Cait Gordon's Blog, page 2

What the hay is Cait up to? — April 2025 Newsletter

It’s April 1st, and no foolin’, here’s what the hay is going on in my life!

What the hay? Voting to nominate works for the Prix Aurora Awards closes on April 5?

Wow, time flies when the world around you is a dumpster fire, doesn’t it? Well, as I always say, my life is never awful without the awesome, so what’s awesome for me is that I have two short stories that can be nominated in the Best Short Story category for the 2025 Prix Aurora Awards:

“Bev the Hacker Does Time,” first appearing in Laughs in Space (Ed. Donna Scott). A teen girl begins her community service at a seniors residence after hacking the intragalactic network to route all sexy searches to display laxative commercials. But for some weird reason, there doesn’t seem to be any “old people” anywhere! Read it free here!“Courier of the Skies,” first appearing in Spring into SciFi 2025 (Ed. Andrew Farrel, Cloaked Press). An undercover disabled pilot defies a eugenics governing system to courier much-needed cargo to the Network, but the “Welliams” are onto her. Read it free here!How the hay do you nominate my short stories for a Prix Aurora Award?

If you are a Canadian or Permanent Resident, you can become a member of the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association (CSFFA) for only $10 CDN! What’s cool about being a member is that you not only get to vote for your faves for the Prix Aurora Awards, but you also get free reads of the nominated works that end up on the final ballot! You can learn more about the CSFFA by clicking here.

What the hay? The Disabled Crone trailer is up?!

After flip-flopping to myself with the “Should I? Shouldn’t I?” I went for it! I’ve been recording six amazing episodes for the first season of my new podcast for the Spoonie Authors Network called The Disabled Crone. That’s me! I’m that crone! A youngish crone, but I know I’ll grow into it. The seasons will be short with six episodes, which I like. Easier for me to produce because I am doing all of this on my own, and it leaves me with time to work on my writing and other projects. My hope is to record Season Two’s guests over the summer!

But check out this teaser trailer on the Spoonie Authors Network’s YouTube channel! You can also find the podcast on iHeart Radio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music!

What the hay? I can’t stop making crafts!

I currently rekindled my relationship with my Cricut Explore 3 machine and discovered the “print then cut” feature. It works great for making stickers and little inserts for reusable acrylic button. Dianna Gunn, Canadian Dark Fantasy author and founder of Weeknight Writers, asked if anyone would share a vendor table with her at CanCon 2025 in October, and I said yes! We’re going to have a blast.

I wanted to offer something fun to customers other than my books (which are also fun), so I put my crafter hat back on. Stickers, buttons, and maybe other writery-editory crafts will be for sale. I’m starting now because of my disability. This gives me pots of time to go at my own pace! But I am totally obsessed! Cricuts are fun. I’m not a salesperson for them or anything; I’m just saying that I love mine!

What the hay? I’m still not eating cake until April 20???

CN: for religion

Oh man, I really don’t love myself. As I mentioned in my last newsletter, I haven’t practiced the tradition of giving something up for Lent in eons, and decided I would give up… yes, it’s true… baked desserts. WHERE WERE ANY OF YOU WHEN I WAS THINKING THIS? WHY DIDN’T ANY OF YOU STOP ME? My “fast” started on Ash Wednesday. Feel like I made an ash out of myself with that decision, to be honest.

Sigh. Never ever, ever again. But the countdown is on, now that April has begun. In the meantime, I am going to stare at this photo and cry.

What the hay am I watching these days?

Content note: mentions of murder, incel ideology, misogyny, femicide

I think I will be haunted by Adolescence for some time. Jamie Miller, a thirteen-year-old boy is arrested for murdering a Katie Leonard, a girl in his class in this disturbing yet brilliantly acted short series. It brings to light how young boys can be radicalized by incel propoganda on the internet and social media, and how parents can easily have no clue this is happening right under their noses. In my opinion, it’s a must see, especially for teachers, mentors, and parents of teens. My hope is that it sparks some serious but meaningful conversations with adults and young folks of all genders who are under their care and influence.

Owen Cooper plays Jamie Miller, and my mind was blown by how he transformed through the episodes. This young actor is one to watch. The series is filmed in what’s known as “one shot,” and this makes you feel like you’re living everything in real time. That’s what makes it so riveting, disturbing, and profoundly sad.

Here’s the trailer for the series:

What the hay am I reading?

