Interview with Ella Marques

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Ella Marques, a Portuguese-American writer living in Boca Raton, Florida, the author of the biographical book titled “I was born a boy, from Venus. It’s time to be yourself” (2017). Hello Ella!
Ella: Hi Monika, Thank you very much for the interview, and for thinking about me. I like your blog very much.
Monika: You describe yourself as an “international” woman. Could you say a few words about yourself?
Ella: Sure. I was born in Portugal, at the age of 14 I went to an international boarding school in Switzerland, and since then I have lived, worked, and visited many countries. I lived in London, Paris, Fortaleza, a city in the Northeast of Brazil. Lived over 30 years in various cities in Switzerland and moved to the USA 6 year ago.

Interview with Molly Cutpurse

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Molly Cutpurse, a British writer from Stratford in the East End of London, one of the most prolific writers for the Amazon audience. Her portrait, as a transgendered writer, is now hanging in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and is a part of the museum's permanent collection. Hello Molly! 

Molly: Hello to yourself!

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself? When did you decide that writing will be your vocation?

Molly: I wrote my first novel in 1984 when I was thirty-two. It was an enormously lengthy piece of rubbish that eventually was rewritten several times and was finally published about 1996 as, Daffodils in Autumn. I wrote it because it was a novel that I wanted to read.

Interview with Ava

Ava is a radiant spirit whose journey blends resilience, self-discovery, and a boundless sense of wonder. As a transgender woman and professional entertainer aboard Carnival Cruise Line, she has transformed the ocean into her stage and the world into her audience. Whether she's lighting up a performance under the stars or sharing a heartfelt whisper through her ASMR YouTube channel, Ava brings authenticity and warmth to everything she does. Away from the spotlight, she finds joy in the quiet comforts of gaming, experimenting in the kitchen, and sharing new recipes with her beloved family. 

 

Her style, effortlessly 90s, with a flair for elegance, echoes her confidence and playful charm. Though she sails through ever-changing ports of call, Ava’s heart is anchored in gratitude for the love that surrounds her, especially the unconditional support of her parents. Open about her transition, Ava shares her story not to seek validation, but to offer it. Her journey, documented on Reddit and beyond, has become a lighthouse for others navigating their own identity. With humor, grace, and a touch of sparkle, Ava reminds us that the most courageous thing we can do is love ourselves fully, and that, sometimes, the best view comes after setting sail into the unknown.

Interview with Danielle Pellett

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Danielle J Pellett, an inspirational American woman, New Deal Democrat, trans rights activist. She is running for the Democratic nomination to represent Texas 32nd district in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018. She was the founding President of the first Transgender student organization at a Texas University, and later on, she worked with the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance and the Progressive Alliance. Hello Danielle!

Danielle: Howdy, Monika, and thanks for the opportunity to get my message out there.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Danielle: I think you covered a lot of it in the introduction; I was born on the border in Brownsville, Texas to a mixed-race couple: David Ellsworth and Maria del Rosario.

Interview with Melissa Seymour

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Melissa Seymour, a writer, a novelist from New South Wales, Australia, the author of “Mel's Fantasy Life” (2016) and “Mark's Real Life” (2017). Hello Melissa!

Melissa: Hi Monika, Thanks, I now reside in Melbourne, Victoria, which is an awesome place to live.

My novels have been renamed for a new broader website I have discovered. The names are now “Mel’s New Life” and “Mark’s Pathetic Life”—that is due for worldwide release July 30th, 2017 as I have made some minor adjustments.

“Mel’s Fantasy/New Life” is the first in my series, each part allows the reader to use their imagination as I stop sections abruptly. I also end each part on a Cliff-Hanger to hopefully maintain interest.

Interview with Lois Simmons

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Lois Simmons, an American tax preparer and writer from Suffern, N.Y. She writes posts for the blog titled “Being Christian and Transsexual: Life on Planet Mercury.” Hello Lois!

Lois: Hello Monika. To be included with such an illustrious group of trans women who you have interviewed is quite an honor.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Lois: This is the toughest question you asked me, as it is difficult to limit myself to a few words on almost any subject! But here goes.

I’m 64 years old. I was born in New York City (borough of Queens) and have lived all my life in the city or its suburbs. I went to Cornell with plans to be a Civil Engineer/Urban Planner/designer of roads and rail systems. I ended up with a degree in Government.

Interview with Roxanne Edwards

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Roxanne Edwards, an American architect and activist for LGBTQ issues from Washington, DC. Hello Roxanne!

Roxanne: Hello, Monika! Greetings from the United States Capital city, Washington, DC! It has always been an interesting place to live, but now more than ever, it is a critical place to be involved in issues that affect all our citizens.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Roxanne: I am a professional architect who has done projects nationally and in the Middle East. My entire life has been lived in the Washington area except during my degree studies at my university, Virginia Tech, where I met my spouse. We have been married for 43+ years and we have seven grandchildren. My activism started in 2000 with the beginning of my transition to my authentic self.

