Kirjahaku

The impetus for stories comes from the Muses. Old myths, many of them five thousand years old, provide a seed of truth, a plot, a glimpse of character that can be developed in a modern context. Societal structures, patriarchy, family, religion, cultural norms and mores, and women's hopes and goals shape these stories, and push and pull these female protagonists into their arcs. The reality for women in the twenty-first century is that fully half the households in the U.S. are headed by a single, working mother. One in three women are raped. Millions across the globe migrate to escape war, famine and destruction of their environment. All face discrimination based on gender. I have no interest in writing escapist fiction with a happy ending. I do, however, want to tell gripping stories about the truth of women's lives. "Medea Royal" began this journey for me several years back. Others: Jocasta, Eurydice, Kata, Mnemosyne, Alice, Claire, etc. seemed to push forward in my creative imagination waving their raised hands, "Me next " they shouted from my dreams.

Women protagonists who push back against obstacles tell interesting stories. Myths, thousands of years old, set in the twenty-first century challenge contemporary issues facing women: traditional mores, patriarchy, religious superstition, unfaithful lovers, violence, and glass ceilings, among others. Medea, Jocasta, Mnemosyne and Eurydice are tales that are loosely re-told in this first book of short stories by Brit Chism. Contemporary issues of trafficking, homelessness, immigration, and family (Mother-daughters, and mother-son) are treated as well.

Juana Diego and the Roses is a book of short stories about women protagonists. They struggle with contemporary issues: gender discrimination, violence, unfaithful lovers, frustrated ambition, dishonest coworkers, outdated social mores, and patriarchy. No knight in shining armor or superman here--the women rely on their own resources and strengths to overcome (or succumb)--there is no guaranteed happy ending. Indeed the myths of Prince Charming and happily ever after are often misrepresentations. These are not period pieces, but contemporary 21st century stories that could be set where you live, and deal with the issues that today's woman faces.