Introduction by Lynn S. Zubernis – I really liked Lynn’s introduction. Not only was it factual and interesting as she talked about the psychology of loving Supernatural, but it also was emotional and raw as she explained how “Supernatural” had impacted her own life. The chapter also contains some beautiful photos and fan art which I assume she took/created herself, and it also explains what future chapters will talk about.
A Family Affair by Jared Padalecki – The way Jared speaks of just how much the Spn Family means to him, and how it’s more than a job, really hit home. And the way he spoke about just what Sam meant to himself and others, how he’s so much more than just a character, was amazing. I love how he ended with “So what is the legacy of this show? It’s the relationships.”
Dream a Little Dream of Me by Amy Hutton – I’m from Sydney, like Amy, and I’ve met her before so I was really keen to read her chapter. She didn’t disappoint! The script-style introduction was funny yet beautifully written. Further, into the chapter, the way she described herself as she was growing up and how the show helped change that really resonated with me. The way “Supernatural” helped her take some courageous steps is truly inspirational and Amy’s chapter is written exceptionally well!
How Can I Help You Say Goodbye? by Vickie Ann McCoy – Vickie does such a great job at expressing her feelings towards the representation of disabilities in “Supernatural” and how it has helped her grow. The way she spoke of the brutal and raw honesty of the show, and the way we’re able to be ourselves and the actors are able to be themselves is very true. I also like how she explains the fact that Supernatural really is ending, and that we have to face it.
Carry On, Eileen by Shoshannah Stern – Shoshannah opening up about her dark days is beautiful and I’m proud of her. And the story of her becoming a mother really hits home. I loved the second half of her chapter as she spoke of the creation of ‘This Close’ and her time with Eileen on “Supernatural.”
He Had Me at “You Hurt?” by Tedra Ashley-Wannemuehler – I relate a lot to Tedra. Cèsar may not be my favorite character, but being a kinda closeted queer person who gets judged for going to conventions and has made friends with those who are now practically family? That’s me. You truly get to feel what the atmosphere of a “Supernatural” convention is like by reading her story. I overall loved Tedra’s chapter and it’s definitely one of my favorites.
Hunter Husbands by Lee Rumohr – Lee highlights the warmth and instant connections that he made as soon as he was welcomed onto the set of “Supernatural.” It’s amazing that he understands why so many fans love the show and were proud to be on a show that normalized and LGBTQ+ relationship.
Not a Demon-but a Superhero! by Hugo Ateo – Hugo speaks about how proud he was to play a gay character that wasn’t a stereotype. He explains how amazing it was to be on “Supernatural” and how fans and the cast were very welcoming. His chapter is short and sweet.
Hollywood Is Woke by Andrea Drepaul – Andrea’s parents were immigrants and she sadly suffered the racism that came with it. But watching movies was an escape for her, and she got into acting because of it. She analyses the diversity of the film and television industry and how it has affected her. I found this chapter very inspirational and eye-opening.
Been Here All Along by Emerson Lopez Odango – Emerson also explores the cultural diversity of the show. He appreciates the inclusion of monsters such as the Japanese ōkami which highlight the different cultural beliefs over the normal American werewolves. I appreciated this chapter’s insights. I’m Australian, so whenever I see an Australian actor or lines such as ‘Dingo ate my baby, crazy.’ I fell more included.
Out of the Fridge and into the Fire by Jessica Mason – I don’t identify as a feminist, but I do stand for the equal rights of all genders. So I did really enjoy Jessica’s chapter. She analyzed the way females were very undermined in the first few years, but they really rose to power and some wrongs were re-written in later seasons.
What’s Up, Tiger Mommy? by Lauren Tom – Lauren speaks of her life as she grew up and the struggles that her grandparents faced. She was always a strong and fiery girl which earned her the nickname ‘Little Tiger’. She believes that this may have helped her prepare for her role as Linda Tran, Kevin’s protective mother. I really enjoyed Lauren’s chapter and it has made me appreciate her as a person and her character on Supernatural.
Being Hannah by Lee Majboub – Lee speaks of his nerves when it came to having to portray a non-binary angel who had previously been in a female vessel. But then the fandom sent him an outpouring of gratitude and he felt truly blessed. This chapter was short but great and I enjoyed it.
