Fantasy in a Time of Crisis: Guest Post by Suzanna J. Linton

I left Twitter earlier this year but before I did, I noticed many writers talking about using their writing as a form of activism. This isn’t exactly a new concept. Many novels have been written in reaction to the times in which writers find themselves. Neither is this a bad thing. The written word can bring a society to its knees, not because there’s actual magic there but because of the force of the ideas contained therein.

Fantasy makes a good vehicle for activist writing because of its flexibility and the broadness of its audience. Some of the highest grossing films right now are some form of fantasy or science fiction. However, in times where it seems like a new crisis emerges every other day and you’re the living manifestation of that meme of the dog in the burning room (“This is fine.”), is there still a place for fantasy whose goal is not activism?

This question reminds me of an interview involving Brie Larson and Jeremy Renner, who were promoting Avengers: Endgame. The interviewer asked, essentially, if they felt any responsibility as actors. Larson responded that she definitely saw her acting as a platform to spread her ideals. Renner, on the other hand, responded that there was nothing better than seeing the joy on children’s faces. Both responses were perfectly valid. As actors, they do have the ability to reach a wide audience and influence people. Whether they do or not is up to them and it’s a very personal choice that relates to their overall goal as an actor.

For writers, it’s no different. We could go into writing a novel with a specific message or theme in mind. We could build a fantasy world so that we can examine a value or belief we hold dear. In fact, I wrote the novel Clara to answer a highly personal question. When I couldn’t answer my question, I continued the series. In a way, the series Stories of Lorst is a manifestation of an ongoing conversation I’m having with myself about fate and knowledge of the future. It’s not activism but it is writing for a specific end.

Cover of Clara by Suzanna J. Linton

However, maybe someone else is having the same conversation with themselves. Or, perhaps they see another theme or value in my series my subconscious placed there but which calls to the reader. Or, maybe they enjoy being sucked into another world, one that does catch on fire but the good guys ride in to put out the flames. 

Writing a novel where good triumphs over evil is valid. We need hope in a world that seems a mess, where everything is complicated and simply going to the store feels like a colossal quest full of dangers of one sort or another. 

Writing a novel where questions are posed and values are examined is valid. We need honest conversation and thought in a world full of people screaming at each other and no one listening.

Writing a novel where the greatest goal is entertainment is valid. Sometimes, we just need to slip into a different world where everything has to make sense.

Using writing as a platform for activism is a perfectly valid reason to be a writer. But it is still perfectly valid to write if all you want to see is the joy on people’s faces when they pick up your book. Whether you do or don’t depends on your goal as a writer and your choice is not one for which you should be ashamed.

Picture of Author Suzanna J. Linton!

More about Suzanna J. Linton

Website: https://suzannalinton.com/

Social Media: Goodreads, Instagram, and Books2Read

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Writing and ADHD, a Guest Post by Sarah Lampkin

Congrats to author Sarah Lampkin on the release of the third installment in her Dead Dreamer series, To Reap the Spirit! Read on for Lampkin’s guest post ad an excerpt from her new book. And don’t forget to sign up for the Giveaway!

Writing and ADHD

Around the age of 14, my mom took me to a behavior therapist for the first time and that was when I was officially diagnosed with ADHD. After many fights and arguments over grades and studying, we finally had an answer as to why I couldn’t do things the same way as my older sister. It also explained my day dreaming.

Being a young teenage girl, daydreaming is a common occurrence and not something that would raise alarm. But my ability to be so completely lost in thought and in my own world happened far too often and during situations that got me into trouble. For instance, I was constantly lost while in school, as my brain believed my own world was more interesting. 

While using my sketch book as my outlet, I started to describe to my parents the stories behind my terribly drawn people…but I wouldn’t stop. There were times when I would start telling a story and no matter what my parents did to change the subject or stop me, I had no control over my own voice. 

That’s when a suggestion was made: Write your stories. 

