Houston, WE HAVE AN AUDIOBOOK!!
My audiobook is finally here and I would LOVE your support!!
Just over a year ago, I mentioned casually on Good Queer News that I was in the process of recording and producing my own audiobook.
For those of you that are newer in town, the audiobook is a narrated version of my nonfiction book that came out two years ago titled: My Child is Trans, Now What? A Joy-Centered Approach to Support. I wrote my book because I wanted a book about supporting trans kids written by an actual trans person, and I was thrilled to be able to prioritize something other than the transgender sob story that we can get boxed into sometimes.
The book is available wherever you buy your books, at libraries, and in some community centers too!
Almost immediately after beginning the audiobook self-production process, I learned that that is incredibly hard thing to do and a skill that I don’t have. Do you know how many times a person breathes? Do you know how stupid it is to try to edit out those breath sounds? I didn’t either!
I began to resolve myself to the fact that though I love audiobooks and they’re phenomenal for accessibility, producing it all on my own was too lofty a goal. Just as I had begun to accept the likelihood that this audiobook wasn’t in the cards, A new hero emerged onto the field. My wonderful friend Blair Hodges reached out to me and offered completely free to produce my audiobook.
A moment to discuss how amazing Blair is. I met Blair years ago when I was a guest on his fantastic podcast, titled “Relationscapes”. Through this podcast, he explores love, relationships, support, gender, sexuality, race, allyship, politics, and so many more rich and nuanced human discussions. Because of his tremendous support for the trans community he’s been particularly unflinching to giving a spotlight to the many lived experiences of different trans people. In the spirit of the audiobook release, here is a compilation of all the episodes Blair has done celebrating trans guests:
The Incredible Brain Science About Sex and Gender (with Daphna Joel)
How to Support Trans Youth (with Ben V. Greene)
Black and Beyond the Binary (with KB Brookins)
What The News Isn’t Telling You About Trans Teenagers (with Nico Lang)
MINI EPISODE: Pace Yourself and Brace Yourself (with Katelyn Burns)
A Haunted Trans Story (with Kyle Lukoff)
Trans in the Latter Days (with Laurie Lee Hall)
The Challenges of Parenting Trans Kids (with Abi Maxwell)
Nonbinary Thinking (with Eris Young)
So yeah, Blair is pretty amazing. I was floored by his kindness and eager to get started. I am and will forever be a lifelong library stan, and the fact that I recorded this entire audiobook totally for free at a top of the line recording studio at a library in Saint Louis further cements that.
There’s a part of me that still feels like I’m dreaming, but now that the links are listed online, I know it’s real.
It is with delight that for the first time I present to you the official audiobook of My Child is Trans, Now What? A Joy-Centered Approach to Support!!!!!!!
Links:
Unlike the physical copy of this book, my audiobook is self published! This means two things:
I don’t have to share the royalties with anyone. So if you’ve been wondering what purchase of my book has the most immediate financial return for me, It is far and above the audiobook.
There is a reason why authors share the profits of their book with the publisher: to pay wonderful teams like marketing, sales, distribution. All phenomenal people that I do not have on my team this time around the block. That means I’m doing this on my own!
That’s where you all come in. Most of the support I need for this book is free. The two biggest things that would make a difference in the success of this audiobook are leaving reviews online and requesting your library add the book to their collection. For most libraries, it’s super easy to request a book online: you can just check out their website and find an online form or email address to request books for the collection, or speak to a librarian directly.
Make sure you specifically mention it’s the audiobook you’re looking for. As I’ve offered in the past, If you do any of these things and tell me about it, I will give you a free three month upgrade to a paid subscription, which in the next few weeks, will include a roundup of book recommendations, some personal updates, and even an opportunity for us to meet in person!!
This audiobook was a labor of love, and the profits that come from it will be poured directly back into the community it was built to support: trans youth and their families. This year, I hope to spend more time than ever doing free PFLAG events. And care navigation for families of trans youth. And having a source of income gives me the space to put more time and love where it’s needed most.
Also, I’m just really stinkin’ proud of this book and the impact that it’s had already. I am so excited for the audiobook to be able to reach more people!
Okay, that’s all I’ve got for you for today. I hope you all make some time for rest this weekend!
All my love,
Ben
Just purchased audio . Thank you,
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