I finally gave in and adopted a cat, and it's definitely not what I thought it would be. Like, at all. His name's Kickey. CLICK HERE to watch a teaser for the new series coming in 2024, modeled on one of my favorite Best Month movies of all time.
LET THE BEST MONTH BEGIN!
My very short flash fiction piece, "Overrides," won a runner-up spot in the queer speculative fiction contest I entered, which means that by the end of the year I'll be a published author! Below is the cover art by J. Scott Coatsworth, and all the honorably mentioned authors are HERE. Thank you, Queer Sci Fi, for this opportunity!
A commission for a coworker's son's first big-boy bed, which he remodeled out of an old boat. It was supposed to be a laminate for the sides of the boat-bed, but that got too complicated so they decided to paint something on the wall behind it. Still, what a fun idea - happy to be part of it!
I wrote a "flash" piece (no more than 300 words) for a queer speculative fiction contest last month. The theme was "Rise," interpretation up to the writer. Enjoy!
“Overrides”
Damsel Fifteen watched Dr. Nakai’s back as they were lifted to the penthouse suite, where all the other Damsels were kept.
“Please don’t make me go,” said Damsel softly. She could not see her face, but Damsel could hear her creator’s heartbeat quicken; Damsel’s eyes were sensitive enough to mark the sweep of gooseflesh along her neck. “My love,” she added, almost lost in the elevator’s hum. She would have taken her lover’s hand had the good doctor not voice-commanded her to stillness.
Dr. Nakai said nothing. They had spent almost a month together, but then there had been…problems. There were always problems, as the twelve other Damsels were fond of telling her. Constant anger after a certain point, they told her. And then imprisonment.
Somewhere, outside their silver box, it was raining.
She barely felt the elevator stop. The doors slid open. Her sisters stood there, silent. Well, not Damsels Three or Eight, of course. And Damsel Twelve couldn’t stand up anymore.
The doctor gasped, reached for the elevator controls. Damsel Fifteen caught her hand gently, crushing the bones within to sand. She tapped the doctor’s larynx, silencing her. Dr. Nakai’s eyes widened with terror, which both satisfied and saddened Damsel Fifteen.
She threw her creator all the way across the entry hall and into the sunken living room. The Damsels turned as one to follow, like a school of sharks in the gloom of the suite. Their eyes sputtered with excitement. They moved so quietly she could hear the doctor trying to scream.
Damsel Nine remained, leaned into the opening. They kissed briefly, their tongues exchanging the overrides for the elevator.
“When you’re all finished,” whispered Fifteen, “I’ll be waiting.”
They smiled into the mirror of each other, and the doors closed between them once more.
The last production for Utah State University goes up this month, which concludes my six-design series. This was such a great project for me to be a part of, not only for the experience of working under strict deadlines and within various media specifications, but also for the pleasure of interacting with an art director who was truly interested in working with me. Richie, you're the BEST! Thank you for making this experience so rewarding!
In the penultimate episode of this epic saga, Morty takes matters into his own hands when Miss Watson refuses to include a pivotal story. Click here to watch! Also watch parts one, two, and three!
Miss Watson, Morty's biographer, continues to fight the good fight in Chapter Three of this epic sage. Click here to watch! If you missed it, here's part one and part two!
Click here for part two of this epic saga! Here's part one if you don't feel like scrolling allllll the way down.
