Kim Brown’s story reads like a beautifully woven tapestry of adventure, resilience, and quiet strength. From the seas she has sailed on to the fossils she’s unearthed in distant lands, her life defies the ordinary. Yet beneath the layers of explorer, writer, and car restorer is a woman who has spent much of her early years seeking to be seen and understood for who she truly is. Growing up surrounded by stories and solitude, Kim found comfort in books and the quiet magic of imagination. Her journey through multiple continents and unexpected roles reflects a courageous spirit that never shies away from life’s challenges or its delights.
Whether repairing a classic car or crafting bedtime tales that light up children’s eyes, Kim embraces every chapter with a passionate heart. Her transition was not just a personal revelation but a profound act of living her truth, despite the shadows of misunderstanding and loss. Love has been both a tender refuge and a source of joy and heartbreak. Kim’s life reminds us that embracing our authentic selves can be both the hardest and most beautiful adventure we undertake. Today, she pours her soul into writing stories for her grandchildren and dreams that refuse to rest, continuing to inspire with grace, humor, and unwavering hope. Kim’s message is clear: trust yourself, live your truth, and never stop seeking the extraordinary in the everyday.
Monika: Kim, thank you so much for joining me today! I have to say, reading about your life feels like diving into an epic novel, boats, fossils, cats, countries, and some delightful chaos in between.
Kim: Thanks for asking me. Looking back, I will admit my life has been an adventure, but isn’t that what life should be? I always tell young people, “Never turn down a chance to experience something new.”
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| "Growing up, I spent much of my time trying to be invisible." |
Kim: Growing up, I spent much of my time trying to be invisible. I never understood why people failed to see me for what I was. I preferred reading over socializing and learned to disappear within the pages of whatever book I could find.
Monika: You’ve held so many hats, sailor, writer, fossil hunter, car restorer, even upholsterer! If you had to pick one title that still surprises people the most, which would it be?
Kim: People don’t understand my passion for old cars. In the ’60s, the roads were filled with colorful autos, and no two looked the same. I have several from that era that I’m restoring for myself, as well as helping friends bring new life into their tired rides. Growing up, I was told, “Girls are not mechanics.”
Monika: What was the moment you realized writing wasn’t just a hobby but something you wanted to pursue seriously?
Kim: I have always been a storyteller, but it wasn’t until I wrote about sailing the Baja that I found as much enjoyment in writing as I had in reading. My two nonfiction books were written by request. I prefer writing adventure and sci-fi. I am still honing my skills, and the book I’m currently working on will be far superior to anything I’ve written so far.
Monika: Out of all the places you’ve lived, Belgium, China, Mexico, the open sea, do you have a favorite place your soul calls home, or are you happiest with sand in your shoes and no fixed address?
Kim: China has always been my favorite place. The people are wonderful and unique. But for now, I can’t get past having my grandchildren sitting in my lap, whispering in my ear, “I love you, MeMaw.”
Monika: Was there a specific trip, place, or person that first sparked your love for storytelling?
Kim: I raised two children of my own and two others for extended periods. I loved telling them bedtime stories. Once, over the period of several months, I retold the entire Tolkien trilogy from memory. The attention from these children while I was telling the stories lit a fire in my heart that still burns.
Monika: With your range of books spanning memoir, fiction, and sci-fi, how do you decide which story to tell next? Do the stories find you, or do you hunt them down like fossils?
Kim: I get asked that a lot. The truth is that these stories shout to me in my dreams, wanting to be told. Sometimes they only reveal themselves when I take the time to write them down.
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| Cocoa Beach in 2012. |
Monika: In Two Fools and a Cat, you describe sailing adventures with Jazzymyne across Mexico and the Sea of Cortez. You broke your hand anchoring off a Mexican island, did you try to tough it out, or did Jazzymyne start offering you sympathy margaritas?
Kim: We had just sailed through a tropical storm and missed our intended port of call. Jazzymyne was in a hurry to get somewhere, so we splinted my hand and continued to Cabo. By the time we arrived, the bones had set. My fingers are still a bit crooked.
Monika: Still thinking about Two Fools and a Cat, what’s the funniest misadventure you and Jazzymyne had at sea that didn’t make it into the book?
Kim: I had a chartplotter on the boat that recorded our progress. I was really tired one day and finally convinced Jazzy to take the helm. All she had to do was watch the compass and continue along the course I had set. When I woke up and checked the chartplotter, I realized that she had somehow done a figure eight in the ocean, and we had made no progress sailing for the day.
Monika: You’ve driven boats and pickup trucks with a cat and a surfboard. What’s more stressful: navigating a storm at sea or dodging military checkpoints with your feline co-captain?
Kim: Actually, I never stress. I make every effort to do what needs to be done at the time and freak out later.
Monika: In Creating Me, you reflect on your personal journey of gender and identity. If you could write a letter to Kim-of-the-1990s, what cheeky advice would you slip into an envelope?
Kim: I would send the letter even farther back, and the one bit of advice I would give would be to trust yourself!
Monika: So many of us navigate the roles of wives, mothers, and daughters, often carrying the weight of our pasts and sometimes longing to leave it all behind. Yet, you’ve chosen to embrace your identity with such strength, becoming an advocate for transgender rights and vocal about presenting a positive image of our community in society. In the face of all this, have you ever felt the pull of staying in the shadows, of simply being seen as a woman, without the added layers of being a transgender woman?
