Her Own House
by Kim McCoy
This collection of eight short stories explores the themes of nonconformity, self-acceptance, and transformation. Characters confront religious, racial, and moral issues, which result in overcoming some internal or external challenge. The stories are told with magical, satirical, and traditional story-telling elements. For example, "The Liberation of Mammy" is about a slave who uses her secret pancake recipe to cause a distraction that allows her to escape from bondage; "Her Own House," is inspired by the biblical burning bush story; and "Notes on a Video Honey" is the story of a young girl who doesn't completely understand or approve of her mother's decision to degrade herself by being mere eye candy in rap videos. Worlds similar to our own and worlds that are exaggerations of our own are intended to guide readers to ideas they may have never before considered.