The Transfeminine Review
@thetransfemininereview.com
by transfemmes. for transfemmes. about transfemmes. | @transjournalists.org member | thetransfemininereview.com | ed. Bethany Karsten
Pinned
Roberta Angela Dee, The Black Trans Literary Pioneer You Probably Haven’t Read
For the first time in decades, read over 100 rare writings from Roberta Angela Dee in this comprehensive survey of her life’s work.
thetransfemininereview.com
In the 80s, she wrote a lifestyle column for R-18 trans tabloid The Transvestian.
In the 90s, her ground-breaking novellas defined Black trans indie publishing.
In the early 00s, she helped organize the TWOC community, inspiring Monica Roberts to write.
This is the story of Roberta Angela Dee.
In the 90s, her ground-breaking novellas defined Black trans indie publishing.
In the early 00s, she helped organize the TWOC community, inspiring Monica Roberts to write.
This is the story of Roberta Angela Dee.
On the bright side, this has given me an exceptional amount of material for the article I want to write about using Talia Mae Bettcher's Beyond Personhood as a DID analytic.
October 16, 2026 at 8:40 PM
On the bright side, this has given me an exceptional amount of material for the article I want to write about using Talia Mae Bettcher's Beyond Personhood as a DID analytic.
This has been a really fucking shit four months on my end.
I want to apologize for not keeping up with my work - it's been forced to the backburner, but not forgotten.
I still intend to run the TFR Awards this December, and to read this year's big releases by January. I will keep y'all posted.
I want to apologize for not keeping up with my work - it's been forced to the backburner, but not forgotten.
I still intend to run the TFR Awards this December, and to read this year's big releases by January. I will keep y'all posted.
October 16, 2026 at 8:30 PM
This has been a really fucking shit four months on my end.
I want to apologize for not keeping up with my work - it's been forced to the backburner, but not forgotten.
I still intend to run the TFR Awards this December, and to read this year's big releases by January. I will keep y'all posted.
I want to apologize for not keeping up with my work - it's been forced to the backburner, but not forgotten.
I still intend to run the TFR Awards this December, and to read this year's big releases by January. I will keep y'all posted.
Anyway the TL;DR is while I'm still stuck in the biggest mental health crisis of my life, it's also helped me break years of god-awful self care habits and uncover trauma shit I've been keeping secret since elementary school.
I also am still on track to finish my Master's on time.
I also am still on track to finish my Master's on time.
October 16, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Anyway the TL;DR is while I'm still stuck in the biggest mental health crisis of my life, it's also helped me break years of god-awful self care habits and uncover trauma shit I've been keeping secret since elementary school.
I also am still on track to finish my Master's on time.
I also am still on track to finish my Master's on time.
Unfortunately, 95% of TFR has been researched and written by two of my alters, neither of whom has been out since July. We're hopeful that'll change after the end of the month, but DID sections off your trauma, and one alter can't do therapy for the whole system.
It's been extremely frustrating.
It's been extremely frustrating.
October 16, 2026 at 8:26 PM
Unfortunately, 95% of TFR has been researched and written by two of my alters, neither of whom has been out since July. We're hopeful that'll change after the end of the month, but DID sections off your trauma, and one alter can't do therapy for the whole system.
It's been extremely frustrating.
It's been extremely frustrating.
All of this has led to a number of massive breakthroughs in trauma therapy. DID is very much a "it gets worse before it gets better" type of disorder, and I am in the shit of that rn. Working with about one major trauma breakthrough per week, which hasn't left much time to read or be online.
October 16, 2026 at 8:24 PM
All of this has led to a number of massive breakthroughs in trauma therapy. DID is very much a "it gets worse before it gets better" type of disorder, and I am in the shit of that rn. Working with about one major trauma breakthrough per week, which hasn't left much time to read or be online.
So by the end of August I was in a very deep hole and needed to make major systemic changes to my daily life.
Luckily, I've got a fantastic doctor and therapist, and my dad and step mom have been great. Right now, I've got the best self care I've had since before Covid, though issues remain.
Luckily, I've got a fantastic doctor and therapist, and my dad and step mom have been great. Right now, I've got the best self care I've had since before Covid, though issues remain.
October 16, 2026 at 8:23 PM
So by the end of August I was in a very deep hole and needed to make major systemic changes to my daily life.
Luckily, I've got a fantastic doctor and therapist, and my dad and step mom have been great. Right now, I've got the best self care I've had since before Covid, though issues remain.
Luckily, I've got a fantastic doctor and therapist, and my dad and step mom have been great. Right now, I've got the best self care I've had since before Covid, though issues remain.
I'm in the second year of my Feminist Masters now, and this summer I was supposed to transition from classes into thesis writing.
Turns out writing a thesis is *very* bad for my mental health. School spiraled and I came about five seconds from dropping out. Moved to a coursework track.
Turns out writing a thesis is *very* bad for my mental health. School spiraled and I came about five seconds from dropping out. Moved to a coursework track.
October 16, 2026 at 8:20 PM
I'm in the second year of my Feminist Masters now, and this summer I was supposed to transition from classes into thesis writing.
