Storytelling remains one of the most important ways we make meaning of our lives and experiences. In this multi-author feature, Qnotes takes a look at some of our community’s local writers.
‘God Does Love Me: My Trans Journey to Finding My True Self’ by Dawn J. Flynn
Dawn Flynn is a Charlotte-area author, ordained minister, and scientist whose life and work sit at the intersection of faith, gender identity and transformation. A transgender woman and active clergy member, Flynn has spent more than a decade sharing her story through writing, ministry and public speaking.
Wendy Lyons: How long have you been writing, and what first inspired you to become an author?
Dawn Flynn: I began writing in 2011 after my gender reassignment surgery. I am a minister, and I believe very strongly that God told me to write my story down. Through prayer and even dreams, the Holy Spirit impressed upon me that my journey, faith, transition and survival could help others. Writing became an act of obedience and reflection, forcing me to be intentional, honest and spiritually grounded.
WL: What was it like to write such a personal memoir, and how did the process affect you?
DF: Writing required deep self-examination. There were lessons that surfaced during the writing that I hadn’t fully understood before. It was healing but also difficult. I had to revisit pain, rejection and loss, but I trusted God through it. The book was published in 2012, and I believe it came together exactly when it was meant to.
WL: How has your identity as a transgender woman and clergy shaped the way you approach writing?
DF: Everything I write is informed by my spiritual walk. I’ve spoken in churches, colleges and universities, often invited into sexuality and theology classes. People are curious about how I reconcile being transgender and being clergy, especially since many churches are not affirming. My writing and speaking center on helping people understand that these identities are not in conflict.
WL: What role does Scripture play in your work as an author?
DF: Jeremiah 1:5 is foundational for me. I believe God knew I was transgender while I was still in my mother’s womb and called me to ministry then. That truth shapes my writing and my message: God’s love is unconditional, despite what the church may say.
WL: Are you currently working on another book?
DF: Yes. I’m working on a second book that reflects on womanhood after more than a decade of living authentically. It explores the joys, challenges and realities of being a woman and offers perspective from someone who has lived on both sides of gender.
WL: You were also featured in a documentary. Can you share more?
DF: I was one of four clergy featured in a documentary titled Proper Pronouns, which follows transgender clergy across North Carolina. The film has screened internationally and aired on PBS, highlighting that transgender people live full, ordinary lives while faithfully serving their communities.
WL: What do you hope readers, especially those on their own identity journeys, take away from your book?
Dawn: I hope they find hope. This journey costs you almost everything; family, friendships, security but it is still worth living authentically. If readers walk away knowing that God loves them and that they are not alone, then I have fulfilled my calling as an author.
Dawn’s memoir “God Does Love Me” is available for purchase through major online retailers. You can find her book on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/God-Does-Love-Dawn-Flynn-ebook/dp/B00BPVZEWC/ and White Rabbit Books.
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SUBHEAD: ‘From Collards to Callaloo: Poems & Letters to Assata’ by L’Monique King
L’Monique King is a poet and author whose work explores Black womanhood, queer identity, ancestry and intergenerational love. Written as a series of letters to her granddaughter whom she has never met, the book serves as both personal testimony and spiritual offering, bridging generations through memory, truth and hope.
Wendy Lyons: The title “From Collards to Callaloo” immediately draws readers in. What does it represent for you?
L’Monique King: Callaloo is the Caribbean version of collard greens. Texture-wise, it’s somewhere between collards and spinach; not quite as coarse. My granddaughter is Jamaican on her mother’s side and Southern Black American on mine. Collard greens are our soul food; callaloo is hers. That blending of cultures is the heart of the title.
WL: Tell me about the cover art.
LMK: The Sankofa bird means “go back and get it,” to remember your past and bring it into your present. I took that photograph myself during my first honeymoon. It’s a sunrise. I created the cover myself.
WL: What inspired you to write this book?
LMK: I was working on another book entirely when I had a phone conversation with my mother. She couldn’t remember the word “supermarket” in what felt like a lapse of five minutes. I thought, What if I meet my granddaughter one day and don’t know who she is? Or worse, what if I never meet her at all?
I’ve never met my granddaughter. I realized I needed to shape my own narrative. I needed to talk to her, tell her who I am, what I believe and how deeply I love her. I abandoned the book I was writing and committed myself to this one.
