 I learned about the power of creative fiction to tell us a lie that speaks a larger truth, and in the end, storytelling itself has created a new high, one of understanding, insight, and compassion. Five Things I learned While Editing Orphans of Bliss and the Addiction Horror Anthologies by Mark Matthews Orphans of Bliss, the follow up to the Shirley Jackson Award nominated, Lullabies for Suffering, is now out of the womb and breathing on its own. This is the third and final ‘addiction horror’ themed anthology, and as the editor and a contributing writer to all three, it’s been an exhausting, amazing, and cathartic experience. Here are Five Things I’ve learned about Horror, Editing, Writing, Addiction and Recovery: Horror Can Be the Best Vehicle to Take You Where You Need to Go The best way to tell the truth is through a story, and dark truths require a dark work of fiction. The horror in these anthologies are true, even if they didn’t even happen. During the time it takes to read the works, hundreds will die from overdoses, while hundreds more had their first taste of a drug they will soon become addicted to. They will crave the substance as much as a drowning man craves to breathe, and as much as a vampire craves blood. And their parents will stand by feeling as helpless as Regan’s mother in the Exorcist watching their daughter become possessed. Writers in the three addiction-themed anthologies show the range and reach of horror to capture these terrifying states. Horror understands our fragile nature with extreme empathy, and even compassion, and that is what I set out to create in the trio of anthologies. There are stories of Lovecraftian creatures who feed off discarded bodies of addicts, and then become addicted themselves. Tales of addicts who go to extreme lengths to find their fix, and those who fight the affliction same as a family might fight off a poltergeist, trying to excise the demons. Settings range from dystopian landscapes, to deep space, to rural woods, to virtual reality treatment centers, but they also take place squarely in the reality of human existence. Speculative fiction—whether it be sci-fi, horror, or fantasy—tells a larger truth versus a big fat lie. Editing is Far From Just Prose How utterly intimidating to edit other writers with such refined skills and fabulous, unique voices. The prose of the likes of Cassandra Khaw or Kealan Patrick Burke or the voice of SA Cosby. But my life experience within the subculture of addiction gave me something of value. I’ve done every substance that I’ve even seen (and I’ve seen most) and picked up a command of the language; the vernacular, the rituals. I know the things we love, like the ding of the liquor store door as we walk inside to get our pint of vodka for breakfast, or the feeling of drainage down our throat after we snort white lines off a mirror, or the comfort of patting the front pocket of our jeans to make sure the next pack of dope is still safely inside. What I offered as editor was to make the addiction component speak with verity and power. This is not to say the other writers didn’t, because each of their unique tales offered a different perspective and voice, but by combining the skills of writers with my experience to tweak the addiction component, the result was some magical pieces of fiction. And since my aim was not to stigmatize addiction, but rather shine a light into its darkness, I wanted to make certain the stories were infused with empathy and even compassion for those afflicted. What I learned is this empathy comes natural to horror writers. This was not some sort of gleeful sadism or addiction torture porn, but a finger on the pulse of what true horrors we face. “Write from the Scar, not from the Wound” While I dipped into my own demons to help guide these stories, I would not have been able to write or edit on this subject without the passing of time and therapeutic work of 25 years of sobriety to offer perspective. “Write from the scar, not from the wound” is how I heard it on a Glennon Doyle podcast. As she put it, you need to work through things and develop insight before simply pouring things out into an emotional puddle for others to bear witness. If the wound is still bleeding out, or if you’re still inflicting the trauma on yourself, there is no wisdom within the writing, only confusion and suffering. It’s not difficult for me to summon cravings for drinking and drugging. They bubble in my gut on command, and editing and writing works in this state is both harrowing and cathartic. It’s digging in the marrow and then donating plasma to readers, but had there not been the growth to learn to deal with these cravings, the results could have been disastrous. While it’s cathartic to write it out, the writing itself can’t be the meat of the healing, but perhaps just a sign that you’ve learned something and are in a better spiritual state. Everyone has been touched by substance abuse and addiction If there is someone out there who feels they have not been impacted by addiction, I suspect they just don’t realize it’s been right under their nose. The bike that was stolen from their garage was the