My Body Is Distant: A Memoir

By Staff

June 18th, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

Paige Maylott’s award-winning book, My Body is Distant, is an electrifying and vulnerable memoir that invites readers into an intimate conversation about our digital and physical selves, gender, and belonging. Maylott writes about her life—both virtual and IRL—as she explores her authentic self and sexuality through dream-like virtual worlds. As she discovers the person she is meant to be, Paige contends with a cancer diagnosis and an imploding marriage while struggling to convert an online love story into reality. When a humiliation at work provides the necessary push to transition, Paige finds the freedom to explore her new self.

Part coming-out story of a trans woman and part heartfelt romance, My Body Is Distant follows Paige from a childhood obsession with the 1980s game Zork, through a health crisis and divorce, to an ultimately affirming experience and self-love.

Paige Maylott is a Hamiltonian author, gamer, and accessibility specialist. Her memoir, My Body is Distant examines gender transition, critical illness, and digital identity. This work earned the 2024 Hamilton Literary Award for Non-Fiction, the Gold IPPY Award for LGBTQ+ Non-Fiction, a spot on the Rakuten Kobo shortlist, and was one of Hamilton Review of Books’ Best Books of 2023. Praised by CBC Books, Publishers Weekly, Open Book, and the Whistler Writers Festival, among others. When not writing, Paige collects retro video games and blasts 80s hair metal—because sometimes the best plot twist is a guitar solo.

Takes place on June 30th, 7:00 to 8:00 pm at the Central Library on New Street

At publication, there were just 12 seats available for this event.

To REGISTER click HERE

Presented in partnership with ECW Press.

Borrow My Body is Distant from our collection

Accessibility

If you need an accessibility accommodation during this program, please register early so we can confirm arrangements a few days before your visit.