James Truslow Adams coined the term, "American Dream" in his book, The Epic of America. Therein, it was defined as the hope for, "a better, richer, and happier life for all our citizens of every rank which is the greatest contribution we have as yet made to the thought and welfare of the world."

This vision has yet to be attained. The American Dream as it currently exists functions as the carrot, urging us forward in the desperate race to stabilize, build, and thrive while we still have breath in our overworked and undermaintained bodies. The time of reckoning is upon us. It's time for a greater contribution, one in which a diversity of voices is amplified rather than silenced.

Stories for this collection will fall into one of three areas: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, those inalienable rights we were promised at this nation's founding. This anthology seeks to tell tales that emphasize the ways in which interwoven systems fail all but the most privileged among us. This failure might come in the form of poor prenatal care, lack of access to quality healthcare, inability to progress in one's field, racism, sexism, ableism... the sky is the limit.