I don’t remember who suggested it. I just know that I was never motivated to finish anything until I started writing. It became the perfect outlet for the ideas that were always in the forefront of my mind, distracting me from everything else. That’s when my life began to change for the better. I was finally learning how to live a healthy and productive life with ADHD without medication. 

With each new story, I was able to hyper focus on my writing. So, when the time came to go to school or work on homework, I was suddenly able to focus on the work at hand without getting easily distracted by everything else going on. Somehow, writing became the therapy I needed to be successful at everything in my life. Of course, I still struggle with some things, but not as much as I did before as a young teen or child. 

Writing was my life saver.

Sanguis daretur. Ignis invocavit.

To Reap the Spirit is the third installment in the haunting Dead Dreamer series.

About the Book:

Somehow Brenna Whit has survived to her junior year at Nephesburg College. Despite all odds, she’s fought against the Gatekeepers and lived. But the battle for the Fade has only just begun.

New pieces have been added to the board.

The Fade opens to the Veil.

And a Shade from the past returns.

With Brenna’s secret out, everyone is after her: dead and living alike. Those from across the sea have come and they’re determined to regain control of their broken faction.

Questions will be answered.

Fires will be lit.

Chaos will reign.

Excerpt:

“You’ve been reckless,” said a voice. 

Looking next to me, I saw another one of those things—Reapers. It was the same who had rescued me from George. Her native skin glowed in the night, her long dark hair sitting gently over her shoulders. 

“Are you Catori?” I asked, remembering the name from George’s journals. 

She shook her head. “Spirit Walkers cannot become one of us. I was her sister. But in all of the time I have been collecting souls, I have never seen this happen.” 

Staring down at my body, I asked, “Seeing a Dead Dr—Spirit Walker die?” 

The woman placed her hand gently onto my body’s chest. Watching her, I realized what she was talking about. My chest was still rising and falling—breathing. 

The woman chuckled, “Your soul is quite perturbed.” I joined her in a dry laugh. 

“I’d imagine so. This is all she’s ever wanted.” 

Shaking her head, the woman stepped back. “I cannot take this soul. You must fix this.” 

“Brenna?” 

Will approached my body. “What are you doing? Aren’t you freezing?”

The woman was gone when he called. I could only stand there as Will began to worry. 

Amidst his panic, there was only one place I wanted to go. I couldn’t explain it, but it felt as though something was calling to me, beckoning me home. In the blink of an eye, I was no longer standing next to my body.

About the Author:

A native of Richmond, Virginia, Sarah Lampkin is a 2015 graduate from Lynchburg College [University of Lynchburg] with a master’s degree in English. Since graduation, Sarah now lives in Northern Virginia working in the IT field as a Technical Writer while continuing her research for her graduate school thesis. When she isn’t working, Sarah continues her Celtic mythology research and Gaelic studies, while working on the Dead Dreamer series.

Find out More About Sarah Lampkin:

Website: https://dead-dreamer.com/about/

Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

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Interview with Fantasy Author and Playwright Judith Pratt

For my next interview in the series, I talk to Fantasy writer and playwright Judith Pratt.

Tell us about yourself! What would you like readers to know about you?

Judith Pratt: I began as an actor and mime (!) Then I taught acting and theatre history in a college, fundraising materials for another college, and freelance writing for colleges and non-profits.. 

I wrote my first play in the early 1990s. The main character had more of her story to tell me, but it would not fit on a stage, so I wrote a novel, The Dry Country, and self-published it. Now I write stories, essays, plays, and am working on another novel. My plays have been produced in small theatres around the US and—I love this—in Cape Town, South Africa.

Alexis: Exciting! When I first started writing, I actually wrote Reader’s Theater plays for my students (I taught 8th grade English at the time). I like to think it did wonders for my writing, in the since that 8th graders do not hesitate to give their honest opinions about anything, and plays are great for hearing your writing read out loud.

What book or books have most influenced you as a writer?

