Nothing But Red, edited by Skyla Dawn Cameron, is the anthology of literary and visual arts inspired by the impassioned plea of Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon in response to the “honor killing” of 17-year-old Du’a Khalil Aswad.  Sales of the anthology, which is currently available at www.lulu.com/nothingbutred, will benefit the international human rights organization Equality Now.

The 313-page collection, which can be purchased as a trade paperback for $15.95 or as an e-book for $5.95, was released today, on the one-year anniversary of the death of Aswad.  An Iraqi adherent of the Yazidi religion, Aswad was stoned to death by family members and neighbors; her brutal beating and murder was captured in a graphic video and spread throughout the Internet and other broadcast media. 

Shortly after learning of the murder, Whedon penned an emotional response on the website Whedonesque.com.  His post, which built from the topic of Aswad’s murder to the contemplation of misogyny’s transcendence of culture, religion and era, ended on an appeal to his fans to do something active to change the cycle.

“True enlightened activism is the only thing that can save humanity from itself…” Whedon wrote.  “Her face was nothing but red.”

Taking its title from those words, Nothing But Red is a response to Whedon’s call to action, which is included as an essay in the volume.  I am also a contributor to this anthology; a full list can be found at nothingbutred.wordpress.com.

Equality Now was chosen as the recipient of the anthology’s proceeds due to Whedon’s public support of the organization and its mission to “[voice] a worldwide call for justice and equality for women,” as stated on Equality Now’s website.