By Iqbal Hussain
Book Fest! Waterstones! Pride! What’s not to love?
In 2024, readers have the opportunity to be part of the Waterstones Trans Pride Book Fest event, taking place on 27 June to coincide with Pride Month. The lucky public have a chance to pick up tickets for the inaugural event taking place in Waterstones Piccadilly store. Who wouldn’t want to enjoy books in Europe’s biggest bookstore with fellow readers?
This event is being brought together by the Trans Publishing Network, alongside authors Fox Fisher and Lewis Hancox.
Hancox is known as the author of Welcome to St Hell, a book that has a few things to say to his younger self. The story looks through his trans journey with humour, alongside the very real trauma, confusion and hurt whilst on the road to healing. Hancox was also shortlisted for the National Diversity Awards Positive Role Model Award (LGBT) 2022.
Fisher is the co-author of Trans Teen Survival Guide and Trans Survival Workbook. An incredible book built on humour and honesty to answer teens’ and parents’ questions regarding being trans. He has also received the British LGBT Awards Outstanding Contribution to LGBT+ Life award.
This event is an incredible feat for the Trans Publishing Network that was founded in the summer of 2023 with a vision to amplify the voices of transgender and non-binary people in the UK publishing industry.
How will this event look, you may be thinking? Attendees can look forward to two must-see panels, with incredible speakers covering the following:
Panel 1 - “Lived Experiences” sponsored by Jessica Kingsley Publishers (JKP) and featuring Jamie Raines, Kenny Ethan Jones, Charlie Craggs, Laura Kate-Dale and Ben Pechey.
Panel 2 - “Storytelling Through Illustration” with Theo Parish, Sophie Labelle, Fox Fisher, Ocean Grove and Lewis Hancox.
With so much to look forward to, the question is, when will you be getting your ticket to celebrate Pride month?