Judith Pratt: Robin McKinley, Ursula LeGuin, Neil Gaiman, Sarah Addison Allen. A few favorite books: Station Eleven, College of Magics, Practical Magic, Vinegar Girl, Child of a Rainless Year, Thirteenth Tale

Alexis: I’ve read lots of Neil Gaiman and Ursula LeGuin as well.

What are some tropes of fiction in your genre that you hate? Why?

Judith Pratt: Family secrets are revealed. Because it’s incredibly overused, in both plays and novels. But people seem to love it. I do not!

The princess who has to save her kingdom. Another overused notion.

However, if you do either of those things brilliantly (see Stevermer’s College of Magics) you get a pass!

Who is your favorite character in your book? What do you like about them? (or, which character do you hate most and why)

Judith Pratt: Well, the main character, Andrea, wouldn’t be the main character if I didn’t like her. (Although I’m reading an Eric Ambler book where the main character is a jerk, I can’t write like that, sigh!) Andrea can be a pain, but she manages (mostly)  a confusing situation and a difficult family.

Andrea’s stepfather was very hard to write. He’s sort of the villain, so I “hated” him, but I had to give him reasons for his actions. I love to hate Andrea’s little brother, Jake! I have a little sister—who, of course, has grown up and seems like she’s my age now. But I channeled some of her into Jake.

Siljeea Magic by Author and Playwright Judith Pratt, interview by Alexis Lantgen of Lunarianpress.com

What are you doing to de-stress during the pandemic? Is there any coping mechanism you’d recommend (or NOT recommend)?

Judith Pratt: As a writer, I can definitely keep busy with all the story ideas that rattle around my head. Also, my husband and I are lucky. We have a house and a yard, and we live in a place where, so far, the virus hasn’t hit hard.

Walking or cycling are my best de-stressors. A couple of miles in the countryside, looking at flowers and cows and interesting houses, opens up the world and helps me sleep better.

I do not recommend reading the news very often. Facebook and Twitter really destroy my attention span as well as depressing me. Tell me that again when I go headfirst into one of them!

Alexis: I know. It’s so hard to stay away from the news, but it feels so overwhelming and necessary to read it too! I’m starting to hate Facebook more the more time I spend on it, to the point where I’m seriously considering deleting the app from my phone.

What do you like to do other than read or write? Do you have any interesting hobbies?

Judith Pratt: Because I started out as an actor, teacher of acting, and playwright. I go to the theatre constantly. Now, of course, I check out all the virtual theatre stuff. Live theatre is better!

Recently, I began doing Tai Chi, and still do it in my living room, since classes had to be cancelled.

I like gardening. Flowers, not vegetables. For vegetables, we’d have to create a giant fence to keep out the critters--rabbits, deer, and woodchucks. Since I can barely keep up with the flowers, I decided against that!

Alexis: I like the theater, but as a classical musician, my passion is opera. One of the few good things about Covid 19 is how many opera companies started streaming their shows. It’s bee great to see these incredible performances I’d never be able to see otherwise. I also love gardening, and I have several rabbits that regularly get into my garden. I don’t mind too much though, because they’re so cute and I love watching them!

Tell us about a mystery/urban legend from your hometown (or another place you’ve lived).

Judith Pratt: Great question. I went and looked it up. I didn’t think Massachusetts, or New England, had any. However, I’m working on a story where the Wampanoag creature, the nikommo, appears to a contemporary white woman.

Alexis: Interesting! I often wish that more writers from the Americas would use local myths and legends in their writing. So often, even American writers still seem stuck in Europe, with elves and fairies, instead of looking at the amazing stories all around you.

What TV shows/Movies do you like to watch or stream? 

Judith Pratt: My husband and I each have advanced degrees in theatre. But we love Marvel movies, martial arts movies, and movies that are so bad, they are good. Education has its limits!

Alexis: I totally get it. I love opera and enjoy reading great classics, but I’m also a huge fan of Thor movies and comics.

