Transgender brothers raised in Surrey have co-authored a debut fantasy novel that aims to challenge racism and transphobia.

Vincent Hunter is the pen name for Kise Vincent Hastings, 29, and Hunter Levi Hastings, 25, who self-published The Garnet Crown in August.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e co-authored the book as a duo, which is not too common for brothers,害羞草研究所� Vincent said.

Graduates of Kwantlen Park Secondary in Surrey, the siblings say their book 害羞草研究所渄elivers a thrilling high-level fantasy plot that features diverse characters and themes.害羞草研究所�

Vincent said J. K. Rowling害羞草研究所檚 recent 害羞草研究所渁nti-transgender tweets害羞草研究所� challenge diversity in the fantasy genre, and that the Surrey-based duo is determined to showcase transgender, LGBTQIIA+ and queer characters in their novel series.

害羞草研究所淭ransgender people are being misrepresented in popular fiction and media, and we aim to change that,害羞草研究所� the duo say in a news release. 害羞草研究所淎s mixed-race transgender individuals, we grew up terribly underrepresented in all of the fandoms that we have loved. When we were represented, it did no justice. The characters that were portrayed as 害羞草研究所榙iverse害羞草研究所� or 害羞草研究所榯ransgender害羞草研究所� were written stereotypically, were usually antagonists, and did not occupy main roles in the story.害羞草研究所�

Mixed-race individuals were rarely mentioned at all, the duo add.

害羞草研究所淲henever we tried to challenge the representations of transgender and mixed-race characters in popular fiction, we were often discouraged by educators and told by other fans that our kind of person didn害羞草研究所檛 belong in these series because they were not a part of the lore.害羞草研究所�

The Garnet Crown, a 666-page book billed as 害羞草研究所淏ook 1 in the Crimson Plumes series,害羞草研究所� , in both soft-cover and e-book formats.

The book also aims to celebrates Canadian values, the brothers say.

害羞草研究所淎s Canadians, we wanted to write a story that represented the diversity and inclusion that our country is known for,害羞草研究所� the duo stated. 害羞草研究所淲e are proud to be Canadian and we were determined to write an epic fantasy series that highlighted how important and wonderful our country害羞草研究所檚 values are. We hope that our novel will inspire the world to be more like Canada and to celebrate multiculturalism, diversity, and inclusion.害羞草研究所�

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Vincent Hunter has also written an album of 害羞草研究所渟hanties and tavern songs害羞草研究所� to promote their love for the fantasy genre and the universe they害羞草研究所檝e created. Some of the tunes, featured on the album 害羞草研究所淪hanties & Songs of Aldrayon,害羞草研究所� are posted to their .

They hope their novel series will inspire others who have felt marginalized and misrepresented to write and share their stories, and participate in the fandoms they love.

害羞草研究所淥ur stories deserve to be told and we deserve to take up space. We害羞草研究所檙e a part of this world too, and it害羞草研究所檚 time people realized that,害羞草研究所� the brothers stated.

Vincent Hunter is on , and , and also runs a page.

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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