"The Monster and the Mirror" with K. J. Aiello

K.J. Aiello describes herself as a mentally ill writer. It is, she says, who she is. After being misdiagnosed in college, K.J. spent a decade and a half wondering who she was and where she fit in. She discusses that journey, her acceptance of her mental illness, and how her life has improved because she simply didn’t care to hide or defend herself anymore. K.J. is a Toronto-based mentally ill writer whose work includes essays, op-eds, and a soon-to-be-released non-fiction book titled The Monster and the Mirror, which explores the intersection of speculative fiction and mental illness. She also authored an article that appeared in the independent publication, The Walrus, titled “Who Gets to be Mentally Ill,” since, as she indicates, not everyone is served equally by the mental health and substance use disorder system equally. K.J. and her work can be accessed at https://www.kjaiello.ca