In March, I began reading Reverence, by Milena McKay, and I’m almost finished! It’s a sapphic romance and historical fiction about Juliette Lucian-Sorel, a prima ballerina of the Palais Garnier who is known as the Princess of Paris. Juliette meets a Soviet ballerina known as Empress Katarina, and “rescues” her. It’s a slow-burn — very slow-burn — romance with a huge miscommunication trope, but I looked forward to reading it every night. It gets twisty and turny, and that is only a pun you will understand if you read the book!

Here’s the link on the Zon, if you want to learn more about this work. I found out about it because it is a Book of the Year nominee for the 2025 Indiverse Awards.

What the cockaliedoodlie-doo is happening with my writing?

Work has resumed on my upcoming anti-capitalistic, mid-life, awkward space opera romance that nobody asked for! (But that I sorely needed.) I’m reading Hot Wings and Sauciness to my critique partners. I kinda got stuck for a while, so I am taking advantage of being unstuck. Cover reveal in early 2026 with plans to publish it in the summer of 2026!

When a cock-a-doodle-do seems like a cock-a-doodle-don’t… keep calm and try not to molt? 
Meet Colleen O’Donnell, a 50-something neurodivergent and disabled electromechanical technician serving We’re Greater Than’s space hospitality division. She’s sweary, blurty, singy, and goes nowhere without her constant companion—Fiona, her rollator.

Colleen’s dear friend ’Brina is marrying Sharon. The couple plans to hold their hen party at the Coq of the Walk exotic dance club and rotisserie, which boasts the best wing sauce in the solar system. A little weird, sure, but Colleen nearly flies the coop when she discovers they all have to dress up as actual hens!

Meanwhile, folks seem to be in an uproar over Captain Joshua Speers, renowned war hero, who’s returning to the stations. Messages of “Captain Hot Wings is back” are everywhere. Squeals abound!

This means absolutely nothing to Colleen. She’s single and fine that way. Hot Wings can dip into someone else’s sauce, right? What are the chances she and Fiona would even bump into him? And if they did, would it amount to anything?

This book originated with a dare. I told people not to dare me to write a romance because it would be so awkward and be called something like Hot Wings and Sauciness. And then people dared me.

And I am loving this book so much. Colleen O’Donnell is as much me as a character could ever get. I would react probably the same way in every scene. There’s also something so great about an ND and disabled female lead starring in a romance. Especially one in her fifties. Crone Lit for the win!

Thanks for reading and following!

Hope you enjoyed my update! You also can follow me on Bluesky, Instagram, and Threads by searching for caitgauthor! Cheers!

Cait Gordon is an award-winning Canadian speculative fiction writer and anthology editor who advocates for disability, mental health, and neurodiversity representation in written works. She is the author of Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! and the co-editor (with Talia C. Johnson) of the Nothing Without Us and Nothing Without Us Too disability fiction anthologies. Cait is autistic, disabled, and queer, and really loves cake.

#CaitTacklesTBRPile: Alphabet Soup by A. Gregory Frankson

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I first had the honour of reading the brilliance of Gregory A. Frankson’s poetic prose when he submitted “At the Terminus” to the Nothing Without Us Too anthology. Talia C. Johnson and I knew immediately we needed that short work in the collection. We’re still so proud to have acquired it. 

Now, after reading Frankson’s memoir, Alphabet Soup: A Memoir in Letters, I am once again blown away by the craftsmanship of his writing. In my opinion, it goes beyond a mere knowledge of words; Frankson is an artisan of storytelling, using poetic prose as his medium. As I read, I just wanted my eyes to take in each phrase and let it suspend for a while before absorbing it deeply into my thoughts. I found myself not wanting to overthink but rather experience this eloquent prose that was beautiful, angry, painful, mournful, celebratory, and so revealing. I marvelled at the turn of phrase throughout each short work, such as, “… with a dynasty of east ender angst, where scars burrow deep…” (And before I read the words after that comma, I thought, “He’s speaking about Scarborough, isn’t he?”) Once again, I felt honoured as a reader to be welcomed by Frankson into these intimate memories.

A piece that really hit hard was “R,” written in two parts, for Respect and Regret, which deals with the loss of a very dear one. I had to close the book to just reflect on it awhile because I was so moved.  I also loved “N” for Naughty—erotic prose filled with book metaphors. It was delightfully and deliciously… naughty! And “S” for Sanctimony seemed to me to depict the decline of a relationship because of rumour and gaslighting, where one person feigns righteousness, but the actual injured party refuses to dissolve into obscurity. Eventually, the sanctimonious instigator gets their just deserts. But ending this soup with “G” for gratitude was *chef’s kiss* because while it speaks into the harsher realities of being Black and biracial in this world, it is still filled with hope for the new generation. “You are the light. With our gratitude, shine on – and make us proud.”

