How to Find Me (And My Work)

If you’d like to read more of my work, here are a few links to where some of it can be found:

NOVELS:

Beneath Blair Mountain, 1888/Black Hill Press, 2015 – Beneath Blair Mountain was selected for publication after coming in the top ten in JukePop and 1888’s Summer Writing Project 2015. This debut novella blurs historical fiction, horror, and urban fantasy to tell a story of immigration, industrialization, and identity amidst a backdrop of old world horrors and new world ghosts. Unfortunately, as Heritage Future, formerly 1888 or Black Hill Press, was forced to close their publishing arm during the pandemic, Beneath Blair Mountain is now out of print, but you may be able to find it used on Amazon.

ANTHOLOGIES:

Mighty: An Anthology of Disabled Superheroes, Renaissance Press, 2023 – This own voices, multi-genre anthology features disabled, neurodivergent, D/deaf, mentally ill, and/or chronically ill main characters, writers, and publishers. Superhero short, “Mutant Pride”, lambasts ableism, superhero tropes, and ableist superhero tropes as three young students at a superhero preparatory school get roped into a PR spot that quickly goes off the rails. Featuring some of my best puns, more than a few homage characters, and loving jibes at Silver Age superhero shenanigans, this comedic and largely lighthearted romp still touches on serious issues. Disabilities among the cast include: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Aphasia, TBI, Executive Dysfunction, PTSD, unspecified wheelchair use, and being a merman. This anthology is available for pre-order in both paperback and ebook editions.

But You Don’t Look Sick: The Real Life Adventures of Fibro Bitches, Lupus Warriors, and Other Super Heroes Battling Invisible Illness, Indie Blu(e) Publishing, 2021 – This own voices, multi-genre anthology features the often marginalized voices and artistic talents of those with chronic and invisible illnesses. Here you can hear our stories without healthy people talking over us, doctors talking down to us, or ableist narratives not made by or for us erasing our reality in favor of feelgood inspiration porn or tragic feelsporn. I have two flashfictions and one poem in this anthology. “Shadows in the Blood”, a historical fiction/contemporary flashfiction, tells the mirrored tale of two girls with POTS several centuries apart. “Looking Glass Girl”, a contemporary flashfiction that plays with fantasy tropes, invites the reader to tumble into the wardrobe and take a glimpse into the secret world of the young and chronically ill and the unsung battles they fight and the unknown hardships they face as they walk among the rest of the world, in plain sight but unseen by mortal eyes. Lastly, “Seal Wives and Fae Women: A Parable of Lost Girls” is a folkloric revenge anthem in poem form that dares the reader to step off the path right at the crossroads of medical sexism and ableism. This anthology is available in Kindle, paperback, and hardcover editions on Amazon; in paperback and ebook on Pothi (India); and from all other major online book retailers.

Nothing Without Us, Renaissance Press, 2019 – This Aurora-nominated own voices, multi-genre fiction anthology features disabled, neurodivergent, D/deaf, mentally ill, and/or chronically ill main characters, writers, and publishers. Supernatural short, “Search and Seizure”, follows the journey of Cassie Pryor, a teenage girl with undiagnosed Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, as she searches for answers in this life and the next. For the sake of realism, nothing a doctor says in this story hasn’t been said to me by a real life doctor and much of the story, though fictional, is drawn from my own experiences as a chronically ill person trying to access healthcare while female. Available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon. Also available in paperback, ebook (epub and mobi), and audiobook (mp3 and CD) from Renaissance Press.

Witch Lit: Words from the Cauldron, Treehouse Magic, 2019 – This anthology of witch, witchy, and magic related literature features invocational poem and feminist anthem “I Am of Fire”, which originally appeared in Fabulously Feminist in 2015. Available in Kindle.

The Cost of Paper: Volume Three, 1888, 2016 – This anthology from 1888 features “A Room Apart”, a humorous fantasy short set at Hampshire College. Unfortunately, as Heritage Future, formerly 1888 or Black Hill Press, was forced to close their publishing arm during the pandemic, this anthology is now out of print, but you may be able to find it used on Amazon.

Wolf Warriors Anthology Series:

Wolf Warriors: The National Wolfwatcher Coalition Anthology, Thurston Howl Publications, 2014 – This wolf-themed charity anthology features the poem “We Were Wolves”, alongside such talents as David Clement-Davies and Catherynne M. Valente. Available in paperback and Kindle.

Wolf Warriors II: The National Wolfwatcher Coalition Charity Anthology, Thurston Howl Publications, 2015 – The second annual wolf-themed charity anthology to raise money for the National Wolfwatcher Coalition features humorous urban fantasy short, “Blue Moon”, which tells the tale of a wayward hipster who finds herself facing an unplanned lycanthropic pregnancy, and “Lost Girl”, a three-part poem and Millennial fairytale. Available in paperback.

Wolf Warriors III: Winter Wolves, Thurston Howl Publications, 2016 – This winter- and wolf-themed installment in a series of charity anthologies raises money for the National Wolfwatcher Coalition. It features “Yuletide Carols”, an all-ages holiday short that follows two school-age girls from a pagan family in rural New England as they celebrate the Longest Night and the return of the sun. Available in paperback and a hardcover deluxe edition (deluxe edition has full-color and bonus art).

