A random collection of over 1910 books and audiobooks authored by or about my transgender, intersex sisters, and gender-nonconforming persons all over the world. I read some of them, and I was inspired by some of them. I met some of the authors and heroines, some of them are my best friends, and I had the pleasure and honor of interviewing some of them. If you know of any transgender biography that I have not covered yet, please let me know.
Full title: "One Trans Woman's Spiritual Journey: Transcending into Womanhood in Phuket, Thailand"
"A true story Transcending into womanhood in Phuket, Thailand Everyone sees what you appear to be... Few people experience what you really are... Because of the way we look... And because of the way society sees us..."
Lorrainne Sade Baskerville is an American social worker, activist, and trans woman best known for founding the transgender advocacy group transGENESIS.
2014,
English,
Lorrainne Sade Baskerville,
"In the course of twelve months, Terri finds time for holidays with Marc, breast implant and gender reassignment surgery, being the victim of a late-night attack, and a romantic affair with Sheree, her best friend at work.
As Terri thinks through her change of life and circumstances, she discovers the essence of being a woman and relives episodes of her earlier life at school, university, and marriage to Linda.
In a three-dimensional journey, All Change for Fleetwood reveals Terri's physical, emotional and sexual journey, through extracts from her diary.
Sections of Terri's story are explicit - this is life as she experiences it – but her story is more than a series of sexual romps. Rather, it is the growth and development of an individual, coping with the snakes and ladders of life."
2014,
English,
Terri Ryan,
Original title: "Min pappa Ann-Christine" (My dad Ann-Christine)
In 2010, a 58-year-old priest and father of three Åke Roxberg came out as Ann-Christine and since then has lived as a woman. This is his daughter Esther's story of what happens when you suddenly have a father named Ann-Christine. No one was prepared for the hobby-making priest and father of three, Åke Roxberg, to change his life, least of all the family.
Ester Roxberg writes about losing a parent, who still remains in a different guise. She tries to understand and accept, hides her wrath, puts puzzles with her recollections. She remembers her childhood as the priest's youngest and wild daughter and her upbringing in Zimbabwe and Småland during a time when the secret was still hidden.
2014,
Ann-Christine Roxberg,
Ann-Christine Ruuth,
Ester Roxberg,
Swedish,
Full title: "My Husband's a Woman Now: A Shared Journey of Transition and Love"
"Nothing is more certain in life than change, and this change is bigger than most. In 2009, Leslie Fabian's husband, David - an orthopedic surgeon who'd been privately cross-dressing for most of his life - realized that brief forays into the world as Deborah would never be enough.
This came as no surprise to Leslie.
For two decades, cross-dressing had been a part of their lives; but she had witnessed her spouse's devastation each time he returned to his male persona. Once David finally realized he was "more than just a cross-dresser," Leslie encouraged him to become Deborah.
My Husband's a Woman Now is the personal, heartfelt tale of a wife supporting her mate's transition to female, while grieving the loss of her male partner. It's a love story, abounding with tales of the Fabians' challenges, changes, and ultimate triumph over the radical upheaval of their lives... by their own choice."
2014,
Deborah Fabian,
English,
Leslie Fabian,
"This is a short story of a personal journey that thousands of people worldwide are taking. Everyone's journey is different, for many the path winds through many of the same places.
This is a short story of my journey, many places it has already taken me, many heartaches, and blows it has dealt me. If you know someone on the journey called being transgender this book may help you relate. If you are on that journey yourself it may help you to cope."
2014,
English,
Kelly Findley,
Original title: "Fra bondeknøs til piskedronning" (From peasant girl to whip queen)
The book follows her from her peaceful childhood as a kid in Ebeltoft to the years as the country's absolute sadist queen, where she spanks in her own brothel in Vesterbro and acts as a whip-wielding stripper in Denmark, Sweden, and Germany.
The pictorial biography is a fast-paced tale of innocence, love, violence, sex, and money with a distinctive character in the lead role, who describes herself as a woman at the top and a man at the bottom.
2014,
Danish,
Sandra Day,
"This is the poignant and revealing story of Bobby Lang’s struggles through confusion, personal discovery and spiritual revelation. As a young adolescent boy, Bobbie wanted above all things to find God’s perfect plan for his life and to shield his family from embarrassment concerning his gender identification.
In this autobiography, Bobbie guides the reader through the complications and challenges to become an Eagle Scout and his search for his manhood in the jungles of Viet Nam.
Spanning six decades, this story is a graphic account of his struggle through gender confusion before finally surrendering and his transitioning to become a woman.
Then, as a woman, Bobby became Bobbie and her intense determination to become a Godly woman and her search for God’s place in her life became an even more enormous mountain to climb. Despite repeated church rejection and ultimately being prevented from seeing her daughter and grandchildren, Bobbie never lost her love and faith in God."
2014,
Bobbie Lang,
English,
Original title: "My HUSBAND Looks Better in Lingerie Than I Do ... DAMN"
"Bobbie Thompson, the supportive spouse of a transgender male-to-female, tells her side of their story in "My HUSBAND Looks Better in Lingerie Than I Do ... DAMN IT," in this companion memoir to "Hung in the Middle: A Journey of Gender Discovery," written by her spouse, Alana Nicole Sholar.
