Welcome to Litsy!

Kama La Mackerel is a trans Mauritian Canadian activist, artist & writer. Their debut poetry collection consists of eight long autobiographical poems. Family life—including spirituality, gender roles & colonial scars—on the former plantation island of Mauritius is vividly evoked. Kreol language, curry spices, coconut sweets, and burning sun. A tender and exuberant coming out memoir. #LGBTQ #CanadianAuthor #poetry

when i tell my mother that i am trans
[…]
she tells me that we come from a history & a culture
where women-men
& men-women

have always existed

because colonial powers destroyed
people
lands
resources
cultures

but colonial powers
also scythed
the languages
of love

A gorgeous collection of narrative, lyrical poems about Kama La Mackerel's queer, trans, femme coming of age on the island of Mauritius. I loved how it explored looking for and imagining trans ancestry. I loved how it integrated Mauritian Kreol. I loved how La Mackerel skillfully used repetition to create an intuitive rhythm. I loved how joyful and celebratory it was about trans identity. I loved the evocative images. Truly wonderful!

Many exciting queer books lined up!

Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots (superhero story about a henchwoman)

Crosshairs by Catherine Hernandez (dystopian set in Toronto)

The Contradictions by Sophie Yannow (travel graphic memoir)

The Western Alienation Merit Badge by Nancy Jo Cullen (80s family saga / coming of age)

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron (queer feminist #YA retelling)

ZOM-FAM by Kama La Mackerel (Brown & Black queer/trans poetry)