A Trans Danmei Anthology
Tales of Lei
a donation based zine centered around trans characters featuring multiple writers and artists
ABOUT
This 18+, multi-fandom zine is a writing focused anthology with several black and white illustrations through out. All fan works feature trans stories and bodies; tales of joy and tales of suffering both live here.The artworks and writing inside vary in rating from teen to explicit and minors are strictly advised to not purchase, thank you.
What is a Lei?
Lei can mean "category," "species," or "gender." The Lei is a beast whose form resembles a wildcat with a mane. It is both male and female, and eating it will cure jealousy. The English translation copy of the Shan Haijing notes: "The ability of the Lei to prevent jealousy appears to be connected to its hermaphroditism. The [Zhou] Chinese were particularly fascinated by such animals, for the presence of both yin and yang natures suggested not only non-dependence and personal autonomy but also exceptional fertility. Zhuangzi praised the Lei as living in accordance with the Daoist Way because it was capable of effortless self-fertilization."
Why 'Tales of Lei' then?This zine is a collaborative effort between friends to both explore and celebrate trans stories within the danmei genre, as well as help fundraise for @kitsuneitsuki's upcoming gender-affirming surgery.Please see FAQ for more details
CREATORS
MODS
Bun: head mod/art/editing
EL: social media/writing
AMIAS: graphic design/writing/editing
Niche: formatting and print/art
Frequently Asked Questions
What fandoms and pairings will be in this zine?This is a multi-fandom zine with any and all pairings the artists and writers wish to depict. The only hard rule is that one or more of the featured characters must be gender non-conforming/trans in some shape, way, or form and within the danmei genre.
Is this zine for profit?
No. The physical book will be p4p (pay for print) with an optional donation on top of p4p and shipping costs. The digital zine will be available for a donation of $5 USD or more.
Where is the donation going?
All zine donations will go directly into @kitsuneitsuki's gender-affirming surgery fund. There is also a gofundme for anyone who wishes to leave a donation without purchasing the zine as well (linked on the home page). A public spreadsheet of costs and money raised will be available as soon as all orders have completed shipping.
Will there be merch?
Yes! Several of our artists will be collaborating on prints, bookmarks, as well as stickers to be included with the physical print. Merch is included in the cost of the physical book. Digital zine will have the bookmarks available for download to print at home.
What content and ratings should i expect in the book?
Everything from teen to explicit will be in the book. This zine is not recommended for anyone under the age of 18. There have been no content restrictions placed on our writers, allowing all of them to express themselves to the fullest. Expect everything from angst to fluff, trauma to comedy. All fics will be properly tagged in the table of contents so readers can use their own discretion while consuming our stories.
Are applications open?
No, applications are closed. All writers and artists have been selected. Thank you!
This zine covers some sensitive topics, how will that be handled?
We not only have volunteer sensitivity readers and editors, but the vast majority of our creators fall somewhere under the transgender umbrella. We have a wonderful group of varied gender and sexual identities creating with us, and supportive, open discussions of the content is a ongoing part of the process. Like stated above, all the fics will have proper tagging as well to help guide your reading experience. Please remember: Not all trans experiences will be your experience, and all authors have the right to express their personal experiences through their creative process.
How will the final product look?The final book will be a rather thick book of writing, printed in black and white on unglossed paper, with a soft cover. Illustrations will also be in black and white. Each book will come with a set of stickers, bookmarks, and several full color art prints.
How much will it cost?TBD we will have this answer once we have a better estimation of word count, thank you!
Where do you ship to?We plan on international, world wide shipping. If this changes we will alert well before preorders open.