Transmission - Paperback

by J. E. Sumerau (Author)

Transmission is a story about transformation and the development of self-love. After 20 years of traveling throughout the U.S., Millie Morrison returns to her hometown to make sense of the experiences and relationships that have shaped her life. In so doing, Millie explores where she came from, what moments linger despite the passage of time, and who she is and wants to be standing on the edge of 40 years old. Her journey thus becomes a consideration on how we incorporate who we are with who others expect us to be.
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From "Transmission"
"I guess you're right, or I'm right, we're right maybe. I guess I'm very emotional right now. I haven't thought about Josie in years, I just haven't, it was almost like I forgot her somehow. The song started playing, and I know you always said I had way too much of an emotional reaction to that song, but it started playing and I could see her. I don't mean I was thinking about her, necessarily, it was different. I could see her, three years old in pig tails, seven years old dancing in the grass, twelve years old climbing the magnolia tree in front of her house that her mother was allergic to, fifteen years old showing me how to do my makeup that night before we all went out to the party out in the field on the edge of the park. I could see her like she was really there. I could hear her voice. I could feel her laugh. The tears just flooded me. There was no warning. She just came crashing back into my head like she'd always been there, maybe hiding somewhere waiting for the right moment."

Author Biography

J. E. SUMERAU (She/They) is a writer and scholar focused on the intersection of sexualities, gender, health, violence, and religion in social life. They are also the author of 6 novels and 5 nonfiction books including the Southern Gothic queer coming-of-middle-age story Scarecrow and an exploration of masculinities entitled Violent Manhood. She is also the director of applied sociology at the University of Tampa, and the author of over 100 short fiction and nonfiction works published in varied literary, medical, and social scientific journals and edited volumes. For more information, please visit www.jsumerau.com.