There is so much passion expressed in these vignettes, so much about human interaction and relationship. 

And because Alphabet Soup is a rich stew, it’s not a collection to skim through, then put back on the bookshelf. You’ll want to digest this alphabet slowly because there’s so much flavour in each spoonful. 

You can find Alphabet Soup: A Memoir in Letters here, but do ask for it at your local bookstore. And thank you for supporting the works of Canadian authors and publishers.

Cait Gordon is an award-winning Canadian speculative fiction writer and anthology editor who advocates for disability, mental health, and neurodiversity representation in written works. She is the author of Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! and the co-editor (with Talia C. Johnson) of the Nothing Without Us and Nothing Without Us Too disability fiction anthologies. Cait is autistic, disabled, and queer, and really loves cake.

What the hay is Cait up to? — March 2025 Newsletter

Okay, I am finally making a monthly newsletter! WHOO! Yet another thing to distract me from *gestures at the Orange and his minions*. Still, newsletters can be fun, so let’s dive in!

What the hay am I watching these days?

Content note: mentions of drunk driving, mental illness

I have managed to get the Broose into Shrinking. I love this show so much. It has seamless diversity—intergenerational, racial, sexual orientation—and everyone in it just shines. There’s also seamless mental health representation and disability representation. My little disabled heart leaps for joy every time I watch it. Shrinking stars Jason Segel as Jimmy Laird, a therapist grieving the loss of his wife, who was killed by a drunk driver. Jimmy’s a mess and basically has gone missing in action as a parent for a year. His 17-year-old daughter Alice (amazingly played by Lukita Maxwell) is not having his sudden turn-around to want to be in her life, especially since she’s had to rely on the next door neighbour for any kind of parental support since her mom died. Meanwhile, Jimmy is still practicing as a therapist in a small clinic run by the guff Dr. Paul Roades (Harrison Ford). Roades and fellow therapist Gaby (Jessica Williams is the best) steal every scene they are in while giving Jimmy their opinions. You would think this is a drama, and they don’t dispel hurt in this story, but it’s also a laugh-out-loud, intelligent comedy. Season Two’s finale was EVERYTHING! Learn more about Shrinking here! Five stars from this disabled crone!

What the hay am I reading?

So many books! Oh my gosh, my brain finally unlocked after the pandemic robbed it of the ability to read for pleasure. This year, I’ve read:

Withered by A.G.A. Wilmot Time and Tide by J.M. Frey Triad Magic by ’Nathan BurgoineI Don’t Do Disability and Other Lies I’ve Told Myself by Adelle Purdham The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava

I’m currently reading

Disability Intimacy (edited by Alice Wong), for book club Alphabet Soup by Gregory A. Frankson, for a podcast interview Griffin and the Spurious Correlations by Krista Wallace

I know! I’ve gone from zero to “gimme all the books!” But I will be slowing my pace soon because I’m not a machine. It’s just really nice to casually read again. It’s way better than doomscrolling.

What the hay is happening with my writing?

I’m currently in production for my very first short story collection! It’s called Speculative Shorts: Stories that fell out of my brain. It has fifteen tales, most of which have been published over the course of the last decade, but there are new ones, too!

A nonbinary Alice accidentally enters their own clubbing wonderland because of a smiley app and Bong Guy. An autistic writing instructor who hates ABA but loves ABBA becomes an unexpected hero. A “silent” mermaid-siren noted for keeping oceans safe from poachers is guided to one who might not be like the others. A disabled space pilot couriers precious cargo for the Network while trying to evade the eugenics-based brigade who wants to keep people like her “safe at home.” A descendant of Frankenstein’s monster is having her sweet sixteen party, but her mother’s gift stops the teen in her rollator’s tracks. Explore this collection of 15 tales of queer life, disability, romance, power, defiance, and resilience.

The foreword author is nine-times Prix Aurora Award winner Derek Newman-Stille! And this best-selling author has this to say about my collection:

“Cait Gordon writes with infectious joy and energy, and with a sense of humour that is never far from the surface even in the darkest moments. This collection has it all, from mermaids that seem very real to bus stops that seem uncanny. It’s a delight from start to finish.”

Kate Heartfield, Prix Aurora Award winning author of The Embroidered Book

I know, right? How honoured am I to have the literary support of these awesome humans? Speculative Shorts will be released in the Spring of 2026 by Dinsdale Press. Cover reveal in January 2026!

What the hay is going on with the 2025 literary awards season?

