Today I am so pleased to welcome Theo Fenraven and the rest of the gang from the Transgender* Romance Writer’s Blog Hop. Theo has also brought along an excerpt and a great giveaway. Please join me in giving them a big welcome!
I want to thank Joyfully Jay for having us on her site. We appreciate the opportunity to discuss transgender* romance. I gathered several other writers of M/M romance who have written transgender* romances and asked them all the same ten questions. This blog will have the answer to number three and highlight a book (Transgression by Theo Fenraven).
We want to encourage your participation in this hop so please comment or ask us questions for a chance to win:
- 1 of 2 $20 Amazon gift cards
- 1 of 1 $20 online retailers B&N, ARE, or Amazon
- 1 of 1 $15 gift card
- 1 e-book copy of Groom of Convenience
- 1 e-book copy of Illusions & Dreams
- 1 e-book copy of Transgression
The winners will be picked after our last stop March 5th. We will notify you by e-mail.
It is our hope the same way you fell in love with gay characters and now fight intolerance & promote equality we want you to adore our transgender* characters. We want you to witness their strengths, their struggles, their flaws and root for their victories in love because in doing so you’re going to understand a little bit more about their lives. And we hope you will fight transphobia just as hard as you fight homophobia.
What type of research did you do when it came to writing a transgender* character?
Sara York: Every book requires research. I looked up information, I read accounts from transgender people, I watched movies, and I talked to people. Being observant is part of being a writer.
Kimberly Gardner: I limited my research to nonfiction books and articles. Josie’s emotions and experiences are entirely her own, but it was important to me that there be an authenticity in what she says and does and feels. Also it was very important to me that I get the details right with regard to some of the physical aspects of living as a trans woman.
Z. Allora: My story is set in Thailand. I’ve actually been to every place in my book. I’ve gone to shows talked to the performers and club owners to understand the Thai mindset. (Yes I was even bit by a baby tiger.) I have a number of friends who happened to be transgender*. They were generous enough to answer some questions and help me refine my story.
Corvus Alyse: I think this particular plot bunny happened after doing a WHOLE lot of trans* research and looking at different sides of the coin. Personally, I have never felt comfortable in the skin I was born in, as a female. I felt limited and vulnerable in ways that I didn’t understand. In the very religious, pre-internet world I grew up in, there were no terms for what I felt. There was intense pressure to conform, to the church, to the beliefs of my parents, to society as a whole. So I shelved it, did what I had to do, like many others before me. After becoming an adult, life just got really busy, so it was some years before I felt the freedom to pursue this area of research on a personal level. The main character draws a lot from me, who I have come to understand portrays many facets of me.
Ethan Stone: I read a lot of blogs and websites regarding female to male trans*, the surgeries, the transitions, etc.
Vicktor Alexander: A lot of it was pulling on my own feelings, but I am a part of numerous trans* supports on Facebook, Yahoo, and through the VA here in Central Florida. I’ve done research on surgeries, the history on violence, labelling, etc. on Google, talked with doctors not just for my books but because I’m transitioning and a lot of that I’ve used to help round out my own characters.
Theo Fenraven: I talked to a few people and researched online. I’m gender fluid, so some of my experiences showed up in the book too.
Excerpt
Transgression by Theo Fenraven
Zach didn’t realize how drunk he was until he left the club and tried to get into the car. His foot slipped off the running board twice, and he stopped, swaying slightly, looking at his friend over the top of the vehicle.
“Can’t drive, Andy.” He closed the door and leaned against it. “What shape are you in?”
Grinning, Andy came around to the driver’s side. “Better than you, by far.” He opened the door. “Get in, slide over, and open the window in case you need to puke.”
Laughing, Zach crawled in, climbed clumsily over the center console, and collapsed in the passenger seat. “Not gonna puke. I never puke.”
Andy got behind the wheel, inserted the key, and started the car. “Bullshit. What about the time we were at that party in the Hills? You know, last summer.”
“Sarah’s birthday? Oh, yeah, I did kind of lose it that night, didn’t I?” Slipping down onto his tailbone, he propped his sneakered feet on the dash, bracing himself against movement.
Snorting, Andy merged into traffic. “The inside of that car had to be cleaned twice.”
Zach giggled. “Sorry. Promise! No upchucking tonight.”
“Hey, I don’t give a shit. It’s your car.”
They drove to Santa Monica Boulevard. It was a chilly night with a light breeze. Zach wished he could see the stars, but the light pollution was so bad, nothing in the heavens was visible.
“You were hitting the liquor hard. What’s up?”
