Friday Femulations

Trans Book Report

Without Shame, Learning to Be Me by Connelly Akstens is an excellent book containing life vignettes on a wide range of topics (“many odd experiences, some stunning misadventures and the acquaintance of many quirky people”), but they are often related to the author’s life long struggle with gender dysphoria. 

“For most of my life I lived in the shadow of shame. I was afraid there would be terrible consequences if anyone discovered my gender confusion. Who would want to be my friend? How would I have a career? Who would love me?”

Sounds familiar, but the book is hardly familiar. It is unlike any other transgender book I have ever read – it’s the transgender book I wish I had written. 

You can purchase Connelly’s book from the author's website with free shipping and a free inscription as you’d like it. The book is also available from Amazon.

Squeaky Redux

Thank you all for the kind words about the passing of Squeaky. I really appreciate it.

The hardest part of her death was when I looked at her for the last time, closed the lid on her “casket,” placed the box in the hole I had dug and began shoveling dirt on top of her box.

Very hard.

Mother and Son Redux

If you don’t read the blog comments, here is what you missed when Anonymous asked, “Is that really a young femulator in the last pic?” referring to the Mother and Son photo on my Mother’s Day post.

The son in the photo was a contestant at a womanless beauty pageant. There are other photos of him/her in the usual places on the Internet (like here and here), but I selected the rear view photo because I thought it was so touching for Mother's Day.

Wearing Unique Vintage

Contestants in the 2013 womanless beauty pageant at the University of Aconcagua in Calama, Chile. In my opinion, the contestants in this pageant were femulators par excellence. You can view the introduction of the contestants on YouTube.

Another Book in Me

I made my living as a technical writer for over 50 years and I had a some success doing it. Two of my books were best sellers and a few years ago, I received one of the most prestigious awards in my field in honor of my writing career.

Writing this blog has been a success, too. It usually gets 5,000 hits per day and is approaching 15 million hits over its 12-year run.

The success of this blog inspired me to write a book on the subject, which I did four years ago. But unlike my technical books, the sales of my trans book were poor despite its good reviews. Sales were so poor that I swore I would never write a trans book again.

Sunday, I received the following e-mail from a woman I met at a workshop we both attended 10 years ago.

I just read your book, Fantasia Fair Diaries, and I want to congratulate you and say thanks for sharing your experiences at Fan Fair. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Your writing seemed as if you were just talking to me as you did when we met at the [workshop] several years ago in New York.

As I was reading, I kept thinking how wonderful it would be if you would write a book about your life. And then, near the end of Diaries, you mentioned you were contemplating doing so.  Have you done so by now? I want to purchase a copy ASAP if you have. Your story is fascinating and I have highest regards for your kindness and friendship.

Wow! Her e-mail made my day and since receiving it, I have been mulling over writing another book.

I am certain I have another book in me, but do I want to put in the effort of writing another book just to be disappointed again?

Wearing Hemant and Nandita (Source: Rue La La)

Filippo Timi femulates in Italian television's Favola.

What I'm Reading Now

Believe Me: A Memoir of Love, Death, and Jazz Chickens by Eddie Izzard is now only $1.99 in Kindle e-book format from Amazon.

The book is Izzard's autobiography and it is an entertaining read so far.

It is refreshing to read a biography of a famous person who went through a lot of the same stuff that I (and probably you) went through growing up as a trans person.

Wearing Redemption top, Derek Lam 10 Crosby shorts and Alexander McQueen bag (Source: Intermix)

The femulating Alice Cos Group

The Someday Funnies

A few weeks ago, Amazon suggested some books for me to purchase including one titled The Someday Funnies.

The Someday Funnies is the long-awaited collection of comic strips created in the early 1970s by world-famous artists and writers such as C. C. Beck, René Goscinny, Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Kirby, Moebius, Art Spiegelman, and Gahan Wilson. What started out as a special insert for Rolling Stone took on a life—and mythology—of its own as writer/editor Michel Choquette traveled the world, commissioning this visual chronicle of the 1960s, only to find himself without a publishing partner or the financial support to continue. Forty years later, readers finally get to experience this legendary anthology as Choquette celebrates the birth, death, and resurrection of The Someday Funnies—129 previously unpublished strips by 169 writers and artists.

