In the beginning, I had no idea what I was getting myself into writing the Jessica Christ series. It's just a comedy about growing up as a gal in Texas, I told myself. Does it make fun of patriarchal religion? Sure. Does it take some shots at the Bible? Most certainly. But that should be fine, because I've been accidentally "saved" twice (long story).

That was 10 years ago, in October 2016, and sweet baby Jessica, was this world not prepared for the insanity of Texas's cosplay Christianity to spread like it has. Second biggest export from the state after oil and gas.

With Christian theocracy on the rise in the US, enjoying a circle jerk with technofascism, authoritarianism, and kakistocracy like the world has never seen, I thought it was time to bring this book back to annoy the hell out of the right people and to delight the kinda folks who love to punch up at power while having a good laugh.

Jessica Christ is a complete seven-book series that I wrapped back in 2020. This special edition is the first book, newly edited and updated by me. I haven't changed the story itself. Just updated a few little facts, tightened up the prose (I've published over forty books since this one, so I've learned a few things), and even found and destroyed a handful of typos!

The hardcover special edition included in this BackerKit campaign includes book 1 of the Jessica Christ series, The Beginning, along with a bonus short story, "A Great Gulf," which takes place between books 1 and two of the series. 

Wanna take a look at the hardcover?

In the spirit of the original books, which I designed the covers for myself, I've also designed this layout with all the animals you know and love from the Jessica Christ universe, along with the iconic symbol of the Girl Christ.

Can you imagine all seven special editions sitting on your bookshelf, just begging your racist uncle or uptight sister-in-law to ask you about them? 

But let's not get ahead of ourselves yet, because I gotta make sure this one funds before I can roll out the next six!

If you're just hearing about this series for the first time and want to know a little more about the story, I got you covered:

God's second child is born. It's a girl. Uh-oh...

Jessica McCloud knows firsthand that it's impossible to fit in when you're God's only begotten daughter. While the girl possesses the power to smite and a direct line to the Almighty, she'd give it all up for a few more friends ... or a reliable set of God-proof earplugs.

Misunderstood and socially outcast, the messiah-in-the-making forms a bond with the only other person who knows her Father personally: a charismatic preacher who played heavenly messenger during her nativity. But the more time she spends with him, the less about his past adds up. And why does he always grill her with questions about feral pigs

After a close shave with a pervy demon, a soul-crushing betrayal, and a ritualistic public shaming, she suspects she's heading for the same grisly finale as her half-brother two millennia before. Is Jessica's eternal fate sealed or can a little teen rebellion forge a new destiny?

The Beginning is the first book in the Jessica Christ series of hilarious satire novels. If you can appreciate female humor and enjoy a touch of blasphemy, unforgettable characters, and subversive smackdowns of polite society, then you'll love H. Claire Taylor's fresh take on feminism, religion, and politics.

The long-time Jessica Christ fans are a ragtag group of smart-asses, and we would love to welcome you into the fold. 

I have so many fun add-ons in the works for this project. Stickers, bookmarks, an annotated version with my handwritten notes in the margins, even Sumus Omnes Porcos mugs handmade by yours truly (limited number of these available). 

The images of these are in the works (one of the kilns at my pottery studio Chernobyl-ed, so the mugs are behind schedule), but they'll be available when I launch this project for real. 

Be sure to follow the project and share it with others to turn this launch into a real party.