After knowing 'him' for nearly 25 years, and even sharing a three-year intimate relationship in the mid-1990's, upon seeing 'her' for the first time in 2006, Bobbie was freaked out and didn't want to have anything to do with 'her.' Two years later, December 31, 2008, they were married.
But marriage was only the beginning of this wild and wonderful ride they share called life. Often when Bobbie shares with others that her spouse is transgender she is asked, "Why in the world would you choose to be married to someone like that." "My HUSBAND Looks Better in Lingerie Than I Do ... DAMN IT" answers that question and further explains theirs is a happy marriage, although they face the same pitfalls faced in any marriage, such as financial difficulties, in addition to many situations other marriages may never encounter, such as Alana being diagnosed as HIV positive.
2014,
Alana Nicole Sholar,
Bobbie Thompson,
English,
Original title: "Als asters bloeien" (When asters bloom) by Elisa Bogaerts.
Elisa was born as a boy in 1949 and grew up in a very conservative post-war environment, in an era that would have a huge impact on Western social thinking in the future; unfortunately then without social support for people with gender dysphoria.
At the age of sixty-one, after almost half a century of secret transvestism, frustrations, emotional and relationship tensions, fears, and ever-dormant plans to leave everything behind, she discovers the true cause of her obsession via the internet. Never before could she find out the real reason and thought she was alone with her secret fantasy.
In three years' time (2010 - 2013) she waltzes through a period of "outing", psychological guidance with trial and error until the verdict hits her with a sledgehammer: she turns out to be transgender. With this realization she finally decides to spend the rest of her life as a woman, there is no choice left for her.
"When Asters Bloom" highlights her past, outing, and transition and is largely written as a chronicle.
2014,
Dutch,
Elisa Bogaerts,
"Julie Clarke was born a boy in the 50s in central Scotland. From a very early age she knew she was different from other boys, but growing up in the 50s and 60s was not conducive to discussing feelings of gender difference and for many years Julie didn't even know there was a medical term for her dilemma: she was transsexual.
Becoming Julie details how Julie Clarke spent many years battling her demons. As a man she married and became a firefighter and later, a charter boat skipper on the Isle of Coll, hoping that these acts would suppress her longing to become female, but to no avail. She encountered much prejudice in her journey to become the woman she is today, but also many acts of kindness, and the book tells Julie's story in her own words.
Finally, in 2006, Julie achieved her dream and after undergoing transgender surgery, she physically became a woman. She is still living happily on the Isle of Coll and working for Cal-Mac in the role she previously held as a man. Sometimes poignant, sometimes funny, but always honest, Becoming Julie charts the author's struggle to build a new life as a woman."
2014,
English,
Julie Clarke,
Scotland,
"Misunderstood most of her life, JerEll will personally take you through her sexual identity crisis as she lived it; Each heart-wrenching moment comes to life in this stunning autobiography. The confusion as to who she was had plagued her since her early childhood as she struggled with a body that did not match her mind. This book will show you how difficult life can become in the desperate search for the answers."
In 2015, I interviewed Jer'Ell and this is what she said about her transition: "I was forty years of age when I finally completed my surgeries. There was a two-year prior preparation before surgery with hormone therapy and crossdressing. I did not get support from my family and friends but I made new friends along the way, people who understood what I was going through and offered their support.
I was very young when the news came out that Christine Jorgensen had undergone a sex change operation to become a woman. I remembered how all my family rejected her and were in disbelief that any such surgery was even possible. I thought how brave she must have been, her story gave me hope. "
2014,
English,
Jer'Ell Hartsig,
"Woman in the Making: Panti's Memoir" was published twice in 2014 and 2015.
"1968: in a small town in the west of Ireland, a beautiful baby boy is born. He enjoys an idyllic country childhood: privileged, carefree, surrounded by love—and pet sheep. 11 years later, the Pope visits Ireland, and things will never be the same again.
At the Pontiff's mass in Knock, the little boy has an epiphany that will set him on the road to becoming the biggest, boldest, and most opinionated drag queen Ireland has ever known.
This is the story of Rory O'Neill's journey from the fields to becoming Panti Bliss, the voice of a brave new nation embracing diversity, all the colors of the rainbow, and, most of all, a glamorous attitude.
2014,
2015,
English,
Ireland,
Rory O'Neill,
Full title: "Something About Her: A compilation of true stories from the trans scene"
"This is a coming together of real stories shared by people involved in the transgender scene. They all contributed in the spirit of wishing to provide a 'good read' and cover a variety of areas within the topic of transgenderism.
It is hoped that the reader will find the book entertaining, comforting, and even thought-provoking at times, and for those who know very little about this topic, enlightening."
2014,
English,
Karen Adler,
"Observations about transgender life and how gender does not necessarily dictate human behavior or sexual orientation based on the personal experiences of Vennessa St. John. Whether you are a transsexual, crossdresser, drag queen or any other member of the TG community or any member of the GLBT community, or just someone who is interested in gaining more insight into this world, then this book could be a tremendous resource for you.