What’s your favorite animal?

Judith Pratt: Ducks. I had pet ducks as a kid. I’ve written a story featuring a magic duck.

Do you have pet(s)? If so, share a picture of your pet!

Judith Pratt: Three cockatiels. Because cats (I love cats!) give me asthma. Here’s a picture of the youngest, Stanley. We didn’t know she was a girl when we named her.

Alexis: She’s so cute!

Stanley the Cockatiel, who would respectfully like you to know that she identifies as a girl even though her name is Stanley.

What advice do you have for other writers or people just getting started in writing?

Judith Pratt: Write every day.

 Read Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird, and always write a shitty first draft.

How do you choose what books you want to read?

Judith Pratt: I read book reviews in several online magazines, and get Amazon’s list of cheap Kindle reads. I like magical realism, but read other things. So if something looks good, I check it out on Goodreads or Amazon; then list it on Goodreads. 

Also, things fall off the shelf into my hands. Or friends recommend them

Finally, I’m a big re-reader of books I like.

Alexis: I’m a huge re-reader as well. I’ve read Katherine Addison’s The Goblin Emperor more times than I can count. It’s such a great book in an amazing world.

Do you like Greek/Roman/Norse/Asian/African mythology or folklore? What’s your favorite myth? 

Judith Pratt: I like it all. As a kid, I had a book of Greek myths that I loved. And I actually wrote a play, Spiralling, based on masks from Africa and northwestern Native Americans. But I’m kind of obsessed with the Cassandra myth. Another story waiting to be written!

Find out more about Judith Pratt!

Books: Siljeea Magic, The Dry, and The Wright Place

Web site: www.judithpratt.com

Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads

How to Get Writing in Five Steps

It’s been an exciting, but also very stressful year. I started a new job, published two books, and I’m continually amazed by my children, and the myriad of ways they discover to make me worry about them. All of which is to say, I love reading and writing, and I find myself with less time and energy than I’d like to do them. But I’ve decided I really want to get back to writing everyday—when I did that in the past, I felt like my writing and creativity flowed better and more consistently. So here are some of the strategies I’m going to use to get back on track:

1. Don’t always write on a computer.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my laptop. But computers come with tons of distractions—social media, emails, work, marketing. When I’m really struggling to get going, I’ve found myself organizing my pictures instead of writing! In other words, sometimes it’s better to just go pen and paper. It keeps you honest, and is relatively distraction free. I’ve decided to go back to carrying a small writing notebook in my purse, and writing in it when I have free time. It’s an easy enough set up, and it feels like less pressure sometimes than writing on a computer.

2. Write What You Want

I think one of the reasons that I stopped writing as much as I had been, apart from life stress, that the project I was working on was sort of overwhelming me. I loved the story, and I still hope to finish this book over the summer. But writing a whole book felt like too much while I was working full time and taking care of my family. Short stories, on the other hand, feel much more approachable to me. I feel like I can handle them easier, and they don’t overwhelm me as much. So, while I know that there’s a writing rule about finishing what you start, I’m going to give myself a break from that for now and write what I want. Maybe that’s a short story. Maybe that’s a blog post. Maybe it’s an angry letter to the editor about the horrible effects of standardized testing in schools that I will never send. But I’m going to write what I want to write in the moment.

3. Use the Time You Have

I wish I had a nice two to three hour stretch of uninterrupted time in the afternoon to write in, but I don’t. Instead, I have ten minutes of lunchtime. That’s not ideal, but that doesn’t mean it’s not useful. If I can only write ten minutes, why not make the best use of that time? It helps to carry a small notebook, so that when I have a break or a quiet moment, I can take advantage of it.

4. Keep Writing and Editing Separate

Especially when I don’t have a lot of time or energy, it’s important to just get writing, and not judge my writing too much. Editing is important, but it should come later in the process. This has always been really hard for me, since I tend to edit as I go, but I think it does hold me back from actually getting the story out. So I’m trying to let go and keep going, even if I want to stop and polish something.