“Bev the Hacker Does Time” is my first-ever short story to receive a nomination! It’s a 2025 Indieverse Award nominee in the Anthology, Collection of Short Stories, or Short Fiction category!

This story first appeared in the Laughs in Space collection, edited by Donna Scott. It will also be in Speculative Shorts!

Bev the Hacker is also eligible to be nominated in the Best Short Story category for the 2025 Prix Aurora Awards!

My beloved disability rebellion space opera, “Courier of the Skies,” which first appeared in Spring into SciFi 2024 Edition (Ed. Cloaked Press), can be nominated for a 2025 Prix Aurora Award in the Best Short Fiction category as well!

How the hay do you nominate my short stories for a Prix Aurora Award?

If you are a Canadian or Permanent Resident, you can become a member of the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association (CSFFA) for only $10 CDN! What’s cool about being a member is that you not only get to vote for your faves for the Prix Aurora Awards, but you also get free reads of the nominated works that end up on the final ballot! You can learn more about the CSFFA by clicking here.

Key voting periods:

March 1-April 5, 2025: This is when you can vote for the nominees by selecting them from the eligibility lists for each category. “Bev the Hacker Does Time” is in the Best Short Story category!June 7-July 19, 2025: This is when you can vote nominated works for the final ballot!What the hay? I’m gonna stop eating cake???

Content note: religion

Oh my freaking word. Yes, I have decided to give up eating baked goods for a Lenten fast. My husband accidentally called it a Lentil gesture, and I went down a rabbit hole. Am thinking of all the types of dishes we can make during Lent—with lentils. Because why should I ever act like a grownup, right? (I also love lentils.)

Thanks for reading and following!

Hope you enjoyed my update! You also can follow me on Bluesky, Instagram, and Threads by searching for caitgauthor! Cheers!

Cait Gordon is an award-winning Canadian speculative fiction writer and anthology editor who advocates for disability, mental health, and neurodiversity representation in written works. She is the author of Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! and the co-editor (with Talia C. Johnson) of the Nothing Without Us and Nothing Without Us Too disability fiction anthologies. Cait is autistic, disabled, and queer, and really loves cake.

“Bev the Hacker Does Time” earned a 2025 Indieverse Award nomination!

If you’ve been following me on the socials, you saw me squeeing with joy as I received my first-ever nomination for a short work. “Bev the Hacker Does Time,” first published in Laughs in Space (edited by Donna Scott), is about a teen tech wiz who begins her community service at a seniors residence after hacking the intragalactic network to route all sexy searches to display laxative commercials. But for some weird reason, there doesn’t seem to be any “old people” anywhere!

While we understand right away how ageist Bev can be, this story is definitely anti-ageist, and it’s my 81-year-old mam’s favourite. While I’ve not mentioned this in my story, in my headcanon, Bev is neurodivergent (ND). Probably because so am I, and I love writing snarky humour through the lens of an ND character!

For the duration of the 2025 voting season, you can read my story by clicking here or by finding it in the Free Reads menu.

Would you like to vote for this story?

On November 7-11, 2025, voting for the Indieverse Awards opens to the general public! Anyone can vote for these awards; you don’t have to pay for any membership. Learn more about the Indieverse Awards here!

Thank you for your support!

I will be posting reminders when voting opens. As always, thank you for supporting the works of this disabled and neurofabulous author! You’re awesome!

Cait Gordon is an award-winning Canadian speculative fiction writer and anthology editor who advocates for disability, mental health, and neurodiversity representation in written works. She is the author of Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! and the co-editor (with Talia C. Johnson) of the Nothing Without Us and Nothing Without Us Too disability fiction anthologies. Cait is autistic, disabled, and queer, and really loves cake.

Header image features a medical centre photo from Canva, a drawing of Bev by me, and the official 2025 Indiverse Award badge.

Creating in Times of Chaos and Uncertainty

This is my second post of 2025, and despite everything going on in the world, I sincerely want to wish you all a happy new year.

So, here’s my thinky thought for today: I truly believe that seeking joy and daring to hope is an act of good rebellion. Living in Canada, I am exposed to all of the news that’s going on in the United States, what with being their upstairs neighbour and all. It’s really hard for me to watch the creatives I know from the US who are racially marginalized, in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and/or who are disabled feeling the impact of the new presidency.

Canada has no reason to be smug either. We could be doing a whole lot better politically. We could be doing a whole lot better with inclusion as well. We have our own election coming up federally (and some of us provincially), and there is a certain uneasiness about it. Many of us don’t want a province or a country that disregards and oppresses entire groups of people. But there seems to be an apathy out there. At least that’s how it feels to me.

