"Runs in the Blood is a collection of stories that traces the lines of our darkest thoughts with intimate care. I found myself drawn to each complex and complicated character, whether beast or human, yearning to know more, ferociously consuming every single story." --Daniel Zomparelli, author of Everything Is Awful and You're a Terrible Person "Trafford's stories are intimate and imaginative, written with a blend of delicate observation and a ruthless curiosity about the origins and outcomes of desire. Runs in the Blood is full of passion, secrets, the tenderness and agonies of love, and an often disturbing vitality." --Naben Ruthnum, author of Helpmeet "What I love about Runs in the Blood--aside from Trafford's masterful writing--is the way the stories unravel to reveal such tenderness, horror, and heartbreak. I've never read a collection of stories with this unique focus on families. This book and these characters feel like a revelation." --Brian Francis, author of Fruit "These darkly satirical yet poignant stories about queer chosen family are the next big thing in queer fiction, solidifying Matthew J.

Trafford as a rising doyen of the craft." --Strand Bookstore "Bold and introspective, Trafford's latest collection is a rewarding read that packs some surprising emotional punches. These studies of our contemporary world, along with the pieces that push beyond the limits of reality, comprise a meditation on the position of the self within one's marriage, and within the course of generations. Runs in the Blood is sure to provoke and to illuminate." --Plenitude Magazine.