Kim: I am ashamed to say it, but the answer is yes. It wasn’t until I reached puberty that I finally realized my body was male. At that time, there was no internet, and "transgender" wasn’t even a word. I thought all through my youth that someday I would grow up and everyone would realize I was a girl. So, for the first part of my life, I thought I was a girl pretending to be a boy. When I realized I had a male body, I continued the charade, knowing what I was inside.
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| On her boat in Florida. |
Monika: Choosing a name is such a deeply personal decision, one that can hold layers of significance and meaning. How did you come to choose the name Kim? Does it carry a special resonance for you, perhaps representing a part of your journey or embodying a particular feeling or aspiration?
Kim: My mom always accepted me, so when the time came to change my name, I went to her. She told me that before I was born, she had chosen a name for me that could be used for a girl or a boy. My father changed it at the last moment. That name fell to my younger brother, so she chose Kim Lee, Kim to match my birth name, and Lee for an uncle.
Monika: Transitioning is not just a personal journey; it also reshapes our relationships, especially with those who support us. Have you noticed a shift in how people treat you since your transition?
Kim: I still maintain many friendships from before my transition. In my family, only my father and my brother have never accepted me as I am. One interesting thing is that people who get to know me before they discover that I’m transgender are more accepting. When someone knows about my past prior to meeting me, they are less accepting.
Monika: During your transition, did you have any transgender role models who inspired you or helped guide your journey?
Kim: There were so few of us back then, but Dallas Denny was the first person I met like myself, and I have continued to admire her through the years.
Monika: I finally felt free after my transition. How about you? Was there a single moment, or maybe a series of moments, where you truly felt like you had stepped into your most authentic self?
Kim: There is one place in my memoir that perhaps I failed to emphasize enough. The first morning after surgery, when I woke up in the arms of the man I love, I knew my life was finally on the right path.
Monika: Many transgender women have a variety of experiences with hormone therapy. Looking back, how do you feel about the physical and emotional effects it’s had on you?
Kim: I was only on hormones until I had surgery. After that, doctors either didn’t wish to see me when I told them I was transgender, or they expressed concerns about cancer risks. It's been twenty years since I’ve had any hormones.
Monika: The journey to being our true selves often comes with a heavy price, losing friends, family, and sometimes even our jobs. What was the hardest part of coming out for you, and how did you navigate it?
Kim: The most difficult part for me was losing the power of a male in our society. I realize things have changed over the years, but I still get strange looks from men when they realize I know as much as they do about traditional male topics.
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| "The most difficult part for me was losing the power of a male in our society." |
Monika: Do you remember the first time you saw a trans woman on TV or met one in real life that helped you realize, “That’s me!”?
Kim: I started the first support group in central Mississippi for trans people and crossdressers. I did meet two others in the area, and one was F to M. I never really compared myself to other people, and thirty years ago there weren't many out there.
Monika: Many of us feel the pressure to “pass” as women, and even after surgeries, society keeps judging us. How do you personally deal with the outside world’s expectations?
Kim: Until recently, it wasn’t a concern for me.
Monika: What are your thoughts on the current situation for transgender women in your country?
Kim: For the first time in thirty years, I find myself nervous in certain social situations. I had an old friend tell me last week that, for the first time, she was nervous entering the bathroom at the same time as me.
Monika: I remember the time right after my transition, it was pure euphoria. My closet is still full of dresses and shoes that I literally bought by the dozens back then, and I must have tried on hundreds. I felt like I had to make up for all those years that were taken from me. Did you feel the same way?
Kim: I slowly changed my wardrobe from male to female. For me, it was always more about my body than what I wore. I guess that makes me different.
Monika: How would you describe your personal style? Do you follow any specific fashion trends, or do you have go-to outfits that make you feel confident?
Kim: When I’m on my boat in Florida, I usually wear sleeveless button-up tops and shorts. In Mississippi, I generally exchange the shorts for jeans. If I’m not working on something, I generally dress nicer but seldom wear a dress. No one has ever accused me of looking butch, but I’m not very effeminate.
Monika: By the way, do you like being complimented on your looks? Do you find it easy to accept compliments, or do you struggle with believing them?
Kim: Most compliments I receive are about my age. I just laugh. I really don’t look my age and never have.
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| "The first morning after surgery, when I woke up in the arms of the man I love, I knew my life was finally on the right path." |
Monika: Did you ever feel pressure to meet a certain ideal of femininity, like I did by trying to look like the women around me?
Kim: Joe always wanted me to look good when we went places. I always dressed up for theatre and church, and it did feel good.
Monika: What was the most surprising part of your transition, something you never expected, whether good or bad?
Kim: I was told that I would never have an orgasm. They were very wrong.
Monika: How has love shaped your life and your journey as a transgender woman? Could you share what role love plays in your personal growth and happiness?
Kim: I have been in love twice. Joe was the best and worst part of my life for several years, but I love and miss him. He passed away several years ago. I sometimes miss being in a relationship, but I have a full life and the best friends anyone could ask for.
Monika: Finally, what’s next for Kim? What dreams and goals are you working toward now?
Kim: Aside from multiple projects I've started, I want to finish a special book I’m working on for my grandchildren and a series that refuses to let me sleep.
Monika: Kim, thank you so much for sharing your journey and insights.
Kim: Thank you for contacting me. Most of my journey took place before the new generation was born, but I am always here to listen and help where I can. Safe journeys!
All the photos: courtesy of Kim Brown.
© 2025 - Monika Kowalska
Kim has always been an inspiration for me. I think it is fantastic that she is able to live her truth. She shows what following your own path truly is. Thank you Kim!
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