Advice from Your Trans Aunty

Orders direct from Erica are for US sales only

Now a best seller!

In “Advice from Your Trans Aunty,” Erica Vogel shares hard-earned wisdom and heartfelt advice for those navigating the transgender and nonbinary experience. Written in a question-and-answer format, the book explores the life challenges of people at all stages in the process. From evaluating one’s gender to addressing medical issues and managing relationships with friends, family, and co-workers, the book provides insights into problem-solving and decision-making before, during, and after transition. Throughout the book, the author's voice is both empowering and compassionate, offering a blend of personal anecdotes, useful strategies, and trustworthy sources of information.

The author emphasizes that the transgender community spans all categories of people, regardless of nationality, sex assigned at birth, age, race, education, socioeconomic status, or any other dimension. She urges readers not to let the past hinder their present, to recognize that the decision to transition comes at different times for everyone, and that there is no singular path required to follow. Her goal is to help trans and nonbinary individuals thrive and lead meaningful lives.

“Advice from Your Trans Aunty” is not only for trans and nonbinary individuals of all ages but also serves as a comprehensive guide for allies, friends, family, and coworkers. It offers insights into the diverse experiences and perspectives within the trans community and provides guidance on how to show support, learn, spread awareness, and ultimately advocate for a world where everyone can live authentically.

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FAQs

  • While I'd love for you to buy directly from me, the cost to ship an individual book to the UK, for example, is far more than I feel comfortable charging. This is also true for Alaska and Hawaii. However, you can rest assured that Advice from Your Trans Aunty is available worldwide on every significant bookseller site, including Amazon. You'll be able to get it no matter where you live at a reasonable shipping cost. If you would still like to buy directly from me, so that I can sign your book, please feel free to use my contact form to get in touch, and we'll figure out a delivery method.

  • Advice from Your Trans Aunty is currently 34,913 words and will be around 156 pages long in print. This may change slightly as we wrap up the publishing process.

  • Advice from Your Trans Aunty is available as an e-book on Amazon.

  • Advice from Your Trans Aunty will likely be recorded as an audiobook. I am currently in contact with an audiobook company to discuss terms. Should I publish it in this format, yours truly will be the book's voice.

  • That depends on sales of Advice from Your Trans Aunty! I'd love to meet as many of you in person as I can. However, book tours are expensive in travel, lodging, marketing, etc. Many people have asked me to tour around the US and the UK. For that to happen, I need you all to buy a lot of books. I will definitely do local bookstores in the Washington, DC, metro area where I live.

  • Advice from Your Trans Aunty is perfect for aiding discussion about trans experiences in and out of the workplace. The book does not contain information of an "adult" nature. Further, I've spent a reasonable amount of time on leadership teams for LGBTQIA employee resource groups. For bulk corporate orders or to invite me to speak with your company, please inquire on my contact page.

Reader Guides

    1. How has your knowledge and understanding of transgender people evolved after reading Advice From Your Trans Aunty?

    2. What is the difference between sexual orientation and gender?

    3. What, if any, has been your experience interacting with a trans or nonbinary person?

    4. Why would understanding pronoun usage be important for everyone?

    5. What questions are appropriate or inappropriate to ask coworkers, including trans and nonbinary people?

    6. How might using dead names (the name a transgender person went by before coming out), whether vocally or in correspondence, cause harm?

    7. What bathrooms are appropriate for transgender people to use?

    8. How might you communicate that you are a safe person/company for trans and nonbinary people to work with?

    9. What inequities might transgender people face in the workplace?

    10. In what way would you handle a transphobic comment in the workplace? Would that change if a transgender person was not around to hear it?

    11. How might personal feelings and bias about a person's transgender status be misused in grading that individual's performance?

    12. How might we handle negative feedback that seems rooted in a person's trans or nonbinary status?

    13. How might your company's hiring practices be updated to become respectful and equitable to transgender people?

    14. How might we enhance pay equality efforts to ensure all women are paid fairly for the same work? In comparison to men, trans women are paid 60 cents on the dollar, while cis women are paid 84 cents on the dollar.

    15. How might the intersectionality experienced by transgender people and other marginalized communities be essential to understand?

    1. How has your knowledge and understanding of transgender people evolved after reading Advice From Your Trans Aunty?

    2. What is the difference between sexual orientation and gender?

    3. What, if any, has been your experience interacting with a trans or nonbinary person?

    4. Why would understanding pronoun usage be important for everyone?

    5. What questions are appropriate or inappropriate to ask trans and nonbinary people?

    6. How might using dead names (the name a transgender person went by before coming out) cause harm?

    7. What bathrooms are appropriate for transgender people to use?

    8. How might you communicate that you are a safe person for trans and nonbinary people to have in their lives?

    9. What value might trans and non-binary people add to your life?

    10. What inequities might transgender people face from their neighbors, community, and local or national governments?

    11. In what way would you handle a transphobic comment spoken in your presence? Would that change if a transgender person was not around to hear it?

    12. There are less than 32 collegiate transgender athletes, compared to roughly 520,000 cisgender collegiate athletes in the US. Given this information, does the effort to remove trans athletes from competition have any meaningful impact on fair outcomes in sports?

    13. How might we go beyond mere tolerance to acceptance and welcoming of trans people in our communities?

    14. What does allyship look like, and how might you grow in it?

    15. How might the intersectionality experienced by transgender people and other marginalized communities be essential to understand?

    1. How did you come to know you were transgender?

    2. What gives you hope for the future?

    3. What did you have to let go of to embrace your true self?

    4. In what ways do you worry that you are not enough as a trans person? How might you let that go?

    5. How do regret and resentment color your life?

    6. How did you determine your true name?

    7. What has been your favorite wardrobe win?

    8. Is there "good" vs. "bad" trans representation?

    9. What would it look like to fully own your transness and wear it proudly, assuming of course, it would be safe to do so?

