Winter solstice and good books
Happy (almost) solstice!
It’s been a hell of a year for trans writing and art. New and established authors published stellar books in every genre you could name, both expanding and deepening the contemporary landscape of trans lit.
In the face of escalating censorship and the malignant influence of corporate publishing and AI, it can be easy to forget that we’re living through a time of incredible creation. Here are just a few standouts that I was grateful to read.
Shoog McDaniel, Hurricane Season
An illustrated zine about hurricanes and mutual aid in rural Florida, crafted from the artist’s journals of the 2024 fall storm season. Generous and beautiful, like all of their work.
Jzl Jmz, Local Woman
New poems from the author of Mannish Tongues and The Black Condition ft. Narcisuss. Smart, sexy, liberatory, and with stunning music and formal inventiveness. Subscribe to her newsletter to keep up with new work.
Kai Minosh Pyle, onmylandbodymind
Rich newsletter from the Two-Spirit poet, historian, and writer. I greatly appreciated the recent “500 Years of Native Trans Women’s History,” and his translations and transliterations of Ojibwe love songs stayed with me all year.
Torrey Peters, Stag Dance
It’s a treat to have Torrey’s dishy self-published zines together under one cover, but the real standout is the titular story, my favorite of everything she’s published.
Bethany Karsten, ed., The Transfeminine Review
An independent blog that highlights writing, both new and old, by transfems. Make sure to check out “Start Here” for fun guides to transfem writing in a broad range of genres.
Akwaeke Emezi, Son of the Morning
One of the year’s best romances, a steamy paranormal with Lucifer and a malfunctioning Hellgate. Emezi continues a streak of engrossing, lyric hits across genres.
Tourmaline, Marsha
This biography of Marsha P. Johnson is a must-read of 2025, beautifully written by the inimitable historian and artist. I wrote more about this book in an earlier newsletter.
Dean Spade, Love in a Fucked Up World
Years in the making, this self-help book and political guide to the heart couldn’t have come at a better time or from a more trusted voice.
Cameron Awkward-Rich, An Optimism
From the author of Dispatch and The Terrible We. Each poem in this latest collection can be savored for days. The title poem is a favorite from last year.
Zefyr Lisowski, Uncanny Valley Girls
Sharp essays and memoir with an eye on horror. Check out Lisowski’s writing on Greer Lankton in The Believer for a taste of what the book offers.
Mirha-Soleil Ross and Xanthra Phillippa MacKay, Gender Trash from Hell
Ross edits together this collection of the iconic 90s zines, remastered in book form for a new generation of readers. Essays from Trish Salah and Leah Tigers make this a can’t-miss read.
Thank you for reading my newsletter project this year! If you’re enjoying, please share it with friends. You can also contribute monthly to help me continue writing in 2026.
On to the new world!