When Roe v. Wade was overturned in the US, and then followed quickly by yet another school shooting, I impulsively tweeted and took some heat for the brief sentiment below. It was clear to me a pithy statement didn’t express my complex idea, and I had to write a story to make my feelings known and hopefully understood.
I said:
“If my body was a gun, your laws would protect it.”
In case you’re offended, let’s be clear: I’m not making a joke of school shootings. I’m horrified and outraged by them. I’m not making fun of reproductive rights. My body is subject to them.
What I’m talking about is an irony I feel deep in my bones.
My contribution to the Cosmic Horror Monthly anthology “Aseptic and Faintly Sadistic” is a story inspired by that irony, the experience of going through the wrong puberty, and witnessing, during my two decades working in the field, what desperate people do when they have no access to abortion care.
By Their Bones Ye Shall Know Them is a story about a boy pregnant with a gun. The book sales benefit The Chicago Abortion Fund.
For a glimpse of my story and others, you can watch the virtual release party hosted by P.L. McMillan. It also features Alex Laurel Lanz, Laura Blackwell, Diane Callahan, K. Wallace King, Tania Chen, and Sarah Pauling. I was truly impressed by the gorgeous language and passion in all the stories and enjoyed being a part of the book launch.
I hope you’ll get the book, check out the launch party readings, or do both!
Aseptic and Faintly Sadistic Launch Party
Read By Their Bones Ye Shall Know Them in “Aseptic and Faintly Sadistic”
Thank you for reading! If you enjoy my work, please follow this blog for updates. Consider supporting my continued creativity and existence by picking up a copy of CONVULSIVE or THE WINGSPAN OF SEVERED HANDS for yourself, a friend, an evil nemesis, or a local free library.
Horrorsong 