In Between Spaces

by Rebecca Burke (Editor), Alton Melvar Dapanas

In Between Spaces, Stillhouse Press’s first ever anthology, centers the experiences of thirty-three disabled poets, short-story writers, and essayists as they navigate the physical and emotional complexities of disability, chronic illness, neurodivergence, and mental illness. Compiled by an editorial team of disabled writers, this timely collection of often-overlooked voices celebrates joy, freedom, and the power of agency, while at the same time confronting and challenging the stigmas and barriers, visible and invisible, that too often come to define life with a disability.

Genres: Poetry, Disability, Anthologies, Nonfiction, Essays, Short Stories

264 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2022

About the author

Rebecca Burke is a graduate of George Mason University's MFA program in creative writing, the acquisitions editor at Stillhouse Press, and a former member of the fiction editorial team at So to Speak. Her work has been published in Peatsmoke Journal, Survivor Lit, Breakwater Review, and elsewhere.

Reviews

[Steph (starrysteph) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Disability exists in spaces in-between … where lived experience fills the gaps in our understanding. It is joy and relief, heartache and fatigue. It is self-acceptance and empowerment.” – Rebecca Burke (managing editor).

In Between Spaces is a powerful collection that shows just how varied and diverse our experiences with disability can be.

In some moments, I saw myself on the page and felt like I could have written the words myself. During other pieces, my eyes were opened to new pains and triumphs and lived experiences.

This anthology features 33 disabled writers with a huge range of identities and experiences. The writing styles are just as varied; we hear from poets, essayists, and short-story writers whose pieces range from vulnerable nonfiction to heightened & creative works.

The writing is inspiring & bold – joy and acceptance and triumph are celebrated, and pain and invisibility and barriers are acknowledged and investigated.

While I felt some pieces were much stronger than others, there’s an incredible amount of talent in this collection.

CW: suicide, self harm, drug use, emotional & physical abuse, psychosis, sexual assault, death, infant loss

(I received an advance reader copy of this book; this is my honest review.)

[Beatrice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Les Femmes Grotesques was the feminist gothic thrill ride I didn't know I desperately needed. Each story contained within this slim volume is both absolutely engrossing and deeply unsettling as Dalpe sweeps you up into her velvety prose to peer into the shadows of the feminine experience. If you can imagine Shirley Jackson collaborating with Margaret Killjoy to write a short story collection that was then edited by Richard Thomas, you’d have a pretty good idea of the scope and superior macabre quality of these gorgeous tales of horror. From generational curses to captured supernatural brides, the homicidal dangers of first love, and suburban lycanthropy; each story surrounds the reader in a dream-like atmosphere of gothic enchantment. Some of the themes are quite heavy while still residing in the fantastical, but Dalpe is a true master of her craft and she relays the heady and often complicated subject matter with such a flair for the fantastic and otherworldly that it's easy to imagine your favorite Goth Auntie reading these stories to you over a steaming cup of (possibly poisoned) tea.

[Carole Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone gave this to me as a gift a while back and I'm finally diving in!

This is a collection of 33 pieces of work from people with disabilities. From poems to short stories to essays. These all navigate the physical and emotional complexities of disability, chronic illness, neurodivergence, and mental illness.

I took my time with this because I wanted to enjoy each and every story. I found myself re-reading some of the passages since they were just so good.

There was for sure a huge variety of style and messaging. I really enjoyed that! You never knew what story would be told next and in what format. Refreshing!

Not sure if I could really pick a favorite though since they were all good. Maybe the poems? I have a soft-spot for a well written poem! Especially if the format and style is different and unique....count me in!!! There wasn't any I didn't like which is RARE for an anthology. They were all good on some level.

All-in-all, this will make you think, make you smile, make you want to cry. The poems were especially good, but everything else was good too. I for sure recommend this. 5/5 stars!