Being afraid or cautious or weighed down right now makes total sense. They are very reasonable reactions to what’s happening or what might happen. But I’ve also witnessed another message repeatedly from folks: Don’t let the oppressors weigh you down, don’t let them exhaust you, and keep living for hope.

I’ve also noticed many friends online saying they are going to make an active choice to seek out joy, every day, if they can. This is a decision I’m also trying to make. I want to pursue joy. I wanna create. I want to read as many books as I can, so I can celebrate other authors. I want to do crafts. I wanna make things pretty around me. I wanna sing. I want to take in art. Heck, I even want to learn how to bake a Pavlova.

I’ve noticed on the socials that some writers have been almost apologizing for having to promote their books while others refuse to apologize for promoting their books. I’m gonna go out there and say don’t ever apologize for being excited that your book is coming out during these troubled times. We need books. Whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction, there could be ideas and messages and morals-of-the-story that can save lives. You would be surprised how people can get turned around from despair by reading a book. People can also feel their existence is valid (“I feel seen!”) because of what they read in a book.

The written word has a lot of power. While sometimes it can be used to influence in the worst way, most of the times it can be used in the best way. So don’t give up. Don’t let anyone stomp on your creative joy. Whether you write a zine, a poem, micro fiction, creative nonfiction, memoir, or you name it — your words matter.

I have no idea what your relationship with your publisher is or if you feel that publishers won’t want your works. I do know that there is a community out there of independent authors and indie award organizations who are celebratory of diverse voices. (And one day, we won’t have to use the word diverse because we’ll understand that diversity is reality. But today, I use that word because it’s unfortunately still necessary to explain this need for inclusion.)

As for myself, I have a short story collection in the works that’s with my foreword author and the authors who are going to blurb it. I’m hoping to get my CroneLit romcom space opera to betas in a few months. I have a dream board full of ideas. Our critique group is meeting regularly again. I also have a podcast in the works with the Spoonie Authors Network that’s in recording sessions right now (stay tuned).

And mark my words. I really am going to try to make that Pavlova. It looks really yummy.

I guess I just want to emphasize that yes, now is an appropriate time to keep writing your stuff, being excited about your work, posting all about it if it’s released. Your joy cleanses our timelines on social media. Remember, just because we post about things that make us happy doesn’t mean we’re not aware of what’s going on. We are choosing to create instead of destroy. We’re choosing to hope instead of giving into total despair.

And that’s badass.

Sure, we’re gonna have our days where we feel low, and that’s why it’s really important for us to maintain a healthy community with people we can trust, like friends, family, and/or mental health professionals. Because we’re gonna have to vent. It’s important to not deny ourselves our emotions.

My hope is that after we vent, we can get into a state of calm, just long enough so we can pick up a pen or pencil or keyboard, and continue arranging the alphabet.

I’m going to repeat this: your words matter. You matter. Please don’t think there’s no point to creating. Creative works are vital to one’s spirit, whether for the writer or reader.

I wish you peace and calm, so you can create among the chaos. And I’m looking forward to seeing you post about joyful things online.

Keep being awesome.

Cait Gordon is an award-winning Canadian speculative fiction writer and anthology editor who advocates for disability, mental health, and neurodiversity representation in written works. She is the author of Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! and the co-editor (with Talia C. Johnson) of the Nothing Without Us and Nothing Without Us Too disability fiction anthologies. Cait is autistic, disabled, and queer, and really loves cake.

Header image by Jessica Lewis on Pexels.com

Editors Aren’t Always Write

This article originally appeared in the Fall 2024 issue of Write, the official magazine of The Writers’ Union of Canada

I’VE A CONFESSION TO MAKE — sometimes I don’t understand the assignment. I’m specifically referring to the time I edited a manuscript without paying attention to the voice of the author. They had invited me to read their book, which had been already edited, and I asked if I should flag anything that might have been overlooked. When the author said yes, I went deeper than just typos and commas. And after sending back the first chapter, the author told me I hadn’t respected the cadence of their storytelling at all. This “Yikes!” moment woke me right up. I had never done anything like that before with a client, and because of this author’s comment, I haven’t since. So, even with my 25 years of experience in the technical writing and CanLit realms, it was helpful to realize I still had important lessons to learn.

I’m so grateful for that feedback because here’s a secret, writer folks: it’s okay to redline the redlines! Editors can make mistakes or misjudgments, and your comments help us improve.

The thing about us is that we just love words. Arranging the alphabet is our passion. When an editor reviews your manuscript, they give you a tailored analysis of your work. It’s feedback by an actual human with a practised skill set in that profession.

