Ignore the fannish message from me below Dr Wilkinson's text -- this is one of my favourite examples of social media's role in bolstering the Melbourne fantasy queer YA scene. It exists in direct, vocal counterpoint to JK Rowling's hatefulness in the YA fantasy space.

Working on a short podcast piece about using social media for activism in the space around trans YA. @erinkyan.bsky.social was an absolute superhero and let me blather at him for hours, which I'm now cutting down to <7 minutes. I feel bad that you'll miss so many of our witty insights!

New blog post! Thinking about authenticity as an author and an online presence. www.maryborsellino.com/girl/authori...

I decided this quote was important enough to me to make a graphic. Image made by me using Canva.

Quote source: Sacks, H. (2023, July 28). Jamie Lee Curtis Says As a Mom to a Trans Daughter It’s Her “Job” to “Fight and Defend” Against Transphobia, People Magazine. people.com/jamie-lee-cu...

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That's what Incandescent Girl is about, even though Robin and Lio don't get that reaction at all from their parents -- the book's about knowing that a parent should love their child absolutely unconditionally, and that to do otherwise is to be a failure at the sacred duty assigned you.

I know I post this quote really often but it means a lot to me. Jamie Lee Curtis on her daughter coming out as trans: "this human being has come to me and said, 'This is who I am.' And my job is to say, 'Welcome home.'"

I think everyone compartmentalises their identity online to a degree -- social media isn't big enough to contain all the facets of a person! I think my identities as a fan of Japanese and Chinese media play a big role in how I write, but they're not necessarily things I'd mention here that often.

I put up a blog post, quoting the assignment I did earlier this year which inspired me to write Incandescent Girl, and explaining some of the choices I made: www.maryborsellino.com/girl/the-ori...

I have never been more honoured than when my friend Erin, who is a sensitivity reader, said he was intending to use my novella as an example of narrative structure done right when speaking to clients.

I am nonbinary but not transfeminine, and so it was very reassuring to know I hadn't screwed up.

Free fantasy YA novella available now!

Download at www.maryborsellino.com/girl/

"A new queer fairy tale full of heart, charm and surprises." - Lisa Tirenno, author of Prince of Fortune

"Expresses trans experience with straightforward, intimate clarity." - Erin Kyan, writer and podcast producer