Recs if you like Medusa of the Roses...

A growing list of books by LGBTQ+ authors of Muslim backgrounds (or from the general SWANA region) and/or focusing on such experiences in the text.

Based on books I have read or keen to do so. Recommendations are welcome

Reading suggestions for the Trans Rights Readathon! (Any year of course). Books with trans characters of any label (or any non-cis gender identity) by trans/non-cis authors. I have not read all the books in this list. Feel free to name your fave books by trans authors in the comments!

I've participated in the Trans Rights Readathon the last couple of years and these are all the books I've read and would recommend (either during the readathon or the rest of the year)! 🫶

some of the rep here is found in side characters, but I'm trying to prioritize main character rep as much as possible!

Fiction books set in Iran

Mix of genres by queer authors from nations in Asia set in the nation. Not every nation is represented yet—I'm still researching them! Keeping it at maximum 3 books per nation, but please leave recommendations if you have them!

China: In the Face of Death We Are Equal; Beijing Comrades India: How to Date a Fanatic Indonesia: Not a Virgin Iran: Medusa of the Roses; Disoriental Japan: The Night of Baba Yaga Lebanon: The True True Story of Raja the Gullible Malaysia: Black Water Sister Pakistan: Other Names for Love South Korea: Violets; Love in the Big City Sri Lanka: Swimming in the Monsoon Sea; The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida Syria: The Foghorn Echoes; The Last Syrian Taiwan: Notes of a Crocodile

Shaelin Bishop (aka ShaelinWrites) is a Canadian writer and YouTuber who makes lots of great videos with really helpful writing advice. She also has two videos called "The Writer's Syllabus" with book recommendations that will help you become a better writer and I decided to make a list of them here!