Twist

Hey everyone – it’s been brought to my attention that I made several serious mistakes in my latest book, Twist. Valerie, my heroine’s best friend since childhood is a woman who was born into a male body, requiring surgical correction. My heroine and this woman are very close, and as an attempt to convey the depth of what I saw as a long-term, supportive friendship, I portrayed my heroine as “matter of fact” about her friend’s transition in a way that I now realize was insensitive.

Specifically, my heroine discussed her friend in past tense as “him,” mentioned her “dead” name, and shared with a third party that she had transitioned. It has been pointed out to me that speaking about a woman who has transitioned in the past tense as male, using her “dead” name, and/or sharing with someone that she has transitioned is considered by some to be a very serious breach of trust and friendship in the real world. While I did consult with a friend who has recently transitioned, I regret not going more deeply into the specifics of what I’d be writing.

When I wrote Val’s character, I was sincerely attempting to demonstrate in my fiction what I believe to be true on every level – that women who have transitioned are true women in every way, and should be accepted unconditionally. I believe that every human being has inalienable human rights and that we must respect who they are, regardless of whether they had the privilege to be born into a body that matches their true gender. I wish to be an ally to the trans community and I apologise to anyone who was offended by my mistakes. I intend to learn from them and do better in future.

Please note that while I welcome feedback from the trans community, I don't feel that this post is an appropriate forum for additional discussion.