Watch the video:

After a brief introduction, Kevin Hague, Green MP and Rainbow spokesperson launched the book. Also speaking were Mani Mitchell, myself and Hazel Edwards, co-author.

A diverse crowd gathered in Unity Books on a wintry evening in July to celebrate the launch of our novel, ‘f2m: the boy within’.

The evening featured an appearance by Hazel Edwards appeared via Skype from Melbourne, which was reminiscent of the collaboration process we used to write the book itself.

Kevin Hague, Green MP launched the book and spoke about his experiences in bookselling and the health sector.  He reminded us of the power of books, speaking of the support he found in the gay book section of his public library as a young gay man, and quoted Eleanor Roosevelt on universal human rights.

Mani Mitchell then brought her perspective as counsellor and intersex advisor.

Co-author Hazel Edwards joined us via Skype, in an amazing feat of technological mastery, possibly involving the wind blowing in the right direction.

Thanks to everyone who was involved and the great crew at Unity Books, Ford Street Publishing for all their support, and to everyone who reads ‘f2m: the boy within’.

A crowd gathers

Marion Castree from Unity Books

Kevin Hague MP speaks

Mani Mitchell speaks

Hazel Edwards on Skype from Melbourne, Australia

Ryan Kennedy speaking

An avid reader dives in!

Buy ‘f2m: the boy within’ as a Kindle e-book

Converting a whole book to Kindle format was a new experience for me. It was a challenge to navigate forums, helpful blogs and Amazon’s own Digital Text Platform (DTP) help pages to get the instructions I needed. I actually converted it from Word to HTML (Amazon converts it to Kindle format) with a sprinkling of Kindle-only snippets that I’m sure are only included to liven up the conversion process.

One of the main reasons for writing ‘f2m: the boy within’ was to share information with as many people as possible about what it’s like to transition gender. The e-book version gives us the opportunity to make the book more accessible to those people who want that information in an easy-to-read format.

I’m glad we did this, and I look forward to working on the audio book!

I’ve been tweeting our reviews so far. In case you missed them, here’s a recap:

Recent reviews

Paper Tigers blog – A combined review and guest blog by Hazel Edwards.My favourite quote: “I read the book at one sitting – it’s a fast-paced and compulsive read.” For some reason I love hearing that readers get through the book quickly.

Sue Bursztynski in January Magazine and her own blog, The Great Raven – Sue describes herself as a ‘writer, librarian, book reviewer, educator’ so I’m honoured that she even read our book. I love that she pointed out that “the novel also explores the punk rock sub-culture, which is interesting in its own right.” I’ve been waiting for someone to say that! Exploration and accurate representation of the punk scene was just as important to me as the transgender aspects. An interesting comment conversation ensued on her blog.

ReadPlus – Recommended! by this resource site for teachers and parents. It sounds like this reviewer was immersed in the story: “I wanted to shake Finn’s mother and friend, Marla, for their initial lack of support, and I was surprised when Finn made judgments about others.”

The Reading Stack – Reviewed by Jo Burnell, a Paediatric Speech Pathologist and writer. “f2m provides answers to questions people don’t dare ask.” Being an out transgender person, I have been asked quite a few off-the-wall questions in my time. If you’ve ever wondered about it, someone’s asked it. That’s how I knew which questions to answer.

Aussie Reviews – Sally Murphy takes a break from blogging and writing children’s books to review ‘f2m’. “Teen readers will be drawn into Finn’s story.” I certainly hope so!

Here I am signing copies with Hazel while author Sofie Laguna looks on:

Our publisher from Ford Street Paul Collins said a few words to start, then Hazel took the floor and explained some of the quirks of our writing process, namely being in different countries.  At the point this photo below was taken, I am pointing out that the book is the ultimate in recycling, as I drew from my online journal to start the writing process.

My favourite photo from the day: myself and author/illustrator Felicity Marshall, gazing into each others’ eyes for effect (we’d met that day).

And there was cake! It was delicious.

A fabulous day in all. Thanks to everyone who came! I’m very proud to be a part of this collaboration and the opportunities it will bring to readers.

Life Matters interview

Our interview on Life Matters with Richard Aedy was aired on Wednesday morning. Recording in the ‘Tardis’ at Southbank was an experience in itself. I have new respect for anyone working in radio.

Listen to the Life Matters podcast

Just once, I'd like to visit the City Hatters

Events

I’ll be at these events – please come if you’re in the area!

Talk at Alexandra Library

I’ll be giving a short talk at the library on Thursday evening, then answering all your questions. If you’re in the area, Victoria, listen to Upper Goulburn Community Radio on Wednesday morning to hear me interviewed by Stephen Cutting from the library. You can also listen online.

7-8pm Thursday 11th February, 2010
Alexandra Library
Click for map

Book signing, Angus & Roberston

‘f2m:the boy within’ will be available to buy on the day for me to sign. I will only be in store for one hour so hurry to be the first in the line!

