Being an activist can take lots of time and hard work. FFE executive board member Veronica Vera helps us keep the feminine in feminist. We go to her book Miss Vera's Cross-Dress for Success (Villard) when we want to be inspired to slow down and take a bubble bath, or need a pep talk from a wise fairy godmother about being ourselves. Miss Vera knows that "for every woman who burned her bra, there is a man ready to wear one." She wrote her book for the millions of men who long to be women, some for a few hours, others for a lifetime. But there are plenty of information and resource listings for genetic girls too. And for anyone interested in playing with gender, this book is essential. Chapters include information on accessories, bridal gowns, counselors and therapists, drag performers, fetish and exotic wear, hair removal, legal aid, lingerie, make-up and cosmetics, medical websites, sex education, shoes, social and support groups, wigs and more. Veronica discusses challenging subjects such as flirting and sexual harassment. She pays tribute to drag artists and offers a chapter for wives of cross-dressers. To give you some background on this artist, Veronica began her career as a sex journalist and she was tireless in her research. She interviewed peep show workers, swingers, s/m enthusiasts, artists, priests and porn stars. Usually she jumped in with both high heels, even making some sexually explicit movies. She decided to write a book about what she had learned about her sex life and everyone else's. In order to keep herself in stockings and toner ink, she came up with the idea for Miss Vera's Finishing School for Boys Who Want to Be Girls, the world's first cross-dressing academy in New York City (www.missvera.com) The rest is herstory. Miss Vera's Academy is known throughout the world. Her first book bears the same name as her school. We're still waiting for that book about her personal sexual evolution, but in the meantime we are happy to have her second book, Miss Vera's Cross-Dress for Success, A Resource Guide for Boys Who Want To Be Girls to keep us on our toes.

" Looking fabulous is so much easier thanks to Miss Vera." Ru-Paul

" We'll all have more pleasure when we get in touch with our male and female within. Veronica's book is an inspiration." Betty Dodson, Ph.D.

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