Cassidy McFadzean delves into themes of identity and digital life with keen observation and a distinctive style. Her work often explores the intricate relationships between humans and technology, crafting vivid and thought-provoking narratives. McFadzean seamlessly blends introspective subject matter with visual language, drawing readers into the depth of her literary explorations. Her writing stands as a testament to her ability to capture the nuances of modern existence.
This debut poetry collection showcases a unique blend of playfulness and innovation, highlighting the author's distinctive voice. Recognized as a finalist for prestigious awards like the CBC Poetry Prize and The Walrus Poetry Prize, the poems invite readers into a vibrant exploration of themes and emotions, promising an invigorating experience for poetry enthusiasts.
The Conium Vol. 10 includes new fiction from Lori Sambol Brody, Samuel Clark, Ted Hayden, Aimee Herman, Erica Kent, Kaleena Madruga, Lyndsie Manusos, and Cassidy McFadzean. A giant mirror hangs above a city and exposes private moments; two siblings mix and match pieces of their bodies; a lucky couple wins a vacation in a haunted castle. Lyric and surreal, these pieces traverse themes of intimacy, dependency, and isolation.This volume of The Conium Review includes "The Sky Saw Us," by Ted Hayden, winner of the 2021 Innovative Short Fiction Contest. The contest was judged by Elle Nash, author of Animals Eat Each Other and Nudes . Elle says "In 'The Sky Saw Us, ' all the loss of one's life becomes stored inside the body, where one reflects on it forever."
The second poetry collection from the award-winning author of Hacker PackerRAYMOND SOUSTER AWARD FINALISTInvoking human-animal hybrids in various stages of metamorphosis, Drolleries veers between the beasts of the forest and the opulence of the art gallery. Personal and historical struggles are held against the backdrop of the grotesque and A marriage unravels in Goya's Black Room. The diagnosis of a blood-clotting mutation is read through the tarot. The violence of the patriarchy is filtered through the subconscious. In sonically rich lyric poems that traverse the vulnerability of confession and the dramatic possibilities of persona, Drolleries invokes its monsters as a means of working through internal turmoil, existential doubt, and heartbreak. This collection investigates how the lure of romantic relationships, the enchantments of art, and the seductions of power can be both destructive and transformative - and ultimately become a pathway to self-realization.