Trans+ Indie Authors to Add to Your TBR
By: Ally Hendricks
Edited by: Angela Spinzig
March 31st marks International Trans Day of Visibility, a day meant to celebrate and uplift trans+ individuals, educate against discrimination and misinformation, and remember those who have been killed by anti-trans legislation and transphobia. Many people in the book community choose to repost trans+ creators’ content, share their trans+ book recommendations, and advocate for trans+ authors. The Trans Rights Readathon also occurs in March, a challenge designed to help readers uplift and read books written by trans+ authors. This year’s readathon runs from March 17th to March 31st.
What Does Trans+ Mean?
The term transgender is an umbrella term, meaning there are many other gender identities grouped under the word “trans.” Someone might identify as transgender, but at the same time, someone who identifies as genderfluid still fits the identity of being trans.
“Trans+” is an all-encompassing term that includes the trans community as well as others who fall under the trans umbrella. As the Trans Language Primer states, “the term is less about who specifically is included and more about who shares experiences.” Trans+ helps to recognize the diversity of what it means to be transgender.
Trans+ Indie Authors
As we approach the Trans Rights Readathon and International Trans Day of Visibility, here are some trans+ self-published authors to put on your radar!
A. B. Daniels-Annachi (he/him) is a trans, South Asian author from the PNW. He has written A Tide of Treason, an adult fantasy set on the sea with high-stakes adventures, political intrigue, and queer characters. He also has published The Myth of June and The Oath of Eve, books one and two of The Violents series, a young adult dark-fantasy series inspired by the Greek mythology of Medusa.
Vyria Durav (she/her) is a transfemme lesbian who writes about transfemmes and sapphics. Her books include The Dragon and Her Princess, a dragon romantasy featuring a trans woman, The Hatchling, a story about a trans woman discovering her identity as well as a dragon, and Catnip, a cozy science fiction story about a colony on Venus, a trans woman, and her polycule.
Micah Flowers (they/them) is a nonbinary, genderfluid, Black author from Virginia. They have published Where the Stars Are, a dark t4t romance that features neurodivergent Black trans characters. Their next installment in the series, Where the Petals Remain, comes out this May and is a why choose? romance.
Robin Jo Margaret (xe/xem/xyr), who has also published books under the name R. J. Margaret and Margherita Scialla, has eleven current novels/novellas out in the world. Xe are a Gen Z author born and raised in Italy, writing fantasy monster romances and contemporary stories. Some of xyr books include In the Care of Magic, a queer and cozy monster erotica, Pillow Forts and Hurricanes, a contemporary fiction novella exploring a queerplatonic relationship, and Dangerous Devotion, a dark fantasy featuring religious themes.
Darcia G. Laucerica (they/them) is a nonbinary Cuban author who has published two fantasy books. Tale of Three Ships is a queer pirate story featuring lesbian representation and a darker, more emotional plotline. Guns & Scones is a queer cozy fantasy featuring trans representation with a more lighthearted tone and lots of baked goods.
Harvey Oliver Baxter (they/he) has published Fallen Thorns and Rising Ashes, a coming-of-age queer vampire story featuring vampires, found family, and a neurodivergent main character in an academic setting. In addition to the duology, they have published two novellas and a short story.
Kay Claire (they/he) is from Cape Town, South Africa and writes romance in book form, short stories, and comics. In their works you will find contemporary romances such as A Mutual Connection, a t4t story featuring neopronouns, a tattoo artist, a graphic designer, and a bit of a hidden identity. You’ll also find paranormal romances such as The Full Moon Problem, a cozy werewolf romance with a trans MC, fated mates, and a bit of knotting.
LM Juniper (he/they) is the author of How We End and How We Survive, a queer speculative fiction duology about a post-apocalyptic story about zombies, post-societal collapse, and of course a trans MC. He has also published a sapphic Christmas novella, and is currently working on two different sapphic romances with trans women as main characters.
These eight self-published authors showcase a variety of stories; hopefully you have found added some to your TBR. For those who want to participate in the Trans Rights Readathon this year, Readin’ Magazine is hosting a Trans Rights Readathon Fundraiser. You can find more information on our website (see the Home and Events pages) and Instagram.
As the community seeks to uplift trans voices this March, it is important to also recognize trans authors throughout the year. Trans+ stories deserve to be in every reader’s TBR, read pile, preorders, and library wishlist!