Hi everyone,
My big feature about electroshock/ECT for The Believer is out now. This story has been in the works for many years, for me; I started reporting it way back in 2017 (though, as the piece discusses, my interest in all this began even earlier, as it’s a bit of unfinished business from my first book).
This topic is one that can be very contentious and maybe even off-putting to some. I’ve nonetheless stuck with this story for years, even when giving up on it did greatly appeal. I guess because I felt in too deep and like I had to try.
I’m extremely grateful to my editors and all the staff at The Believer for their hard work and support. What we’ve published here is something I’m extremely proud of; it really exceeds my wildest dreams of how deep and nuanced a piece I might eventually get to publish about this thorny but vital subject. Immensely grateful to Andrea Settimo for the stunning illustrations that accompany it.
You can read the story here (be advised you only get one free click a month). Or you can subscribe to The Believer of course, or likely pick up a copy at the coolest magazine rack near you.
Thanks so much for reading.
My best,
Sandy
p.s. Random but I did want to say somewhere: I didn’t get into Sylvia Plath only because writing this piece made me realize I have way too much to say about Sylvia Plath, so will probably save all that for another day. But in case one of you nerds wonders, for the record, that’s why.