Tag Archives: ace

Blog Tour: Clarity by Various Authors

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Clarity | Various Authors

Queer Sci- Fi Flash Fiction #9

BT-COVER---Clarity

Release Date: October 5th, 2022

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COVER - Clarity

Blurb

Clarity (noun)

Four definitions to inspire writers around the world and an unlimited number of possible stories to tell:

1) Coherent and intelligible

2) Transparent or pure

3) Attaining certainty about something

4) Easy to see or hear

Clarity 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.

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Excerpt

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, 312 writers took the challenge, with stories across the queer spectrum. The contest rules are simple. Submit a complete, well-written Ink-themed 300 word sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal or horror story with LGBTQ+ characters.

For our ninth year and eighth anthology, we chose the theme “Clarity.” The interpretations run from an “Aha!” moment to the bubbling laughter of water to a private, life-changing realization. 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, fiver judges’ choice picks, and one director’s pick, all marked in the text. Thanks to our judges—Angel Martinez, B.A. Brock, Ava Kelly, Lexi Ander, and J.M. Dabney—for selflessly giving their time, love, and energy to this project. And to Ryane Chatman 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!

The Authors

  • A Acosta – Stuck in the Space Elevator
  • A. B. Encarnacion – Arene, 27F Invisible
  • A.H. Lykke – Fresh
  • A.J. Clarke – Shinigami
  • Abbie Bernstein – Kids Know
  • Alden Loveshade – Clouds
  • Alex Blanc – Death by Siren
  • Alex Liddell – Telegram From the Netherland
  • Alex Silver – Smile
  • Alison J. McKenzie – Happy to Help
  • Allan Dyen-Shapiro – Oysters and Other Slimy Creatures
  • Alma Nilsson – Meet Me at the South Gate
  • Amanda Meuwissen – Willows
  • Andrea Stanet – Bathtub Gin
  • Anne Smith – A Glimpse
  • Anton Kukal – Detonation
  • Antonia Aquilante – Through the Glass
  • Avery Vanderlyle – Taking the Plunge
  • Barbara Krasnoff – Age Cannot Wither Her
  • Beáta Fülöp – The Unicorn Handler
  • Belinda McBride – The Choice
  • Blaine D. Arden – No Crime Unseen
  • C.T. Phipps – The Chase Was Enough
  • Camryn Burke – Burden of the Blurred
  • Caro Soles – The Truth Sayer
  • Catherine Yeates – Outpouring
  • Chloe Schaefer – Matthias
  • Crysta Coburn – The Ghost Maid
  • D.M. Rasch – Crystal Clear
  • Daria Richter – Make Me Real
  • Darrell Z. Grizzle – The Vampire and the Werewolf Priest
  • David Viner – The Best Solution
  • Derwin Mak – Software Update
  • Devon Widmer – Post-Apocalyptic Goo
  • Drew Baker – The Only Question I Could Ask
  • E. W. Murks – Earth Day
  • Elizabeth Hawxhurst – Inflection Point
  • Emmy Eui – Sunset
  • Gina Storm Grant – Clearing the Heir
  • Ginger Streusel – Lovers’ Letters
  • Gordon Bonnet – Refraction
  • Isa Reneman – The Furthest Horizon
  • Isabel McKeough – The Art of Not Blowing Up
  • Isobel Granby – Sea-Glass
  • Izzy Tyack – Magically Induced Clarity
  • J Sigel – Hindsight
  • J.S. Gariety – Bloom
  • Jaime Munn – Impulse
  • James Dunham – Brain of Theseus
  • Jamie Lackey – The Cursed Princess
  • Jamie Sands – Remote Working Gothic
  • Jana Denardo – Unexpected
  • Jane Suen – Bowls of Steaming Noodles
  • Jason Sárközi-Forfinski – ACAB
  • Jaymie Wagner – Harmony
  • Jendayi Brooks-Flemister – Heartsbeats
  • Jennifer Haskin – Cold Conviction
  • Jess Nevins – Stagecoach Mary Versus the Ghost of Cascade
  • Joe DeRouen – The World Around Her
  • Jordan Ulibarri – Franklin
  • Josie Kirkwood – The Blue Capsule Experience
  • Julie Bozza – Verity
  • K.L. Noone – The Unicorn’s Knight
  • K.S. Murphy – Looped
  • Kaje Harper – Beneath the Surface
  • Kayleigh Skye – Blue
  • Kim Fielding – Shared Language
  • Kiya Nicoll – The Satyr and the Wishing Pond
  • Kora Knight – Sunrise
  • Kris Jacen – Visus
  • Krystle Matar – My Poppy Fields Are Burning
  • Lloyd A. Meeker – Ruti’s Prayer
  • Lori Alden Holuta – Magic Mirror
  • M. X. Kelly – Muddy the Waters
  • Marie Victoria Robertson – As Foretold
  • Mary Kuna – Late Bloomer
  • Megan Baffoe – Ribbon Thread
  • Megan Diedericks – The Closet is Made of Mahogany
  • Megan Hippler – The Gift
  • Mere Rain – With Clear Eyes
  • Minerva Cerridwen – Secundum Artem
  • Monique Cuillerier – Through This Window
  • Nathan Alling Long – The Shadow of Doubt
  • Nathaniel Taff – The Gauntlet
  • Nicole Dennis – Orange Dust
  • Oskar Leonard – Murcorpio
  • Patricia Loofbourrow – There’s Something Weird About Joe
  • Phoebe Ching – The Killer Cupid
  • R.L. Merrill – The Sitter
  • Rainie Zenith – Crystal Clear
  • Raven Oak – Wrinkled
  • Rdp – Alice!
  • RE Andeen – Male Female Nonbinary Other
  • RE Carr – A Woman’s Reward
  • Rie Sheridan Rose – The Night Witch
  • Rin Sparrow – Never Alone
  • RL Mosswood – A Trick of the Nerves
  • RoAnna Sylver – The Face in the Mirror
  • Rob Bliss – PSI Ecstasy
  • Rory Ni Coileain – One Night in Troy
  • Sacchi Green – The Star Beast
  • Sage HN – Impact
  • Scott Jenson – Cycles
  • Sheryl Hayes – A Smoking Hot Proposal
  • Shirley Meier – Upon Reflection
  • SI CLARKE – If the Shoe Fits
  • Siri Paulson – Blood and Water
  • Stacy Noe – Demons Need Love Too
  • Stephen B. Pearl – Sad Reality
  • Stephen Dedman – Through a Glass Clearly
  • Steve Fuson – Translucent
  • Steve Rasnic Tem – The Man in the Mirror
  • T.J. Reed – New Memories
  • Terry Poole – A Grey Man
  • Tori Thompson – A Visage of Home
  • V. Astor Solomon – Blood Will Show Us Who We Are
  • W. Dale Jordan – Ascension
  • Warren Rochelle – Ghosts
  • William R. Eakin – Overcoming Entropy
  • Yoyoli – If Deliberate Avoidance Fulfills No Dream

