Star Crossed

Last summer I tried paddle boarding for the first time with a wonderful woman I was dating. After paddling around the lake a good long while, we did that thing everyone in a new relationship does, avoided having to leave each other. I watched her deflate and put away the boards. I tried to not listen as she talked to her ex-wife about their kids on a phone call. Finally, we sat on the curb of the parking lot between our cars and talked.

My back started to bother me so I laid down on the concrete to stretch my hip, and relax my muscles. It had become dark, but it wasn’t cold so we pressed against each other and looked at the stars. I have an app on my phone that shows real time overlays of constellations, planets, and deep space objects. We looked at everything we could think of even though I kept dropping the phone on us, but we just laughed.

I kept seeing these streaks of light crossing the sky. They were about the same size as the stars but the color was different somehow. I thought it might be the damage to my eyes. Sometimes I see things that aren’t there. Usually they’re black spots but also light flashes and migraine auras. The spots were always more visible when I looked at the sky, so maybe that was all. It had been some time since I laid out at night and perhaps it was it wasn’t there, just one of the many strange things my body does. Then she asked me about it and I knew it was real. What was that streaking light? A satellite? We tried to get the app on my phone to identify it, but nothing specific was associated with the light.

Then I remembered I’d read about an apartheid billionaire “destroying the night sky.” They talked about all the hundreds of satellites he’d put in orbit, that the light pollution was quite possibly a crime against humanity. It affected the entire globe. Something that had been a part of human existence since humans were first birthed, was now marred.

I told her about this. That our quiet, intimate moment, laying on a sidewalk, in a stolen moment away from our children and responsibilities, had been intruded upon by the hubris of a man. Something about this transgression was foundational. There was no longer a place in the world we could go and be truly alone. The arrogance of one man would always intrude.

I wondered about the future. I despaired that I’d not noticed before. My body felt as though I could hear them. I watched the same lines drawn in the sky by the satellites over and over until I had memorized the pattern of their orbit.

How very small we seemed. How very like a pair of atoms in our own organic bond. Trying to survive while toxic greed cut up all of existence to sell to the highest bidder. What molecule did we make? How much were we worth? We were a part of the universe’s organic whole, but could easily be scrubbed away.

Back at the Grind

I submitted a short story for publication a few weeks ago for the first time in years. I used to submit all the time, but as my health has obviously taken over much of my existence. It was exhilarating to return to another of my passions!

Rejections are a part of the process, of course, but they’re still hard. I think we have heard all the advice about rejections – they’re not personal. It could be that your piece wasn’t a good fit for the publication, they already have something similar selected, the editor isn’t the right audience for your story, any number of things! The hardest thing for me is wondering if something needs to be changed in the story, or if I just haven’t hit the right publication yet. A good rejection encourages you to continue, perhaps even gives some personal feedback.

I took my good rejection and submitted to another publication that is a better fit within 24 hours.

I’m so excited to finish up a few more short stories and send them off!

Houdini’s Masquerade art

I finished an illustration for my story, Houdini’s Masquerade. Please enjoy!

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Daphne and Leua art

I drew an illustration to go with my short story, The Ballad of Daphne and Leucippos. Originally, I planned on having it done when the story was released but that ended up being overly optomistic. Even a little sketch takes some time to get done! Thank you to everyone out there for all your support!

Daphne and Leua

Haunted Hotties Volume I

The anthology Haunted Hotties Volume I has been released! My story, Houdini’s Masquerade, is included in this anthology. It’s so exciting! This one went through editing and on to publishing so quickly, it caught me a bit off guard. September and October are really busy for me with my day job. One minute I was updating the “works” page of this site with the cover, and the next – it was available!

Thank you so much to everyone who helped make this happen! I can’t thank you all enough. Everyone from my support at home to my editor on this project were wonderful. I love working in anthologies and hope to do a few more in the coming year.

Here’s a fun fact: part of my story was inspired by an episode of Drunk History I watched while folding laundry. Yes, really! Remember, inspiration comes from everywhere. I really love Drunk History…

Houdini’s Masquerade was reviewed on Rainbow Book Reviews. It was quite a pleasant surprise!

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Haunted Hotties at Torquere

Houdini’s Masquerade at Torquere

Haunted Hotties at Amazon

Houdini’s Masquerade at Amazon

Mythologically Torqued Volume 2 release day

It’s book release day! I’m so thrilled. This is the first thing I’ve published in ten years which is rather intimidating! It’s one of those times where it’s hard to find the words to say what I’m feeling so I’ll keep it short. The anthology collection is available from Torquere Press and  Amazon. You can also get my story by its self on Amazon. I’ve got a special surprise I’ve been working on as well! It’s not quite done yet but I hope to have it done next week.

Thank you to everyone for all your support! Extra thanks to CMR for all her efforts being my personal cheerleader. I’d also like to thank all the ladies of Tickled Ink especially LRD. I could not have done this without you. I believe in you. Lastly, I’d like to thank Torquere Press and my editor for their work on this project and taking a chance on me.

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Halloween Anthology 2015

I’m super thrilled to announce that a short story of mine, Houdini’s Masquerade has been picked up for inclusion in Torquere Press’s Haunted Hotties anthology. It’s so exciting! As a card carrying quasi goth, Halloween is close to my heart. When I heard about this anthology call, I knew I had to participate. This is the third story to be picked up for publication this year. More information to come as it is available!

Daphne Cover Reveal

It’s finally cover reveal day! I couldn’t be more thrilled. My short story The Ballad of Daphne and Leucippos is being released in the anthology Mythologically Torqued Volume II by Torquere Press. We have a cover for the anthology itself and a cover for my individual story. It’s a double cover reveal event! Let’s get to it, shall we?

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Mythology Anthology – editing finished!

I have finished all the editing on my mythology story for Torquere’s anthology. I’ll have the galley review shortly and then it’s done! Because it’s an anthology of course, I’m not sure where everyone else is in the process. Editing is a lot of work! I may have mentioned that elsewhere… As far as I know, they are still slating our release for August 19th. It’s almost here! I’m so excited I could vomit!