5. You Do You, Don’t Compare!

I can get discouraged when I see other writers who seem to write so much faster than I do, especially during NaNoWriMo, when it seems like everyone is doing 5,000 or 6,000 words a day. I have almost never written 5,000 words in a day. But I’m not going to let it bother me. I need to write my story at my pace, and just keep going. I might never write a huge daily word count, but if I keep going I’ll still finish something. Eventually. Just keep swimming!

Also, if you’re interested in reading some great science fiction books in kindle unlimited, check out the “To Infinity and Beyond!” online book fair in Story Origin!

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Xanthuss Marduk, the Sorcerer of Tea, Discusses Mythology and Worldbuilding!

How to Use Mythology to Worldbuild

I recently wrote a post about how to create better mythology for your world. If you’ve read that, or you’re already confident creating myths then this is the next step - using myths to worldbuild.

Using myths as a vehicle for worldbuilding is something I love to do. I often write a creation myth before anything else in my world. But how do we do this?

Remember, Myths were Once a Religion

If you’re writing myths that people still believe in, think of it as a religion. The primary difference is that classical myths were not codified like modern translations of the Bible are today. There was no single version, and many were recited by entertainers and not written down.

The myths we read today were once working religions. It is important to remember this. Much like the Bible, people truly believed in these stories and followed them. Using them to set their morals by, and understand the world.

If you’re writing myths that have no followers left, think about their impact when they did have followers.

Use Myths to Set the Tone of your Setting

Myths are an important way to colour your setting. For both your characters and your reader, they give context to history and natural laws. If all the heroes die, it sets a darker tone than a myth or legend where the heroine gets the girl.

The god of the moon, Gywndolin, from Dark Souls.

Dark Souls tells the bulk of its lore through fragments of stories, many of which are merely legends and myths. They tell of a grander era than the one the player explores. A golden age of gods. That contradiction immediately tells us what is going on. Dark Souls is a story about the world slowly fading. Through each game, the myths get warped and we hear less and less about them. The facts start to give way to rumour.

If you instead decide to set a bright and heroic tone, your myths may always see the heroes win, and the gods will hand down the details of these events in perfect clarity.

Mix Politics and Mythology

Politics plays a surprising role in mythology. Many myths are promoted or rewritten to promote royal families or noble lineages who claim heroic ancestry. Cities are named after mythological figures. And oracles become the tools of politics.

The Oracle of Delphi was often a central player in the politics of the Greek city states, and for the right amount of gold, you might get a prophecy that’d cement your legacy. Whether or not the Oracle really spoke to Apollo was less important than the fact that the average person believed she did.

Marble busts of Hadrian and Antinous. Photo by Carole Raddato.

Another example. The death of Antinous, the lover of the Roman emperor Hadrian, led him to deify his love. Though it may have been solely because of his grief, creating a cult of worshippers loyal to his lover gave Hadrian political clout in Egypt. In the following centuries, the cult of Antinous became a political hot potato. Everyone from Christians to the Sibylline oracles criticized the legend of Antinous, often as a vehicle to attack Hadrian’s legacy itself. In the fight between Christians and Pagans, Antinous was used as a central figure and medals were issued with his face as anti-Christian propaganda. Christians responded by destroying statues of the god, and in 391 banned his worship entirely.

Think about how your world’s queens and lords have used myths to support their own rule or undermine their enemies. Do they claim descent from a god? Have they compared their enemy to a heartless villain? Have they proclaimed their favored historical figures demigods?

Consider Why the Myth was Popular

Who did your myths appeal to? The rich, the poor, the marginalized, the ruling class?

Farmers might hold agricultural myths close to heart, and these myths might hold important wisdom farmers need to know - like the order of the seasons or movement of the weather. The cult of Dionysus was popularized because it justified the excess of the Athenian elite, and parties under the pretense of worship were a great tool to make allies.

