[About Mothers Day in the Empire State]

Set as a deposition novel discovered in the Public Records of the Allegheny Family Court it delves into three distinct stories of motherhood in America. Munda critically examines the concept of motherhood. Drawing inspiration from the original intent of Mothers Day by Anna Jarvis in 1906 as an antiwar holiday, the novel challenges the sentimentalized view of motherhood propagated by modern society.

Set in the fictional town of Allegheny in the New York Empire State, Munda (a single mother and veteran military intelligence officer turned Child Protection Services officer) investigates two mothers accused of child abuse The novel provides a raw unflinching look at the challenges faced by mothers in both poverty and luxury highlighting the grim sate of American children today.

[Meet the Author] Constantia Connie Munda is a multitalented author illustrator and Child Protection Services officer As a single mother of two children and a veteran military officer Connie brings a unique perspective to her writing drawing from her extensive experience in military intelligence.

[Advance Praise Early Reviews] Part narrative part court case, the hybridity of Mothers Day in the Empire State brings the reader closer to the true experience of family pain than either form could on its own. We watch as the law with its rigid rational understanding of human behavior tries to contain and punish generational trauma, while history both personal and global defies all attempts at control. Ribbons of poetry bump up against cold fact hand drawn images become court exhibits. This book is a battle between logic and emotion life and death Its strangeness will linger.

Dr Rachel Abramowitz author of The Birthday of the Dead

You have not read a book like Mothers in the Empire State before I guarantee it. A retort to a 1615 pamphlet takes the form of illustrations speeches and winding monologues in the style of texts such as Notes from the Underground. Its a hypnotic blend that will keep you turning the pages.

Dr Kyle McCord author of Reunion of the Good Weather Suicide Cult

Mothers Day in the Empire State Or An Answer to the Arraignment of Women by Constantia Connie Munda is an engaging work investigating two complaints of child abuse through the testimony of a CPS officer told as an enduring record of evidence. Literally this book takes the form of a deposition transcript to the Family Court of New York State.

Recalling the work and mission of Rachel Speght the 16th century a poet and polemicist, Munda searches for a modern refutation in her Arraignment of Women. Speght in 1617 using a similar nomdeplume wrote A Mouzell for Melastomus her Christian themed rebuttal to Joseph Swetnams Arraignment of Lewde Idle Froward and Unconstant Women.

But this is not 1617 it is 2023, and Constantia Connie Mundas work takes a very different form; but is just as necessary and inventive.

With rough vivid satire, word play, a lucid sense of self-awareness, and an acute awareness of the world, Munda denounces child abuse and confronts the methodology of the family and the questions the reach of patriarchy. This is is an excellent book and I too myself looking to the heavens and exclaiming AAAaaammmen!

Geoffrey Gatza editor of BlazeVOX books