Wyldblood Press has included my newest story, “The Sphynx’s Blind Date,” in their Wyld Flash series. This story surprised me when I sat down to write it, because I initially thought it might be a poem. Nope, it came right out as flash fiction, and I’m so delighted it took shape that way and became part of Wyld Flash.
This story taps into my love of mythological creatures, as well as hot chocolate (although it’s one of my sisters who likes the spicy variety, whereas I prefer mine quite sweet). I also wanted to write a character with a stronger voice than I’m used to using. I hope you enjoy it!
I’m feeling very behind on things at the moment, so here’s my attempt to get more caught up.
On the fiction front, I’ll have a science fiction piece, “Growing Up Under Ominous Skies,” included in an upcoming anthology of first contact stories, Phantoms from the Sky from Rogue Owl Press. We’re launching a Kickstarter campaign later this month, but for now you can sign up to follow this project for updates.
I’ll also have a fantasy story, “The Sphinx’s Blind Date,” coming out later this month as part of Wyldblood Press’s Wyld Flash series and am excited to share the link when it’s available to read.
On the poetry side, I have a free verse poem in the Winter 2024 issue of Old Moon Quarterly, “What They Don’t Tell You About Training to Slay.” I like editor Julian Barona’s introduction about the role of death, not only in the sword & sorcery and dark fantasy of the issue but in the act of creating in general, with the influences of those who came before us.
And here is the link to the recording of my Speculative Sundays StarBurst poetry reading. By the way, in answering Akua’s question about sonnets, I was referring to an interview response from poet Shane McCrae in The Writer’s Chronicle.
I’m so excited to share that my mini-chapbook of poetry, The Inca Weaver’s Tales, is available for purchase from Sword & Kettle Press! These seven all-new poems cover mythology, beginnings and endings, and female-centered themes, all inspired by my Ecuadorian and Peruvian roots on my dad’s side of the family.
The Inca Weaver’s Tales has been two years in the making—I wrote the original draft back in March 2022, then I worked with the amazing editorial team at Sword & Kettle Press over the next year or so to get everything polished up. Special thanks to Monica Robinson for her careful editing and for creating the lovely cover, to Naseem Jamnia for their stunning work on the layout, and to founding editor Kay Allen for overseeing the New Cosmologies series and including my work as part of it. They’ve put in hours of work stitching each chapbook by hand.
I’ve dreamt of having a physical book consisting of my own work, and I couldn’t be happier that this is my single-author debut!
If you’re curious about more of the background that went into this—my research and family connection—I spoke about it on the Into the Looking Glass podcast, and also on last week’s Speculative Sundays StarBurst reading. When I have a link to the latter recording, I’ll be sure to share it.
Registration just opened yesterday for the 2024 Willamette Writers Conference, and I’ll be participating as a panelist. This was the first writing conference I ever attended, and it was a huge, eye-opening experience for me. I’m thrilled to be speaking there this year.
In other news, I have a poem called “Ode to Hot Chocolate” in the Coffee, Tea, Cocoa issue of Still Point Arts Quarterly. By total coincidence, this is my first of two pieces coming out this month that mention hot chocolate. The other will be quite different, a fantasy story due out in Wyld Flash.
