Posts Tagged ‘short story’

We’re not going to talk about a certain pandemic here.

Instead, I’ve got some publishing news and updates for ya:

The Factory Witches of Lowell, my historical fantasy about 1830s labor organizing, is forthcoming from Tor.com. Witches! Kissing! Strikes! Textiles! I am ECSTATIC to share this story with the world and I hope you’ll be even a teeny tiny fractionally bit as eager to read it. Coming in November 2020…

My short story “They Are Still Building It” appears in Earth Day anthology Undeniable: Writers Respond to Climate Change from Alternating Current. A big thank you to Clarke Doty and the team over at Apparition Literary Magazine, who first printed the story and have been its supporters from the beginning.

Founding editor Jonathan W. Thurston Howl has turned over the keys of Thurston Howl Publications to the new editor-in-chief Cedric G! Bacon. All best to you, Cedric! I too am parting ways with THP. But copies of Fire & Locket are still available, while supplies last.

I am not yet a Nebula Award nominee…

…but this feels as good: the hardworking folks over at Apparition Lit nominated “They Are Still Building It” for a Gaylactic Spectrum Award:

The Gaylactic Spectrum Awards honor outstanding works of science fiction, fantasy and horror which include significant positive explorations of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered characters, themes, or issues.

It’s especially rewarding because I didn’t set out to write a story about queerness; I wrote about climate change, the mental and emotional costs of activism, and what it means to be deeply in love.  In early drafts, the central couple were cis/het, but as the characters took shape, they defied tropes and identified themselves as two married women.  Who is the writer to argue?  Importantly, their sexuality and gender isn’t the sum of who they are, but a piece of the puzzle.  Unique and individual.  Relatable and universal.  If I’ve represented their experience in a way that feels accurate, respectful, and positive, there’s no better validation.

The full list of nominees will be available soon!  Meanwhile, you can read my story along with others in Vol. 3 of Apparition Literary Magazine.

And if you like queer-themed speculative fiction, may I also recommend Broken Metropolis from Mason Jar Press?

“They Are Still Building It” Appears in Apparition Lit Issue 3: Vision

I’m so excited to announce that the Vision issue of Apparition Lit has arrived, with my contribution, the short story “They Are Still Building It.”  If you’re up for some magical realism with eco themes, please check it out. The e-mag is available through Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and Smashwords.

More to say, but for now I want to take a moment to shout out that absolutely bee-yoo-tee-ful cover art “Honeycomb” by Julie Dillon.  It is no mystery that Julie is a multiple Hugo- and Locus-award winner.

Be nice to Mama Earth

Mother’s Revenge has arrived!  This anthology of eco-revenge fantasies features my short story “It Wants to be a Swamp,” about the things that can happen on a Metro platform.

Ten percent of the proceeds will be donated to earth-saving organizations such as Water is Life, Union of Concerned Scientists, the Sierra Club and the Clean Air Task Force.

Check out Scary Dairy Press for more weird tales and dark fantasy, and think about heading over to Goodreads to leave a review.

New Year, New Anthology

My new short story “It Wants To Be a Swamp” will appear in the upcoming anthology Mother’s Revenge from Scary Dairy Press — fine publishers of dark, bizarre, and strange fiction.  As the editors describe it: “This is a passionate anthology about Mother Earth taking her world back from the humans and teaching us a lesson.”

Intrigued, aren’t you?

Interview with Ashland Creek Press

I talked with the good folks of Ashland Creek Press about my contribution “Phoenix Cross,” to their new anthology Among Animals 2.  You can check out the results here.  We cover inspiration, research, empathetic farmers, and more!

It’s out!

Among Animals 2 is now available from Ashland Creek Press, featuring my short story “Phoenix Cross”!  What happens when struggling chicken farmers gene-splice the company breed with a mythological phoenix?  Well, not exactly what they hoped for.

I’ll be reading from the story at The Potter’s House at 7pm, October 14.  If you’re in the DC-area, stop on by!  Then stick around for the discussion with DC Stampede – a grassroots social justice collective for animals, people, and the planet.  Details available on Facebook.

Among Animals 2 is coming!

The next volume of the anthology Among Animals is coming in September!  Like the first volume, this book collects short stories that explore how humans interact with other species in complex, heartbreaking, hilarious, and humbling ways.  I’m so honored that my short story “Phoenix Cross” will be appearing alongside contributions from applauded writers like JoeAnn Hart.  Check out Ashland Creek Press for updates–and to get a copy of the first anthology, which features “Meat” by yours truly.

And if you’re around the DC-area this fall, I’ll be reading from the book and taking part in a discussion at The Potter’s House!  Date TBD.

Hot off the press: Ares Magazine, Issue 3

Issue 3 of Ares Magazine is now available!  My novella “Mr. Pell” (formerly titled “The Ogre on the Bus”) is featured, along with 9 other fiction selections.  Carmen, Michael, and the whole team at One Small Step Games have done a fantastic job putting the magazine together, from the artwork to the layout to the selections.  This is one you’ll keep in your collection for a long time.

My contribution “Mr. Pell” came to be waaay back in 2008, when I encountered a very unique person in green tweed sitting across from me on the UMD campus shuttle.  In short order, I decided to create a story around him, set in the future of an alternate world I’d been imagining since at least 1999.  And if that’s not enough to get you excited about it, then consider this: it’s the story that made my friend Ricky yell “Go Sweden!” at the end.

Order through the One Small Step store.

It’s coming…

Issue #3 of Ares Magazine is in production, over at that delicious site of all things geeky. My short(-ish) story “Mr. Pell” will be featured, along with what looks like some pretty sweet cover art and a brand new board game. Keep your eyeballs peeled.

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