A new drabble of mine, “Library Day” has just been published in the 100 Worlds: Lightning-Quick SF & Fantasy Tales anthology.
This anthology is available in paperback or Kindle version from Amazon or Createspace. Yay!
At long last, my short story “The Moon’s Wife” is up at Toasted Cake as a podcast. This story was inspired by my trip to China last year. My brother and I hiked up to Moon Hill, located outside Yangshuo in southern China. Here’s me standing in front of it with my flower-bedecked hat.
Yay, go give it a listen! Easier than reading!
My first ever published story is now up at Swamp Biscuits and Tea!
Yes, that’s my name on the issue’s cover. Really, it is.
I really loved writing this story, and working on it with the editors, and now I love getting to share it with everyone. Go give “It’s Not Safe Below” a read.
Squee!
Tick, tock went the hallway clock.
Rattle, creak groaned the pipes.
Gurgle, sniffle snored the old man.
Scream, bloody scream sounded Halloween night.
***
For All Hallows Read, I give you two scary stories:
Robot by Helena Bell
In Memoriam by Amanda C. Davis
Imagine yourself in that hidden spot you retreated to for reading as a child. Put a cup of tea in your hand. That is what reading Among Others feels like.
I picked up Among Others for a few reasons. First, it won a Hugo. Second, it’s by a woman author who I haven’t read. Give me something by McCaffrey or Le Guin or Cherryh and I’m happy. It seemed like a good idea for me to find out what contemporary women authors in SF/F were saying. Continue reading
This time, I have three different fantasy stories to share. Stick your hand in and see what you get!
Choose Your Own Adventure by Kat Howard
This is from way back in April 2011, but I just discovered it and am in love. Good for those looking for an unconventional fantasy story that is expertly written. It’s also on the shorter side.
Cartographer’s Ink by Beth Cato
I loved the concept behind this story. It’s one of those stories that makes you think (as a writer): “this idea is so cool, I wish I had thought of it!”
Monster, Finder, Shifter by Nina Kiriki Hoffman
I started reading this story just to reset my brain while writing, and then I couldn’t stop. Sad and beautiful.
On the recommendation of one of my favorite contemporary authors, Gail Carriger, I picked up Jasper Fforde’s The Eyre Affair. I had never read the author before, but the book sounded irreverently funny and with enough of an ode to the classics (without being Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) to make it something I would enjoy.
I found that I didn’t really care for the novel until about a quarter of the way through when the main character experiences the big life change and the book shakes up a bit. Plenty happens in the novel before then, but it seemed a bit disjointed. I was never really sure where the story was going until about page 100 or so.
I did, however, love the remainder of the book. Jane Eyre obviously figures largely in it, per the title, and as a fan of the classic book, I enjoyed the interplay between the contemporary novel and the book we know and love. I’ve been inspired to go back and read Jane Eyre now.
And, if you like this first book, there is a whole series that follows it.
On a related note, if you’re looking for a good literary-themed podcast, Stuff You Missed in History Class has a few on the Bronte sisters, both early lives and once they began their writing careers.
Read ’em all or just pick one!
The Children of Hamelin by Dale Bailey
This story is artful. The grief and sorrow is expertly communicated, the imagery perfect. This is definitely one of my favorite pieces of short fiction I’ve read this year.
About Fairies by Pat Murphy
There are too many things to love about this story. The way the author sets the scene, the manner in which death comes alive in the story (no pun intended), even the way she anthropomorphizes the cats is genius. The world feels different after you read this story.
The Married Andersons by Peter Swanson
This story came out in the first issue of Nine: A Journal of Imaginative Fiction. You’ll need a subscription to read it, but it’s only $5. For a new publication, they have attracted some great authors. This story in particular carries a lot of sadness with it. I tend to be more drawn to the painful stories (easy to guess from the line-up in this post), but I think this one has enough interesting elements to be for everyone. If you get the issue, I also loved Clear Skies in Pixieland by Kristin Janz and there’s a story by Ken Liu, which is never to be missed.
One thing I did manage to do on my China trip was read. A recap of my literary travels:
The Yiddish Policeman’s Union by Michael Chabon
I picked this book up mostly because I was hoping for another Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. Although the book radiates with Chabon’s familiar prose that leaves me in utter awe, I was not drawn into the story in the same way as I was with Kavalier and Clay. The characters are beautifully flawed and the story is complex, but I just couldn’t find myself in the middle of it all. However, it did win a Hugo, among other things, so perhaps my opinion is way off the mark.
Cheryl A. Warner 