Zach was still peering up through the windshield, trying to see anything other than the light umbrella over the city. “Can’t sleep lately. I thought it might help.”
Andy shook his head. “No, no, you pass out on liquor, but then you’re awake again a few hours later.”
Leaning back in the seat, he glanced at his friend. “Then what do you suggest?”
“I know someone who can fix you right up. You don’t have anything against natural herbs and stuff, do you?”
“Herbs are good. Minimal side effects, right?”
“Right. I know someone.” He pulled into the right-hand turn lane at the next light. “Ever heard of Sky?”
Zach burst into laughter. “What, that stuff over our heads? Supposed to be blue but is often a dirty gray? Yeah, I have a passing familiarity with it.”
“Asshole. I’m talking about a person. Sky is sort of the unofficial herbalist in this town. Does her own distillations and mixtures, sells them to whoever wants them. Also happens to read palms, and I swear to god, she’s psychic. The real thing, not like those twits who talk to you over the phone for five bucks a minute.” He turned left, then right again, driving into Laurel Canyon. “She told me the woman I was seeing a few months ago was shagging someone else, and I found out a week later she was.”
Zach rolled his eyes. “In this town, everyone is shagging everyone else. That’s not prescience, it’s a fact.”
“Fine, don’t believe me, but she can fix you up with something that will help you sleep naturally. I’m taking you there now.”
Get Transgression at Amazon. Visit Fen’s Blog.
Blurb
Zachary Fox can’t sleep.
His acting career is taking off. Public recognition is picking up. Now more than ever, he understands how key reputation is to his success. But his relationship with his co-star, Kris—arranged around publicity rather than genuine feelings—is suffocating him. She once understood his needs, but her demands are beginning to grate with every shrill order she gives.
Zach has a secret. The breakout star of a new medical series, he’s been hiding his orientation from co-stars, friends and family, the studio, and his fans.
On the recommendation of a friend, Zach seeks out Sky Kelly, a well-connected herbalist whose concoctions are natural magic, as is her stunning beauty. On the surface, she has it all: her own house, a thriving business, and good friends, but the things she had to do to get there are a time bomb ticking away, and when it goes off, she’ll be teetering on the edge of a chasm that can put her right back where she started.
Sky has secrets. Like, she’s got a Y chromosome and the original equipment to go with it. Like being a highly paid escort. Like, if Zach is seen with her in public, it could ruin his career. Like someone becoming so obsessed with Sky, that obsession threatens them both.
Secrets… everyone is hiding something, and instead of finding The One, it could be The End.
Giveaway
The gang from the blog hop has brought a selection of great prizes they are giving away on the tour. Just leave a comment at the end of the post to enter. The contest ends on at 11:59 pm EST.
Prizes include: 2 $20 Amazon gift cards, 1 $20 online retailer gift card to B&N, ARE, or Amazon, 1 $15 gift card, 1 e-book copy of Groom of Convenience, 1 e-book copy of Illusions & Dreams, and 1 e-book copy of Transgression. The winners will be picked after our last stop March 5th. We will notify you by e-mail.
- By entering the giveaway, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
- Winners will be selected by random number. No purchase necessary to win. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
- If you win, you must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner may be chosen. Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from Joyfully Jay.
- Winners may be announced on the blog following the contest. By entering the contest you are agreeing to allow your name to be posted and promoted as the contest winner by Joyfully Jay.
- Prizes will be distributed following the giveaway either by Joyfully Jay or the person/organization donating the prize.
- By entering you are agreeing to hold Joyfully Jay harmless if the prize or giveaway in some way negatively impacts the winner.
- Readers may only enter once for each contest. Duplicate entries for the same giveaway will be ignored. In the event of technical problems with the blog during the contest, every effort will be made to extend the contest deadline to allow for additional entries.
- Void where prohibited by law.
Thanks so much for hosting the hop, Jay! Every one of us participating appreciates it. 🙂
Transgression is still one of my favorite stories. It actually has a secondary storyline with one of Zachs friends that I became particularly fond of. ;o)
Might that have had anything to do with lace underwear? 😉
Why, yes. Yes it would. And that’s not something I would normally be interested in either, but your “twist” on it was very thought provoking and changed my way of thinking – for the better. My heart really went out to him.
My thoughts exactly Jaycee. Now if only Fen could be persuaded to write Ricky’s story.
I enjoyed the excerpt the book sounds really good and I’m adding it to my wish list.
Sounds good! I would love to read Transgressions, but not from Amazon. I read my ebooks on a Sony-reader. Is there another shop I can buy it?