The Evolution of Dougie-Bear by Brendan Taylor – Brendan’s chapter was so good and very inspiring. He spoke of his time working as a set decorator before he decided to change paths and become an actor. Brendan talked about his character Doug Stover on “Supernatural” and working other sets like ‘Arrow’ and ‘The Typical Fairytale’. Stephen Amell once told him that “there are no small parts” and I think that quote will stick with me as it has with Brendan.
Make Your Own Destiny by Dmitri Novak – Dmitri’s chapter hit close to home for me. He spoke of coming out as being transgender and how the fandom helped him with this. He reminisced on his memories with Misha and his friends and how they helped shape him into the person he is today. This chapter really had an impact on me as my best friend is transgender too, and I’m currently trying my best to raise funds for his top surgery which you can donate too HERE.
The Girl with the Rainbow Cat Tattoo by Sarah Wylde – I almost cried during Sarah’s chapter, I probably would have if I wasn’t sitting with my family while I read it. Sarah speaks of her attachment to Charlie and Felicia, and how Charlie helped her come out. She also talked about mental health and what it was like to finally come out to her family.
There’s Always Pizza by Todd Stashwick – Todd spoke of what it’s like to be a fanboy and growing up as one. He also talked about how this helped him get into acting as a career which eventually led to him staring in the ‘Monster Movie’ episode of “Supernatural.”
UnCONventional Reflection by Gabriel Tigerman – This chapter is an interview between Gabriel and editor Lynn Zubernis but I really enjoyed the style of it. Gabriel seems like such a funny and down to earth person. I really enjoyed his comedic responses as he reminisced on “Supernatural” related memories.
A Woman of Letters by Allison Broesder – Allison talked about graduating with a degree in creative writing but never being able to find where to go from there which resulted in her being stuck in retail. But then she found “Supernatural.” She felt an instant connection with the Men of Letters (American, not British) and began volunteering at a library and writing plenty in her free time. As a writer and reader myself, I really enjoyed this chapter.
Find Your Light by Julie McNiven – Julie spoke of acting and her experience playing Anna on the show. She explains that she has never felt as comfortable acting as she did when she was on Supernatural, even during intimate scenes with Jensen. Julie also explains what the meaning of find your light is.
Mirrors, Directions, and New Directions by Gail Z. Martin – Gail is an epic and urban fantasy author who got into “Supernatural” during Season 11. Because of the show, she was able to get back into binge reading and writing Spn fan-fiction. The show came to her during a dark time, but it helped to show her the light. She soon joined forces with other fans to create the #HoldOnToTheLight blog.
SPOILER: This is a Chapter About Supernatural by Davy Perez – Davy was struggling when the show first aired, but after ten years he ended up getting a position as a writer for Supernatural. He speaks of how his life aligns with the boys and how grateful he is to be apart of the Spn Family.
Bringing the Alpha Vampire to Life (and Death) by Rick Worthy – Rick had reached a slump in his career, but Spn helped him to continue his passion. He speaks of what it meant to play the Alpha vamp and how honored he was to be called back for Season 12. I liked how he explained the Alpha Vamp’s death and what it meant for him.
Always Keep Fighting by Alana King – I’m a big fan of Alana’s so I was more than excited to read her chapter, and it did not disappoint. I related to her a lot as she spoke of how books and stories were a comfort for her. Alana explains what it was like for her in high school and college and how she realized she’d been suffering from anxiety from a young age. She speaks of the heart wrenching low points in her life and how Spn and especially Jared’s AKF campaign helps her feel whole again.
State of Slay by Carrie Genzel – Carrie starts by speaking of the things she had to endure through high school before she discovered the drama club. She explains how “Supernatural,” and being on the show, shaped her into the amazing woman she is today. Carrie also created her blog called State of Slay which focuses on self-love/a appreciate you and was met with an outpouring of support from the Spn Family.
Wayward and the Way I Want to Be by Dawn Gray – I fell in love with Dawn’s writing style from the start. She kicked it off by explaining how she would be talking about Jody instead of the brothers. She then spoke of how she learned to live her life by doing what she believed Jody would do and how Kim and the Wayward movement means a lot to her.
