Neely Bat Chestnut

Neely Bat Chestnut from Tacoma, Washington, writes the perzine Mend My Dress. Each issue is themed (ie. about her grandma, about leporiphobia, a fear of rabbits, etc). Neely Bat Chestnut is also the author of Dear Stepdad and the split Grit and Glitter with Hazel Pine. Her zines cover issues ranging from incest, self-harm, the riot grrrl movement, feminism, friendship, fairytale, and healing as she reflects on her childhood and coming-of-age. Her work is carried by Stranger Danger, Fight Boredom, Ms. Valerie Park, Doris, and others.

Neely started writing Mend My Dress in 2005 and put out 6 issues of Mend My Dress, plus various one-of zines through 2007. In 2011 she started a series of one page mailer zines, written in newsletter form, has thus far completed 8 editions, and there is no foreseeable end in sight.

The early issues of Mend My Dress have recently been compiled into a book anthology book anthology, and the Mend My Dress name has expanded into a publishing venture between Neely Bat Chestnut and Miss C. Bean.