The Maenad's Bone Garden

  Gwendolyn Harper (She/They) sometimes writing as the Maenad is the author of The Ishtar Cycle (2021), and Flying the Jolly Scarlet Gambling with the Gods (2023) Their anthology work has appeared in Unstable!, True Grit, Bone Milk Vol 2 and Vulcanalia 21. Work has appeared at ZiN Daily, Writers Resist, 365 Tomorrows, the World History Encyclopedia, Beyond the Underground, and Cream Scene Carnival. She has also been published in the Fahmidan Journal, Corporeal, Troublemaker Firestarter, and Engendered. Best of the Net Nominee 2023. Columnist at Cream Scene Carnival. They have read for the Farside Review. Founder/publisher Dreaming Gynoid Studio, author of the Galaxy Black RPG Editor & Publisher of the Sub-ether zine since 2020 A queer, disabled, angry punk Goddess, Gwendolyn writes about trauma, sex, politics, pop culture, science fiction, history, space, and sex work. They have lived experience of homelessness, intimate partner violence, drug abuse and addiction as we...

Proud to be part of the kith books inaugural fall/winter collection, with Flying the Jolly Scarlet, Gambling with the Gods Very happy to be part of an ensemble chorus of such distinct and unique voices.  The next six months are going to make such a lovely noise. https://www.kithbooks.com/ #kithbooks #theFineLine #SnakeskinStockings #lacuna #UtopiainGreen #Mid-twenties #FlyingtheJollyScarletGamblingwiththeGods #NatRaum #ClemFlowers #TommyBlake #MagiSumpter #SGHuerta #theMaenad #2022 #2023

  Your expectations are not my concern. At the end of the day, I come back to this first principle. I can only articulate my own experience; for good or ill this the palimpsest that my work slips through to become comprehensible to you.    I can only describe the reality I experience, the walls I can’t get over and the ones I can, which frequently have – or seem to have – very little overlap with many of you.   So be it. Since I can only describe the contents of my light cone, it’s not going to be unnecessarily bright and cheerful. All of my hope is hard won and hard earned.   It does not come easily or casually.   Often, hope is only arrived at through careful, calculated, mental upkeep and hygiene.   (Neuro hacks IOW) Even when I’m not discussing gender or sex or sex work, it’s all there mentally, all the time. It’s my normal.    Since it is my normal, it is only natural to quilt from it. Telling me not to do these things is bot...

  Magnificent cover image by  Embry Valentino The Ishtar cycle is a transgressive and provocative work of transgender identity, sexuality, experience, and liberation.   By turns, vulgar,   mythical, fearless and embarrassingly honest, this is a work of sacred sexuality, and manifesting the Goddess within.    A praxis of spirituality, ethics, activism, flesh, and a fierce call for the liberation of all, body and soul. The Ishtar Cycle will challenge your notions of sex, love, identity, fidelity, reality, and dare you to do what is right.   Imagining a world where trans bodies are sacred not sinful, to be cherished, elevated, and celebrated in all the ways humans have done since the dawn of time.   That trans voices have important things to say and that we should be listened to.    A demand to be acknowledged – and respected – challenging traditional notions of ethics.   A Divinely carnal path through poverty, oppression, and a pop...

 Darken the lamps and begin the howl, Bring the sacrifice, It is time to dance. The Ishtar Cycle is now available from Lupercalia press Magnificent cover image by Embry Valentino The limited print run of The Ishtar Cycle is available for pre-order until they run out 

 Sometimes just sometimes, you're talking to someone, an editor someone, and they maybe mention that something you were talking about is maybe a thing they'd like to accept. That's a fucking prompt right?   Anyway, so that happened but it wasn't then it was but now there's no room and ...whatever.   I highly doubt I will be able to get  rid of pitch this anywhere so guess what, y'all get an essay.  (I hate that shit by the way, but what can you do?)  MEET THE MAENAD’s POLYFAM Who are these daft creatures that inhabit the Maenad’s Labyrinth?   Osi (she/hers) – (no pic and she likes it that way)    Osi is not fond of their picture being taken at all, which I understand, once long ago I was the exact same way.    Osi is a pre/non transitioning trans girl, she is my beloved Monster and I love her more than most of the rest of you put tougher, collectively   or in aggregate.   We are very differently non NT from...

Fire, Magic, Madness, and Change! The Maenad is a transgender goddess who creates art with words, pictures, motion, and flesh The Maenad (She/her/hers, also My Dread Majesty,, or simply my Queen) is the pen name of Gwendolyn Harper a Maenad, perceptual explorer, supernaut,  and Class V Full Roaming Slut who writes poetry, prose, rules, and essays.  Her work has appeared @fahmidanjournal @redplanetmag @wickedgayways @365tomorrows, the Gongfarmer’s Almanac and Madwomen in the Attic. Her first chapbook, the Ishtar Cycle, is forthcoming from @lupercaliapress An independent DIY e-publisher, model, camgirl, and sex worker, the Maenad writes about gender, class, sex, inequality, mental illness, and the intersection of these points, sometimes also writing about culture, games, space, futurism, and the human condition. Thinking of other worlds and how best to help this one  Trans queer poly kinked, mad, and Proud, Troublemaker Everyone gets liberated or not at all” No nazis Fuck g...