WHAT A HOOT! Or what a ROAR.
When I have the opportunity to sit down with Producer/Actor/Director and now Author, Shelley Thompson, I clear my calendar. And she never disappoints!
Shelley’s an inspiration, fierce 2SLGBTQIA+ advocate and ‘Mama Bear’. Trans Awareness Week is a time to be loud and proud and share stories and experiences in the spirit of building community and breaking down barriers. During our time together, that is exactly what we did and you can join the conversation here.
As a women leader and parent of a trans child, this change-maker is using her powers for the greater-good. Shelley and I met at Al Whittle Theatre in Wolfville in early November to celebrate the release of her trans inclusive novel ‘ROAR’. Roar is a story about family set in rural Nova Scotia and is inspired by the original screenplay for the award- winning feature film Dawn, Her Dad & the Tractor, is about a young trans woman returning to her family farm in the wake of her mother’s death, written and directed by celebrated actor and screenwriter Thompson.
I brought along our ‘Octavious’ (thanks Rhonda for the name!), and together we explored trans inclusion, families and the power of story-telling. Thank you to everyone who joined us. Listen to the interview below and check our Trans Canada Stories for our 2 Part conversation with Shelley and sensitivity readers from within the trans community who supported the creation of the novel ‘ROAR’.
ROAR: a conversation about the importance of trans narratives for community, with Author/Educator and co-host of Trans Canada Stories, Cynthia Sweeney and Author/ Actor Shelley Thompson.
Recorded on Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. ADT at the AI Whittle Theatre in Wolfville, Nova Scotia for the launch of ‘ROAR’, a novel by Shelley Thompson, published on October 31 by Nimbus Publishing/Vagrant Press.
Here’s some photos from the event. Photography courtesy of Peter McLeod.
Trans Canada Stories cuts through the headlines and clickbait to tell real stories about real trans people living in Canada today.
Join us for a cozy conversation, prize give-aways and listen to readings from this fierce, brave and essential story for these fractious times.
Event Enquiries: rustytractorproductions@gmail.com cynsweeney@simplygoodform.com cmarquette@nimbus.ca https://nimbus.ca/store/roar.html
@ShelleyThompson @SimplyGoodForm