MEME2 - Clarity

About QSF

Queer Sci Fi is the brainchild of J. Scott Coatsworth, a blog and website that’s all about LGBT characters in science fiction, fantasy, paranormal and horror fiction. We’re dedicated to promoting the inclusion of LGBT characters in these genres.

We started the site in January of 2014, with the intent to create a community for writers and readers of LGBT-themed speculative fiction. We post regular discussion topics, news, book announcements and reviews. We have an AWESOME Facebook discussion group, and a great admin team – Angel Martinez, Ben Brock, Ryane Chatman, and J. Scott Coatsworth.

Once a year, we put out a call for flash fiction submissions based on a single word theme, and get anywhere between two hundred and four hundred entries. Clarity is our eight annual anthology.

Social Media

QSF Website: https://www.queerscifi.com

QSF Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/210192115794407

QSF  Author: https://www.facebook.com/queerscifi/

QSF Twitter: https://twitter.com/queerscifi/

Giveaway

QSF is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card + Innovation / Clarity eBooks with this tour:

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Other Worlds Ink logoON-COVER---Clarity

Release Blitz: What It Seems by Sydney Blackburn

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What It Seems | Sydney Blackburn

Publisher:  NineStar Press

Release Date: May 21, 2018

Heat Level: 1 – No Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 19,700

Genre: Contemporary, ace, bisexual, romance, self-discovery

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Synopsis

Michael’s straight and infatuated with a woman he worked with one day, over a year ago. But when he finally sees her again, he’s astounded that the woman of his dreams is a man in drag.

Darcy is ace and not interested in dating anyone, so he and Michael just hang out. A lot. When he needs to do an on-screen kissing scene, Michael is the best person to ask for help.

Michael soon discovers he isn’t as straight as he thought he was, and Darcy likes kissing him a little too much for someone certain he never would. Those are a lot of changes to accept, but they just might be worth it.