Examining a wide range of subjects from discrimination to stereotypes and stigma, Vennessa relates through a lifetime of personal experiences what life is like for her and many other members of the transgender community and discusses the differences between gender, personality, and human nature."
In 2015 I interviewed Vennessa and this is what she told me about the book: "It’s not really an autobiography. It doesn’t go into explicit detail about every aspect of my whole life and who I am. It concentrates on personal observations and personal experiences I have had growing up, living and working as myself.
2014,
English,
Vennessa St John,
Original title: "Frauensachen: Leben mit einem Crossdresser" (Women's Things: Living with a Crossdresser)
Rena's boyfriend Jan loves to pretend to be a woman, to put on make-up, to wear stockings, skirts, and high heels. He is a crossdresser. When Rena finds out about this, she thinks: "So what? What's wrong with men wearing women's things? Nothing!"
But she quickly has to admit that she is making a huge mistake. Their view of the world is completely out of joint. Rena is confronted with fears and doubts that push her to her limits. She realizes that this is about more than velvet and silk for a man. Her love for Jan is at stake...
According to estimates by sex researchers, around ten percent of all men occasionally wear women's clothes. They are called crossdressers. The men do it mostly in secret, for fear of being abandoned by their partners.
The largely autobiographical novel is primarily aimed at the affected women and men and wants to encourage them to face the situation. Those who are not afraid to tackle taboo topics and throw their own prejudices overboard will experience the facets of life with crossdressers and what a great enrichment it can be.
2014,
German,
Katharina Voss,
Full title: "Forty Years in the Wilderness: My Journey to Authentic Living"
"Yiscah’s 40-year memoir details her joys and struggles with her own spirituality, gender identity, and commitment to living true to herself. The story she tells is one of a man, facing his truth, embracing the woman she was always meant to be, and returning to her faith with wholeness and authenticity.
Her story must be told. It is important for everyone to hear and will hopefully inspire and empower many others who face seemingly insurmountable obstacles to wholeness in their lives."
"In 1971 I visited Israel for the first time, a twenty-year-old man tormented by gender identity confusion. As with the children of Israel'sphysical journey in the wilderness, I journeyed for forty years in my own personal wilderness. After forty years in the wilderness, began to experience personal redemption and sweet freedom, to taste truth and wholeness. In 2011, I returned to Israel. This time I was no longer tormented by gender identity confusion. This time I did not feel isolated from the world. This time I was no longer one gender trapped in the body of another. This time I was a woman."
2014,
English,
Yiscah Smith,
At the age of fifty-six, Risa sets out to find herself, having lived until that moment as someone else entirely. By the author of Starvation Ridge.
2014,
English,
Risa Bear,
Full title: "Virtual Women: Ladyboys: Changing sex in Thailand"
"Why do some people reject the sexed bodies they were born into and transform themselves into women? Are the brains of men and women different? Is gender identity fixed at birth, is it learned behaviour or is it socially constructed?
In Virtual Women, social anthropologist Anne Beaumont shows us that the answers to these prickly questions lie as much in the sphere of cultural difference as in that of science, and she constructs a new framework for gendering the body – one that centres solely on the individual.
Virtual Women takes us from England to Thailand, to the twilight zone of the bars where genders blend into a human hybrid - the Ladyboys (Kathoey) of Thailand who live betwixt and between in sex. Drawing on extensive empirical research and on interviews with Kathoey and with British transsexual women and with the surgeons and psychiatrists involved, Virtual Women brings a new understanding of the transgender phenomenon"
2014,
Anne Beaumont,
English,
Full title: "Jag har ångrat mig" (I've changed my mind).
Today, in Sweden, you can become a woman or a man legally without having to undergo sterilization and gender reassignment. But that wasn't the case when Vanessa López was a 17-year-old boy. Therefore, she then chose to begin the treatment that would correct the body to the soul. For the choice to undergo physical gender reassignment, she has paid a heavy price.
In the book, Vanessa talks about the methods she had to resort to become the woman she is today. How, as a minor teenager, she ended up on the street where a single misstep could lead to risky situations, and how the health care system treated a teenager who was stuck in the wrong body, something that neither she nor society could accept.
2014,
Swedish,
Vanessa Lopez,
"Gender, sexuality, discrimination. This a true story about my life, my upbringing, my transition to becoming a woman, this is something I've always wanted people to read and to relate to, its a struggle knowing you were born in the wrong body but it's a godsend that you have many people around you who will support you all the way " I Am Lexi Jean""
In 2015, I interviewed Lexi Jean and this is what she told me about the book: "I decided to write an autobiography because I feel that it can relate to people’s everyday life, what they’re going through, and the struggles through the hard times that they are trying to overcome.
My life has been a battlefield that I am still today trying to fight for my equal rights.
In my experience as a transwoman, I realized that everywhere you go there is going to be negative energy from people who like to discriminate against you.
You should be in the body that you want to be, and you should never back down from criticism, be strong, have as much love and support around you. People fear what they don’t understand that’s what makes them ignorant."
2014,
English,
Lexi Jean McPherson,
