The Horror of Women's History

Thoughts on why history must be told boldly

If you ever need inspiration for horror, look no further than women’s history. 

I’m not sure what draws me to the subject of human suffering or if women’s history simply is just pages of suffering. In college, I found myself intrigued by all sorts of specialized topics (everything from courses dedicated solely to the Black Plague to a survey of African History). Still, I always came back to the history of women. After all, it is tied directly to who I am in this world. 

I see this passion reflected in what I write about and the stories I publish. 

Recently, I acquired the rights to a novel that takes place in Geneva, Switzerland, during the onset of what would devolve into the long, brutal period referred to as the European witch trials. I’ll be quite frank—it’s a rough read. The protagonist is what we call ‘unreliable,’ essentially a socially awkward witch-hunter who finds perverse enjoyment in the dehumanization and suffering of women. Having him tell the story offers a unique perspective that highlights the true horror of that time. While I know all about the Malleus Maleficarum and the horrific acts it encouraged men of God to enact upon widows, poor women, and midwives, it is never easy to remember. When I edit a book, I completely dive in, and when I reached a particular scene in this book, I actually had to stop and take a break. 

Worried readers might have a similar reaction, I reached out to the author, Catherine (a lovely woman whom I hope you’ll all meet soon). While she understood my concern, her sentiment echoed the truth in my heart: history should be told how it happened. We cannot shy away from the darker parts of things; to hide them away would be to dishonor the women who suffered them. I had recounted history boldly myself when I wrote about the Magdalene laundries in Ireland and the true history of the chainsaw. These stories need to be told, or they will be forgotten. And so, I cried my tears for all the women who were tortured and slain during the witch trials and finished my edits. 

Please be sure check out All the Parts of the Soul, by Catherine Fearns, coming to Quill & Crow Publishing House this October.

Marketing, especially on social media, requires a carefree, fun attitude, which works well for plenty of novels. Many readers want an escape from life and the different modern horrors that we all face. But I find myself continuously publishing stories/books that honor women’s history more often than not because that is where my true passion lies. In fact, this August, we will be debuting a collection by Rebecca Jones-Howe, whose stories heavily reflect these exact themes.

While publishing is a business, and I have to make certain choices for the company's maintenance, I will always honor where it all started. In who I am as a person. Now, more than ever, these stories need to be remembered and told honestly. Boldly. To stand as a testament to the fallen women that history would love to forget. For the Marys, the Anarchas, the Alices, the Titubas, and for all the Jane Does.

I won’t let you be forgotten. 

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