Defy Definitions

This book is a celebration of voices from the margins. It brings together 32 captivating personal essays from across the globe, celebrating the spirit of living, and exploring individual quest for identity and existence. The narratives in this collection transcends geographical boundaries, and reminds us how several factors, such as social environment, history, culture, and gender plays a significant role in shaping and defining an individual’s preference for adopting an alternative life choice.Defy Definitions chronicles the personal battles conquered and offers a nuanced examination of triumphs and tribulations that embodies courage, resilience, and the need to remain ever faithful to one’s own true self. As the 32 voices intertwine in this book the collective narrative emerges as a powerful force challenging the very foundations of conventions and norms. Given the interdisciplinary nature of the anthology, the book will appeal to a wider readership especially those interested in gender studies, cultural studies, sociology, human rights studies, and literature.

Dr. Khusi Pattanayak wanted to study at Hogwarts, but she did not receive her letter. So she decided to be a woman of letters & completed her PhD in English literature. She has swashbuckled both academia and corporate world in her 13+ years of professional experience. As a Corporate Communication expert, she has transformed words into profits and strategies into success stories; a true-blue Holmes & Poirot baby she neither overlooks an oxford comma nor a decimal point. Dr. Pattanayak writes in and translates from Odia, English, Hindi, and Bengali languages. She has collaborated as author, translator, and editor in various international projects. Books and chapters written by her are taught in several Indian universities; her columns on cinema and culture are simultaneously serious and sassy. As a visual artist she has had the honour of designing cover page of Amazon bestsellers and has been included in prestigious art collaborations. She is also a featured model. Dr. Pattanayak is a minimalist who believes in sustainable living & flaunting salt-pepper hair.You can reach her through Facebook @ drkhusipattanayak or Instagram @drkhusipattanayak or mail her at pkhusi@rediffmail.com.

Candice Louisa Daquin is of Sephardi French/Egyptian descent. Born in Europe, Daquin worked in publishing for The American Embassy before immigrating to America to study and become a Psychotherapist, where she has continued writing and editing whilst practicing as a therapist. Daquin has worked at Jewish Community Centers and Rape Crisis Centers both in Texas and Ontario, Canada. Her area of specialization is adults sexually abused as children. Prior to publishing her own poetry collections, Daquin regularly wrote for the poetry periodical Rattle and The Northern Poetry Review. Daquin is currently Senior Editor at Indie Blu(e) Publishing, a feminist micro-press and Editorial Partner with Raw Earth Ink. She edits for Parcham Literary Magazine, Tint Journal and The Pine Cone Review. Daquin's poetic work takes its form from the confessional women poets of the 19th and 20th century as well as queer authors writing from the 1950's onward. Her career(s) teaching critical thinking and practicing as a psychotherapist have heavily influenced her work, with explored key themes including, sexual-dysfunction, sexual-abuse, parental-relationships, mental illness and queer-identity. Daquin's work is also significantly imprinted by Audre Lorde, Françoise Sagan, Angela Carter, activist Egyptian physician Nawal El Saadawi, Navdanya seed bank creator/campaigner Vandana Shiva, Pablo Neruda, Israeli PM Golda Mier, Toni Morrison and feminist philosophers bell hooks, Hélène Cixous and Luce Irigaray.Daquin is co-editor of the award-winning anthologies SMITTEN This Is What Love Looks Like: Poetry by Women for Women, The Kali Project: Invoking the Goddess Within / Indian Women's Voices, The New Condemned: Contemporary Albanian Poetry in English, Love Letters to Ukraine from Uyava - Любовні листи до України від Уяви, We Will Not Be Silenced: The Lived Experience of Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Told Powerfully Through Poetry, Prose, Essay, and Art. Her latest personal collection is Tainted by the Same Counterfeit (Finishing Line Press, 2022).