The winner of Howling Bird Press’s 2026 Nonfiction prize, Mellitus: Essays on Up/Rooting by Jennifer Jussel, is available now for preorder.

Preorder from Itasca Books, Amazon, or Bookshop

Releases October 20, 2026

“This beautiful collection hangs together like poetry, offering a condensed yet fully satisfying reflection on chronic illness and its impact on relationships and hope. Jussel’s admirable lyricism and economy make this a collection to return to and savor.” —Sonya Huber, author of Pain Woman Takes Your Keys

“Mellitus is a work of extraordinary unity—even as it acknowledges our ruptures, gaps, and failures. Jussel shows us both her body’s destruction and its resilience. She makes us feel what we often take for granted: that the body is the site and source of our minds, our futures, and our connection to one another. In her hands, the syringe is not just a tool, but an experience to be shared.” —Jonathan Gleason, author of Field Guide to Falling Ill