention and suicide prevention work with queer youth. AND, for every one of the above books you buy from our webpage or itch.io between now and March 31st, we will increase that donation by adding 20% of the net we earn from those sales to the amount we donate!
We hope youāll consider reading some of our work as part of your Trans Rights Readathon read-a-thoning. Want to know more about them?
Learn about the eligible books!
Scholarly Pursuits: A Queer Anthology of Cozy Academia Stories (trans and non-binary characters, trans and non-binary authors)
Duck Prints Press presents 22 delightfully fluffy, happy, odd, snug, and cozy stories about queer characters pursuing academic excellence! From field research shenanigans to cooking adventures, from space station education departments to eldritch libraries, creators brought their vivid imaginings to life in these charming fantasy and science fiction stories. Settle into your favorite research carrel or prepare to read on the sly under your desk as you join us for Scholarly Pursuits: A Queer Anthology of Cozy Academia Stories.
Lightbringer by boneturtle (non-binary author)
Iāve never heard this story told outside our village, but my friend, itās about you as well as us. Your life is also forfeit to the Lightbringer who mended the chaos, and the chaos which breathed the Lightbringer to life.
In a lonely valley where darkness laps at the ragged shore of reality, there rests a village where the people are reborn each time they die. Though theyāve forgotten their past lives, they faithfully maintain their ancient festival to coax the light back whenever the darkness takes hold.
In this village where no one visits, a man named Ashe arrives. Beloved, yet cursed to be forgotten by those he holds most dear, he waits in the ever-growing darkness for someone who may never return. The villagers beg him to give up, to play the part of the Lightbringer and marry someone else.
Then a new stranger arrives, one who may hold the key to breaking this cycle of darkness once and for all.
Scrap Metal Angel by Nicola Kapron (trans man main character)
To Drive the Hundred Miles by Alec J. Marsh (trans man main character, trans author)
Serendipity, WA is filled with Christmas cheer, beautiful mountain views, and trans man Willās feminist Wiccan family. Home for the holidays, he avoids their clumsy attempts at support by hiding in the local coffee shop and flirting with Bea, a friend from high school.
The beautiful landscapes canāt make up for the the realities of being queer in a small town, and Bea wants out. Will grabs for a prosperity spell, and finds a new way to connect to the magic heās become estranged from. New romance and optimism get them through the holidays, ready to face their next problems.
A Truth Universally Acknowledged: Queer Fanworks Inspired by Jane Austenās āPride and Prejudiceā (non-binary characters, trans and non-binary authors and artists)
With this third installment in our Queer Fanworks Inspired Byā¦ anthology series, we set out to explore the truth by which we at Duck Prints Press live: that a classic work without a single canonically queer character must be in want of a very LGBTQIA+ makeover! āA Truth Universally Acknowledged: Queer Fanworks Inspired by Jane Austenās Pride and Prejudice,ā with 21 short stories and 20 full-page color artworks, is just that. 38 creators have contributed to this project, drawing inspiration from Pride and Prejudiceās characters and story to create delightful, thoughtful, intriguing, and (of course) very queer fanworks and Pride and Prejudice-inspired original works. For this collection, we encouraged our creators to focus on Sapphic/wlw relationships and/or transgender and genderqueer interpretations for their inspiration, though those are definitely not the only types of queer weāve fit into this diverse collection.
And Seek (Not) to Alter Me: Queer Fanworks Inspired by William Shakespeareās āMuch Ado About Nothingā (trans and non-binary characters, trans and non-binary authors and artists)
In āAnd Seek (Not) to Alter Me,ā 16 authors and 15 artists have come together to create an exquisite, full-color collection of artwork and stories inspired by William Shakespeareās play āMuch Ado About Nothing.ā We encouraged contributors to stretch their imaginations, think outside the box, and put their own uniqueāand queerātwists on Benedick, Beatrice, Hero, Claudio, Don Pedro, and the whole gang! In true Shakespearean fashion, our creators utilize gender, sexuality, romanticism, and a host of costume changes to tell unique artworks and storiesāsome featuring original characters, some characters from the playāthat show Shakespeareās work in a whole new light.
