We are delighted to announce that UK and Commonwealth rights (exc Canada) to Elisabeth Spencer’s memoir The Road to My Daughter: A Mother’s Experience of the Transgender Journey have been acquired from Caroline Hardman by editorial director Olivia Beattie at Biteback Publishing. The book, which was written with Elisabeth’s daughter’s support, is a nuanced account of what it means to be the parent of a transgender child and is set to be published in February 2021.

Spencer said: “The revelation of my daughter’s coming out as a young trans woman created a perfect storm in my life, forcing me to confront the bewildering turmoil of her transition in parallel with my husband’s terminal illness. Caught in this vortex of death and rebirth, I was humbled as my knowledge and understanding of the trans experience grew. I hope that The Road to My Daughter will be a testament to the need for both compassion and education in the midst of the current polemical stance of the trans debate.”

Beattie said: “Elisabeth’s writing is remarkable for its warmth, generosity and raw emotional honesty, inviting the reader into the heart of her compelling story. Capturing her deeply personal experiences with a richly evocative power, Elisabeth’s memoir will speak movingly to readers who can only imagine what her family’s journey must be like, and the whole Biteback team are really proud to be bringing it to a wider audience.”

The Road to My Daughter is both compelling and timely, as well as a thoughtful reflection on trans issues. Elisabeth’s narrative illuminates what it really means to be the parent of a transgender child, how it feels to witness the physical and mental processes of transitioning, and the realities behind embarking on this journey together.

Elisabeth Spencer is a musician and writer. She has performed in opera, ballet and symphony orchestras, and gives masterclasses around the world. Until now, her writing has been largely linked to her musical life, in the form of articles, reviews, and introductions to editions. Elisabeth lives in Oxfordshire but is a passionate traveller, both for work and pleasure.

You can read the Bookbrunch article here.