About this Event
East End Books Ptown Presents: Fin Leary "These Bodies Ain’t Broken" Edited by Madeline Dyer 10/20 at 5pm
Fin Leary (they/he) is a transgender and autistic author, a program manager at We Need Diverse Books, and a faculty member at Emerson College and GrubStreet. Fin was a 2024 Lambda Literary Emerging LGBTQ+ Voices Fellow for Young Adult Fiction. Fin is the editor of the science fiction anthology Future States of Stars (OwlCrate Press, 2026). They are a contributor to the young adult horror anthology These Bodies Ain’t Broken edited by Madeline Dyer (Page Street Publishing, 2025). Their creative nonfiction has been published in About Us edited by Peter Catapano and Rosemarie Garland-Thomson, as well as the New York Times, Good Housekeeping, Refinery29, The Boston Globe Magazine, The Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, Cosmopolitan, The Oprah Magazine, Vice, Bitch, Teen Vogue, Healthline, and more. Fin lives with their orange literary cat and a rainbow bookshelf outside of Boston, Massachusetts.
A monstrous transformation within your own body.
A sacrificial imprisonment.
A fight to the death against an ancient evil.
These stories showcase disabled characters winning against all odds.
Outsmarting deadly video games, hunting the predatory monster in the woods, rooting out evil within their community, finding love and revenge with their newly turned vampire friend―this anthology upends expectations of the roles disabled people can play in horror. With visibly and invisibly disabled characters whose illnesses include Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, PTSD, and more, each entry also includes a short essay from the author about the conditions portrayed in their stories to further contextualize their characters’ perspectives. From breaking ancient curses to defying death itself, these 13 horror stories cast disabled characters as heroes we can all root for.
"Reimagining a genre that’s often known for representing characters with disabilities as villains, this horror anthology reveals the power held within disabled bodies. Authentic and broadly diverse representation enhances this uniformly strong collection."
―Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"[A]n ambitious horror anthology with a mission [...] This is an easy recommendation for horror fans, especially those eager to finally feel seen in the genre beyond problematic stereotypes."
―Booklist
"[E]nough tropes to satisfy any horror-loving reader [...] It's a worthy read as a celebration of disabled people winning―because, as one of the authors writes, 'even though we have disabilities, our bodies ain’t broken.'"
―The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
“A brilliant anthology of disabled and chronically ill kids fighting, surviving, and seeking vengeance with sharpened teeth.”
―Andrew Joseph White, award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of Compound Fracture
“Bold, terrifying, and beautifully defiant―These Bodies Ain’t Broken proves that real strength comes from resilience.”
―Aiden Thomas, author of New York Times bestseller Cemetery Boys
“So proud this book exists!”
―Ellen Oh, founding member of WNDB and author of The Colliding Worlds of Mina Lee
“The stories in this anthology blend fear and resilience, featuring unforgettable characters who defy the idea of ‘brokenness’ and redefine what it means to be strong.”
―Brenda Drake, New York Times bestselling author of the Library Jumpers series
“A riveting look at the intersectionality between disability and horror.”
―Jessica Lewis, author of Bad Witch Burning
“These Bodies Ain’t Broken presents a widely fantastical and nuanced embrace of disability alongside darkness―where, often, the real horror is in how those with different needs are forcibly constrained.”
―Wen-yi Lee, award-winning author of The Dark We Know
“A visceral and emotionally satisfying anthology for all horror fans.”
―Catherine Yu, author of Direwood, Helga, and The Devil’s in the Dancers
About the Editor
Madeline Dyer is a novelist, poet, and anthologist. She is the editor of the Being Ace anthology and co-editor of the Unbound anthology. She is also the author of the Aces in Love series (written as Elin Annalise). She has a herd of Shetland ponies, loves anything ghostly, and can frequently be found exploring wild places. At least one notebook is known to follow her everywhere she goes.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
East End Books Ptown, 389 Commercial Street, Provincetown, United States
USD 0.00 to USD 27.24
