In this episode, we sit down with Arden Coutts (they/them), a queer trans author based in rural Nebraska who writes emotionally driven fiction centered on grief, resilience, found family, and queer identity. Arden shares their journey growing up in a small town, discovering their identity over time, and navigating life as a trans man in a rural community where LGBTQ+ resources and community spaces can be difficult to access.

Arden discusses how storytelling became a powerful tool for healing after the death of their father and how their personal experiences with loneliness, mental health, and identity shape the characters and worlds they create. Their work spans multiple genres including romantic suspense, fantasy, horror, and post apocalyptic fiction, all grounded in complex emotions and morally gray characters.

Throughout the conversation, Arden opens up about their evolving relationship with gender identity, transitioning, top surgery, and the challenges of accessing gender affirming healthcare in remote areas. They reflect on the importance of language, representation in books and media, and how finding the right words to describe yourself can be a deeply validating experience for many LGBTQ+ people.

Arden shares how they are now building queer community online through LGBTQ+ writing retreats and creative spaces that bring writers together for connection and support.

This episode dives into topics like queer representation in literature, rural LGBTQ+ experiences, trans identity, mental health, and the healing power of storytelling.

Keywords: LGBTQ+ podcast, trans author interview, queer storytelling, trans identity, rural LGBTQ experience, queer books, found family fiction, LGBTQ writers, gender identity journey, mental health and storytelling, queer representation in literature, Proudly On Record podcast