Here Lies Buried is, according to the publishers website, “a collection of essays inspired by celebrities who died in 2024. Part celebration, part reflection and part meditation on what else felt like it died in 2024. Famous people include: Melanie, David Soul, Nex Benedict, Alexei Navalny, Shelley Duvall, Shannen Doherty, James Earl Jones, Dame Maggie Smith, Fernando Valenzuela, Quincy Jones, Sir Lady Java, Nikki Giovanni, and Jimmy Carter.”

I love the way this anthology series explores our relationship with celebrity, and how it can feel like a personal loss when a public figure dies. This is not about para-social relationships, but the way that the life work of artists and activists, or even those caught in the crossfire of historical moments, can change the trajectory of our own lives in deep and meaningful ways. Sometimes these figures are our inspiration or our idols in ways that inspire us to create something, or to keep going, to understand ourselves better.

This is the third time I’ve written for this project, this time with a piece about Shelley Duvall, so I’m biased when I highly recommend you get your hands on a copy of this book. Each volume has featured illustrations by Lee Fearnside, which I love. ( I have one of her prints on my wall) And the poems, essays and personal stories are all life affirming and moving.

Thank you to Chimera Projects for including my piece in this wonderful anthology.

You can find out more about Chimera Projects HERE. Or get your copy of Here Lies Buried in Canada HERE or the US HERE.