Turns out writing a thesis is *very* bad for my mental health. School spiraled and I came about five seconds from dropping out. Moved to a coursework track.
Turns out writing a thesis is *very* bad for my mental health. School spiraled and I came about five seconds from dropping out. Moved to a coursework track.
While the vast majority of this was unrelated from TFR, the fact that I started full-sending TFR straight out of college solidified some very bad self care habits - namely not eating or sleeping, and having no structured schedule.
Those bad habits collided with grad school like a wrecking ball.
Those bad habits collided with grad school like a wrecking ball.
October 16, 2026 at 8:18 PM
While the vast majority of this was unrelated from TFR, the fact that I started full-sending TFR straight out of college solidified some very bad self care habits - namely not eating or sleeping, and having no structured schedule.
Those bad habits collided with grad school like a wrecking ball.
Those bad habits collided with grad school like a wrecking ball.
To make a very long story short, I had decades of trauma bullshit come to a head this summer, triggered by the anniversary of my mom's death. Basically everything snowballed at once.
I try not to discuss trauma details online, but it was bad, and I was in a severe depressive episode by mid-July.
I try not to discuss trauma details online, but it was bad, and I was in a severe depressive episode by mid-July.
October 16, 2026 at 8:16 PM
To make a very long story short, I had decades of trauma bullshit come to a head this summer, triggered by the anniversary of my mom's death. Basically everything snowballed at once.
I try not to discuss trauma details online, but it was bad, and I was in a severe depressive episode by mid-July.
I try not to discuss trauma details online, but it was bad, and I was in a severe depressive episode by mid-July.
As many of you know, I have Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and several comorbidities, which I've written about a bit on the blog.
DID trauma therapy is long and difficult, with a typical prognosis of over a decade. I've just entered year six, and I've really gotten into the thick of it.
DID trauma therapy is long and difficult, with a typical prognosis of over a decade. I've just entered year six, and I've really gotten into the thick of it.
October 16, 2026 at 8:14 PM
As many of you know, I have Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and several comorbidities, which I've written about a bit on the blog.
DID trauma therapy is long and difficult, with a typical prognosis of over a decade. I've just entered year six, and I've really gotten into the thick of it.
DID trauma therapy is long and difficult, with a typical prognosis of over a decade. I've just entered year six, and I've really gotten into the thick of it.
Hey chat, while you guys appreciate this massive book haul I've collected over the past three months, I wanted to give y'all an overdue health update 🧵
I finally found the Doom Patrol omnibus at ComicCon Ottawa for a steal, but most of this came from A Room of One's Own in Madison WI
I finally found the Doom Patrol omnibus at ComicCon Ottawa for a steal, but most of this came from A Room of One's Own in Madison WI
October 16, 2026 at 8:12 PM
Hey chat, while you guys appreciate this massive book haul I've collected over the past three months, I wanted to give y'all an overdue health update 🧵
I finally found the Doom Patrol omnibus at ComicCon Ottawa for a steal, but most of this came from A Room of One's Own in Madison WI
I finally found the Doom Patrol omnibus at ComicCon Ottawa for a steal, but most of this came from A Room of One's Own in Madison WI
Reposted by The Transfeminine Review
Since this post last night, 10 artists have reached out to me via Bluesky/Discord/Kofi. For those who reached out, please be patient as I attempt to respond to everyone!
Excellent! Artist friends, if you're interested in helping out the author of a fun trans mystery/fantasy novel who's looking to ditch the AI plague, now's a great time to reach out ⬇️⬇️
I want to emphasize - AI covers do not need to be a permanent stain. I am 100% in support of ditching them.
I want to emphasize - AI covers do not need to be a permanent stain. I am 100% in support of ditching them.
I would LOVE to recommission Cate Fox Book 1 and make a new cover. Hell - I'd love to commission someone to make real covers for my entire backlog. The two books before Cate Fox were done with MS Paint and Gimp.
July 2, 2026 at 11:07 AM
Since this post last night, 10 artists have reached out to me via Bluesky/Discord/Kofi. For those who reached out, please be patient as I attempt to respond to everyone!
"What is a trans-forward indie press?" turns out being a much more fraught question than expected lol.
I've narrowed the scope because I've realized a broader scope would require writing about like 25 outlets.
I've narrowed the scope because I've realized a broader scope would require writing about like 25 outlets.
July 2, 2026 at 12:15 AM
"What is a trans-forward indie press?" turns out being a much more fraught question than expected lol.
I've narrowed the scope because I've realized a broader scope would require writing about like 25 outlets.
I've narrowed the scope because I've realized a broader scope would require writing about like 25 outlets.
I've started working on the indie press article, and have immediately realized that it's more involved than I remember from last time.
My 2024 aim was to give a historical overview, which turns out to be significantly easier than a contemporary overview.
My 2024 aim was to give a historical overview, which turns out to be significantly easier than a contemporary overview.
July 2, 2026 at 12:14 AM
I've started working on the indie press article, and have immediately realized that it's more involved than I remember from last time.
My 2024 aim was to give a historical overview, which turns out to be significantly easier than a contemporary overview.