work of a desperate addict who needed money to buy their next bag of dope. The uncle who seems to have aged and decayed and often is a no-show is sitting at home drinking himself to death. And the stories in these anthologies demonstrate that. There are first person accounts of addiction, as well as loved one’s point of view, and even addiction towards things other than substances itself, such as the obsession for material consumption or the cathartic but devastating rush of self-harm. Whether we are personally in recovery from addiction, or have witnessed a family member struggle with it, it affects us all. Since I started publishing these anthologies, I’ve received countless private messages from those who’ve been impacted, who have lost a loved one to an overdose, or lost them by degrees over years of addiction. Each time that happened, I share the truth that the human spirit can learn to face addiction and find recovery, but the tragedy is so few do. The body count is real, and the body count is high, and it’s everywhere you look. Writers want to write what matters Sure, horror writers want to have fun speculating about bizarre premises, but give us works that address universal truths of the terrifying world we live in, both micro and macro, and showcase real horrors the readers must face. Creative, speculative fiction is most memorable when it entertains but also speaks to some universal conflict, the way Hunger Games address poverty and power structures, the way Bird-Box address motherhood. Memorable, speculative settings, and conflicts that resonate, creating stories where tragic events happen. Where “Monsters are real, they live inside us, and sometimes they win” (Stephen King). When we guide readers to live through a fictional trauma, and after we’ve done so, after we’ve lived through the trauma together, we all actually feel less alone, more understood. That is what I learned, and as each story showed up in my inbox, I was so excited and eager to read what the talented mind come up with to address this issue that has been part of my life. It was such a pleasure, and I learned how horror writers can understand our traumas, not through a statistic, but a character who experiences these real-life horrors. I learned about the power of creative fiction to tell us a lie that speaks a larger truth, and in the end, storytelling itself has created a new high, one of understanding, insight, and compassion.  About the Author Mark Matthews is a graduate of the University of Michigan and a licensed professional counselor who has worked in behavioral health for over 20 years. He is the author of On the Lips of Children, All Smoke Rises, and Milk-Blood, as well as the editor of Lullabies for Suffering, Garden of Fiends, and Orphans of Bliss. In June of 2021, he was nominated for a Shirley Jackson Award. His newest work, The Hobgoblin of Little Minds, was published in January, 2021. Reach him at WickedRunPress@gmail. Find Orphans of Bliss at all major outlets including: Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/4vevyssj Barnes & Noble: https://tinyurl.com/4v3hdc9e IndieBound: https://tinyurl.com/4bwcmbp7 Lullabies for Suffering on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/bdcurffy Orphans of Bliss "Triumphant—A must add to all collections" ~The Library Journal, Starred Review Addiction is the perpetual epidemic, where swarms of human moths flutter to the flames of hell. Because that warm blanket of a heroin high, that joyful intoxication of a pint of vodka, that electric energy from a line of cocaine, over time leaves you with a cold loneliness and a bitter heart. Relationships destroyed, bodies deteriorate, loved ones lost, yet the craving continues for that which is killing us—living, as the title suggests, like an Orphan of Bliss. Welcome to the third and final fix of addiction horror and the follow up to the Shirley Jackson Award Finalist, Lullabies For Suffering. A diverse table of contents brought together for an explosive grand finale-an unflinching look at the insidious nature of addiction, told with searing honesty but compassion for those who suffer. Lullabies for Suffering "Chilling and thought-provoking" ~The Library Journal (Starred Review) Shirley Jackson Award Nominee for Best Anthology of the Year 'This Is Horror Award' Nominee for Best Anthology of the Year Includes the Bram Stoker Award Finalist story: 'Beyond the Reef' Addiction starts like a sweet lullaby sung by a trusted loved one. It washes away the pains of the day and wraps you in the warmness of the womb where nothing hurts and every dream is possible. Yet soon enough, this warm state of bliss becomes a cold shiver, the ecstasy and dreams become nightmares, yet we can't stop listening to the lullaby. We crave to hear the siren song as it rips us apart. A powerful list of talent has woven tales featuring the insidious nature of addiction--damaged humans craving for highs and wholeness but finding something more tragic and horrific on the other side. You're invited to listen to these Lullabies for Suffering. CHECK OUT TODAY'S OTHER ARTICLES BELOW
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