Excerpt

What It Seems
Sydney Blackburn © 2018
All Rights Reserved

Chapter One
Michael Eden did not believe in love at first sight—it was a completely ridiculous notion. First came attraction, or lust if one was to be blunt about it, then a discovery of shared interests and a passion for discussing opposite interests. And from that, an intimate history of shared experiences. There was a science to it, right down to the feeling. And that was cool; it was still a wonderful, magical thing, but it didn’t just happen instantly.

He believed that right up until the day he found himself on the closed set for a music video, dancing a complex choreography around the love of his life. She wasn’t the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen—she was slim to the point of being flat-chested, and her jaw was a little too square. But she had long dark-brown hair that hung in heavy waves around her shoulders, sexy legs, and her eyes, dear god, her eyes. Big and cinnamon brown, surrounded by long dark lashes. One look in those eyes and Michael Eden had lost his heart forever.

When filming ended, though, he couldn’t find her. All he knew was her first name. Darcy.

Over a year later, without ever finding her again, he still dreamed about her regularly. Dreamed of her eyes closing as her lips pressed to his, of her slender body against his. Dreamed her breasts barely apples in his hands, tiny, with perfect, rosy nipples. Sometimes his dreams were explicit enough to wake up covered in spunk, which was worse when he’d spent the night with a woman as much like his beloved Darcy as he’d been able to find.

They never satisfied him, not really, and he’d stopped picking up women for what was basically masturbation. Oh, he tried to make sure they got off, too, not because he wanted to please them so much as he felt guilty for pretending they were someone else. It wasn’t worth it.

His current gig was a production of Bite Me! at the Mermaid Theatre. He was assistant choreographer in addition to leading the chorus dancers, and while it wasn’t headline fame, it was satisfying. In fact, if he could just forget Darcy, his life would be close to perfect.

He shook his head briefly as he pedalled his bike home from the theatre. Maybe he should seek professional help. He grimaced, hating the very idea of a psychiatrist.

His phone chose that moment to chime. He knew it was Dave by the ringtone, and that it was a text by the vibration. Nothing he had to stop and answer.

He was sweating by the time he locked his bike into the sheltered rack behind his building and climbed the back stairs. It was a small three-story walk-up, built in the early fifties. His apartment still had a milk door outside the kitchen, although it had been long since blocked off and screwed shut. He couldn’t imagine someone carting crates of milk bottles up those stairs every morning to deliver to the apartments.

He flipped the air conditioner switch to suck out the July heat, put a pot of water on to boil for his mac and cheese, and took a quick shower before checking Dave’s text—it just read: Call me when u get a chance.

Michael finished his supper, supplementing the boxed meal with a small plastic clamshell of blackberries. His laptop was playing tunes in the background, and he left it on as he called Dave.

“Sup?”

“Michael! Hey, listen I need a favour.”

“Anything, buddy.”

“They’re going to be fumigating my place, so we all need to bug out for a couple of days. I was wondering if I could stay with you?”

Michael had a tiny one-bedroom apartment, and he knew he was lucky to be able to afford it. Most guys he knew had roommates or lived in apartments so small their kitchen was their bedroom. Dave could crash on his couch or sleep in his bed. Dave was gay and he was straight, but they’d been friends forever, and sleeping in the same bed was no big deal.

He and Dave had swapped hand jobs on occasion and once, while drunk, blowjobs. Dave had told Michael he was bisexual. Michael didn’t feel bisexual, though—more like an open-minded straight guy. Jerking another guy to relieve some horniness wasn’t the same as thinking guys were hot or wanting to date one.

“It’s not like we have sex,” he’d protested.

“Bro, even if your definition of sex is limited to dicks going into another person’s bodily orifice, blowjobs count.”

Michael had rolled his eyes and shook his head. “One time. It was one time. And alcohol was involved.”

“River in Egypt.”

He and Dave could sleep in the same bed with nothing remotely sexual too. They were friends, and once in a rare while, they shared special benefits and that was it.

Now he said, “How many days?”

“Two, three at the most. I guess ants are almost as hard to kill as roaches. That a problem? You finally got a real girlfriend?”

Michael laughed. “Nah. Still waiting to find the woman of my dreams.” He took a split second to think about it and said, “Of course you can stay.”

Purchase

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Meet the Author

Sydney Blackburn is a binary star system. Always a voracious reader, she began to write when she couldn’t find the stories she wanted to read. She likes candlelit dinners and long walks on the beach… Oh wait, wrong profile. She’s a snarky introvert and admits to having a past full of casual sex and dubious hookups, which she uses for her stories.

She likes word play and puns and science-y things. And green curry.

Her dislikes include talking on the phone, people trying to talk to her before she’s had coffee, and filling out the “about me” fields in social media.

Besides writing, she also designs book covers for poor people.

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