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New Zealand authors raise over £21,500 to create transgender children’s book

Besi Besemar March 28, 2019

Creators of acclaimed LGBT+ Inclusive Book Series successfully fund Trans Fairy Tale Raven Wild.

THE New Zealand-based creators of internationally acclaimed LGBT+ children’s books Promised Land and Maiden Voyage have successfully funded a third book on Kickstarter after raising over £21,691 in the first two weeks of their campaign.

The team is now trying to reach $100,000 USD or more in order to supply a major bookstore chain in North America interested in selling the books in their stores (where 44% of their existing readers are).

Promised Land Tales was co-founded in 2016 by Adam Reynolds and Chaz Harris after their first book funding campaign went viral.

Their books have so far garnered support from New York Times bestselling author Becky Albertalli (Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda/What If It’s Us) and LGBT+ activists including Sir Ian McKellen and George Takei.

In Raven Wild, a courageous young woman who was raised as a boy learns of an evil poacher’s plan to steal a powerful gem. On her dangerous jungle quest to save an animal kingdom from harm, a childhood friendship transforms into love.

“We’ve collaborated with trans co-author Caitlin Spice to welcome another underrepresented LGBTQ+ storytelling voice into the Promised Land Tales universe,” said co-founder Adam Reynolds.

Co-founder Chaz Harris added; “With trans rights under attack and ongoing negative media coverage, it’s more important than ever for positive representation of trans people to exist.” 

“I want trans kids to have a role model that shows them they’re worthy of love in a world that continues to say they’re not,” said co-author Caitlin Spice. “To tell a story in the Promised Land Tales universe – where all are equal – was an exciting opportunity and as a fan of the previous books I’m thrilled to be part of the team bringing Raven Wild to life.”

Promised Land and Maiden Voyage received international media coverage from BuzzFeed, Upworthy, TeenVogue and more after both campaigns raised over $30,000USD on Kickstarter.

Since their release, the books have attracted reader acclaim and interest from major booksellers. However, despite this support and interest, the publishing industry has yet to support the books in reaching a wider audience.

Raven Wild is scheduled for an estimated release in June 2020 (Pride Month).

To support the funding campaign for the book which ends on April 16, click here:

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