I recently had the chance to read an incredible book that completely blew me away. It is easily one of the best things I have read in the last couple of years, and I was thrilled to sit down with the author, Krystle Ratticus, to talk all about her debut book, Ornery Cuss.

Designed with a pocket-sized, dime-store pulp novel aesthetic, Ornery Cuss sits in a fascinating space right between fiction and memoir. Krystle pulls from her own lived experiences, altering just enough of the details to protect the guilty and keep the narrative compelling. The result is a highly observational, deeply empathetic look at navigating difficult circumstances, chaotic roommates, and relationships with some truly eccentric characters.

Before putting together this book, Krystle spent 25 years deeply embedded in the self-publishing world making personal zines and fanzines. We had a great time diving into her roots in the Chicago zine scene, the pure community aspect of independent publishing, and our shared, obsessive love for historical cemeteries.

Ornery Cuss is a beautiful piece of independent art from a singular voice. You can grab your own copy of the book and explore more of her work directly at WeirdoDuJour.com.

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Episode Links:

Purchase Ornery Cuss
Weirdo Du Jour - Krystle's Website