Cryptstine Maria's Page

I'm a sarcastic, artistic, geeky, queer, feminist, goth-girl who is completely obsessed with the Victorian era. All the totally messed up things about that time period really interest me, and I love to point out everyday atrocities. When not writing or making zines, I'm usually reading fantasy books, reading comic books, messing around with art supplies, or hanging out on the interwebs.

If you're interested in my zines, you can contact me at cryptstine[at]gmail[dot]com or just leave a comment here.

Available zines:

New! Sins of Machines #3: Infanticide: Quarter-sized, 32 pages, black-and-white. This issue focuses on the history of infanticide in the Victorian era, with a few pages on puerperal insanity and its cures, and a close focus on my personal holy trinity of baby farm killers: Ada Chard Williams, the Finchley baby farmers, and Amelia Dyer. Also included are three poems inspired by these women, and plenty of quotes taken straight from Victorian newspapers and the court records from each woman's trial. $2 US/Canada, $3 International, or trade for your zine.

Sins of Machines #2: 1888: Quarter-sized, 36 pages, with hand-colored covers. Everything in it was inspired by the year 1888. Most of the zine focuses on Jack the Ripper, including his victims, the media portrayal of the case, and how the crimes led to social reform. Also included are seven poems (most inspired by the murders), five blind contour drawings based on the mortuary photographs of Jack's victims, two excerpts from 1888 publications, and a reflection on my first memory of Jack the Ripper, and about being both fascinated and sickened by him. $2 US/Canada, $3 International, or trade for your zine.

Sins of Machines Issue #1: Quarter-sized, 16 pages, saddle-stitched. Included are four poems inspired by Victorian art, crime, and literature, and a short essay on the crime of Maria and Frederick Manning in 1849. $1 US/Canada, $2 International, or trade for your zine.

Things Found in Library Books: Quarter-sized, 32 pages, black-and-white. Exactly what the title says: a found-objects zine collecting paper ephemera I've found in library books, with commentary. Also some stories, including "Top Three Weirdest Things Found in the Book Drop." And some drawings, because I can't resist a good doodle. $1 US/Canada, $2 international, or (preferably) trade for your zine.