Today, LGBTQ people have adopted many myths like Tu Shen and Antinous into their own religious practices. They do this because they seek out representation like themselves, and find it in these ancient stories.

So what do the people of your world see in your myths that appeals to them?

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Thank you for your insights, Xanthuss! I personally love coming up with mythology that’s unique to my worlds, or else using existing mythology in a new and interesting way.

Review: On Becoming a Novelist

I picked up John Gardner's On Becoming a Novelist the last time I went to the library. Unlike most books on writing, this one doesn't try to teach you how to write, or offer any definitive ideas on the creative process. Instead, it reads like a thoughtful meditation on the nature of creativity, inspiration, and the writing process. Amidst the plethora of advice targeted at writers today, this book is notable for its lack of definitive advice beyond, "do what works for you," and "don't quit." I found that one of its most endearing qualities.

Gardner, a brilliant novelist and creative writing teacher, begins by noting that few, if any, writing teachers can tell which students will ultimately become successful writers. He considers the difficulty of the task of evaluating a youthful writer, especially considering how much success ultimately depends on a writer's dedication to the craft ad refusal to give up or withdraw. He offers a critique of the most common methods of teaching writing and the inane, repetitive, and often destructive advice heaped on young writers. For example, the "write what you know" trope that so many creative writing teachers push ignores the fact that fiction is based on the imagination. While it's true that characters and settings need to feel vivid and real, writers can use their imagination and their sense of empathy to create whole new worlds and populate them with unique characters. Rather than "write what you know," Gardner advocates writing honestly and avoiding overly optimistic ("Pollyanna") or overly cynical cliches. He reflects that all great art is about finding and sharing truth, and we make poor artists when we can't see or understand what's true about human nature.

Gardner is at his best when he tries to capture those elusive and brilliant moments of creative flight that all artists have in their best work. Indeed, the writing process he describes is about capturing those dreams as closely as possible, then meticulously going back over the work to make sure it communicates the writer's intention. I loved his description of the vivid, creative dream-like state of creative inspiration--it comes closest to the feeling I get when I know what I'm writing is good, or when I'm playing music and everything just falls into place.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who needs an antidote to all the writing advice that gets heaped on you the second you start talking about writing. Gardner notes that there are many kinds of writers, and everyone of them has a different process. What matters is that you work to perfect your craft, keep yourself honest, and hone your sense of observation.

Yes, even more Scifi/Fantasy Very Short Stories!

Yes, I wrote even more science fiction and fantasy Very Short Stories! These appeared on Twitter on the hashtags #scififri, #satsplat, and #vss365! I hope you enjoy them!

1. "WILLOW! Bring me that antidote!" His slave stumbled into the room, tripping over her feet. He poked her with his cane.

   "Hurry!" Her hands shook as she poured a drink into his mouth. He cursed.

   "Wrong one, stupid girl!" He fell, his mouth foaming.

   Willow smiled.

2. Water poured out of the sea caves and frothed at the bottom of the cavern, tearing at the rock with hungry force.

   "They call this place Charybdis," he said. "If someone fell down there, they'd be torn to pieces."

   Was that what had happened to her sister? she thought.

3. She dropped her eyes and blushed, looking pretty and demure. It gave her the opportunity to give surreptitious glance at their guests' weapons. The milk-faced boy carried a fine sword, Damascus steel. His fingers drifted to the hilt like he knew how to use it.

4. The cauldron boiled and seethed. Frothy black effervescence floated to the top. She sprinkled a couple of milky eyes into the brew. At last, when the smell burnt her nostrils, she poured him a tumbler full.

   "There," she said. "The strongest hangover cure I can make."

5. The delicate butterflies flit over the surface of the lake, their wings silver and blue in the moonlight. They float around the waterfall and vanish in the mist.

   "Where do they go?" I whisper.

   "No one knows," Gran says. "But mayhap the fairies."

Guest Post and Review of Sapience

I’m happy to say that Sapience got another lovely review, this time on Killian Wolf’s blog!

