Hi! It’s Stephenie
Short Bio
| 40 Under 40 Nominee | Queer History with Step-Hen-Ie | Editor for award-winning and best-selling authors | Disabled (TBI and DID) | MA Journalism and Mass Communication (UGA) | Exploring diversity throughout history and the history of media. Former editor for award-winning and best-selling authors. If it’s queer, I’m probably talking about it. Writing advice (links to bypass paywalls): https://cooltransmom.substack.com/p/story-whispering-how-to-hear-what Memoir pieces exploring my childhood being raised in a cult in Mississippi, then put through trans conversion therapy from 9 to 15 years old (links to bypass paywalls): https://cooltransmom.substack.com/p/from-5-to-40-my-life-in-photos
My life as a video essay: https://youtu.be/f6GE-hWWxsk Comments, suggestions, and hate mail may be sent to our PO Box on the lower levels of the Willy Wonka chocolate factory. LINKS Xtra Magazine: https://xtramagazine.com/contributor/stephenie-magister Script Magazine: https://scriptmag.com/author/stephenie-magister Writer's Digest: https://www.writersdigest.com/author/steph-magister ScreenRant: https://screenrant.com/author/stephenie-magister/
Long Bio
One Of The Queerest Feminist Geeks You’ll Ever Meet
I’m trans, I’m neurodivergent, and I’m proud to be one of the queerest feminist geeks you’ll ever meet.
I write articles focused on narrative nonfiction, memoir shorts, pop culture criticism, trans activism, and the science of storytelling.
Narrative nonfiction and memoir
I write lots of essays and memoir pieces about growing up as a trans girl in an offshoot of a cult in Mississippi, how I escaped as a teenager, and what it took for me to truly break free in the recent years.
Those articles are published in outlets like An Injustice, Prism & Pen, and Transgender Soapbox.
Selected articles include:
Pop Culture
I’m also far, far, far too obsessed with writing about nerdy trans stuff.
Find my nerdy queer ramblings at places like Script Magazine, ScreenRant, Fanfare, and more.
Selected articles include:
| What Kevin Smith And Chasing Amy Taught Me About Being Transgender | Jessica Rabbit Comes Out As Asexual | Maude Apatow's Dad Made A Movie Raunchier Than Euphoria | And the Oscar goes to…Benevolent Chauvinism | The most offensive moment in THE BATMAN (2022) | The Craft: Transgender Legacy | You'll Never Watch The Rocky Horror Picture Show The Same Way Again | Why THE VILLAGE (2004) is M Night Shyamalan's Only True Horror Movie |
Trans Activism
I share my hope, experience, and insight as a Queer Trans Mom. All expressed with at least a little trash talking.
But when people like Dave Chappelle and JK Rowling won’t stop attacking trans people, what’s a girl supposed to do?
Selected articles include:
| Ten Extremely Bigoted Questions Most People Ask Anyway (including you) | Why people are losing their minds about Harry Potter and JK Rowling AGAIN | What The 2022 Changes In The DSM-V Mean If You're Trans | Today's Super Easy Trans Voice Activity | Ten DEEP Female Voices (with a list of ten deep video examples) | Science Proves (Again) That Watching Fox News Makes You Dumber Than Not Watching Any News At All |
Fiction
I’ve also had a storied career in publishing as an editor for award-winning and best-selling authors. I’ve spent over the last ten years helping people tell and sell their stories. A few of them — like The Penthouse Prince by Virginia Nelson (Paperback, Kindle, and Audible editions) — even hit the USA Today best-seller list and won awards. That book is perfect for fans of Jerry Maguire.
See also: "Missing A Step? Crafting Your Unique Writing Lifestyle To Embolden Creativity" - Michael Lee Simpson interviews Stephenie Magister at Drill Magazine (offsite link)
As an editor, my purpose is to identify what aspects set an author apart and could make them irresistible — if only they will lean into those aspects. How often have you discovered the only thing holding you back was how hard you worked to be someone you’re not?
This wholehearted approach to building an author’s brand and career has helped me revitalize the creativity and enthusiasm each author (or all of us) needs to sustain a long-term career in publishing.
Testimonials
Here are testimonials for what it’s like to work with me. Given the rough and almost comically ignorant circumstances in which I was raised, it’s a miracle anyone likes me at all. For people to tell me that working with me changed their lives and their careers…well that fills me with a joy I never thought would belong to me.
“…a phenomenal editor… a true passion for the craft of editing… an absolute pleasure to work with… a gem in the editing community.” — Alethea Spiridon, former editorial director for Entangled Publishing
“…nothing like seeing a consummate professional pull the right threads on a story to show off the author’s talent…” — K. Leigh Grady, former editorial director for Entangled Publishing
“Got me signed with a literary agent… she is the best of both worlds!” — Daphne D., Rep’d by Tara Gonzalez of Erin Murphy Literary Agency
“Thorough and specific… personable and professional but a fun person to work with… a true collaborator.” — Hollie Smurthwaite, author of The Color of Trauma
“Immediately knew what was needed to fix [my book]… helped me fine-tune my book description… got that detailed eye as to how all the big and small stuff will work together… just a great, kind person in general.” — Sally Hanan, author of My Heart Went Walking
Making research and science stuff F-U-N
While earning my Master’s in Journalism at the University of Georgia, I worked with UGA and Grady College to execute a national ad campaign for their first low-residency MFA program in narrative nonfiction and screenwriting.
Fueled in part by the research I continued after earning my graduate degree, my work on the science of storytelling has been featured in Writer’s Digest, Script Magazine, and The Writing Cooperative.
Selected articles include:
| Book DNA: validating how successful mystery literature is constructed | Politics and World-Building in Science Fiction and Fantasy | STORYTELLING HACKS: The Music Method and The Christopher Nolan Method | Can Science Tell Us How To Tell Better Stories? | What Counts As A Clue, What Most Definitely Doesn't, And Why Your Story ShouldAlways Include At Least One |
Education
| BA in Communications (UAGC, formerly Ashford University) | MA in Journalism and Mass Communication (University of Georgia) | Thesis (writing as Stephen Morgan): Book DNA: validating how successful mystery literature is constructed
