What do you think?
Rate this book
Interloper
“What we do is hard, because it’s not supposed to be possible.”
Change was everywhere in early 1980’s London. New sights, sounds and the fresh confidence of a new generation determined not just to subvert, but to become the future.
Lee Habens arrived from small town grief, seeking her own change. She hoped to be part of the new revolution – but on her own terms. In short, Lee needed to become the woman she had not been born.
She would need to find ways to support herself and to fund a complex and terrifying journey she could only loosely comprehend. She would need to walk the delicate lines between the straight world and places where genders pass and blur. And she would need to do it all unnoticed – until it would be time to move beyond, to the life for which she’d always felt destined.
There would be new challenges, old secrets and relationships of impossible promise – for if a new life could be created, perhaps even love could stand a chance.
From West London to Brighton, Bristol and the South of Spain, Interloper echoes a time of optimism and flamboyance; fear and danger. The prize is peace and a place to call home. For the interloper to finally belong.
Change was everywhere in early 1980’s London. New sights, sounds and the fresh confidence of a new generation determined not just to subvert, but to become the future.
Lee Habens arrived from small town grief, seeking her own change. She hoped to be part of the new revolution – but on her own terms. In short, Lee needed to become the woman she had not been born.
She would need to find ways to support herself and to fund a complex and terrifying journey she could only loosely comprehend. She would need to walk the delicate lines between the straight world and places where genders pass and blur. And she would need to do it all unnoticed – until it would be time to move beyond, to the life for which she’d always felt destined.
There would be new challenges, old secrets and relationships of impossible promise – for if a new life could be created, perhaps even love could stand a chance.
From West London to Brighton, Bristol and the South of Spain, Interloper echoes a time of optimism and flamboyance; fear and danger. The prize is peace and a place to call home. For the interloper to finally belong.
464 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 4, 2017
2 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
Kim Erin Cowley
2 books4 followersI was born on the Kent coast in 1963, in the midst of a winter that famously froze the sea. Everything was fine until I realised what I was - and wasn't.
As for so many young people raised in the orbit of London, the pull of the capital was overwhelming and I eventually left for the big city at the age of 19.
I spent a decade trying to ignore and then placate my own instincts. I began to realise that my own future might ask rather more of me than I might have to give.
I began a media career in the 1980's, dealing with promoters and record companies on behalf of various music magazines including Sounds and Kerrang!.
By the beginning of the 90's I'd found my way to the film business - initially in the shape of trade titles, Variety and Screen International and for an extended period, at the British Film Institute. I've now spent more than a decade and a half providing support services to producers, distributors and broadcasters.
In addition to earning a crust and negotiating all of the usual trials of life and love, I needed to resolve a conflict at the heart of my very existence. Changing sex has been more challenging and more wonderful than I ever imagined. The experience of following raw instinct and a drive beyond reason naturally informed my writing perspective for Interloper and I hope it will continue to help me interpret and create in the future.
Who I am has ultimately proved to be more important than what I am - but harmonising both has given me the chance to love the life I am now so fortunate to live.
In 2009, I produced my first effort at a novel. It didn't find a publisher but I at least enjoyed the ride and committed myself to another try. It would take 5 years to complete, but ‘Interloper’ finally arrived in 2017.
As for so many young people raised in the orbit of London, the pull of the capital was overwhelming and I eventually left for the big city at the age of 19.
I spent a decade trying to ignore and then placate my own instincts. I began to realise that my own future might ask rather more of me than I might have to give.
I began a media career in the 1980's, dealing with promoters and record companies on behalf of various music magazines including Sounds and Kerrang!.
By the beginning of the 90's I'd found my way to the film business - initially in the shape of trade titles, Variety and Screen International and for an extended period, at the British Film Institute. I've now spent more than a decade and a half providing support services to producers, distributors and broadcasters.
In addition to earning a crust and negotiating all of the usual trials of life and love, I needed to resolve a conflict at the heart of my very existence. Changing sex has been more challenging and more wonderful than I ever imagined. The experience of following raw instinct and a drive beyond reason naturally informed my writing perspective for Interloper and I hope it will continue to help me interpret and create in the future.
Who I am has ultimately proved to be more important than what I am - but harmonising both has given me the chance to love the life I am now so fortunate to live.
In 2009, I produced my first effort at a novel. It didn't find a publisher but I at least enjoyed the ride and committed myself to another try. It would take 5 years to complete, but ‘Interloper’ finally arrived in 2017.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 6, 2017
Being born in the wrong body. Lee Habens became obsessive about removing any trace of a beard. Lee is being considered for gender reassignment. One of the main questions are what makes you feel that this course of treatment is right for you? There is a lot involved before a sex change. For some men having a simple removal of the male genitalia is enough for them. But Lee's intention is to fully function in the female role. A Friend of mine her brother had a sex change to be a woman but died due to complications. For the author changing sex has been an experience more challenging and amazing than she could have imagined. It had been in turns , harrowing terrifying, infuriating and soul crushingly lonely. Although I do watch I am Jaz about a young girl who has had a sex change, I knew what a male had to go through to be able to fully function like a female. But although I already knew what's involved I still really enjoyed reading this book.
October 24, 2020
This book blew me away! I mean (hands shooting from the sides of my head while making an explosion sound).
I i must be honest though that I had trepidations at first for some unknown reason and though this book was on queue for me to read I kept pushing it back until now. And boy was I an idiot not to have read it sooner, but glad that I finally got around to it.
Grant you are sorely missed, wish I could have know you longer.
I laughed and I cried along with Lee. I championed her through her travels, struggles, losses and gains.
Looking forward to what is next in store for Kim Erin Cowley.
I i must be honest though that I had trepidations at first for some unknown reason and though this book was on queue for me to read I kept pushing it back until now. And boy was I an idiot not to have read it sooner, but glad that I finally got around to it.
Grant you are sorely missed, wish I could have know you longer.
I laughed and I cried along with Lee. I championed her through her travels, struggles, losses and gains.
Looking forward to what is next in store for Kim Erin Cowley.
May 2, 2025
OMG
Wasn't expecting this choice of book from the ladies book club of of which I am an honourary member as a bloke. My wife and my kids have known and loved a guy called Kevin, now Kay, who went through all this. He and I used to butcher deer together in my kitchen. She did talk about but I had no idea just how tough it was. Sadly she died of cancer just three years after transitioning but all my family and I have such fond memories of a wonderful person. Male or female.😪
Wasn't expecting this choice of book from the ladies book club of of which I am an honourary member as a bloke. My wife and my kids have known and loved a guy called Kevin, now Kay, who went through all this. He and I used to butcher deer together in my kitchen. She did talk about but I had no idea just how tough it was. Sadly she died of cancer just three years after transitioning but all my family and I have such fond memories of a wonderful person. Male or female.😪
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews