Avalon Manly is a self-described lifelong writer, ex-podcaster, feminist, ex-teacher turned teacher again, cat lady, nerd and lifelong Colorado Springs resident.
Manly’s background in writing and journalism has enabled them to write in a variety of styles, especially horror. They currently have two books available to read on Kindle: “Rebreathing” and “It’s Not A Wasteland,” both published in 2013. They have also published multiple short stories and worked at schools and news publications around town, including The Scribe.
Manly reflects their queer identity in the myriads of work that they do. “It colors my work as an educator, it colors my work as a writer and as a scholar,” they said. “It colors my work as [co-president of the Academy Education Association] union, so it colors my advocacy. It colors my relationships in all my social groups.”
Omitting time Manly spent teaching in New Orleans, they have been in the Springs their whole life. They graduated from Pine Creek High School, attended UCCS as a triple major in English literature, communication and anthropology and are now teaching at Rampart High School.
Manly has worked at Harrison School District 2, Academy District 20, Pikes Peak Newspapers and The Gazette, bouncing between the classroom and the newsroom their entire career. Earlier this year, they also contributed to the Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ Oral History Project, sharing more about their experience with the queer history of the Springs.
Manly’s Scribe tenure lasted from 2009 to 2011, and they served as both the Culture (now Features) Editor and Editor-in-Chief throughout that time. One of their most prominent stories was David Williams’ term as SGA president and his impeachment due to refusing to fund Spectrum (a former LGBTQ+ organization on campus that has now become part of the M.O.S.A.I.C. and LGBTQ+ resource center). Williams is currently chairman of the Colorado Republican party, and a vote to remove him from the position recently failed.
During their time at UCCS, Manly discovered a passion for gothic literature and horror that led them to complete their master’s with a focus on those genres. They are currently writing their dissertation on “queer monsters and … the role of violence and representing queer identities in horror.” UCCS English Professor Lesley Ginsberg, Ph.D., is serving on their dissertation panel.
Their passion for horror is also clear in their stories, particularly in “Honey Island Swamp Child,” an eerie 2015 collection of short stories featuring debuting female authors that Manly curated. According to the book description, it “explores [the] shadows which linger at the edges of our collective psyche; it taunts you and guides you as you map the bruises of our contemporary conscience.”
Manly feels that their later works demonstrate a maturity they lacked in earlier writing, especially “Rebreathing,” a story about sisters trying to survive in an apocalyptic world. “I think I was working very hard to represent diverse perspectives and not doing a great job,” Manly said.
Manly has also combined their expertise in writing and academics to write horror pieces for curricular organizations such as CommonLit and McFarland Press, which means those companies have the full rights and control over Manly’s stories now, as opposed to publishing independently where Manly is free to maintain autonomy.
“Rebreathing” and “Honey Island Swamp Child.” Photos courtesy of Amazon.