Cherry
Single: A Transvestite Comes of Age
Fiction by Valory Gravois
1997, Alchemist/Light Publishing
175 Pages
David Nunley is single, holds a boring government
job, moonlights as an underground photographer, and loves to dress
in his girlfriends' clothes. Underneath, things aren't quite so
rosy: his father hates effeminate men and David worries about
getting caught dressing. Two women -- Corky, with a mysterious
past, and Diane, an adventurous photographer -- enter David's
life as he begins to come out of the closet. Sexuality mixes with
spirituality as he walks an oftentimes unmarked trail, finally
meeting the earthy Patricia Wending well along the way. Will David
pull off his high wire balancing act, or will he crash and burn?
Reviews
Sharon Stuart, transgender rights advocate: "Cherry
Single ... confronts transvestite sexuality without flinching
and without gratuity ... At last, a serious work of fiction about
a character we can believe in, experience pain and joy with ...
and feel good about. ... The hero/ine, David and Natalie Nunley
... takes a journey that many emerging crossdressers will relate
to ... [Cherry Single] delivers an afterglow that lasts for a
week -- a crossdressing journey with a happy ending."
Pamela Degroff, book reviewer, Xenogeny newspaper: "It's
a rare occasion when one gets to read a work of fiction that could
have been based ... on your own life. Cherry Single ... is such
a book. The writer skillfully weaves threads that are common to
any transgendered experience into the cloth from which David Nunley,
the main character, is cut ... The realism of the story will be
immediately apparent to anyone who is transgendered ... The strength
of Cherry Single is found in the way the writer develops David
Nunley's personality and character. Those of us who are transgendered
have had to deal with the same issues that are raised ... Seize
the opportunity to read this book."
Gianna E. Israel, transgender counselor: "David,
the main character, explores many of the nuances associated with
crossdressing. Like many crossdressers he truly seems in conflict
... This hot and steamy read is perfectly suitable for curling
up at home on a snugly Saturday afternoon."
Mariette Pathy Allen, photographer of the transgender community:
"... the eroticism in [Cherry Single] ... feels like an honest
depiction of the feelings and fantasies of many crossdressers,
especially those in the early stages of self-discovery ... There
is enough variety and detail in this book to entertain a range
of crossdressers from the most fetishistic to the Tri-Ess stalwart."
Sheila Kirk, M.D., transgender author and lecturer: "[Cherry
Single's] appeal to the novice and the reluctant in heart is real
and can support the Trans person afraid to acknowledge the Spirit
and need within. The denial and the burden we all carry for ...
portions of our lives has to be done away. This work can certainly
help."
Dr. John Money, founder of the Gender Identity Clinic at
John Hopkins University and Professor Emeritus of Medical Psychology:
"Here is ... [a] novel that opens a window of insight
into ... gender-crossing."
Amy Sakurai, book reviewer for Northwest Passages, the newsletter
of the Northwest Gender Alliance: " ... there are
so few literary works featuring sympathetic characters of our
ilk ... Cherry Single is a literate, accessible effort well above
the improbable fantasy stories which are the standard fare in
our community."
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