Being Emily is a story which is a breath of fresh air and a sign that tells us that the world is on the brink of change. Being ‘different’ in any manner of the phrase, including disability, homosexuality and mental health, is no longer a crime or a display of weakness or ugliness. In today’s world, it is becoming more and more accepted and even more importantly, it is proudly exploited that what makes you different also makes you interesting, and just like everybody else at the same time.
Simply put; you do not have to be transsexual to enjoy this story. It is a story of teenage angst and worry like any other, the only difference being in other books female characters may obsess over a male love interest, or a male character may be preoccupied with gaining a place on the school sports team. In Being Emily, Emily was born as Christopher, and her worry regards her identity. She knows that she was born into the incorrect gender, but has to hide it from family and friends. It is still a story of isolation and fear, as is any story regarding teenage years. It is a tale which will open your eyes to the world and how far it has come, but will also make you realise how much it still has to go to make everyone on this planet truly equal.
Another triumph on the footnote of equality, books like Being Emily and people like Rachel Gold are essential in providing us with stories to share and characters to befriend which match what we, as readers, are experiencing in our everyday lives.
Rachel Gold is a self-confessed gamer geek, who also enjoys writing novels occasionally when not online playing her favourite game, World of Warcraft. She works in marketing across the pond in the USA, and has seen many successes with Being Emily, her first novel.
She is currently working on her second project, on which we at IWG have a worldwide exclusive to unveil to you today!
JUST GIRLS is the second novel you can expect from the critically-acclaimed Rachel Gold. Rachel and her publisher Bella Books were kind enough to give IWG the blurb from the new story, which after being read, tells you to expect great things on the release date of 16th September 2014. Keep your eyes peeled for this AND a release of the front cover of the book later on today!
We are also holding a Being Emily competition with merchandise and books being up for grabs, so make sure you enter for your chance to win!