“This is a book for those who like to dig into a good story but also to be challenged by ‘what if’ questions that evoke a future that may be closer than we imagine.” – Elizabeth Marro, author of Casualties
“This book is timely. It presents a dark foreign world, but one that may not be unexpected the way things are going.” – Philip B. Persinger, author of Tools of the Trade and Do the Math
“The Age of the Child is one of the first dystopian novels I’ve read to really consider the issue of reproductive rights and attitudes so deeply. [It] begs numerous questions, including whether or not having children should be a right, why society is often so adamant that it is selfish not to have children, why the government is preoccupied with reproductive rights, and what rights and privileges we take for granted.” – Cobwebs Book Reviews
Listen to the discussion on WNPR’s “The Colin McEnroe Show”
I spent years reporting from military bases where young families and lovers were being separated by the decisions of old men. I had never had a better understanding of the agony of military separation until I read Kristen Tsetsi’s haunting and lyrical debut novel.” –James C. Moore, New York Times best-selling author of Bush’s Brain: How Karl Rove Made George W. Bush Presidential and Give Back the Light: A Doctor’s Relentless Struggle to End Blindness
Tsetsi’s talents shine throughout the novel, and she reveals herself to be the rare sort of writer who can satisfy both emotionally and intellectually. … Its intelligent, honest treatment of war is not the only thing that Pretty Much True has going for it. In many ways, it is an example of the kind of highbrow style that makes small presses so essential to the continued health of our literary landscape. ” –Small Press Reviews
The Year of Dan Palace is a book to savour and enjoy the beautiful clarity of the writing. Stunningly good.”—Indie Bookworm Reviews
The Year of Dan Palace is honest, original, and impossible to put down. With a wholly distinctive narrative voice, Chris Jane is a 21st Century Bukowski.”—Joseph Dilworth Jr., Pop Culture Zoo
childfree conversation
from the blog
Obitogy for Steve / Dad Tsetsi
Steve Tsetsi was not born a dad, though it felt like he could have been. Instead, he was born a regular baby. . The first of five kids, he was a big brother to (in order of life appearance) Christine (Chris), Larry, Linda, and Mark. “He was the coolest big brother ever,” Chris says.
Interview with WWII veteran Ted Cummings about his influences, his decision to join the Marines, and his role in the war
The following interview with Theodore R. Cummings was conducted in November 2013. Mr. Cummings, a friendly, energetic, and overall lovely interview subject, died two years later in September 2015. Since retiring from his position as chairman of the Manchester, Conn. Democratic Committee in 2007, a position he’d held for 47 years, lifelong Manchester resident Ted
Social media’s “thigh gap” trend not to blame for eating disorders
Originally published Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013 in the Journal Inquirer by Kristen J. Tsetsi The website wikiHow, which offers step-by-step instructions on how to build a door, drive a car with manual transmission, and accept not having children, also explains how to achieve thigh gap. Thigh gap, an aesthetic desired by a segment of young
There’s more to preventing rape than the victims not getting drunk, experts say
Originally published in the Journal Inquirer as “How can we stop rape?” Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013 by Kristen J. Tsetsi The University of Michigan reports that according to studies conducted in 2000 and 2001, teaching men to be dominant and aggressive often leads to their development of hyper-masculinity, male peer support for sexual aggression, and
The making of a book: Part II
Years ago, on a now-abandoned WordPress site, I made A book’s stages of growth: in pictures after having written my first novel, Homefront (Homefront later became Pretty Much True, which became Pretty Much True by Chris Jane, and yes it’s all the same story. Regerts, I have a few). Now that The Age of the Child
Dehumanizing women in advertising
*for the Journal Inquirer (& still more than relevant enough to re-post years later) Federal prosecutors have said one-time East Hartford, Conn. “pimp” Brian Forbes sold two young women to another “pimp” for a promised payment of more than $1,000 in late 2003. The sale — for which Forbes never actually received payment, according to