WL: How is “From Collards to Callaloo” structured?
LMK: The book is divided into three stages; me speaking to her as a child, as a young adult and as a grown woman. There are nine letters total, three for each stage. In between, there are poems. The letters are directly to her.
WL: What was the most difficult part of writing the book?
LMK: Deciding what to say and what to leave unsaid. I asked myself, Is this life-altering? Is it life-saving? I talk about body autonomy, travel, legacy, love and truth. Things that matter. Literature is immortalizing!
WL: You chose to include deeply personal truths. Why was that important?
LMK: I didn’t want to give her clichés or old sayings. I thought about the conversations I never had with my own grandmother. We don’t have to repeat what wasn’t healthy. We can carry something better forward.
WL: Your granddaughter’s name appears in the book. Was that intentional?
LMK: Absolutely. I hoped that if she ever googled herself, the book might come up. It’s another way for her to find me.
WL: Where can readers find the book?
LMK: It lives in the Lesbian Archives and in two federal women’s prisons where I donated and signed copies. You can buy a copy from Amazon, and it’s available here in Charlotte at White Rabbit.
WL: If your granddaughter reads this one day, what do you hope she understands about you?
LMK: That my love for her has been deep since before she was born. This book is my message in a bottle; fragile and strong, waiting to reach her.
L’Monique King’s book “From Collards to Callaloo” is available on the Amazon website at https://www.amazon.com/Collards-Callaloo-Poems-Letter-Assata-ebook/dp/B0876FQK7Z/ and White Rabbit Books.
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SUBHEAD: ‘Two of a Kind: A Love Story’ as told by Samis Rose
Samis Rose is a longtime writer whose work blends poetry, memory and reflection to explore love, loss and identity. In “Two of a Kind: A Love Story,” Rose offers an intimate portrait of life in the South, the enduring bond she shared with her partner Billie, and the quiet ways tenderness survives grief.
Wendy Lyons: How long have you been writing, and what first inspired you to become an author?
Samis Rose: I’ve been writing most of my life. I started with poetry and short stories in grade school as a way to process things. I was an English major in college though I originally went to UNCG to study music, specifically voice, even though I technically didn’t read music. I eventually wound up with a concentration in poetry, wondering what in the world I would do with it. For many years, I didn’t think teaching was an option, so I wrote only for myself.
WL: What first moved you to write “Two of a Kind?” Was there a moment when you knew this story needed to be shared?
SR: “Two of a Kind” really began as a collection of thoughts. I had time on my hands and started writing short blurbs about life and posting them on Facebook for friends. Many included Billie, my partner of 22 years, who died in 2001 of ovarian cancer. People encouraged me to put them into a book, though I hesitated. It didn’t follow a traditional format.
WL: You describe the book as a love story. What does that love represent for you now?
SR: That clarity came when my close friend and editor, Mark, told me the book needed focus. That’s when I realized our story could extend beyond both of our lives. That understanding made it deeply personal and that’s why I included photographs. Love, for me, is Billie. Our life together. One person. One story.
WL: The book is written in reflections rather than a traditional memoir. Why did that approach feel right?
SR: Single moments stand out more than long narratives. I wanted to touch people and make them feel something. Poetry works that way for me, too. While many reflections include Billie, I also write about living with diabetes, my 20 years singing with One Voice, the creation of Sotto Voce, and my own opinions.
WL: How did growing up gay in the South shape your experience of love and visibility?
SR: The South is full of paradoxes. People often knew you were gay before you did and still accepted you, even while society frowned on it. Love was complicated. I had feelings for my best friend early on and learned quickly that loving other women was discouraged. I hid it carefully until college, where I finally realized I wasn’t alone.
WL: There’s grief in the book, but also tenderness. How did writing help you hold both?
SR: After many years, most of my grief had been worked through. Tenderness became possible again and necessary, especially in this political climate.
WL: When readers close the book, what do you hope stays with them?
SR: I hope they walk away knowing there are still decent, caring people in the world and that it only takes a little encouragement to find a heart within yourself that can embrace all beings on this crazy planet.“Two of a Kind: A Love Story” by Samis Rose is available for purchase onAmazon at https://www.amazon.com/Two-Kind-story-Samis-Rose/dp/B0FJ8438VJ and at White Rabbit Books.