Queer Sci Fi has a new flash fiction anthology out: Rise. And there’s a giveaway.
RISE (Noun, Verb)
Eight definitions to inspire writers around the world, and an unlimited number of possible stories to tell:
- An upward slope or movement
- A beginning or origin
- An increase in amount or number
- An angry reaction
- To take up arms
- To return from death
- To become heartened or elated
- To exert oneself to meet a challenge
Rise features 300-word speculative flash fiction stories from across the rainbow spectrum, from the minds of the writers of Queer Sci Fi.
About the Series
Every year, Queer Sci Fi runs a one-word theme contest for 300 word flash fiction stories, and then we choose 120 of the best for our annual anthology.
Publisher | Amazon | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Google Play | Kobo | Scribd | Smashwords | Thalia | Vivlio | Goodreads | Universal Buy Link
Giveaway
Queer Sci Fi is giving away a $25 Bookshop.org gift card with this tour:
Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47301/
Excerpts
It’s a simple recipe.
Passed down in whispers and hands tracing hands through flour and faith. Never written down, paper being too precious for such a small spell, some might say. Like something must be loud to have worth.
A common myth, one that serves her quiet magic well.
She sits pretty in commonhalls and houses, empty eye-sockets and a cloak of harmless charm enough for most to dismiss her. Certainly, her weaving or kneading is all her pretty head can handle.
She listens, and her hands move. Each stitch another secret, gossip kneaded into every loaf.
—From Simple Recipes for Small Magics – Ziggy Schutz
It wasn’t the principles that Matt Harden objected to. The principles were fine: Limited planetary resources. Circle of life. The wrongness of playing God.
But, he thought as he spread the herbs on the basement floor in the prescribed way, the principles were bullshit when you were faced with reality. When the only man who’d ever held your heart was stolen from you by a moment’s distraction behind the wheel. When you never had the chance to even say goodbye. When your body in bed was as cold and alone as a corpse in a coffin.
When the night mist was clammy on your neck and the grave-dirt heavy on your shovel.
—From Principle and Reality – Kim Fielding
“He’s here,” Matt said, slamming the door behind him. “You ready?”
“Think so,” Rory said. He’d finished the salt circle, and quickly moved on to placing the candle in the center.
“Will this work?”
“It’s this or nothing.” Once Tiff told them she’d survived a run in with the killer known as The Hook, Rory knew they were as good as dead. Supposedly this bastard had been killed before, but he never seemed to stop. Much about The Hook seemed unreal, but Rory thought it was the only weapon they had – the unbelievable. Besides, they were gay; those characters always died first.
From Best Served Cold – Andrea Speed
“You do realize,” the nurse said gravely, “that without your parent permission form, this procedure can only be temporary.”
“I do,” Sharon said nervously. Sharon. That was a good name, right? Sounded like Shawn, but wasn’t. Was a girl’s name. A woman’s name. She liked Sharon.
“And that given your parent’s lack of support for this, there will be a counselor assigned to your home to ensure your safety?” The nurse continued, checking the talking points on her tablet with precision.
“I won’t need it,” Sharon said nervously. “They think it’s a phase, but they’re not, you know, hostile.”