Code Orange by Patty Barbera – Patty spoke about her love of classic rock and the many conventions she attended with her friend. At one of these conventions, she bought ‘Family Don’t End With Blood’ and read Rob’s chapter about his experience with having a stroke. This information saved her life, and because of her, I now know more about strokes too.
The Magic of the Mullet by Chad Lindberg – Chad starts by talking about how grateful he is for his unique character and the experiences Ash allowed him to have. I laughed as he explained how Jensen taught him to shotgun a beer (an iconic Ash move). He went on to explain how he got started in becoming a real-life Sam and Dean and finished by explaining what the legacy of the show and the SpnFamily is.
This Is Me by Michael Banh – Michael struggled with trying to fit in and be himself up until college when his friend introduced him to Tumblr. This influenced him to watch Spn and it took a hold of his life, especially as Sam and Dean reflected male role models for him. I really felt for him as he talked about his struggles towards the end of his degree, as I have been facing similar struggles, but it was “Supernatural” which helped him realize who he is which I admire.
Soldiers’ Stories by Tara Grey Coste – Tara speaks about how she was able to share the show with veterans who connected with it. She speaks about her astonishment at realizing just how far and wide the SpnFamily spanned. I found her chapter very insightful, and I’m glad so many people have benefited from the show.
Life-Changing by Tahmoh Penikett – Tahmoh starts by speaking about obtaining the role of Gadreel and how he prepared for it. He went on to talk about how he got social media, continued on the show, and began conventions. He praises everyone of his castmates and highlights one of their talents which was amazing to read. He also speaks about how the SpnFamily embraces everyone and he loves so many aspects of conventions. I really like Tahmoh’s chapter, I’ll definitely re-read it in the future.
Supernatural Faith by Joelle Monique – Joelle talked about her relationship with God and how her sexuality and Supernatural affected this. She speaks about how God is represented within the show and how Sam and Dean respond to him. I found her chapter very insightful.
Gender, Activism, and SPN’s Legacy by Tanya Cook and Kaela Joseph – Both women shared their stories and spoke about their careers and how they developed a love for Spn. They spoke about women’s activism and how it’s been represented within the fandom, as well as how social media has helped to raises awareness and funds. Overall, their analysis was very eye-opening.
Family Ties by David Haydn-Jones – David explains how he enjoys interacting with fans (or cousins, as he calls them) face-to-face. He speaks of how he considers himself to be a nerd and how he created is <3 campaign. He talked about his experience of the show and what the legacy is. I loved how you could practically feel David’s bubbly personality coming out through the pages.
Marathon by Adam Fergus – Adam spoke of his audition and what the atmosphere was like on his first day on set. He was hesitant to attend conventions at first, but after a little persuasion from Ruth, he never looked back. He talked about what it’s like on set, the legacy of the show, and what it was like to run a marathon. I really enjoyed Adam’s chapter.
CONventional Wisdom by April Vian – April began by explaining how she’d begun watching the show, the getting into GISH and conventions. She really explained what it’s like that be at a convention, and she talked about how she came to love Louden Swain and Rob Benedict. She gave a really emotional explanation as to why ‘She Waits’ by Louden Swain means so much to her.
Interview with the Archangel by Richard Speight Jr – This chapter is an interview between Richard and the author, Lynn. They spoke about Gabriel and how fans felt about him, how the show and SpnFamily have impacted him, directing, and the show’s legacy. Lynn did a great job in this interview with Rich.
I’m Proud of Us by Jensen Ackles – As soon as I saw both the title and author, I knew this chapter would make me cry while also being my favorite. He talked about how he and Jared never expected the show to go for as long as it did, but they were happy for it. He spoke of how proud he was of the atmosphere they’d created on set and that they wanted the show to go out with a bang. It really hurt to read about what he was going to miss playing Dean and the legacy that the show has.
A Special Message from Misha Collins – Misha concluded the novel with a short but sweet message on how grateful he is to have worked on the show.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book and think Lynn did an amazing job. There are so many different points of view but we’re all able to come together as a community. I also have to give a special mention to the amazing cover art, as well as the beautiful pictures and artwork inside the novel.
Written by Brooke Belli
