gunkhole press

30 SLEIGHTS FOR THE MODERN TRANSSEXUAL by @leoleventhal.bsky.social

I let Leo write this one if you can’t tell

Doctors keep sending this to us saying “if you’re depressed you should go to gunckel’s service” and for the last fucking time, but doctors, we-

(Crow bursts from the egg of my heart and bangs against the walls of my chest cavity until it finds the wet release of my throat to squeeze up and out of)

A hand holding up a copy of Leo Leventhal’s “30 Sleights for the Modern Transexual” with a blue cover and diagrams of coin sleight-of-hand tricks. Legs and hammock in the background.

Hand holding a pink zine titled “Appalachian Transsexual” (12 poems by Kyrsten) with an image of a vibrator and sickle.

Hand holding a pink zine with the title “missladyma’amwoman” (16 poems by Kyrsten) with the image of a trans woman on the cover.

Hand holding the pamphlet “Eugene” by Jackie Ess with green cover and image of a landscape.

This morning’s long weekend leisure reading. Would love to know about more trans authors who are self publishing printed zines/chapbooks. Drop your recommendations here. (I stay up on digital self publishing. I’m wanting more material objects.)

The single copy in question.

We found ONE MORE COPY of 30 Sleights and it is on sale at Myopic Books RIGHT NOW. Call the store to put it on hold. First come first serve.

GUNKHOLE X FIO 2025 (we just made the poster but this IS a key part of the NYC-Chicago Emergency Hotline System)

Receiving reports that there are only 3 copies left in stock! Swing by the world’s best bookstore from 12-8 to grab one before they’re gone.

Copy of 30 SLEIGHTS at Myopic Books

If you missed out on preordering, the remaining copies of the second printing are available EXCLUSIVELY in person at Myopic Books in Chicago. This book and press wouldn’t exist without the constant support and encouragement of the Myopic crew; it’s an honor to have a place on their shelves at last.

Box full of 30 SLEIGHTS copies

(1/2) Endless thanks to everyone who helped sell out the first edition of 30 SLEIGHTS FOR THE MODERN TRANSSEXUAL in 2 hours!! We were completely blown away. If you preordered a copy of the second edition, it’s headed your way RIGHT NOW.

leo blood edition is going to the highest bidder and we're starting at $500. what sicko out there wants to fund our next release

If you bought a copy of 30 Sleights from the second run you should have an email with tracking info waiting for u :) they’re going out tomorrow ! Enjoy you little gluttons !

All authors published by gunkhole have to get “industrious burnout” tattooed across their throat

advertise your book with cover and content warnings only

• closeup magic
• stage magic
• gay shit for fags and faguettes

leoleventhal.itch.io/30sleights

CDs of “ESPN presents Jock Jams” volume 1 and 3, a hand bound copy of 30 Sleights for the Modern Transexual by Leo Leventhal, and a black pilot fountain pen in a black plastic case.

Fantastic acquisitions today. Tip your local pizza boy so he can buy $1 CDs and transgender literature.

Only two copies left 🤪 they call me “the girl who sold a surprising amount of copies of a hand bound book of weird short fiction”

great thread if you are interested in our process or in modern tv westerns

Look at all these beautiful books ready to go!

ahhhhhhh yessss must-buy

Leo is one of my funniest friends and I love this little book she wrote! very delightful & surreal

INSANE UPDATE: we sold out of our first print run! Thank you all for your support and excitement. We've added a pre-order link for the next batch, which will be finished later in July. You can also always grab a name-your-price PDF if you're impatient. leoleventhal.itch.io/30sleights

thank you so much cat!!

6 physical copies left after I got one! Don't delay!

look look look i wrote a book :) and you can read it :) it is about the way we give ourselves to art and it gives us nothing back so we give and we give only losing and that is worthwhile and beautiful :) it is also about magic tricks :)

Leo wrote a book and I designed and published it. Incredibly proud of her and us and making something with our hands. This one is special.

30 Sleights for the Modern Transsexual by LeoLeventhal, Gunkhole Press

Hand-sewn and bound with dyed cheesecloth, the first physical edition of 30 Sleights... ​was risograph printed by Gunkhole Press in Chicago in Spring 2025 on found construction paper. You can order both physical copies and name-your-price downloads here: leoleventhal.itch.io/30sleights

physical copy of 30 SLEIGHTS FOR THE MODERN TRANSSEXUAL

​30 Sleights for the Modern Transsexual, Leo Leventhal's debut collection of linked short stories, is a house of cards collapsing in slow motion. Learn the secrets of coin tricks, riverboat gambling, and killing your past self; everything you need to survive the cutthroat world of trans stage magic.

Pretend you hold a deck of cards. Do not pick up a deck of cards no matter how convenient one may be. Feel the deck of cards in the palm of your dominant hand. Your hand is still, the stack is firm. Pinch either side of the deck with your thumb and forefinger, press harder than comes natural.

coming soon: some tricks up our sleeve.

In this house we coast on innate ability, and eschew all that doesn’t come to us naturally. If you find yourself thinking “this is hard, I need to practice to improve my ability” you’ve already lost.