You can get it in ePub format from All Romance eBooks.
Thanks! =:))
Eve, it is available at ARe. https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-transgression-1333578-341.html
It is an amazing book, I hope you are able to get it in a format that works for you.
Thanks! Will have a look immediately. =:))
I enjoyed the excerpt the book sounds really goos
Thanks for the excerpt and the interesting post. Already got it, I’ll start it ASAP.
Gender and sexuality is something I have had a growing interest in for some years now, and it’s so awesome to see blogs and authors promoting knowledge and understanding like this. I’m so grateful that I live in a time when I can have access to information and fiction about topics like this!
I’ve been exploring it off and on for a couple years now. In the current WIP, a main character is bisexual and another is gender fluid. I’m also planning future stories that revolve around people who fall along the full gender spectrum.
I encourage all new readers of this book to let me know what you think. I love hearing from you! Stop by my blog (theofenraven.wordpress.com) or email me (fenraven at gmail dot com).
Thanks for an interesting post.
Thanks for the post – I love learning about how authors get inspiration and learn about their subject matter. Enjoyed the excerpt, too.
Transgression is on my TBR. I’ve only read a few stories with transgender characters as MC’s but will be looking at the others on this list . Thanks!
I read Transgression several months ago. I enjoyed it quite a lot.
I’m really glad that trans characters are becoming more common in fiction and not just for the sensation value, but being shown as ordinary with the trans being just another facet to the character. The more it is normalised the more it will become accepted and hopefully the safer it’ll be for transgender folks.
Transgression has been on my wishlist for a bit, so it’s definitely one I’m going to read. I’m really glad to see this hop and hope other readers will find books they want to read. I always want to read about all kinds of people, so it’s been wonderful to see more and more stories come out that feature trans characters respectfully and as the main characters. I’ve read a number of really excellent ones just this year, and I’ve got several more I’m really looking forward to. Thanks so much for sharing with us!
I can’t wait to read Transgression, thank you Joyfully Jay for hosting this!
Bought this book when it first came out & it’s on my reread shelf … if it was paper … it would be well worn. So glad to read Fen is going to keep writing about the different spectrums … Fen does it with such Love & Respect. If you haven’t read it … push it to the top!!
Aw…. Thanks!
This is such a great event!
Great post! I would love to read the book.
Thanks for a great post and excerpt!
Thank you for another great post. I loved the interview and the excerpt for Theo’s book. I’m adding Transgression to my TBR and wishlist now.
Great post. I haven’t read many transgender stories but the ones that I have have always surprised me in a good way.
Thanks for the post.Interested in reading more.
Officially on my tbr list. I like stories that explore gender and sexuality.
Thanks for the excerpt. It sounds like a book I’d like to read. I really applaud all the authors on the hop. It’s your willingness to open yourselves up to the public that helps open minds. I have learned a lot of great things from some of the blogs the authors have hosted. I look forward to following the blog to find out more to help educate myself as well as the people around me.
I only recently realized I was gender fluid after many years of not understanding. We may bemoan the use of labels, but sometimes they are helpful in pointing out what we feel and who we are.
In the end, however, it’s not about gender. It’s about people, and Transgression is very much about people. 🙂
I haven’t read many Transgender books but find the subject interesting, although I don’t think there is much publicity out there. For example Same sex is talked about all over the place but Transgender and gender fluid not so much. I’ll definitely put this on my TBB list. I’m enjoying this tour immensely, thanks guys.
Please count me in. Thanks!
Wow great post and awesome giveaway! I haven’t read many transgender romances but I do like that the authors do the research or draw on their personal experiences.
2004 & Barling. Your lab imported it from New Zealand and has found.
Interesting questions and answers to this very worthy blog tour.
interesting about the research
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
The comment at the beginning of their post about people reading trans* romance and fighting transphobia is so powerful. Great reason to read some hot romance, too! 😉
the research is interesting
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
It is nice to see books with transgender people. Since they have been in the news so much lately. I am editing the first draft of my book and I have a transgender character in it. I am very excited. Also looking forward to reading more as well.
I’d love to read Transgression!
Thank you so much for the chance
This tour is really a good idea. I’m not completely ignorant about transgender issues – but also nowhere near ‘complete’ in my comprehension.
Recently I learned of the sexuality spectrum and ace (asexuality) and that gave me a lot to think about and a possible new understanding of a friend of mine. Who’s to say this won’t crop up someday? And even if I never meet a transgender person face-to-face, it won’t hurt me to have educated myself a little.
All knowledge is worth having – and you never know when it might just come in handy or end up forming a whole new understanding.