1.30pm, Friday 12th February
Angus & Robertson, 360 Bourke St, Melbourne
Click for map

Book launch, Richmond Library

2pm, Sunday 14th February
Richmond Library, 415 Church Street, Richmond
RSVP: by 10 February to info@fordstreetpublishing.com
Queries: Lindy Dadd on (03) 9426 5688 or Paul Collins: (03) 9481 1120
Click for map of venue
Download the invitation as a PDF

Review

The Great Raven

Sue Bursztynski reviewed ‘f2m:the boy within’ on her Great Raven blog, prompting an interesting discussion in the comments.

Read the review

I co-wrote it with Australian author Hazel Edwards, recently nominated for the Astrid Lindgren award.

Synopsis

What happens when who you are on the inside clashes with what you are on the outside?

All adolescents face the quest for identity, but gender change complicates ‘coming of age’.

School-leaver Skye plays guitar in her all-girl band, The Chronic Cramps. Making her name in the punk music scene is easier than FTM (female to male) transitioning: from Skye to Finn, from girl to man. At the school reunion, Finn faces victimisation, but challenges the bullies.

Uncovering genetic mysteries about family heritage tears the family apart. Gran’s loved sibling Al was also Alberta. Transgender identity is more than hormones and surgery, it’s about acceptance. Going public, Finn sings FTM lyrics on TV.

With a little help from bemused mates and parents who don’t want to lose a daughter, but who love their teenager, Finn is transitioning.

The first is easy to answer: in 2003-4 when I went through the transition process. This included testosterone treatment and eventually chest surgery, although I couldn’t afford surgery until 2006.

The second is a difficult question to answer. I knew at 27 when I started the process, but in a way I’d always known.

It’s not like part of me is transgender and the rest isn’t. Being trans is also a part of everything I do, but sometimes not relevant, or I’m not conscious of it.

Think of the rings on a tree. Each ring is a year of growth. Sometimes you can point to a ring and say ‘that’s when a cold snap hit and the tree didn’t grow much from then on.’ I wasn’t male from 2004 onwards; I was always male, but it only became obvious from 2004 onwards.

It’s different for everyone though. Some people’s gender identity is more fluid. There would be evidence of cold snaps in each of their tree rings, sometimes large parts of the year, sometimes none. Sometimes they are one gender, sometimes another, sometimes not thinking about it and getting on with other parts of life.

Kaha Queer Youth Hui 2009

This amazing conference was at Tapu Te Ranga Marae in Island Bay.

We were welcomed onto the marae in the traditional way, with a powhiri, waiata and hongi. Bruce Stewart introduced the place and its fairly unique history. Check out the website for his story, it’s fascinating. I haven’t felt such a spiritual connection to a place since living in Hanson St at the activist house. This was much stronger because of its history. It seems when people dedicate their lives to others their home builds up its own spirit that I can feel around me.

Youth work training – Some great ideas for getting people to come to grips with a potentially boring document: the Code of Ethics for Youth Work in Aotearoa New Zealand. We played memory games, talked about issues, did things with cards and rearranged sections. I’m making a submission, my other hobby.

Workshops – I’ve never done so many workshops in a row. Pretty sure this was the draining part of the weekend. I learned a lot from other people’s experiences and opinions. Sometimes I feel like Brooklynne and I are the only queer people we know – so valuable to get new outlooks, especially trans ones.

Concert – One minute I was asking the lady who taught us the waiata for its chords and the next I was second guitarist in Tiwhanawhana, accompanying about 30 singers and dancers. I joined their group!

Friends – Yay for new friends! I never got to go to things like this as an actual yoof of teen age so it was great to go and make lotsa new friends while I’m still vaguely young.

We voted at the end – to coincide with the Asia Pacific OutGames, Kaha Hui 2011 is going international!

New Zealand Transgender Inquiry Report.

Recently I attended the latest meeting for the Transgender Inquiry, run by the Human Rights Commission.  I’ve attended several other fairly highly-charged meetings where emotions ran hot. Transgender people and allies rarely have a forum like this to air our grievances and it shows. (We do air good things too, but there are usually more grievances than good things.)

Forums where transgender issues are discussed by transgender people can bring out some prejudices too. Like a relative of mine who married a European immigrant but never ceased to rail against Asian immigrants, we can’t always see when we are attacking ourselves by trying to raise standards.  Some trans people strongly believe boundary-pushers like Thomas Beatie are making us all look like freaks. (I personally will always support trailblazers like this.)

The Action list in the back of the report is a few pages long. It’s been split into 5 areas for immediate action, which I will repeat here so it has a permanent home:

• increasing participation of trans people in decisions that affect them
• strengthening the legal protections making discrimination against trans people unlawful
• improving access to health services, including gender reassignment services
• simplifying requirements for change of sex details on a birth certificate, passport and other documents
• giving urgent attention to the significant human rights issues experienced by intersex people

My submission was a description of my involvement with various medical and government organisations and the effect of this on my health and wellbeing. I had a rant, but a focused one. And yes, I read through the Inquiry Report looking for my quotes as well as reading it.

I was fairly sceptical when this process started, not being a big fan of government organisations. But I’m pleased with the work the Human Rights Commission have done and hope to have more time to contribute in the new year.