Add Magic to Taste Second Edition (trans and non-binary characters, trans and non-binary authors)
For this gorgeous re-issue of Duck Prints Pressās debut anthology āAdd Magic to Taste,ā 18 authors have come together to produce new, original short stories uniting four of our absolute favorite themes: queer relationships, fluff, magic, and coffee shops! Our diverse writers have created an even more diverse collection of stories guaranteed to sweeten your coffee and warm your tart. This edition also includes the 16 microfics originally written for our Kickstarter extra Mini-Morsels!
Aether Beyond the Binary (trans and non-binary characters, trans and non-binary authors)
How would Earth look if the very atoms around us were suffused with magical aether? How would our lives be different if this aether was discovered last year, or last century, or last millennia? How might the people who lived with this magic explore their gender identities? These are the questions we posed to the 17 authors who contributed to āAether Beyond the Binary.ā Their inventive answers comprise this must-not-miss collection about magical realms, adventures and mysteries, new chances and well-earned endings, and characters as gender-diverse as the worlds they inhabit.
Many Hands: An Anthology of Polyamorous Erotica (trans and non-binary characters, trans and non-binary authors)
Aim For The Heart: Queer Fanworks Inspired by Alexandre Dumasās āThe Three Musketeersā (trans and non-binary characters, trans and non-binary authors and artists)
āAim For The Heartā features 20 stories, each up to 5,000 words long, 19 full-page art pieces rendered in black-and-white or grayscale, and a 12-page comic. Our contributors have delved into their imaginations and the intricacies of Dumasās novels to tell new stories and create new images. They take us from the depths of deep space to the streets of 17th century France to the modern day, with a healthy dose of fluff and feels along the way. Every creator has shared their vision of these beloved characters, some with fanfiction and fanart, others with original pieces, and all with a heaping dose of inspiration.
She Wears the Midnight Crown (trans and non-binary characters, trans and non-binary authors)
āShe Wears the Midnight Crownā is one of our two paired masquerade-themed anthologies. It features 17 stories exploring wlw relationships developing, growing, and changing while the characters attend or participate in masquerades!
Our contributors stretched their imaginations to present innovative stories exploring what a masquerade can beā¦and, of course, tell rich, engaging tales of wonderful queer folk finding love, companionship, acceptance, the queer platonic relationship of their dreams, or the found family they deserve. The collected works feature characters in all the colors of the Pride rainbow, queer and genderqueer, and these diverse individuals inhabit worlds ranging from science fiction settings where everyone must be masked to breathe, to fantasies where no one wears a literal mask but everyone shows the world a false guise, to iterations of the real world where some people lean into deception.
āHe Bears the Cape of Starsā is the companion to this anthology, featuring 17 mlmstories.
He Bears the Cape of Stars (trans characters, trans and non-binary authors)
āHe Bears the Cape of Starsā is one of our two paired masquerade-themed anthologies. It features 17 stories exploring mlm relationships developing, growing, and changing while the characters attend or participate in masquerades!
Our contributors stretched their imaginations to present innovative stories exploring what a masquerade can beā¦and, of course, tell rich, engaging tales of wonderful queer folk finding love, companionship, acceptance, the queer platonic relationship of their dreams, or the found family they deserve. The collected works feature characters in all the colors of the Pride rainbow, queer and genderqueer, and these diverse individuals inhabit worlds ranging from science fiction settings where everyone must be masked to breathe, to fantasies where no one wears a literal mask but everyone shows the world a false guise, to iterations of the real world where some people lean into deception.
āShe Wears the Midnight Crownā is the companion to this anthology, featuring 17 wlw stories.
Note: only books purchased from duckprintspress.com and itch.io will count toward the donation!
In mid-April, I will post an accountability update with our total donation amount and proof of donation! (Same as Iāve done for our Pride Bundles every year.)