I was surprised! When I came up with the title for my weekly attempts at humor, I thought my "Someday Funnies" was original. Despite owning hundreds of books about comic strips and comic books, I was not aware of the book The Someday Funnies. And I do not recall seeing The Someday Funnies insert in Rolling Stone despite religiously reading that newspaper during the 1960s and 1970s. So that title was not imbedded in my subconscious only to turn up when I was trying name my blog's weekly amusements. But you never know.

Anyway, I ordered the book. It is a bargain: a hardcover book for $10.59 and it is huge. I had no idea how huge until the mail lady delivered a big flat package on Saturday — the dimensions of the 216-page book are 12 x 16 x 1 inches!

I only had time to browse through the book, but I did notice one strip (by Harry Buckinx) that was transgender-oriented and I also noticed contributions from two transgender comic artists, Vaughn Bodē and Jefferey Catherine Jones.

By the way, buyer beware because some of the contents of the book is adult-oriented, if you know what I mean.

Wearing Bebe (Source: Bebe)

Charles Demetri, womenswear model

What I'm Reading Now

Cathy's Comeback Dress

I read a lot!

At any time, I am typically working my way through three or four books simultaneously. Lately, it has been three books: a radio history book and two trans-related books.

The Airwaves of New York: Illustrated Histories of 156 AM Stations in the Metropolitan Area, 1921-1996 by Bill Jaker, Frank Sulek and Peter Kanze.

"This heavily illustrated history traces the development of AM radio in the New York metropolitan area. While technical information and program schedules are fully covered, the work also provides unique insight into radio's influence on the development of the city. The photographs reinforce the sense of change brought about by the medium."

Transgender History: The Roots of Today's Revolution, Second Edition by Susan Stryker

"Covering American transgender history from the mid-twentieth century to today, Transgender History takes a chronological approach to the subject of transgender history, with each chapter covering major movements, writings, and events. Chapters cover the transsexual and transvestite communities in the years following World War II; trans radicalism and social change, which spanned from 1966 with the publication of The Transsexual Phenomenon, and lasted through the early 1970s; the mid-'70s to 1990-the era of identity politics and the changes witnessed in trans circles through these years; and the gender issues witnessed through the '90s and '00s.

"Transgender History includes informative sidebars highlighting quotes from major texts and speeches in transgender history and brief biographies of key players, plus excerpts from transgender memoirs and discussion of treatments of transgenderism in popular culture."

Trans Like Me: Conversations for All of Us by CN Lester

"A personal and culture-driven exploration of the most pressing questions facing the transgender community today, from a leading activist, musician, and academic

"In Trans Like Me, CN Lester takes readers on a measured, thoughtful, intelligent yet approachable tour through the most important and high-profile narratives around the trans community, turning them inside out and examining where we really are in terms of progress. From the impact of the media's wording in covering trans people and issues, to the way parenting gender variant children is portrayed, Lester brings their charged personal narrative to every topic and expertly lays out the work left to be done.

"Trans Like Me explores the ways that we are all defined by ideas of gender--whether we live as he, she, or they--and how we can strive for authenticity in a world that forces limiting labels."

On the blog front, two recent blog posts got my attention.

Faith DaBrooke of Adventures of a Gender Rebel fame, hopped on the wayback machine and presented an interesting gallery of annotated herstoric photos in her recent Some Old Favorites post.

Peter Lappin of Male Pattern Boldness fame, also hopped on the wayback machine and came up with a vintage pattern to sew a dress for his cousin Cathy's comeback. The circa 1959 dress is to-die-for and reminds me of something my mother might have sewn for herself or me.

Wearing Bebe (Source: Bebe)

Peter Lappin's cousin Cathy Lane

Big Deal

Crossdressing: Erotic Stories Kindle Edition is available today for $1.99 on Amazon.

(Source: Harper's Bazaar)

Three Pieces for Thursday

Book Report Dept.

A lot of water has gone under the bridge since Susan Stryker wrote Transgender History: The Roots of Today's Revolution in 2008, so she has updated her work. The second edition of Stryker's book  includes all that has happened since 2008 and as you know, a lot has happened in those intervening years.

In the Mail Dept.

