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julia update - may 2018
in this update:
1) recent & future writings
2) a call for beta readers
3) upcoming events
4) new music videos
Hi everyone, hope you are well! Here is what's new with me:
1) recent & future writings
I haven't released a lot of new writings lately, in part because March & April are when I do most of my college speaking events (I have one more left, described toward the end of this email), but also because my dearest Buddy (a Nanday conure and my closest animal companion) passed away somewhat unexpectedly in March. I wrote this tribute to her last month; it's been a sad process, but I am doing a little better each day.
Just before Buddy passed, I wrote a long-read essay challenging Leftist Critiques of Identity Politics. Shortly thereafter, I posted Autogynephilia: a theory that ignores lived experiences and basic mathematics, which summarizes much of my past writing on that subject, and is a prelude to a new piece I am working on (more on that soon...).
 Speaking of new writings: on Patreon I recently posted Suggest anti-trans myths & propaganda you’d like me to debunk! The post links to many recent essays along those lines, and asks for suggestions for common anti-trans myths readers would like me to take on in the future. If you have any ideas, please let me know via Patreon, Twitter, Facebook, or email.
And as always, if you appreciate my work, please consider supporting me on Patreon!
2) a call for beta readers
As some of you know, I have been working on a novel over the last few years, and I now have a completed manuscript! I've had a couple people look it over already, but I am searching for a few additional beta readers to help provide me with some additional feedback before I move forward with publishing it. The book is a bit of a departure from my non-fiction work. For one thing, it is humorous, albeit in a geeky/absurdist sort of way. While it addresses issues of gender, sexuality, and queerness (which often come up in my other writings), it is not transgender-themed/focused. Here is a brief blurb to give you a feel for the book:
Kat Cataclysm — a bisexual writer who by day pens listicles for a BuzzFeed-like tech company in San Francisco — embarks upon writing a book called 99 Erics, chronicling her experiences dating ninety-nine different people named Eric. It is more surreal than slutty. Not that there is anything wrong with slutty.
99 Erics offers satirical takes on relationships, sexual conventions, language, the writing process, book publishing, online media, and tech culture, and is chock-full of Kat’s smart yet silly digressions on a variety of topics, including the distorted nature of memories, YA dystopian fiction, emotional labor, ethical non-monogamy, hipsters, Freudian slips, sabermetrics, banana slug mating practices, lucid dreaming, agnosticism, infertility, the internet of things, temporal paradoxes, and sex toys, to name but a few.
If I had to craft an “Out of Africa meets Pretty Woman” pitch for the book, I'd probably say: It’s like a Michelle Tea novel meets Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, except that none of it takes place in outer space. (You can also get a feel for the book by watching/listening to readings of the chapters Posers and Poetry Slammed.)
Anyway, if this description appeals to you, and you are interested in being a beta reader, then please send me an email with a few sentences explaining why you are a good fit for this endeavor. If you have previous writing/editing experience, please be sure to include that. I am looking for any feedback you can offer, from the small (e.g., catching typos and inconsistencies) to the more substantial (e.g., does the story flow well, are there any chapters/passages that don't work, or you feel are problematic, etc.). In addition to my undying gratitude, I'd be happy to mention you in the acknowledgments, and give you signed copies of the final book (upon its release) plus one of my other books (of your choice).
So drop me a line if you're interested!
3) upcoming events
 I will be performing in a variety of capacities over the next few weeks. Here is what's coming up:
May 16, 2018 -- I will be giving a keynote entitled “Queer Communities and Future Possibilities” at University of Washington, Tacoma Pride, at 1pm at William Phillip Hall. More details can be found in the flyer to the right.
May 24, 2018 -- I will be interviewed live at the California Institute of Integral Studies event: “A Conversation with Julia Serano and Zara Zimbardo: On Trans Feminism.” The event will be at CIIS, 1453 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA, at 7pm. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door; more event details can be found here and here.
May 28, 2018 -- I will be reading some of my new fiction at Yarn: Comedy Storytelling. Other featured performers include Heather Gold, Gina Gold, and Aundré the Wonderwoman. The show is at Shotgun Players (1901 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA), doors at 7pm, show at 7:30pm. Ticket info (including reduced-price advanced tickets!) can be found here.
 June 9, 2018 -- my solo music project *soft vowel sounds* will be playing a benefit for LYRIC Center for LGBTQQ Youth. The event will be held at Laughing Monk Brewing (1439 Egbert Ave, Unit A, San Francisco, CA) who will be donating a portion of the evening's sales to the cause. The other acts include Polythene Pam and Mya Byrne. More details here.
and if you live in the Bay Area, SAVE THE DATE(S): additional *soft vowel sounds* shows are tentatively scheduled for July 6th and August 29th - more details to come...
By the way, if you want to receive alerts for all upcoming *svs* shows, I encourage you to sign up for the *soft vowel sounds* email list. Why a separate list? Well, I really want to keep the Julia updates to a minimum (i.e., no more than 4-to-6 messages a year), so y'all don't feel like you're being bombarded with spam. With the *svs* list, I can send out short alerts any time I have a new live show or music release.
And speaking of music...
4) new music videos
...I recently created new videos for two of my songs. Here they are!
"Open Letter" is a "coming out" song that was originally written for my previous band Bitesize, although we never formally recorded it. In 2014, I recorded this version for the *soft vowel sounds* EP Ray versus Macbeth and the Music Box, part one. (You can find the lyrics for the song on Bandcamp.)
"I Killed Sting" is a parody/tribute song for all the people who loved The Police, but have mixed feelings about Sting. It was recorded by Bitsesize, although I still often perform the song at *soft vowel sounds* shows. (This song is also available on Bandcamp.)
You can check out many other videos - more music, my spoken word/slam poetry, Kat Cataclysm readings, etc. - on my YouTube channel. Don't forget to "like" them & subscribe if you enjoy them!
That's it for now. And remember, between updates, you can always check out:
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