📚️🏳️‍⚧️✨ "One time at book club..." (aka the F.A.Q.)

Everything you need to know to join the Being Alive Book Club

I took a leap at the beginning of the year and invited you all to read trans authors with me. Very quickly, the Being Alive Book Club became my lifeline. Reading books gives my nervous system a break from the headlines. Hosting monthly meet-ups gives me a chance to make new friends and reconnect with beloveds from my past. The existential everything really does feel overwhelming, but I feel much less alone with all of you. And so many of you have reached out to say how much you enjoy the book club, too. Should we make membership cards?

Membership has its privileges.

Tomorrow, we are gathering online to talk with Kyle Lukoff about his latest middle-grade novel, A World Worth Saving. I look forward to all of our gatherings, but it feels really special to host my dear friend. You can RSVP for the Zoom link by clicking this big pink button:

The rest of this email serves as an FAQ that I will later pin and continuously update on Substack.

• If you are already active in some way with the Being Alive Book Club, you’ll find links below to upcoming books & save-the-dates for future author visits.

• If you are book club-curious, the below will hopefully entice you to participate at the level that fits for right now.

• If you are wondering how you got this message in the first place, you can stop reading and check out Being Alive’s other topics e.g. design, passports, and deep feelings on being a trans dad (complete with Sondheimian references.) I will continue to post those essays here too.

Being Alive Book Club F.A.Q.

The Being Alive Book Club is an open invitation to read trans authors.

Every month, we read a book selection written by a trans author. Sometimes the books are brand new, sometimes they are vintage. Everything so far was published in the last three years, though I will probably throw in a classic soon. I also aim to curate a range of genres and author perspectives.

Who is the Being Alive Book Club for?

YOU! All are welcome. Cis, trans, questioning, none-of-the-above, who cares... All you need is an open heart and an interest in the written word. My assumption is that most participants are adults, though we will from time to time read middle grade and YA. When appropriate, I’ll mention that a book and gathering is especially suited for younger readers.

What are we reading this year?

2025 Calendar (so far) including upcoming meeting dates. Save the Dates!

• Jan: Tomorrow Will Be Different by Sarah McBride (memoir) RECAP

• Feb: How Far the Light Reaches by Sabrina Imbler (memoir in essays) RECAP

• March: A World Worth Saving by Kyle Lukoff (YA novel) — mtg Wed Mar 26

• April: Stag Dance by Torrey Peters (novel) — mtg Mon April 14

• May: Frighten the Horses by Oliver Radclyffe (memoir) — mtg Wed May 28

• June: Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson by Tourmaline (biography) — publishes Tue, May 20, mtg TBD

How can I participate in the Being Alive Book Club?

BABC is designed to be inclusive and flexible, with multiple ways to participate. Do what feels right for you month-by-month. Some suggested paths in:

Learn and read in community:

• Read this Being Alive newsletter for related thoughts, reflections, and additional context about the book and author

• Read the book at your own pace in whatever format works best for you (print, ebook, audiobook)

Discuss the book via Substack chat:

• Share your thoughts and engage with other readers' perspectives in discussion threads.

• Every month I start a new thread to discuss this month’s selection. You can access the monthly chat threads via Substack app or website. Tip: add “/chat” to the end of any Substack URL and you’ll get there: kylerw.substack.com/chat

Talk directly with the author/s (and each other) live on Zoom:

• Whenever possible, authors join us for a monthly Zoom call. Join to hear authors read their work and answer questions live.

• You don't need to have finished (or even started) the book to attend—just bring an open, curious heart

When and where does the book club meet?

Every month we’ll gather on Zoom to discuss the book, most often on a Monday or Wednesday, depending on guest scheduling. When an author is not available, I invite someone uniquely qualified to speak about the book and discuss themes with us. For now, we meet at 8p ET / 5p PT. Time zones are a constant pain point in my life and it’s impossible to pick one time that works for all. This is what we’re doing for now.

How are books selected?

I pick them! I read A LOT of trans books. I have a whole other project creating a library of books written by and about trans masc authors. For the Being Alive Book Club I wanted to open the scope and read authors from the entire transgender spectrum. It is also important to me to curate a variety of points of view and genre.

Have a book you think we should read? Comment below with your rec and why.

Does it cost money to join?

The Being Alive Book Club is, and will always remain, free and open to all.

Also—running a book club costs money. Every author or guest receives an honorarium for their time. And there are additional software, materials, and shipping costs.

If you are able to financially support, there are two ways.

1. You can become a paid subscriber via Substack. This will also unlock full access to the Being Alive archives. Additionally, you can feel good knowing that I am donating 10% of my Substack subscription revenue to Advocates for Trans Equality.

2. You can contribute directly to the Book Club (at any amount) via Stripe.

Where should I get the book selection?

I recommend buying the book from your local independent bookstore or requesting it from your library. If you do not have a preferred indie bookstore, you can shop from the Being Alive Book Club shelf on Bookshop.org. (Every purchase financially supports independent booksellers and a small commission kicks back to support BABC.)

Tip: Use WorldCat to search titles across library collections. e.g. see which libraries near you have A World Worth Saving (Lukoff, Kyle).

I am currently pulling together a list of queer and trans-owned bookstores with online shopping. Send me your suggestions.

Are the online book club meetings recorded?

I do record all of our sessions but have no current plans to release them publicly. The recordings are for my archival purposes and allow me to write edited interviews for later publication. Here are recaps from previous meetings:

📚️🏳️‍⚧️✨ "None of us do anything alone..." [Book Club Recap]

"We put our phones down and hold each other."

I have more questions. How can I get in touch?

Please! You can msg me directly by responding to this email or DM’ing via Substack.

Keep reading. And breathing

xx Kyle.