Burn the Page

A True Story of Torching Doubts, Blazing Trails, and Igniting Change

By: Danica Roem

Narrated by: Danica Roem

Length: 8 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

An inspirational memoir-meets-manifesto by Danica Roem, the nation's first openly trans person elected to US state legislature.

Danica Roem made national headlines when—as a transgender former frontwoman for a metal band and a political newcomer—she unseated Virginia's most notoriously anti-LGBTQ 26-year incumbent Bob Marshall as state delegate. But before Danica made history, she had to change her vision of what was possible in her own life. Doing so was a matter of storytelling: During her campaign, Danica hired an opposition researcher to dredge up every story from her past that her opponent might seize on to paint her negatively.

In wildly entertaining prose, Danica dismantles all the stories her opponents tried to hedge against her, showing how through brutal honesty and loving authenticity, it's possible to embrace the low points, and even transform them into her greatest strengths. Burn the Page takes listeners from Danica's lonely, closeted, and at times operatically tragic childhood to her position as a rising star in a party she's helped forever change. Burn the Page is so much more than a stump speech: It's an extremely inspiring manifesto about how it's possible to set fire to the stories you don't want to be in anymore, whether written by you or about you by someone else—and rewrite your own future, whether that's running for politics, in your work, or your personal life. This book will not just encourage people who think they have to be spotless to run for office, but inspire all of us to own our personal narratives as Danica does.

©2022 Danica Roem (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Made Me Laugh. Made Me Cry.

A true story that touched my heart and made me laugh. Danica Roem is an amazing woman. I must acknowledge that she is a personal friend of mine. I was at that school board meeting. I was in Richmond fighting for Medicare Expansion. I was in Richmond fighting for the passing of the VA Values Act. I knocked doors for her campaigns. My husband and I have been in her TV ads. I do not live in her district. She is amazing. Her book is honest, compelling and emotional. Listen to her tell her story. No one could do it better.

Danica is a ⭐

I appreciate when the narrator IS the subject of the autobiography, but in this case I don't think ANYONE else could have pulled it off. I felt like she was telling her stories directly to me, like she was in the living room, making me laugh, cry and appreciate her through the narrative.

A NoVa must read

Danica narrates and describes the setting beautifully by being very real about the uniqueness of Northern Virginia. Well done, Danica! Very proud to be your constituent.

A great story about grit and resilience

I enjoy so much to know this author through her words as if o was having a conversation with her. I learned how politics are more complicated as we see them as spectators and it needs character and a sense of defiance to navigate it .

Danica has become one of my heroes, she gave herself a chair at the table and fight not only to remain there but also for all her constituents to have a voice and rights .
It’s been a real pleasure to know her and her work. This book will inspire many . Thanks Danica

Thank you

A compelling book; both politically and gender-wise. Well, executed and well performed.

Thank you for telling your story. I wish I had one tenth of the bravery you have displayed in your life. At the age of 54, I’ve been transitioning for two years. But I’m still in the closet because of the transphobic environment that I work in. However, you have given me the courage to come out to my extended family and say to myself whatever may come, may come. I have no control over others. Thank you for making me realize that.

A Smart Book

The author begins by describing her first election campaign. She hired consultants to search for everything on media that could be used as ammunition against her. Her team brainstormed ahead of time how to frame the narrative. She writes that if you let others control the narrative that they will leave you without power. She was able to get ahead of her competition and won three elections as of the publication of the book.

The author tells readers that they can use this strategy with getting what they want in their own lives. Her point is that readers should not accept other's evaluations of them. Instead, they can empower themselves and improve the quality of their lives by framing and asserting heir own narratives.

She frames her story to show that she is a success because of the way she is, and not despite it.

This is a smart book because she tells the story of how she won elections and succeeded in office using the strategy described above. Even more important, the book itself, read by the author, is a primary example of taking control of the narrative of her life to empower her and to give reader's a very detailed experience of how to carry out the strategy.

The author's reading performance adds to the reader's experience of the book. Her voice is so unique that she is the only person who could read the book and to have it work the way it does.

The book is an inspiration, a pleasure to listen to, and an all around smart production in more ways than I describe here. I would buy and listen to another book and reading performance by the author. Thank you, Danica Roem. I wish you the best.

Another book please!

Danica is an entertainer for sure. She tells us about her young life, teaches us about politics, and makes us laugh along the way. I loved journeying along with her on her path toward where she is today and absolutely enjoyed her delivery. I hope she writes more!

A story people should hear

Danica's story is one everyone should hear. She shows us how politics can and should work. She shows us how to persevere and succeed, in so many ways. Her story in inspiring, funny, and important.

Great story!

Thanks for sharing your story, Danica. It was a great listen and I loved it!