Honorable Mention, Non-Fiction–Autobiography, Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards, 2021 Winner, LGBTQ Non-Fiction, Book Excellence Awards, 2021 Runner Up, Nonfiction-Memoir, PenCraft Awards, 2020 Finalist, First Non-Fiction , Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards, 2020 Finalist, LGBTQ: Non-Fiction, American Book Fest Best Book Awards, 2020 Honorable Mention, LGBT, Royal Dragonfly Book Awards, 2020 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award, Best LGBT Memoir, National Association of Book Entrepreneurs, Summer 2020 Farm Boy, City Girl: From Gene to Miss Gina details John "Gene" E. Dawson's life growing up in Depression-era Iowa in a poor farming Irish-Catholic family and his adult years spent living on the LGBTQ cultural edge in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and St. Louis. The book offers a rare glimpse into the Mid-20th Century history of both rural Iowa and of LGBTQ individuals in Middle America--told by one who was there. Part One, Farm Boy 1931-1949: Gene recounts his years growing up in the Great Depression, moving with his family from rental farm to rental farm until his parents could afford to purchase their own land and home. Life was difficult and often brutal for anyone during this time, but especially so for a gender-fluid gay child/teenager. Part Two, Transition and Tragedy 1950-1959: Gene initially leaves the farm and begins transitioning into his new life as a gay man in the cities of Cedar Rapids and St. Louis, adopting the "city girl" persona of Gina. But the tragic accidental death of his mother forces him to move back to his family's home in Iowa where he faces gut-wrenching family drama and the loving burden of helping to raise his three younger brothers. Part Three, City Girl 1960-: Gene returns to Cedar Rapids before finally moving on to live an open, full existence as Miss Gina in St. Louis. Even in the city though, life was quite hard for openly gay men, and Gene recounts multiple harrowing tales involving the brutality of police, gay bar life, and the unsung heroism of Midwestern LGBTQ people--years before the famous Stonewall riot in New York City. Displaying a candid gift for storytelling, Dawson recounts his struggles for acceptance and personal growth while refusing to compromise his identity. --Mike Kuhlenbeck, Little Village magazine, April 2021 Instead of getting just a glimpse of what life was like for LGBTQ+ people several decades ago, or in current times, we get what is truly a rare treat--following Gene's (Miss Gina's) story through many very important shifts in society and its acceptance, understanding the rights surrounding the LGBTQ+ community. ... Overall, this is such an important book. --Literary Titan, Silver Award, September 2020 Farm Boy, City Girl is a remarkable autobiography that offers a rare glimpse into the Mid-20th Century history of both rural Iowa and of LGBTQ individuals in Middle America. ... An absorbing and inherently interesting life story, Farm Boy, City Girl: From Gene to Miss Gina is an especially well written, organized and presented memoir of a troubled life lived in troubling times. --Midwest Book Review Small Press Bookwatch, July and September 2020 The author is philosophical and honest as he completes this epic story of one person's double life and his unwavering love for his family. Farm Boy, City Girl: From Gene to Miss Gina is a nonfictional expose of one person's life covering gender fluidity with a big jump into drag culture. It goes back to the early 1900s and is full of stunning revelations. --AuthorsReading.com Author John "Gene" E. Dawson delivers a superb life story with pathos, heart, and a whole lot of valuable wisdom that future generations must hear. ... Dawson's enigmatic narrative style shows readers his true heart, and the expressions of his life are laced with nostalgia, love, humor, and heartache as we undergo his truly emotional and ground-breaking tale. By its end, this is a memoir where you really fall in love with the author and wish them every bit of good they've found in life. Overall, I would highly recommend Farm Boy, City Girl to all readers as a lesson in fortitude, love, and strength. --K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite John "Gene" E. Dawson's Farm Boy, City Girl immerses the reader in the history of the Dawson and Agnew families, and far from being overwhelmed, I found myself drawn to his easy, conversational, and fluent writing style. I could visualize so much of what he was sharing and found myself wondering just how he managed to stay a part of his family despite the problems he had with his father accepting him for who he was. ... His joy at being able to express himself and become who he was inside is transcendent and eloquently shared with the reader. ... Farm Boy, City Girl: From Gene to Miss Gina is a grand story about a life well-lived. It's most highly recommended . --Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite Farm Boy, City Girl: From Gene to Miss Gina te