Why Did I Write This Book?

When I got asked this question, my knee-jerk response was, "Because fear sucks."

To put my answer into perspective, you need to know that I'm a child of the 70s and a teenager of the 80s. At that time, no one walked around with a powerful computer in their pocket. If you wanted to know something, you asked your parents. And I can tell you that 9 times out of 10, your parents said the same thing mine did, "Go look it up." This meant you had to look up the topic you were wondering about in the set of encyclopedias you had at home. Our set didn't really have much about being a boy, but feeling you're supposed to be a girl.

During that time, the only association I saw was crossdressers or transvestites being vilified on talk shows and the brunt of jokes on sitcoms. Or portrayed as criminals, or even worse, victims in TV dramas. My takeaway from all that was never to let a single person get the slightest idea that I was anything other than the normal boy next door. So, after decades of hiding my true self because of fear, I say with a great deal of personal experience, fear does truly suck.

Fear had me playing the role of a typical male all of my life. A role that would never win me any accolades for my performance, I'd win no trophies. My only reward would be to make it one more day without anyone wondering or second-guessing my masculinity.

When I started writing this book, I had already been producing my podcast, and the book was going to be a deeper dive version of it. But then I have to look at why I started the podcast. And that answer was simple. I started the podcast to reach out to anyone out there who may have walked a similar path to mine. It's all for those people who still have to hide or have hidden their true selves out of fear.

There is a quote I mention in the book from Marianne Williamson’s book, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles." “And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

So, to answer the question, "Why did I write this book?" I wrote it to liberate myself from fear so others would know they're not alone and they can let their own light shine. If I have succeeded in doing that, I've accomplished what I set out to do.

If you would like to join me in my quest to help others let their lights shine bright, please spread the word. Here's the link for you to purchase a printed copy or an ebook: https://bookshop.org/p/books/caught-between-a-tie-and-high-heels-jaimee-arrandale/aecdc74534ac9001?ean=9798235828872

And if you purchase the book in either version, you will not only be helping me on my quest, but also helping Bookshop.org with their quest to support local bookstores all across the United States. A portion of my book's sales will go toward supporting their cause. So, please share the link with anyone you think would be interested.