An 1880s theologian. A 1940s high school principal. A 1970s, first-ever-anywhere (she’s pretty sure) female take on Bozo the Clown.

In this collection, Cynthia Swanson explores the lives of nine women, including several ancillary figures from Swanson’s beloved, bestselling novels. Covering more than a century of American history and landscapes, these stories examine recognizable struggles: gender presumptions, body image, gaslighting, and abuse, among others. The women’s lives differ from one another, but they share a singular trait: their sex dictates the expectations stamped onto them. Each woman, in her time, must fight for who she is against the forces working to constrain her.

 This Isn’t New asks: What can uniquely female history teach us about our own lives—and how can the power of story inform our choices going forward?

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“In Cynthia Swanson’s kaleidoscopic short story collection, This Isn’t New, we meet nine female protagonists fighting patriarchy with every tool available to them, in venues public and private. Vivid and relatable, thoughtful and inspirational, these historical reimaginings give voice to women’s choices, sacrifices, and triumphs across time.”
— Erika Krouse, 2026 Joyce Carol Oates Literary Prize winner and author of Save Me, Stranger: Stories

“Intimate, compassionate, and fearless, Swanson's latest collection is a celebration of American womanhood throughout the centuries. A feminist gem.” — Mathangi Subramanian, award-winning author of A People's History of Heaven

“These nine invigorating stories, set over the past 150 years, plunge the reader into a variety of American women’s lives. Swanson fully realizes the consciousnesses and emotional lives of her protagonists, crafting people who feel real and authentic for their time periods. These deft stories show how women have always survived, and even thrived, within the constrictions society places them in.”
— Jenny Shank, Colorado Book Award winning author of Mixed Company: Stories

"This Isn't New reminds contemporary readers of our feminist forebears who struggled for equality in healthcare, employment, faith communities, and the world at large. Written with clarity and insight, this is a book for our times."
— Wendy J. Fox, winner of the Colorado Book Award and author of The Last Supper

“Cynthia Swanson’s This Isn’t New collection is as infuriating as it is extraordinary, stories that bring to life more than a century of injustice toward strong women caught up in the social and sexual mores of their era. The title says it all, but the stories themselves demand a cold reassessment of where we’ve been and where we’re going at a time when toxic masculinity has reasserted its unfortunate presence in American culture.”
— Martin J. Smith, award-winning author of Going to Trinidad: A Doctor, a Colorado Town, and Stories From an Unlikely Gender Crossroads

“Spiritual, cultural, and gender issues arise in each woman’s life to influence its direction, introduce new concepts, and lead readers to think about the disparate roles women choose for their lives and in those around them. Libraries seeking literary women’s short stories that hold much contrasting material for book club discussions about beliefs, gender, and our ability to affect our future will find This Isn't New a thought-provoking, engaging collection.”
— Midwest Book Review

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Banner image courtesy Library of Congress (public domain).