From a young age, my family helped foster my interest in reading. My mom had a thick paperback book of Grimm's Fairy Tales that she would read one story from every night at bedtime. It had been such a wonder to me how you could see inky shapes on a page and make sense out of them.
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I've been writing for myself for a long while now. Back in 2013, I had a group of friends who all did NaNoWriMo together and they asked if I wanted to join them. I've been participating in it every year since then, but have only won it once. In 2016, I "won" for the first time by writing 50,000 words in 30 days. I eventually self-published it via Amazon.
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I've also used my mad writing skills for good when I was asked by Philip and Kitty Shepherd to edit their novel "Quest for the Talismans." It's a fun fantasy romp full of monsters, deceit and a mysterious half-elf girl.
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Back in 2006, I wrote a short autobiographical piece for a transgender-related compilation. I was informed the compilation was cancelled, but it indeed was published in 2011 as "Trans / Love: Radical Sex, Love & Relationships Beyond the Gender Binary."
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I also recently adapted a "lost anime" episode of a creepypasta that I'm putting out here as a free read (but not copyright-free) to all who want it. If you see the red lettering, you probably know what you're in for.
Even if I'm not the most prolific writer in regards to my published output, I do still like to write and share it with folks.
We Have No Secrets:
Book 1 of The Chris Martin Story
Chris Martin seems like an ordinary but feminine boy who likes anime and his guitar. He is about to start junior high when he finds out he is intersexed. Consulting with doctors and family, he decides to follow his body's lead and live as a girl. In addition to the changes that junior high brings, Chris begins questioning her own sexuality. She also finds a group of gal pals, has some possible love interests, gains a mysterious letter-writer, and crosses paths with a scary "mean girl." How are you supposed to survive so many things happening in junior high and not lose your mind?
Quest for the Talismans:
Troll God War, Book 1
Rygan is considered a monster by nearly all who meet him. A man of four races, he is often met with fear, suspicion, and hatred. To make matters worse, his grandfather - the Troll God Turok - wants to lay waste to all nations.
All Rygan wants is to find the talismans that make up the Troll God’s prison. He does not need complications. Complications like Danielle, an elfin/human Halfling with a knack for getting in trouble. Unfortunately, Danielle has one of the talismans Rygan desperately needs.
On the advice of Danielle’s grandfather, who happens to be a wizard, the two set out to find the last remaining Dragon. Things go sideways when Danielle is abducted by minions of the Troll God. Now, Rygan must lead an expedition to the far north to rescue her... to the middle of a frozen wasteland, where an angry god awaits.
So much for not having complications.
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Written by Philip and Kitty Shepherd;
Edited by Caitlyn Benoit
Exploring the crossroads of gender and sexuality, "Trans/Love: Radical Sex, Love & Relationships Beyond the Gender Binary" offers unusually engaging narratives that create a raw and honest depiction of dating, sex, love, and relationships among members of the gender variant community. FTM, MTF, thirdgender, genderqueer, and other non-traditional identities beyond the gender binary of traditional male and female are included in this often heartwarming, occasionally heartbreaking, always heartfelt groundbreaking anthology.
From monogamous love and marriage to anonymous sex and one-night hook-ups (and everything in between), these stories offer readers insight into the precarious emotional and practical mechanics of intimacy among gender-variant experiences.
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Includes my short autobiographical piece "From Straight Boy to Girl Power" about coming to grips with being queer and a trans woman.
