The Woman I Used to Be and Other Speculative Imaginings

An amnesiac attempts to make sense of a life she's assured is her own, a woman takes a one-way space mission with only an AI for company, a robot tries to navigate conflicting programming to get a spaceport clean, a clever cat fights off a monster intent on eating her person, a hellhound befriends a human, a potter throws revenge on her wheel, a desperate spectral wife conjures a black cougar to help her escape her husband, and a sorceress relieves tired champions of their destinies. These and other stories in this book are all finding new life in this volume after first appearing in Grimdark Magazine, Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show, Nature, Daily Science Fiction, Grievous Angel, Abyss & Apex, Deep Magic, and other magazines and anthologies. Ranging in length from flash to novelette, these stories run the speculative gamut from science fiction to horror, from fantasy to magical realism. Laugh, gasp, cry, wonder, and above all else: enjoy.



Praise for The Woman I Used to Be and Other Speculative Imaginings:

"This is an unsettling collection of stories filled with vengeance, justice, weirdness, and the uncanny. Gerri Leen has a powerful voice-easy to fall into, satisfying in so many ways."

- Richard Thomas, Bram Stoker, Shirley Jackson, and Thriller Award finalist



"Gerri Leen's talents are on full display in The Woman I Used to Be, an expansive collection of science fiction and fantasy tales focused on themes of memory and identity, destiny and agency. I found the writing beautiful and the stories memorable."

- Christi Nogle, author of The Best of Our Past, the Worst of Our Future



Gerri Leen's collection brings together twenty-seven of her published works, taking the reader on a varied journey of style and genre. I was particularly captivated by Leen's characters, each of whom draws the reader in through their unique perspectives, whether they're human, animal, or something else. Any reader of speculative fiction will find something to enjoy here.

- P.A. Cornell, Nebula finalist and author of Lost Cargo



"The Woman I Used to Be is an amazing collection of twisty tales. By turns fantastical, horrific, and humorous, these stories never end as expected. An intoxicating ride."

-Rebecca Buchanan, author of The Adventure of the Faerie Coffin



"The tales in The Woman I Used to Be and Other Speculative Imaginings hooked me from the very first page. Gerri Leen is a master of short form speculative fiction-and it shows on every page. Evocative language, powerful emotions, and beautiful descriptions are all on display in Leen's tight, clear style. Many of these stories are going to stick with me for a long time. The Woman I Used to Be and Other Speculative Imaginings is a remarkable collection showcasing a talented writer of speculative fiction."

- Eric Fomley, author of Flash Futures



"I never thought I'd find a speculative SF writer with the same undefinable magic as the Great Ones, like Le Guin or Bradbury, but here she is. Leen's smooth style blows me away. Don't miss a strange love story about a pair of unique flesh eating "vampires" or a spacer on a one-way mission, a man who loves her and an AI named Vesta. These and more extraordinary tales compose this must-read package! It's a keeper!"

- Marge Simon, Bram Stoker Award winner