ANTS WAKING is a thrilling, visceral magical realism fantasy about a trans college freshman with autism in the magical city of Cambridge racing against meddlesome gods for the means to thwart their friend's premature death before a Dark storm consumes them. The title novella is accompanied by R.J. Huneke's illustrations plus bonus material: previously published and unpublished short stories and select poetry. For every book sold, the author is donating $1 to the Global Action for Trans Equality [GATE] and $1 to the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, to benefit the trans and neurodivergent communities.
Erica's journey into the magical city of Cambridge to attempt to thwart their beloved Danny's untimely death has become legend. As an autistic, trans college freshman-turned Story Warrior, Erica trudges the magical city's snowy, cobblestoned labyrinth full of streetlamp faeries and meddling gods in the hopes of finding the Legioness at the city's heart, before the onset of the Dark conquers the day and, with it, the only chance of redeeming tragedy.
For readers of fantasy literature, ANTS WAKING is a noir fairy tale akin to Alix E. Harrow's The Ten Thousand Doors of January crossed with Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" with a touch of Mickey Spillane's I, the Jury.
This story displays all the hallmarks of a great R.J. Huneke novel; it has an emotional power that speaks to experiences of loss and identity and coming of age, and it uses myth and youth as a guide into an immersive new world.
