TAUGHT BY TIME: MYTH GOES PUNK released August, 2021

Punk stories (cyberpunk, biopunk, steampunk, etc.) inspired by classic myth, folklore and legends—plus a novella by H James Lopez that is a nanopunk take on the Odyssey and was the focal point of this anthology.

It is available in ebook and paperback. Here’s the gorgeous cover by our Lia Rees. Internal print layout is by JL Sarchet, and ebook layout by Katherine Lee Pierret Perkins. Editing coordination and internal graphics by Carol Gyzander.

Taught by Time is the 6th (!!!) book from the charity press we started 6 years ago — we have gone from aspiring to put a book together to consistently funding 2 kennels at PAWS Animal Rescue in Lynwood, WA each year purely from the profits of the 6 books.

We were going to release it sooner, but opted to delay release to let authors who have had a really rough time during the pandemic focus on for-a-living releases, putting this off until things started opening up… and after this long, it’s really nice to be putting a new book out. You can also keep an eye on us at https://www.facebook.com/writerpunkpress

Allow me to introduce Writerpunk Press, a cooperative endeavor that publishes anthologies of ’punk stories inspired by classic tales in the public domain. In the first five volumes, we’ve punked Shakespeare (twice), Edgar Allan Poe, a bunch of those classic stories you read in high school English class, and classic horror tales.

We started our adventure with an idle chat in the Writerpunk Facebook group. One member, Esaias, mentioned something about writing a punk version of a Shakespeare play—and the game was afoot. Others chimed in and staked a claim to which tragedy or comedy they would like to punk, and before we knew it we were at work on our first anthology! Beyond the excitement of seeing the Bard’s plays in alternate settings and with punk elements, we realized that the project would give all of us—writers, editors, artists—a chance to practice our respective crafts. None of us could have predicted what a successful project it would be.

…  from the front pages of Poe Goes Punk.

We donate the profits from our anthologies to PAWS Animal Rescue in Lynwood, WA, and are proud that we’ve been able to fully support two large dog kennels each year.

For our next volume, we’ve turned our attention to myth, folklore and legend. Our stories are steampunk, cyberpunk, biopunk, and other kinds of punk genres. Some are retellings of the original story but with a twist; some sneak a peek at what might have happened after the original story ended. Others are inspired by the original but take a look at it a different way—the road not taken.

I am honored to have been one of the founding authors, and to have moved into the role of Editor-in-Chief with our third volume. Working with our established writers and the other volunteer editors, and helping our new writers improve their work, has given me a fabulous opportunity to improve my own writing. Can’t think of a greater group of folks with whom to work!

I’m delighted to share that Taught by Time: Myth Goes Punk is now out—our 6th anthology! It has so many awesome stories, inspired by myth, folklore and legends that are familiar to us all…but in true punk style, we take them to a place you’ve never dreamed of!