This is a memoir novella about a woman with an addiction, a mental illness & a feminist identity. This is the story of one woman's journey from anxiety-ridden child to delinquent teenager to divorced alcoholic & how she turned all those years of experience into a beautiful existence. Heavy Hangs the Head is the story of the first thirty-four years of my life which included losing a parent, losing myself, losing everything & fighting back with the help of a community I didn't realize I had. It's about falling in love & getting hurt, falling apart & getting back up. Heavy Hangs the Head is my journey towards learning to overcome the things that hold me back & accepting that sometimes, it's ok to not move at all.
Cover by Lisa Congdon (read our interview here)
Photography by John Berry Published by Sweet Candy Distro & Press, Olympia WA "Hipp has spent the better part of the last couple decades making Sub Rosa and Lady Teeth, two poignant, sharply written zines that embody the best of what personal zines are capable of: true stories about love, responsibility, adulthood, and the chronic lack thereof that sucker punch your heart then hug it tight. Heavy Hangs The Head is Hipp’s first book-length work, and it traces her cross-country path through failed romances, substance abuse, and emotional chaos illuminated by understated flashes of triumph and feminist insight. It’s an anxious book by an anxious writer, and it’s all the more alive because of it." - Jason Heller, A.V. Club "Well written in the voice of someone who could easily be one of my friends and it felt like sage wisdom and a cautionary tale while completely triumphant all at once." - Kim Burly, The Alpha Blonde "The overall story is compelling and ultimately encouraging. Hipp acknowledges her life isn’t perfect, but towards the end of the book one can see her growth and how far she has come compared to where she once was. It made me happy to see her overcome the obstacles that once held her down." - Kurt Morris, Razorcake |