‘Gross And Unlikable’: An All-Female Anthology Of Horror Stories

It's women's idea of four different from men's. That's where the questions you may be able to answer. The black candies collection of short horror stories is written and illustrated by women. It's gross and unlikable. Joining me is Julia Evans. She's editor of black candies gross and unlikable. Julia welcome to the program. Think you for having us. Jennifer Corley is here and she's an author of one of the stories X-Ray Specs Thank you. Julia how long have you been putting out this black candies Sears? It's been put out since 2010 in various forms. It started as a magazine publication. The founding editor started it as a way for more literary writing. It's more thoughtful and less grotesque. It's evolved since then into a book form. This year's title gross and unlikable can you give us a sense of the kind of disturbing tales that readers can expect? There's a huge variety. We were not quite sure to expect. We have stories about children. We have stories about romantic and sometimes sexual and grotesque. They are very weird. That covers a broad span. It strikes me that Chris and unlikable are two things that women in specific have been taught not to be. Is this a reversal of the accepted norm? Yes. It's something as literary feels progress it's still not welcome for women to go dark. When they do and right like women that's not welcome. This is something when Ryan chose the guest editor to work on this project he wanted to make sure the stories were written by women and not what we describe as man edited. Jennifer do feel comfortable writing horror. I am. Strangely enough I have had two more pieces published this year. Looks like I am comfortable writing it. As Julia was saying it's something that women are taught not to write or if they do write it it is something special. Here's a woman who's written a workpiece. That's something that should be thought of surprising or unusual. It's not. We write that and we find it is quite comfortable writing this. You are taught that you don't deserve a space for it. With this anthology it's sending a message that not only do women deserve a space fort we deserve a lot of space for it. It's been a gift. Were to ask you to read an excerpt from your story X-Ray Specs , would you do that force? Absolutely. The lights are off in the classroom because were supposed to be watching a movie about nature. I use this opportunity sitting in the dark with only the light that bleeds into the blinds to passmark a note. If a drawing I made of a skeleton. There's a hard behind the rib cage. I know you can't see a rib -- hard on a x-ray but that's a technicality. The note says my heart will break if you don't like me. I need to see things that aren't there. I pass it and fold it up to Mark. He looks at me and I smile. He opens it in my chest hurts. It feels like my heart will break your he's staring at it. He is not smiling or writing back. He's not doing anything. I can feel the picture on the TV changing flashing on me as a teacher has gotten it sorted out. The light on our faces changes and I hear animals tearing into prey. I cannot look away from work. I hear shrieking. That was Jennifer Corley reading from her short story X-Ray Specs which is included in the new addition of black candies gross and unlikable. Jennifer caught what appeals to you about writing dark fiction? It's a mental place where you can release your darkest thoughts, your fears, the things that may be especially as women you're not able to talk about. It's an overused phrase but it's a safe space writing dark fiction for you to get things that. Julia, who other than Jennifer are featured in the book? We have a wide range -- some well known writers. We have several writers who was their debut with their first published story. The stories were nominated for that panoramic -- I was reading a comment about horror stories and this comment had said when I read a poor story I can't tell if it's written by a man or woman and I don't care. I just want something that's going to be something great to read. Do you find in this book there is a slight difference between men and women approach for? I think so in this book. The women writers and the artist -- a lot of Balaji Ault -- biological female things that we do with that men do not have a place to write or do not understand properly. There are two stories and hear about being on your menstrual period they would not understand that. People are compelled to go into the female realms. Jennifer, do you think the way Julia was saying that women are underrepresented in the core genre, will that change? I think so and hope so. I think especially now it's timely and I think we will be experiencing a pushback which is needed. I think gross and unlikable was a title that nobody foresaw how timely and how in your face it was. Blood is in your face. The gross and unlikable launch party will be taking place this Thursday at the whistle stop bar in South Park. I've been speaking with Julia Evans who is editor of black candies gross and unlikable and Jennifer Corley . Thank you so much.