Milo Todd- The Lilac People (Podcast Interview)

Milo Todd discusses the research process for his debut, The Lilac People. This sweeping historical fiction novel shares a devastating chapter in trans history.

Debut novelist Milo Todd joins me to discuss his book, The Lilac People, in honor of Pride Month. This sweeping and heartbreaking historical fiction novel uncovers a devastating chapter in queer and trans history.

Milo’s novel centers on a group of trans and intersex patients at Berlin’s Institute for Sexual Science as Hitler’s regime begins its rise to power. Through stunning research and unforgettable characters, readers uncover a nearly erased history to life—while drawing chilling parallels to today’s political climate.

In our conversation, Milo shares how real historical figures and overlooked archives shaped the characters in his novel—and why it was crucial to honor the lives of those whose stories were almost erased from history.

In this moving conversation, Milo and I discuss:

How Milo discovered the history of the Institute for Sexual Science and the work of Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld—and the biggest surprises when researching their legacy.
The challenges with research for this novel in the face of the pandemic and the creative avenues he took to build his story
How Milo sees trans people as being the canaries in the coal mine as we discuss one of his story’s most impactful scenes
How Milo’s teaching work with trans youth informs his writing and what actions he believes are most impactful in allyship today.

BONUS BOOK LIST: This week, I’m sharing a companion book list of 26 LGBTQ History Books to read, including new releases and backlist titles, that offer illuminating details on the joys and triumphs throughout queer history.

The Lilac People Book Summary

A moving and deeply humane story about a trans man who must relinquish the freedoms of prewar Berlin to survive first the Nazis then the Allies, all while protecting the ones he loves

In 1932 Berlin, a trans man named Bertie and his friends spend carefree nights at the Eldorado Club, the epicenter of Berlin’s thriving queer community. An employee of the renowned Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld at the Institute of Sexual Science, Bertie works to improve queer rights in Germany and beyond. But everything changes when Hitler rises to power. The Institute is raided, the Eldorado is shuttered, and queer people are rounded up. Bertie barely escapes with his girlfriend, Sofie, to a nearby farm. There they take on the identities of an elderly couple and live for more than a decade in isolation.

In the final days of the war, with their freedom in sight, Bertie and Sofie find a young trans man collapsed on their property, still dressed in Holocaust prison clothes. They vow to protect him—not from the Nazis, but from the Allied forces who are arresting queer prisoners while liberating the rest of the country. Ironically, as the Allies’ vise grip closes on Bertie and his family, their only salvation is to flee to the United States.

Brimming with hope, resilience, and the enduring power of community, The Lilac People tells an extraordinary story inspired by real events and recovers an unknown moment of World War II and trans history.

Meet Milo Todd

Milo Todd is a Massachusetts Cultural Council grantee and a Lambda Literary Fellow. His work has appeared in Slice Magazine and elsewhere. He is the co-editor-in-chief of Foglifter and teaches creative writing to queer and trans adults. The Lilac People is his debut novel.

Milo Todd is Reclaiming Trans History

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Join the June Book Club Chat (The Reckless Oath We Made)

Red Clay Suzie by Jeffrey Dale Lofton

Larry Hoffer (@getbookedwithlarry)

The Lilac People by Milo Todd

The Book of Harlan by Bernice L. McFadden

You Can’t Ask That

Institute for Sexual Science

In Memoriam by Alice Winn

Milo’s Events

The Queer Writer

A sample of Max Meyers narration

Milo’s Instagram