Would you like to receive Femulate by e-mail? Just click on the Get Femulate by E-Mail link at the top of the right-hand column to subscribe to the blog. Or just click here!

Skirting the Issue Dept.

Have you ever wondered what is the most flattering skirt length for your height? Well I have the answer for you: an article from Who What Wear appropriately titled "The Most Flattering Skirts for Every Height" by Nicole Akhtarzad.

I won't keep you in suspense, so "as far as miniskirts go, if you’re on the taller side, the best type would be a classic straight-cut style. Rather than covering your waist, a classic style sits lower, so it offers more fabric while still showing off your legs."

Harry McEntire femulates in the 2012 British film Unconditional Love. View the film's trailer here and clips from the film here and here. (Thank you, Patty, for the heads-up about this film.)

Good Thursday

Good Book Dept.

Joanna of Musings from My Daily Life fame, has written her first book. Titled Different, it is now available from Lulu.

Joanna's book is about her "observations on growing up transgender, how to grapple with it and come to self-acceptance, some gender theory and understanding cross gender arousal."

She also writes about her "experiences in public as well as some tips and pointers as to best blend in when out in the world and just plain being yourself."

Good ID Dept.

Suzy wrote, "I went in to have my driver’s license renewed as Suzy with a nice dress, hair, and makeup. Now my license says male, but the picture portrays my inner self."

That is so cool!

Suzy lives in Ohio near Dayton and her experience is in contrast to the experience of a teenager in South Carolina, who showed up wearing makeup and androgynous clothing for a driver's license and was told to man-up for the license photo.

It seems that your mileage will definitely vary.

Good Revival Dept.

I received news from Tasi that the Sister House website has been revived! Billed as "Fashion and Beauty News for the Trans Woman," you can see it for yourself by clicking here.

Goodbye Dept.

Nokie Edwards died Monday. He played lead and bass guitar for The Ventures.

In my youth, the top two items on my "future career" list were (1) female impersonator and (2) lead guitarist for a surf rock group. My parents bought me an electric guitar and I bought a copy of Play Guitar with The Ventures, an LP that was supposed to teach me how to play a guitar like The Ventures.

I managed to learn how to play "Pipeline" and the "Star Spangled Banner," but I spent more time learning how to impersonate a woman and eventually shelved my lead guitarist career. I also shelved my female impersonator career because it was not a "normal" career choice (I could have been a contender).

Paul Rudd femulating for a film poster parody.

in the Dress

Actor Billy Kennedy portraying The Boy in the Dress
in a BBC made-for-television movie.

The Boy in the Dress

The Boy in the Dress is a children's book written by David Walliams, a British comedian best known around here for his femulations on television's Little Britain. Published in 2008, The Boy in the Dress presents the story of a crossdressing youth in a very positive light.

I was aware of the book, but did not pay much attention to it until recently, when I came across Internet images of young boys and their teachers going to school en femme to celebrate World Book Day. On that day, students and teachers attend school dressed as characters from a book.

Evidently, Dennis, the boy in The Boy in the Dress, was a very popular costume choice this past World Book Day, at least in the UK. I did not notice any Dennis costumes in the USA, but they might have slipped under my radar.

The Gurl in the Dress

I post images on Pinterest and I just created a Pinterest board titled "Stana Does Halloween." The board contains photos of all my Halloween femulations going back to 1976! Some of the photos have never been published anywhere before, so they are quite collectible, i.e., they have been collecting a lot of dust.

Enjoy!

Wearing Brahmin.

She wears the pants in this relationship.

I'm a Paperback Writer!

My new book, Fantasia Fair Diaries, is now available from in paperback, as well as a Kindle e-book. According to Amazon, my book is the “#1 New Release in Transgender Studies.”

By the way, free Kindle apps are available for most major smartphones, tablets and computers. I don’t own a Kindle, but I do read Kindle e-books on my iPad, iPhone and MacBook Pro using the free Kindle app, which you can download here.

Wearing Renamed (skirt).

Young femulator's mirrored selfie

Coming Soon is Now!

My new book, Fantasia Fair Diaries, is now available in electronic-book format from the Kindle Store on Amazon; here is the link. In a few days, printed copies of the book will also be available.

Read early and read often!