The 7th anniversary issue of Aoife's Kiss is out! Everyone should go buy a copy. Not only because my short story, Dead Chessie, is in it. Not because the editor, Tyree Campbell, was awesome enough to be the very first person to take a chance on Anna Martin. (He was also nice to me when I turned into Idiot Girl at Hypericon last year as soon as I realized who I was standing next to in the dealer room.) Not even because the cover art is really spiffy. (Dan Skinner's "Pirate Scout" has earned him a new fangirl!) But because the Sam's Dot people are incredibly cool all the way around. In addition to Aoife's Kiss, Sam's Dot offers up all sorts of nifty things like SpecFic poetry, a special online zine for kids, a zine for fans of sensual sf/f, even an anthology of tentacle stories. They work really hard to bring their writers' voices to the world and that has made them one of the best independent publishers out there. I am very proud to be one of those writers. Go check 'em out!
And the story? If you followed ATIV, then you're already familiar with Dead Chessie's main character, Bard Anna Martin. She's stationed on Maryland's Eastern Shore, investigating the corpse of a big dead snake that, according to the overeager were-golden retriever on the police force, is more than it seems. The clues Anna uncovers reveals the consequences of a peer's bad decisions and the truth about a local legend.
I have to admit, I'm pretty geeked out. Chessie was my first sale, and finally seeing something I wrote in print realizes a big dream for me. Now all I have to worry about is the potential for angry Marylanders when they realize I killed off a Chesapeake myth.
10 comments:
Whoo hoo! I'll bet the first sale feels great! The cover art is great and I can't wait to check it out.
Are you planing on sending them more work?
Fabulously cool, Mel! The cover art is spiffy. I assume you can purchase online. A were golden retriever -- does that mean he gets to meet my shifter chihuahuas?
Hey, Anitra! I'd LOVE to send them more work! I have more finished novels that shorts at the moment, though. I'm a bit more comfy with the long form. I have one that's almost ready to go, though, and I'll probably pester Tyree first. :-P
Hiya, Savanna! You sure can! There'a link on the sam's dot main page. And I think we could work something out. Detective Carney was pretty fun because he annoyed the crap out of Anna. Hmm. Maybe we should spare your chihuahuas?
Great stuff Mel. Name in print, wow!
Yay! First sale! Welcome to the ranks of published short story writers! Now you can tell people you have something in common with Stephen King. Sure, it's a stretch, but think of the looks on their faces.
Pat
Okay, I just have to ask about the "killing off a myth" since I'm not from the east. Please to explain in simple words that a western gal like me can understand! :)
Oh, and like you, I'm partial to the long form rather than the short. But I'm in awe of writers who can deliver all the plot, character, and suspense in the shorter form. ;)
Mel,
Yay you! I know it's got to be a wonderful feeling! Congrats,
Lexie
*high fives Pat* That is a nifty way to look at it! :-)
Okay. The killing off a myth thing. There's a local sea monster myth in the Chesapeake bay areas of Virginia and Maryland - kind of like the Loch Ness Monster. Only instead of Nessie they call it Chessie. Chessie's that big dead snake on the shore at the beginning of the story, and Anna's pretty much trying to figure out who killed it.
Evonne and Lexie - thanks guys! :-)
Shucks! It's Chessie revealed.
Mel, I luv Nessie, what a wonderful monster. Hey, just because an anaconda-type critter washed up dead doesn't mean you've killed off Chessie--Chessie could have plopped it on shore, since it was polluting the lake...
Okay, I have to read your story.
LOL Luckily, the Chessie identity isn't the twist. Hmm...sea monster polluting the lake. I may have to steal that, Sav. *grin*
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