Unfortunately, tensions can exist in writer-editor interactions. Authors may feel overwhelmed by what could happen during the editing process, and how their words will be treated. Perhaps they’re concerned they won’t have a choice but to accept every proposed change without further discussion. They could even have had past negative or toxic experiences that tarnish the desire to go forward with another editor. And truthfully, some editors, even those with the best intentions (like I had), can overstep. So, how can we make authors feel more comfortable with us during this phase of production?

In a healthy relationship with our clients, we strive to bring out the best in the work while maintaining the author’s style and goals for their project. Vivian Li, editor of Augur Magazine and author of Someday I Promise, I’ll Love You (845 Press) says this well: “I’d love for authors to understand that the majority of editors want to help you with your intentions for the story — to make it shine according to your vision. When working with an editor, the suggestions and edits are to help you approach the material in a different way or a unique angle. We aren’t trying to impose our views on the writing.”

Sadly, even though the editors I know subscribe to the practice of working with authors, I am also aware of other experiences where there seems to be a power imbalance. There is an imposed hierarchy instead of a team-based effort toward a common objective. This implication that an editor is always right might intimidate some authors who don’t realize they can and should question the comments they receive.

“I wish more authors knew that editing was a collaboration — that we’re working together, not separate,” says A.G.A. Wilmot, editor and author of Withered (ECW Press). “No worthwhile editor is trying to damage or undo the work you’ve done as an author.”

Wilmot also wants fellow editors to take note of our role in this working relationship. “I wish more [editors] knew that ours is not edict but suggestion, and that when it comes to fiction especially, there are no rules that can’t be broken providing the author has a reason for breaking them.”

Sometimes breaking those rules can be fun, especially when it lends itself to the work. I’m still smiling about a client’s use of “wankatude” to describe the attitude of a real… jerk. I allowed this adjective past the goalie because it fit perfectly with the storytelling, and frankly, needed to exist as a word.

While I know the benefits an editor can offer to a project, I can’t stress enough how vital it is for authors to understand not only when they should be flexible about accepting suggested changes but also when to hold firm. There are some things one can’t negotiate away.

In a post on the social media app Threads, Canadian speculative fiction author Krista Wallace wrote, “The most common criticism I received about Gatekeeper’s Key from agents and editors was, ‘Your dialogue is too colloquial.’ I thought, ‘For what? This is my world. Not someone else’s. Each character has their own voice, and you are seeing them as you meet each one.’ I am glad I held firm on my voice and my style.”

The author in me shouts an enthusiastic, “Yes!” at this. I have also had to reject an editor’s comments about how dialogue was delivered because the way I worded and punctuated it was unique to how that character spoke. Sometimes editors are right about this, but sometimes standard rules just don’t apply.

Another point to note — pardon me while I don my advocate hat — is that not all authors are neurotypical. I am autistic and can confirm there are ways of relaying information or creating characters that can be outside the norm but extremely valid. During a writing competition, an editor of short fiction told Talia C. Johnson, an author (and award-winning editor) who is autistic that their autistic character “needs to get over themself.” That callous remark tarnished the entire experience for her, and she never bothered writing for that event again.

It can be infuriating when characters who reflect one’s lived experiences are diminished or deemed unrelatable. And this dismissal of our voices can severely impact the quality of the edited manuscript, sometimes making it unrecognizable to ourselves. “An editor who strips the humanity and voice from your writing, especially when writing neurodivergent characters, isn’t worth the energy it takes to get that voice back in,” says C.L. Carey, author of Spaced! (Renaissance Press). “Find someone who cares and understands about disabled or neurodivergent voices.”

This should apply to all marginalized voices. An editor who doesn’t honour you, your lived experiences, or your work isn’t worth your time or money.

In the late ’80s, as a brand-new technical writer, I laughed aloud in the editing department because of a sign that read, “Editors are always write.” I loved the message behind it. Even though we can be greatly valuable in our role, we aren’t always right. Calling us out on that can add to our growth in this field. It will help us understand you and your work, and it will make us better when it comes to our future working relationships.

A lot of effort — and second-guessing and imposter syndrome-ing — goes into putting a book together, so I encourage you to team up with a professional who has your back, who you feel comfortable with, and who respects your opinion. Having an editor who is really on your side can take a lot of pressure off your brain during production. So, don’t settle until you find someone who is the best fit.

You and your writing deserve it.

Cait Gordon is an award-winning Canadian speculative fiction writer and anthology editor who advocates for disability, mental health, and neurodiversity representation in written works. She is the author of Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! and the co-editor (with Talia C. Johnson) of the Nothing Without Us and Nothing Without Us Too disability fiction anthologies. Cait is autistic, disabled, and queer, and really loves cake.