I gotta say, WOW! Thanks to Alexis Lantgen this will not be the last science fiction I pick up. I really enjoyed reading these. 

Check out the rest of the review on KillianWolf.com!

I also have a guest post on Mrs. Average Evaluates on being a mother and a writer, so check it out!

Becoming a mother is a beautiful but difficult transition. You’re so exhausted, so overwhelmed, that it’s hard to find the mental energy for the complex thinking required to write well.

I’m happy to write more guest post for other blogs or website, so if you’re interested in having me write for you, use the contact form below!

Short Stories: Why I Write Them

Over the last few years, I’ve written tons of short stories! I started writing them soon after I had my first child. As a new mother, I found it difficult to get the focused, sustained time and attention I needed to write a full length novel, so instead I started writing something short. I ended up really liking short stories, both to read and to write, because they can pack such an emotional punch in such a quick period of time.

Short stories are also good way for writers to explore different genres or writing styles without committing to an intense project. If you normally write serious, dramatic novels, you could try writing something light-hearted or funny in a short story. I've written short stories about minor characters or aspects of a world I might later use in a novel. That allows me to flesh out these side characters and give them more depth, and it can help with world-building.

It can be tricky with science fiction or fantasy stories because often the worlds we create in speculative fiction are unique to our imaginations. This is why many fantasy writers spend so much time "world-building," or writing about the setting of their stories or novels. For short stories, our world-building needs to be economized as much as possible. We need to suggest the nature of our world in a few words, or else our "short story" quickly swells into a novel with a limited, short-story plot. I handle this by trying to keep the world entirely within one character's perspective. If that character knows little about the nature of magic or a scientific discovery, then I don't give the reader an explanation either. It's often more dramatic and emotional if characters don't completely understand what's happening to them, or how things work. Life is often bewildering.

While writing short stories is a fun challenge, reading them wonderful too! I love many short stories by writers such as Connie Willis and Neil Gaiman. I also like reading multi-author anthologies such as Black Swan, White Raven, edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling, or the Nebula Awards Showcase books, which have some really excellent science fiction. Books like these can also help you find new authors whose writing and story telling you admire.

Of course, if you enjoy short stories, I hope you’ll read my book, Sapience, as well!

Seven More Very Short Stories

I’ve mentioned my very short stories earlier, which I’ve been posting on Twitter, usually under the hashtag #vss365. Here are a few more I wrote, including a couple of my favorites I’ve done so far. A couple of them are related and form a somewhat connected story!

1.There are caution tapes draped around the playground, and a quick outline scrawled in white chalk. A very small outline.

2."Mama?" says a voice that melts my heart. He's less than two years old, sweet-faced and baby soft. I pick him up and cuddle him, pressing my cheek to his.

"Not Mama!" He struggles against me, straining away. I keep holding him tight. He'll learn soon enough.

3.She swims along the reef, allowing the detritus of human occupation to collect in her yawning maw. Her scrubbers sifted plastics, cans, even harmful chemicals from the water, leaving it clean and pure. At least until the next holiday.

4. She dusted the keyhole for fingerprints, carefully collecting the smeared marks and recording them in her log. Only then did she unlock the door. The inside of his shed was spotless, and smelled of bleach. There was a rusted chain bolted to the floor.

5.The glass was shattered and the wood so splintered it took her a second to realize she held the remains of a picture frame.

"Who is this?" she asked. A gentle faced woman smiled at her through torn paper.

"His mother. She's dead. Suicide," the officer said.

6. The blue-green ink shimmered on her tentacles, the pattern of dots indicating her lineage and the proximity of her estrus cycle. One of the males danced above her, his red dot pulsating to show his interest. She floated up to join his dance.

7. Kerta turned off the propeller of her submersible, letting it float along in the currents above the sea vents. Above her, the amorphous shapes of the Europan jelly-flowers began their swirling mating dance, the epitome of grace.