As I receive contracts and final edits from authors, I’ll post a teaser from their story here and on our Facebook page. You know where to get the rest, right? Comments are welcome.
A Claw from the Western Paradise
By
by Gwendolyn Clare
It was spring in the Valley of the Western Paradise, though Ao Jun knew not which spring. The valley air sung like a dirge with the approach of a living soul, music for Ao Jun’s ears alone, rousing him insistently. He shifted on his ancient nest, scales hissing with a sound like the patter of desert rain. He lifted his sinuous body, and the bones beneath him clattered.
In the pond to the south, the lotuses bloomed, white and pink blossoms suspended above the serene water. A thin gray mist clung to the valley floor, cluttered with bones, and to his sluggish thoughts.
Ao Jun let out a sigh through flared nostrils, his breath a cloud of rising steam. He had thought that he was, finally, the last of his kind — that no more would come. He had not expected to wake again.
So, why did we take this story? We liked the fable-like feel of this and the interaction between characters. We had some issues with story pacing and sequencing of the opening. Gwen worked on these issues in revision. The original was 2200 words; final edit is 2150 words.
Tune in tomorrow for our next tease. The full Table of Contents is here.
Now, a word from my ego. Happy to report that my flash fiction “Godless” went live on the Daily Science Fiction site. Cool.
