Laura by Terri Peterson (crossdressing transgender gay)

A little less twisted and taboo than Danni, but with definite overlap between the two stories, Laura is still a story with some darkness to it, but there is also some love and hope to balance it.

If you have read Danni (not necessary, but it certainly helps), then you may remember that he had a rival for Daddy Dick's attention, another crossdresser with whom he was forced to perform, leading to both a betrayal and an escape. With Terri Peterson stepping into the story of Laura this time, we see those dark events from a different perspective, and gain a new appreciation for a character who is just as troubled, if not quite as tragic.

Before we get to those pivotal scenes, however, we first must learn how Laura - then known as Lawrence - was first introduced to femininity. While there is some degree of erotic fantasy to the manner in which playful feminization leads to a desire for crossdressing, which gives way to forced feminization and blackmail, the details of 'why' keep it grounded in family drama. It also opens us up to scenes of romance, discovery, coming out, which are tainted by how that romance comes to an end, but are no less appreciated for having come to an end.

Peterson weaves the story of Laura in multiple threads, contrasting past with present, and that makes an already interesting character fascinating . . . and sympathetic. The way the story opens, with two drunk, drugged crossdressers stumbling through the streets, you can be forgiven for expecting an even darker tale than Danni, but there is a relationship underlying the friendship between Laura and Fiona that elevates this to whole other level. Do not get me wrong, this is not a happy tale of romance and redemption, but both of those themes do exist within the drama.

I was utterly fascinated by this, and as much as my mind kept fearing there was some pivotal drama or crisis coming - especially after the heartbreak of her first two love - my heart continued to embrace Laura and Fiona, and I am delighted to say that not only did my heart win out, but it soared upon the final scene.

'Terri' Peterson, was born August 19th, 1969, and spent what she referred to as 'a miserably failed experiment in tyranny' at a typical secondary school, where she was bullied relentlessly and made fun of. She left with no regrets, a handful of qualifications for a career in banking, and bitter memories of time spent being the object of ridicule by her peers. Being myopic, gauche, skinny and flat-chested, sporting a head of rich auburn hair, made her a daily target for abuse, which she escaped by becoming immersed in the fantasy world of writing short stories.

Reviewed by Sally