    10. What has been your experience in being asked to educate people on the facts about being transgender?

    11. What does it mean for someone to be your ally? What specific actions would they take?

    12. Why would you consider being a big sibling to someone newly out?

    13. Does being transgender absolve you from other forms of bigotry like racism?

    14. How would you describe your level of privilege today?

    15. How might the intersectionality experienced by transgender people and other marginalized communities be essential to understand?

    1. How has your knowledge and understanding of transgender people evolved after reading Advice From Your Trans Aunty?

    2. What is the difference between sexual orientation and gender?

    3. What, if any, has been your experience interacting with a trans or nonbinary person?

    4. Why would understanding pronoun usage be important for everyone?

    5. How might we foster an environment where respecting pronouns becomes the norm?

    6. What questions are appropriate or inappropriate to ask congregation members, including trans and nonbinary people?

    7. How might using dead names (the name a transgender person went by before coming out) cause harm?

    8. How might your congregation enable the use of preferred names?

    9. What bathrooms are appropriate for transgender people to use?

    10. Are you aware of inclusive bathroom best practices within your church, and if not, how could you find out?

    11. How might your church communicate that it is a safe place for trans and nonbinary people to worship?

    12. In what way would you handle an anti-trans comment in the congregation? Would that change if a transgender person was not around to hear it?

    13. How can we foster an environment where we ensure trans and nonbinary people become productive congregation members?

    14. How might your church's outreach practices be updated to become respectful and inviting to transgender people?

    15. How might the intersectionality experienced by transgender people and other marginalized communities be essential to understand?

Praise for Advice from Your Trans Aunty

“This book is a gem. It’s a sound book of advice delivered with a big, open heart. Vogel is contributing to the queer community’s rich history of elders passing down our earned knowledge of survival and joy, and she does it with warmth, wisdom, and a deep sense of care. She’s writing to and for every trans person bravely facing the world as their truest self.”

~Cody Daigle-Orians (they/them), creator of Ace Dad Advice and author of I AM ACE

“Erica Vogel has produced a moving, poignant and informative collection of stories and anecdotes together with powerful advice that shares not only pieces of herself with her audience, but dispenses nuggets of wisdom and empathy that any reader would benefit from, no matter their life circumstances or identity. I learned much, but was also deeply moved. I felt like an old friend was speaking to me over coffee, sharing their life and knowledge with me. It was a privilege to read.”

~Sophia MacLennan (she/her), Trans Social Media Influencer

"Advice from Your Trans Aunty" is a warm, insightful, and incredibly valuable resource for anyone navigating the complex journey of gender transition or questioning. As a transgender man myself, I found Vogel's guidance to be practical and deeply affirming. Vogel writes with the casual, comforting tone of a wise and caring relative, making even the most daunting aspects of transition feel manageable. Her anecdotes add authenticity and humor, while never overshadowing the advice she offers. The book covers an impressive range of topics, from the early stages of gender questioning to the nuances of workplace transitions and long-term advocacy. Vogel's emphasis on self-love and finding joy in one's authentic identity is compelling. Her repeated assertion that there's no single "right way" to be trans is refreshing and validating. One of the book's greatest strengths is its balance of emotional support and practical guidance. "Advice from Your Trans Aunty" is an essential read for anyone questioning their gender, beginning transition, or seeking to understand transgender experiences better. It's the supportive, informative guide I wish I'd had when starting my transition journey."

~Liam Paschall, (he/him), Transgender Keynote Speaker, DEI Trailblazer, LinkedIn LGBTQIA Top Voice

"Advice From Your Trans Aunty provides accessible and actionable recommendations for anyone looking to explore their gender. Erica speaks to the reader like a friend and offers her own perspective as a trans woman with a complex and beautiful background in living."

~Leo Caldwell (he/him), Transgender Educator

In her own words, Erica aims to “give people information that enables their growth, education, and agency“. “Advice from your Trans Aunty” does exactly that and brilliantly so. If you have any questions at all, whether about your own journey or that of someone you love, this book is for you. Erica addresses everything from questioning to advocacy, offering guidance from her own experience as well as from stories she collected along her journey. Everyone should have a trans Aunty who imparts this kind of wisdom and now, thanks to Erica, we all can!

~Amelia Michael (they/them), Workplace LGBTQIA and Gender Inclusion Author, Trainer, Speaker, & Consultant

“Erica Vogel’s book is coming soon. I know in my soul her’s is going to be incredibly impactful.”

~ Jenn T Grace (she/her), Founder & CEO Publish Your Purpose

“Erica Vogel’s insightful book is one that I wish I had been able to read when I was a young trans person seeking answers to the millions of questions I had about gender identity, coming out, transitions, the workplace, advocacy, and other trans-related stuff. Her advice is sound. Her experiences are valid. And her desire to help others is evident on every page. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Read it, friend, for you will surely learn one or maybe many things you never knew before.”

~ Vanessa Sheridan (she/her), National Transgender Consultant, Keynote Speaker, and Author

"Advice from Your Trans Aunty" is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the transgender experience. This book goes beyond surface-level explanations, offering a raw, honest, and deeply empathetic look at the emotional and practical aspects of transitioning genders. As a business professor, I often emphasize the importance of empathy in leadership. This book is a powerful example of how empathy can be fostered through storytelling. Vogel's personal experiences and insights create a space for readers to connect with the challenges and triumphs of being transgender in a profound way."

~Anastasia Thyroff PhD (she/her), Associate Professor of Marketing, Clemson University