Illustration of Kes Otter Lieffe, author of utopian trans speculative fiction novels and Queer Ecology writer.

Hello! I’m Kes Otter Lieffe

I’m an author of four queer speculative fiction novels and several short stories. I also write about class and queer ecology. I offer workshops, book readings, interviews and editing.

I’m an ecologist and organiser and have been involved in grassroots community struggles for over twenty years. My work focuses on mutual aid and the intersections of class, queerness, disability justice and environmental defence.

I have two substacks: pink and green, for my queer ecology writing and Margins and Murmurations, my newsletter.

Hear more about why I write (text version here) –

Photo showing a canopy of mixed deciduous trees at sunset.
Photograph of Margins, a trilogy of queer, trans speculative fiction novels by author and queer ecologist, Kes Otter Lieffe

Speculative Fiction

In my futuristic stories, marginalised characters take centre stage in powerful resistance movements. Everything is at stake and so much is possible.

Photo of Kes Otter Lieffe, author of utopian trans speculative fiction novels and Queer Ecology writer. Kes stands in a blue dress beneath an apple tree in a grassy field

Queer Ecology

I’m an ecologist and the author of the Queer Animals and Plants series.
I give workshops and have a substack on the subject.

Workshops

I’ve been teaching for over twenty years and I regularly offer workshops and presentations on subjects such as mutual aid, consensus and writing.

pink and green

I have a new substack called
pink and green with excerpts (and audio) from an upcoming book on queer ecology, class, mutual aid and nature connection.

Cover of "Home is a verb", a queer and trans speculative fiction novel by author Kes Otter Lieffe. In this story, Kes explores queer ecology, class, disability and survival.

Home is a verb

My latest novel explores burnout and despair, collective collapse and recovery. In a shifting world, marginalised characters must face their traumas and embrace change. In their search for healing, they are brought together, finding home in the least expected of places.

Photo of a Eurasian Starling with a green background.

Deutsch

Hier findest du der deutschsprachige Ecke meiner Website mit Übersetzungen meiner Texte und eine Podcast-folge auf Deutsch

Creating becomes ever harder to live from and as a result there are fewer working-class authors each year. I love my work although it doesn’t come close to paying the bills. I fundraise all the time for other projects but I find it hard to focus on earning enough from my work. And without the safety net of middle-class privilege, I really don’t have an option.

As I have been my whole life, I’m deeply invested in mutual aid and in solidarity organising. I want to keep writing, teaching, mobilising and learning.

But I’ll need some help along the way.

https://www.patreon.com/otterlieffe