Cake Walk: A Novel

Douglas Bell’s debut novel, Cakewalk, is a bold, emotionally charged story about love, identity, and the struggle to live authentically.

Set in 2015, it follows Bryan Hicks, a successful Black executive in conservative Texas who hides his relationship with Nadia, a transgender woman. Though Bryan appears to have it all, an unconscious shame swells within him as he begins a journey toward truth and self-acceptance—haunted by the judgment of his family and professional world.

Through raw, intimate, and unapologetic scenes, Bell explores the complexities of sexuality, masculinity, and personal freedom. This is Bryan’s journey, where he uses meditation as a path to clarity—learning that vulnerability is not weakness but the gateway to liberation.

Cakewalk is the first novel written from a trans-amorous perspective, capturing not just the love, but the fear, desire, secrecy, and courage that come with it. You will be mad at Bryan for his choices—but that’s the point. Honest choices are often the hardest to make.

Cakewalk is not just a story—it’s a mirror. It challenges, awakens, and ultimately helps you grow. If you are struggling to live authentically—or to understand someone who is—Cakewalk is for you. There is no other book on the market like it.