Interview with Meredith Guest

There are voices that shimmer quietly, never shouting, never demanding attention, and yet they leave an imprint that lingers in the heart long after the conversation ends. Meredith Guest is one of those voices. A gentle spirit with the clarity of a teacher, the honesty of a memoirist, and the grace of a woman who has lived through pain and transformation with quiet courage. Author of the evocative memoir Son, I Like Your Dress, Meredith invites us into her life with a disarming humility. She describes herself as “unremarkable,” yet her words carry the wisdom of someone who has dared to ask life’s hardest questions and answered them with radical truth.

 

A devoted mother, a joyful grandmother, a lover of this fragile planet, Meredith is also a transgender woman who transitioned later in life, an act that required not only personal bravery, but compassion for those swept along in her journey. Her faith, unwavering even in the face of loss and disillusionment, has been the rock beneath her transformation. Her humor softens the edges of her story, and her denim skirts and cowboy boots ground her femininity in something strong and earthbound. She speaks not of glamour, but of authenticity; not of arrival, but of becoming. For Meredith, the most beautiful thing any of us can do, trans or cis, is to live as truthfully as we can, to love deeply, and to accept the losses that may come with that love. As we sit down together, it’s my honor to share with you the insights of a woman who has found, in the messiness of life, not just meaning, but grace. Let’s begin.

Interview with Holly

Holly’s story is one of quiet strength, profound resilience, and heartfelt courage. Born in 1962 in Connecticut, she has navigated a lifelong journey of self-discovery and transformation with grace and determination. From a very young age, Holly knew her truth, that she was a woman, despite the world around her insisting otherwise. Enduring early years shadowed by misunderstanding, bullying, and the struggle to conceal her authentic self, Holly’s journey is a testament to the power of inner light shining through adversity. A devoted writer and storyteller, Holly chose to share her transition journey on Reddit under the name mikah_rowan, offering honest insights and support to countless others navigating similar paths.

 

Her story is marked not only by her physical transformation through multiple surgeries and hormone therapy, but also by a deep emotional and spiritual awakening that continues every day. Holly embraces her femininity with pride, expressing herself through vibrant fashion and a rekindled love for life. Her dreams extend beyond her own transition, she hopes to inspire others to blossom into their true selves, to pursue their passions boldly, and to find peace in their own skin. As she prepares to step further into the world with newfound confidence, Holly’s story reminds us all that the journey to authenticity is never just about outward change, but about embracing the radiant soul within.

Interview with Ana

Ana is a storyteller at heart, one who weaves her truth through ink and imagination. Living in the quiet reaches of Washington state, she balances a life of introspection, creativity, and self-discovery. Online, she’s known to many as MontanaPython1993, a Reddit user who documents her gender transition with both honesty and quiet grace. Offline, she is a world-builder, crafting intricate settings for tabletop role-playing games, and slowly rekindling her passion for writing after a long creative drought. Ana’s voice resonates with gentle resilience. Her reflections on transition, identity, and self-love aren’t just personal, they speak to a broader experience shared by many transgender women navigating a world that can be both beautiful and brutal.

 

With a sharp eye for nuance and a love for all things gothic and vintage, Ana embraces her transformation with humility, humor, and a steady kind of courage. She may describe herself as a bit of a recluse, but her words reach far beyond the walls of her home. In our conversation, Ana speaks candidly about hormones, haircuts, awkward questions, and the liberation that comes from being seen. She talks about the bittersweet nature of friendships lost, the joy of finding community in unexpected places, and the quiet power of simply continuing on. Ana may still be in what she calls “the weird middle stage” of her transition, but her perspective is anything but uncertain. This is a woman who knows where she’s going, even if the path ahead is still unfolding. It’s my pleasure to introduce you to her.

Interview with Shemiyia O'Bannon-Sweeney

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Shemiyia O'Bannon-Sweeney, an inspirational young woman originally from Louisville, Kentucky, who now resides in the Greater New York area. Hello Shemiyia!

Shemiyia: Well Hello There!

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Shemiyia: Wow. Well, I like to refer to myself as "The Jacqueline of all trades"! I am a very busy bee! First and foremost I am the wife to my amazing husband of 2 years, Bobby. I have been a medical professional for the past 13 years, I now work for a very big hospital organization here in New Jersey that prides itself on its advocacy with the LGBT Community.

Interview with Bishesh Huirem

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Bishesh Huirem, an Indian model and beauty pageant queen. Hello Bishesh, you look absolutely beautiful!

Bishesh: Hello Monika! Thank you so much for this compliment and opportunity to share my story with the readers of your blog.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Bishesh: I am Bishesh Huirem. I am a transgender woman who follows her dream, yet being simple, frank, and enthusiastic.