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Short Story Contribution: “Utopian Scholastic”
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“Utopian Scholastic” is one of many speculative queer stories featured in the anthology Can’t Hold Us Down: Tales of Defiance & Hope.
Victoria is just trying to get by as a laborer in the new settlement established by the Humanist Corps in the former state of Washington, but fellow settler and local librarian Rosario has a highly specific retro-futuristic vision for the new society she wants to help build, and Victoria lacks the patience for anything but ensuring the settlement’s basic needs are met. In the aftermath of the complete collapse of the US empire, Victoria and Rosario are left to wrangle the complicated feelings of nostalgia, loneliness, and claiming identity and purpose in the ruins of a failed civilization while rebuilding a city from its very foundation.
In addition to writing “Utopian Scholastic”, Jasmine also served as a developmental editor for several other stories in Can’t Hold Us Down: Tales of Defiance & Hope: “Hex of Hiding”, “THE RUST”, “Berries”, “The Scorpion and the Scythe”, and “Surfacing”.
About the Anthology
Resistance. Defiance. Endurance.
Welcome to the Can’t Hold Us Down: Tales of Defiance & Hope charity anthology, where LGBTQA+ characters not only embrace the love in their life, but they’ve got the courage to last and their souls all but scream, “They can’t get rid of us – we’ll always be here.”
Come snarl with the shifters as they serve up FAFO and make new connections in Protect Your Community (Details Inside) and Defiant…
Travel with inquisitive minds as they chase after mysteries and the most unexpected people in Hex of Hiding and The RUST…
Crawl into the hearts of lovers who continue to face the tedious test of time in Berries and My Genevieve…
Cheer on the sweet taste of new love as shifters with disabilities find their people and a fresh future in Pack Life 101: An Outcast’s Guide to Love & Belonging and Night Moth…
Avenge loved ones and stand toe to toe with death and love in A Heartfelt Melody and The Scorpion and the Scythe…
Flash forward and gaze upon what humanity’s future could be like with the communities in Utopian Scholastic and Surfacing.
Stories of strength and fight. Stories with hope and heart. Stories of those who endure.
Featuring works by: Stephanie Rabig, Amir Lane, Disco Barrington, Ari Lawrence, Vivian Moira Valentine, Megan Derr, Caeli Faye, Jasmine Gower, Lexi Ander, Archer Kay Leah, Amara Lynn, and Alex Powell, with a Foreword by Winter Tashlin.
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* 100% of proceeds from sales of this anthology will go to LGBTQIA+ charity organizations, but the anthology is not endorsed or sponsored by any such organization. The anthology is also a limited edition and will be available until October 31, 2027, so get your copy now! Some stories include content that is intended for 18+ readers.
Currently planned beneficiaries for the anthology are Rainbow Railroad and Transgender Law Center.