Header image by Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels.com

#CaitTacklesTBRPile The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava

One of my comfort films is Working Girl. The moment that always stuck with me was when Tess McGill said: “You can bend the rules plenty once you get to the top, but not while you’re trying to get there. And if you’re someone like me, you can’t get there without bending the rules.”

This quote came back to me when I was reading The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava, only I find this romcom has an even deeper perspective. The protagonist, Ember Lee Cardinal, is a Chickasaw woman living in Oklahoma who just can’t catch a break. She wants a job in accounting in Oklahoma City and has applied to several places, but she’s been rejected 37 times. Each of those times, Ember had checked the Native American box in the ethnicity form on the application. For attempt number 38, she makes another choice because her dad is white, and selects a different box. Then she gets an interview for an accounting assistant at her dream job. Maybe more of a fib than a big lie, but Ember also hasn’t completed her degree in accounting. So, she gets creative and lands the job. 

I had a good laugh every time Ember said she could do something only to Google it later, learning on the fly. I rejoiced whenever she succeeded, and her resourcefulness and work ethic made her shine. But I wanted to hurl some of the managers and executives right into the sun. The misogyny and racism were tangible. YEET! 

Thrown into the mix of this work situation is Danuwoa Colson, a gorgeous IT wiz, also Native American, who is kind and obviously attracted to Ember, but there’s a company policy that employees are not allowed to fraternize or else they will lose their jobs. So despite all the lies she tells to keep her job, Ember adds on more lies to and about Danuwoa, and has a lot to keep straight in her head. 

One would think that a protagonist who lies this much would be highly unlikable, but I was constantly rooting for Ember. Nava gives nuance to  Ember’s lies, in a way where we’re shown why Ember would consider lying this much. I was holding my breath with each new lie, and wondering how she could remember them all, and I snickered when she was too stubborn to even tell Danuwoa the truth about her cat allergy. More seriously though, I found myself appreciating how Ember got herself into traps without asking for help because she truly felt she needed to handle everything on her own. Nava seamlessly weaves in the realities of Ember while making us care about her, giggle with her, and, let’s be honest, hope that she gets to hook up with this beautiful, beautiful man. (I fell in love with Danuwoa and wish I could be Ember’s friend.)

I just have to add that as a disability advocate, I loved the representation of Danuwoa’s sister, Walela, who has Down’s Syndrome. Walela is just part of the story, and I wish more authors wrote disabled characters this way, so I applaud Nava for that too.

What first drew me to the book in the first place was that it is written by an author who is a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation. This is the first Indigenous romantic comedy I’ve ever read, and while I found it included the tropes I love, I also really enjoyed learning from it. Nava writes a point of view that I (as a white settler) would never experience. It was educational as well as entertaining for me, and I really appreciated the glossary at the end.

I’m looking forward to reading more by this author!

You can find The Truth According to Ember by clicking this link. 

Cait Gordon is an award-winning Canadian speculative fiction writer and anthology editor who advocates for disability, mental health, and neurodiversity representation in written works. She is the author of Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! and the co-editor (with Talia C. Johnson) of the Nothing Without Us and Nothing Without Us Too disability fiction anthologies. Cait is autistic, disabled, and queer, and really loves cake.

#CaitTacklesTBRPile: The Monster and the Mirror by K.J. Aiello

CN: This review mentions mental health misdiagnoses, trauma, drinking

I just finished reading The Monster and the Mirror: Mental Illness, Magic, and the Stories We Tell less than 10 minutes ago. And I keep having this singular thought: K.J. Aiello is the protagonist I didn’t know I needed.

This book is a few things at once, which my brain loves. I mean, why can’t something be more than one thing, and those more-than-one-things equal a whole thing. Right? The Monster and the Mirror is a personal memoir, offers education about mental health through conversations with folks who have these lived experiences, gives commentary about mental illness representation in fantasy and gaming, all written by one blow-me-away-with-their-insights human.

While I nodded so much at the essay and commentary parts, which probably means I will need more physiotherapy for my neck fascia (WORTH IT!), what glued my eyes to the page was the story of Aiello’s life. For me, it mirrored (okay, accidental pun) the protagonist in an epic tale, except the battles, setbacks, triumphs, heroes, and villains were all real. So were all the emotions I felt as Aiello drew me right in. I kept reading until my vision blurred, because I wanted to know where my new favourite main character was heading. I might also have shouted expletives in an unmasked Irish accent at those who held Aiello back.