My 2024 aim was to give a historical overview, which turns out to be significantly easier than a contemporary overview.
Oop fair enough.
It wasn't very useful though. Whoever renovated the page gave it a massive upgrade.
It wasn't very useful though. Whoever renovated the page gave it a massive upgrade.
July 1, 2026 at 11:08 PM
Oop fair enough.
It wasn't very useful though. Whoever renovated the page gave it a massive upgrade.
It wasn't very useful though. Whoever renovated the page gave it a massive upgrade.
There is, TFR is also in the reference section at the end of the article.
July 1, 2026 at 11:07 PM
There is, TFR is also in the reference section at the end of the article.
Gotta say that if I'm gonna be on Wikipedia for anything, this is an inclusion I'll happily wear with pride.
July 1, 2026 at 11:03 PM
Gotta say that if I'm gonna be on Wikipedia for anything, this is an inclusion I'll happily wear with pride.
Oh hey I'm on Wikipedia lol. That's cool.
I'm not sure when Wikipedia got a page on trans literature, but I'm pretty sure it didn't exist two years ago. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transge...
I'm not sure when Wikipedia got a page on trans literature, but I'm pretty sure it didn't exist two years ago. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transge...
![Still, intersectional trans literature is a slow-growing genre.[31][12] Scholar Bethany Karsten found very few Black transfeminine novelists upon a survey of the field in 2024. Novels published in the 2020s included Shola von Reinhold's LOTE, Alexandrine Ogundimu's The Longest Summer, Kuchenga Shenjé's The Library Thief, and Denne Michele Norris's When the Harvest Comes.[31] Kuchenga Shenjé praised the nuanced intersectional transmasculine narrative within the 2020 novel The Vanishing Half, by cisgender author Brit Bennett.[12]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:a3ifpbp74ln32mve7tcwv764/bafkreic76lroqxfodjlkjrnwfrjudus2fyrhnaepqooinkctocov3pxlde)
July 1, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Oh hey I'm on Wikipedia lol. That's cool.
I'm not sure when Wikipedia got a page on trans literature, but I'm pretty sure it didn't exist two years ago. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transge...
I'm not sure when Wikipedia got a page on trans literature, but I'm pretty sure it didn't exist two years ago. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transge...
Reposted by The Transfeminine Review
witnessing the birth of a new all timer post is such a beautiful thing
July 1, 2026 at 6:56 PM
witnessing the birth of a new all timer post is such a beautiful thing
Reposted by The Transfeminine Review
New! Fiction releases by transfeminine authors from May - July 2026. Of note: quite a few trans women of color, both self- and trade-published (though, as you might expect, primarily self-published). #transfembookreleases
May — July 2026 Releases by Transfeminine Authors
BOOM goes the Bride by Valiant Evermech. Cyberpunk/fantasy. A pulpy lesbian romance between an elven thief from another world and a…
medium.com
July 1, 2026 at 7:09 PM
New! Fiction releases by transfeminine authors from May - July 2026. Of note: quite a few trans women of color, both self- and trade-published (though, as you might expect, primarily self-published). #transfembookreleases
Reposted by The Transfeminine Review
It's been hard to keep quiet about this. @cloverpatchmouse.bsky.social is an amazing artist, and we were fortunate to be able to work with her on a comic to tell part of the story for my upcoming novel, Mara.
The art is *gorgeous*. And it's free!
The art is *gorgeous*. And it's free!
It's time for WRATH month, and that means you can now get the Mara prequel comic for FREE. Get the first page when you sign up below, and the full release of the comic in August! Art by the incredible @cloverpatchmouse.bsky.social and story by @sophiajt.com
prismata.press/list/
prismata.press/list/
July 1, 2026 at 8:02 PM
It's been hard to keep quiet about this. @cloverpatchmouse.bsky.social is an amazing artist, and we were fortunate to be able to work with her on a comic to tell part of the story for my upcoming novel, Mara.
The art is *gorgeous*. And it's free!
The art is *gorgeous*. And it's free!
It could make a solid subreddit. r/changemycover.
July 1, 2026 at 8:37 PM
It could make a solid subreddit. r/changemycover.
There is not but creating a platform to connect former AI users with real book cover artists would be a very cool project, if someone wanted to make it.
@bookspotlight.bsky.social I feel like you'd appreciate this conversation.
@bookspotlight.bsky.social I feel like you'd appreciate this conversation.
Is there a forum that connects artists to writers? I want to try this ❤️❤️⚡️⚡️
July 1, 2026 at 8:36 PM
There is not but creating a platform to connect former AI users with real book cover artists would be a very cool project, if someone wanted to make it.
@bookspotlight.bsky.social I feel like you'd appreciate this conversation.
@bookspotlight.bsky.social I feel like you'd appreciate this conversation.
We should be encouraging and educating about the damage AI does within the publishing industry. Any time a writer makes the decision to change their business practices is a win in my book.
July 1, 2026 at 8:29 PM
We should be encouraging and educating about the damage AI does within the publishing industry. Any time a writer makes the decision to change their business practices is a win in my book.