Check out our interview with Hazel Newlevant, the author of "Queer and How We Got Here."

What was your inspiration behind your most recent book?

"Queer and How We Got Here" is a graphic novel about my own gender and relationship journey, as well as the histories of queer activism that made those moments possible. When telling some of my most personal stories, the words and images practically flowed onto the page! In terms of being inspired by other artists, Alison Bechdel is father. She's so important to me as a memoirist and chronicler of queer subcultures. I'm also inspired by how Jeremy Atherton Lin alternates between personal and historical in his book Gay Bar. Reading that book gave me confidence that my story structure wouldn't lose the reader, and I was on the right track.

My book uses a limited palette of dark blue, hot pink, and orange, inspired by risograph printing — a popular medium for making zines and mini-comics.

What does Reading Rainbow mean to you?

To me, Reading Rainbow means exploring without bowing to the censors who are trying to take queer books off shelves, and supporting marginalized authors!

Why do you feel representation of a variety of people is so important when it comes to writing books?

It's the only way to be authentic or historically accurate. Homogeny would be unrealistic! An honest rendering of queer and feminist history is diverse one.

Tell us a little more about the book and why you decided to write it.

My own story of transmasculinity isn't an uncomplicated “born in the wrong body” narrative, which was basically what doctors in the 1960s wanted to hear before they'd prescribe hormones. I wanted to talk about embracing changes that I grew into, to show readers that there are many kinds of trans life stories. But once I started digging into the history, sharing that became more important to me than my own story. My main motivation became to honor the activists who made my life possible, and shed some light on the protest tactics and social change strategies they used to push things forward.

What can fans expect from your book?

Lots of gender feelings and ill-advised dating adventures! I trace the histories of a bunch of different topics that connect to my own life: the history of sexuality labels, “coming out” as a social practice, the birth control movement, the development of trans healthcare, lesbian dating practices, and so much more!

What's up next for you in the bookish world?

Book tour! Follow me @newlevant on Instagram and Bluesky to see when I'm doing a signing or convention near you.