Also, may I just say a thing? I strongly feel that if we took a drink every time someone who is female or female presenting was misdiagnosed with borderline personality disorder, we’d soon be hospitalized for alcohol poisoning. (Someone tried to diagnose me with that in the 90s. Nope, I’m autistic, but thanks for playing.) It always infuriates me how long assigned-female-at-birth humans have to wait for accurate diagnoses, whether it’s for mental health or other illnesses in the body.

Throughout the memoir, Aiello shows us how for so long, they felt they had to keep all the trauma they experienced and all the “monstery” things Aiello thought they were a secret from the people they care about. I, for one, am so grateful this author laid themself bare on the page. Because honestly? I kept saying, “Yeah, yup, oh, for sure. Relatable, relatable, so very relatable,” as I ingested this book to my core. The reality of Aiello wishing to be seen really hit me hard. This had been my wish since forever. And K.J., if you’re reading this, I not only see you but also feel seen by you. Thank you for making me feel seen. I know I won’t be alone in this either. Thank you for writing this book.

If I could rate The Monster and the Mirror 6/5 stars, I would. I can even imagine it being taught as part of curriculum in universities. I grew up in a time when mental illness was grossly misunderstood and a whispered family secret, if it was acknowledged at all. Books like The Monster and the Mirror, with its sheer honesty, will contribute more and more to normalizing talking about mental illness. Real talks, not some performative corporate motto. And, like Aiello discusses, our stories should be told by us with the nuance of our experiences and we shouldn’t solely be viewed through the lens of medical professionals who might only catch a glimpse of who we are. I also agree that a collaboration between us and medical professionals is key because our lived experiences matter, and tell a more robust tale of who we are.

The Monster and the Mirror by K.J. Aiello is published by the wonderful ECW Press. You can learn more where to buy it here. (And super fun fact, the paperback’s mirror is shiny!)

Cait Gordon is an award-winning Canadian speculative fiction writer and anthology editor who advocates for disability, mental health, and neurodiversity representation in written works. She is the author of Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! and the co-editor (with Talia C. Johnson) of the Nothing Without Us and Nothing Without Us Too disability fiction anthologies. Cait is autistic, disabled, and queer, and really loves cake.

Voting for the 2024 Indieverse Awards is open from Nov 1-10, and Iris and the Crew is up for Best Sci-Fi Novel!

I am honoured that my disability-hopepunk adventure, Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space!, is a nominee for Best Sci-Fi novel in the inaugural Indieverse Awards! Anyone can vote for it, too! Just go to https://indieverseawards.com to cast your vote! There are so many good books this year in so many great categories!

Thank you as always for your support of the works from this disabled and autistic creative! I appreciate you all!

Cait Gordon is an award-winning Canadian speculative fiction writer and anthology editor who advocates for disability, mental health, and neurodiversity representation in written works. She is the author of Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! and the co-editor (with Talia C. Johnson) of the Nothing Without Us and Nothing Without Us Too disability fiction anthologies. Cait is autistic, disabled, and queer, and really loves cake.

Iris and the Crew won a literary award!

You could have knocked me over with a feather, I was so stunned. I still can’t believe it really happened! On September 21, 2024, Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! won the 2023 Indie Ink Award for “Writing the Future We Need: Disability Representation by a Disabled Author.” There were so many great books in that category, so I am truly honoured!

The finalists in this category are:

Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! by Cait Gordon (winner) Failure to Communicate  by Kaia Sonderby Fragmented Fates  by Nancy Foster How to Sell your Blood & Fall in Love  by D.N. Bryn Junker Seven  by Olive J. Kelley Shades and Silver  by Dax Murray The Binding of Bloom Mountain  by Siggy Chambers The Fall is All There Is  by C.M. Caplan The Forgotten Lyric  by Carolina Cruz The Necessity of Rain  by Sarah Chorn

I am so grateful to the judges for choosing this book. Building Iris’s accessible and accommodating galactic network soothed me during the onslaught of eugenics-based messaging of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even being nominated felt wonderful!

Also, all of the books on this list look amazing, and I am humbled for my work to be among them. Please consider buying them and spreading the word! Thank you as always for supporting the works of disabled creatives!

I’m going to try and let this all sink in now.

Squee!

Cait Gordon is an award-winning Canadian speculative fiction writer and anthology editor who advocates for disability, mental health, and neurodiversity representation in written works. She is the author of Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! and the co-editor (with Talia C. Johnson) of the Nothing Without Us and Nothing Without Us Too disability fiction anthologies. Cait is autistic, disabled, and queer, and really loves cake.