Wolf Warriors 4: Wolves of Light and Darkness, Thurston Howl Publications, 2017 – This light/shadow- and wolf-themed anthology features horror short and loose fairy tale retelling, “East of the Midnight Sun, West of the Full Moon”, which serves as both a deconstruction and reconstruction of the werewolf v. vampire trope. Alone for the winter in a remote outpost in northern Alaska, Senka struggles to bury the past, both her own and the ancestral trauma that still weighs on her family. But as polar night sets in and a storm grows closer, the past proves not to be as dead as she’d hoped. Available in paperback.

Wolf Warriors V: Wolves in Time, Thurston Howl Publications, 2019 – This charity anthology of wolf-themed fiction, essays, and art set throughout time (and sometimes time-traveling) features two stories by yours truly. The first is an animal story flashfiction. “Song for a Desert Hollow” follows the journey of a Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) as he discovers his ancestral migration route blocked. The second, a fairytale retelling/historical fiction short, mixes German folklore and history to retell “Little Red Riding Hood” against the backdrop of 1930s Germany. “The Corn Wolf’s Tithe” follows two sisters, Alena and Silvia, as they find the world around them changing and their steps dogged by the mythic and mysterious corn wolf. Available in paperback.

NON-ANTHOLOGY SHORT STORIES:

“Chosen”, Redhead Magazine, 2013 – This epic fantasy short deconstructs the hero’s journey narrative/chosen one trope that dominates the genre. It was voted the 2013 Choice Story on Redhead Magazine and is available to read for free on their website.

NON-ANTHOLOGY POETRY:

“I Am of Fire”, Fabulously Feminist, 2015 – This poem examining the place of women in mythic cycles/religious works was published in digital magazine Fabulously Feminist’s article “Shannon Barnsley: Turn Ambivalence Into Empowerment Through Poetry”.

“A Willow Weeps for No One”, Fabulously Feminist, 2015 – This poem about gender relations and the politics of grief was published in Fabulously Feminist article “Shannon Barnsley: Turn Ambivalence Into Empowerment Through Poetry”.

“Priorities”, The Concord Monitor, 2014 – A political haiku, featured in The Forum’s The News in Haiku section of The Concord Monitor.

“We Were Wolves”, The Climax, 2009 – A poem published in the literature and photography section of Hampshire College’s official newspaper. This issue is available in the online archives.

BLOGS:

Bound and Gagged Banned Books Blog – This blog dedicated to exploring censorship and intellectual freedom issues is a labor of love, created and run by yours truly with reviews by me and others. Due to more pressing priorities and limited energy, this blog is inactive these days, but the fight against book bans rages on.

Salt and Iron – The blog you’re already on. Let’s hope you know how to find it by now.

INTERVIEWS/ON WRITING/GUEST BLOG ARTICLES:

“Read Books and Fight Evil: Banned Books Week During the Trump Administration” – My guest blog article for Fabulously Feminist talks Banned Books Week, censorship, and what they mean in our current political environment.

“Shannon Barnsley: Turn Ambivalence Into Empowerment Through Poetry” – This article in digital magazine Fabulously Feminist: Art For Social & Eco Justice features two of my poems, “I Am of Fire” and “A Willow Weeps for No One”. I also talk ancient epics, the role of women in religion/mythology, and what inspires my work.

“Shannon Barnsley on Speculative Fiction” – A personal essay on what attracts me to the spec-fic genres, written for the Mariya Suzuki Collection Blog Tour.

“Why I Write” – My personal essay on why I write, written for the Mariya Suzuki Collection Blog Tour.

“Why We Write – Shannon Barnsley” – A personal essay on why I write, written for 1888/Black Hill Press’s feature, “Why We Write”.

“Live Free and Read: Banned Books Week With Shannon Barnsley of Bound and Gagged Books” – An interview about Banned Books Week, intellectual freedom, and YA fiction.

“Routineology – Shannon Barnsley” – A glimpse at my routine and creative process, plus a reading list of myths and folktales.

“The Girls’ Guide to Horror; Full Interview with Shannon Barnsley” – In this interview on Sediment and Scrawl, I give my take on women in horror and my enduring love of An American Werewolf in London.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Though a shy forest creature from the wilds of New Hampshire, I am easily approachable, especially with chocolate. You can find or follow me on a variety of social media platforms, including:

Instagram – Writing updates, WIP snippets, character and book aesthetics, chronic illness updates/info/memes, books, tea, trees, dogs, nerd swag, food, occasional selfies, etc. I am most active here but about all facets of my life, not just writing.

Facebook – Updates on writing news as well a writing/bookish memes, music, and pretty pictures from people more talented than I.

The Artist Formerly Known As Twitter – Here there be politics. Ye be warned. I’m less active on here these days.

Goodreads – Just the books.

LinkedIn – My qualifications and such. In case you should want to hire me. Or you just reaaally want to know why I talk about Shakers so much.

Batsignal, semaphore, and the beacons of Gondor have also proved effective. If you would like to contact me about my work, my blogs, my editing services, or where I was on the night of June 22nd, feel free to contact me here or on any of the above platforms. Or on an actual platform as you light the beacons of Gondor. Whatever works.