From A New Day – Amy Lane
Author Bio
This year, 554 authors entered the Rise contest. 120 of them were chosen, and their stories are included in this anthology:
- Jordan Abronson
- Aisling Alvarez
- CJ Aralore
- Ellery Arden
- Anusha Asim
- K. Aten
- Drew Baker
- Jeff Baker
- Evelyn Benvie
- Eytan Bernstein
- L. R. Braden
- Sorren Briarwood
- Kayleen Burdine
- Siri Caldwell
- Sonja Seren Calhoun
- Jennifer Caracappa
- T. D. Carlson
- Caro
- Minerva Cerridwen
- Amanda Cherry
- Dawn Spina Couper
- Monique Cuillerier
- Lynden Daley
- Claire Davon
- Ef Deal
- Francine DeCarey
- Nicole Dennis
- Sarah Doebereiner
- Kellie Doherty
- Allan Dyen-Shapiro
- Markus McCann Edgette
- Kim Fielding
- Tom Folske
- Athena Foster
- Ani Fox
- Beáta Fülöp
- Jendia Gammon
- Storm Grant
- Chad Grayson
- Gabbi Grey
- Kaje Harper
- Narrelle M. Harris
- Kelly Haworth
- Chisto Healy
- Megan Hippler
- Joanna Michal Hoyt
- Grace Hudson
- Meghan Hyland
- Jeff Jacobson
- Erin Jamieson
- W. Dale Jordan
- Adrik Kemp
- Olivia Kemper
- Jamie Lackey
- Aidee Ladnier
- Amy Lane
- Tris Lawrence
- Brenda Lee
- Katrina Lemaire
- Gordon Linzner
- Jayne Lockwood
- Clare London
- Nathan Alling Long
- Patricia Loofbourrow
- J.C. Lovero
- Ilyas M.
- Stacey Mahuna
- Paula McGrath
- Atlin Merrick
- Amanda Meuwissen
- Eloreen Moon
- Jaime Munn
- RJ Mustafa
- Oliver Nash
- Annika Neukirch
- Jess Nevins
- Rory Ni Coileain
- K.L. Noone
- Milo Owen
- Chris Panatier
- J Piper
- Nia Quinn
- Mere Rain
- D.M. Rasch
- Kazy Reed
- LS Reinholt
- Alexei Madeleine Reyner
- Emerian Rich
- Rie Sheridan Rose
- Anna Rueden
- Curtis Rueden
- Carol Ryles
- Jamie Sands
- Rodello Santos
- Sumiko Saulson
- Aradhya Saxena
- Ziggy Schutz
- C.J. Scott
- Alex Silver
- Roxanne Skelly
- sparks
- Andrea Speed
- Chloe Spencer
- Robin Springer
- Andrea Stanet
- Nathaniel Taff
- O.E. Tearmann
- Tori Thompson
- George Underwood
- Avery Vanderlyle
- Joz Varlo
- Dawn Vogel
- Rhian Waller
- Dean Wells
- Devon Widmer
- B Wilkins
- Holli Rebecca Williams
- Paul Wilson
- X. Ho Yen
- Jamie Zaccaria
Queer Sci Fi Website: https://www.queerscifi.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/qsfdiscussions
Mastodon: https://mastodon.otherworldsink.com/@queerscifi
Unique Excerpt: Foreword
It’s hard to tell a story in just 300 words, so it’s only fair that I limit this foreword to exactly 300 words, too. This year, 454 writers took the challenge, with stories across the queer spectrum. The contest rules are simple. Submit a complete, well-written themed 300 word sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal or horror story with LGBTQ+ characters.
For our tenth year and ninth anthology, we chose the theme “Rise.” The interpretations run from rising bread to zombies rising from the grave, from sunrise to rising on feathered wings. There are little jokes, big surprises, and future prognostications that will make your head spin.
I’m proud that this collection includes many colors of the LGBTQ+ (or QUILTBAG, if you prefer) universe—lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and asexual characters populate these pages—our most diverse contest yet. There’s a bit of romance, too—and a number of stories solidly on the “mainstream” side. Flash fiction is short, fun, and easy to read. You may not fall in love with every story—in fact, you probably won’t. But if you don’t like one, just move on to the next, and you’re sure to find some bite-sized morsels of flash fiction goodness. There are so many good stories in here—choose your own favorites.
We chose three winning stories, five judges’ choice picks, and two director’s picks, all marked in the text. Thanks to our judges—Angel Martinez, Ben Lilley, Sacchi Green, Lloyd Meeker, and Diane Allen—for selflessly giving their time, love, and energy to this project. And to Ryane Candyce too, for editing.
At Queer Sci Fi, we’re building a community of writers and readers who want a little rainbow in their speculative fiction. Join us and submit a story of your own next time!