Hello! My name is Rhys, and I’m a gay trans man. I’ve been a reader since I was in grade 2, and have been on social media talking about queer books since 2020.

Ever since I read Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas, I have made it my personal mission to promote trans books. Books with trans characters or by trans authors are highly overlooked, and I want more people to know about them. My Instagram page is filled with trans book recommendations and upcoming trans book releases (www.instagram.com/readwithrhys/)

I decided to create a website with one mission in mind: to continue to promote trans books. I wanted a space where I could experiment with different ways of promoting books, talk about the books I’ve read, and just a space to dump my thoughts! That’s how this website, transcendenttales, was born.

A little bit about me:
– I have a Bachelor of Arts in English and Classical Studies with a minor in Psychology
– I am currently going into my 2nd year (of 2) for my Bachelor of Education After Degree in English
– I love ice hockey (Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets are my teams!), and even played it from grades 6-11! After grade 11, that’s when I figured out my gender, and I didn’t feel comfortable playing it anymore (I was on the girls’ team, and I didn’t feel safe to play one more year after coming out)
– I have 2 dogs (7-year-old Border Collie x Husky named Shadow and a 14 and a half-year-old Shih Tzu named Misty)
– I was forced to read books in grades 1 and 2 to help my retention with plot; that turned me into a reader!
– My favourite book of all time is Seven Devils by L.R. Lam and Elizabeth May
– I (sadly) live in Alberta, Canada (yes, it is sad)
– I am in my mid-20s

I hope to use this website as a place where I can rave about my favourite books and create lists for you to use!