A Choir of Ill Children

Cover and interior artwork by Caniglia

Jonah, Cole, and Sebastian are three brothers conjoined at the frontal lobe: though they have their own identities they psychically communicate with one another. They share one massive brain and have only "one voice." Each mouth can only speak certain feelings and words. So although Sebastian is full of hate, his mouth is used when reciting love poems. Their caretaker brother, Thomas, narrates the story. Their mother mysteriously vanished years before and their father committed suicide by throwing himself into the family mill. The backwoods swamp town of Kingdom Come relies on the mill as their mainstay of employment and production. The wealthy Thomas, although a pariah, is also exalted and feared among the people. Due to their isolation, the townsfolk still lead a backwards way of life. Some are highly superstitious, a situation made worse by a number of women living on the edge of the swamp called the granny witches, who believe in potions, spells, and curses. Thomas' best friend, Drabs Bibbler, is a reverend who suffers from the power of tongues whenever he is in Thomas' presence. As children, Drabs presided over the marriage of Thomas and Maggie, and though Maggie and Thomas have never so much as kissed, all three understand that the marriage was true under the eyes of God. Drabs, who loves Maggie, has been in emotional agony for years because of this. Maggie is like some ethereal spirit who haunts the woods. Drabs wanders the town naked in his madness and sorrow and is occasionally beat-up and tarred for his transgressions. He tries desperately to warn Thomas of an impending doom. Each time they get close enough to speak though, Drabs is overcome by the Holy Spirit and cannot clearly state what is going to happen. All Thomas learns is that "the carnival is coming." Things just go from strange to downright freakyass from there.

Trade Hardcover sold out at the publisher

Limited Edition - Limited to 100 signed copies with bound-in bookmark and chapbook - The limited edition was sold out pre-publication.