Hi, my name is Riley. Back in 2018, I picked up writing as a way to process and express my internal conflicts, and since then it has become one of my primary ways of internalizing and applying the lessons I learn in therapy. It began with gender dysphoria first and foremost, centering on characters that echoed the wrongness I felt in my body. Years since, I've built meaningful relationships and dug deeper into the bottles I filled to survive. "The Fool, The Lovers, The Devil" is my most expansive story yet, born from one of the hardest years of my life. 

It's hard to wrap up what this book is about in a neat little bow, because I feel like the main plot is getting better and healing but the avenue that takes is the sort of bewildering romance that upends a life. It's LGBT and paranormal, but also erotic and sex-positive. There's no fade to black because meaningful conversation doesn't stop at the bedroom door. So romance is very much there, and forming those connections is essential, but the main character, Addison, is on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance. Having a girlfriend doesn't fix her, but leaving her comfort zone teaches her to trust (and shocker: that trust is rewarded, not punished).