Sadly, with a recent change, most Nature Futures flash stories were put behind a paywall. I feel very fortunate my “Birding With My Human” literally just came out in Cast of Wonders and is available to read & listen for free.

When this story originally came out in Nature Futures in July 2021, I wrote some notes on its inspiration. Since those notes are also no longer freely accessible, I’m reposting them here:

***

The setting of the story is a real location in Lempäälä, Finland, where I sometimes go birding. There’s the lake (Ahtialanjärvi), Gull Island (Lokkisaari), and a fancy new bird tower. I borrowed almost all the birds and their behaviour for my story from my personal sightings and experiences at this place. After all, it’s where the inspiration first struck me.

I was climbing the steps of the bird tower when I randomly thought of a person going birding with an android or a robot, and how handy it would be. The tower stands far enough from the island that you can’t see almost anything without some serious zoom, and even then, it’s a challenge to find the birds you’re there to see. My birding efforts often feel stumbling at best, yet that’s part of the fun.

As for the artificial nest of the western marsh harrier, it’s already a reality. A considerable effort has gone into preserving and improving the lake area – a Natura 2000 protected site — for waders and other birds. Similar efforts take place every day around the world. While I love that people do this, it’s alarming that it needs doing at all.

All the more reason to enjoy the birds around us today.

***

As a bonus, here are some photos of the island & lake:

Yes, that’s the grey heron. It’s real. 🙂

My SF flash, “Birding With My Human,” is now out in Cast of Wonders, in episode ‘Little Wonders 37 – Seeking Connections’. Originally published in Nature Futures & now wonderfully narrated by Samuel Poots for more readers, listeners, and gentlebeings to enjoy. The episode also features a story by Marie Vibbert. Read & listen here!

The story’s inspired by my love of birds & birdwatching, and a real Finnish lake where I sometimes go that lots of birds really like. I literally got the idea for the story there, while climbing the bird tower.

I hope you like it!

My story “Soulbirds” is now free to read online on Apparition Lit.
Here’s a moodboard I made for the occasion. I hope you enjoy the story!

Photo credit: Unsplash

Apparition Lit Issue #21 ‘Dread’ is now out! It contains my story, “Soulbirds,” inspired by my love of winter birds, and which went a little dark.

The issue is available from Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo, and the publisher (via subscriptions & Patreon).

Get the issue now or wait a little longer. The stories & poems will be free to read on the Apparition Lit website over the next month, including audio.

Here’s the cover of the upcoming ‘Dread’ Issue (#21) of Apparition Lit. My name is there! Guest editors for this issue are Eugenia Triantafyllou & Nelly Geraldine García-Rosas.

The issue is coming out on Jan 15 (to subscribers & available for purchase from the publisher & Amazon). The stories will be published on the website over the month.

My story, “Soulbirds,” will be free to read on Feb 6, including audio recorded by the magazine. It’s a pretty dark story, set in winter with ominous birds. Stay tuned.

My drabble, “Battleship Melancholia” is now out in Martian Magazine and free to read. Also available on Amazon in Martian Magazine Issue 6.

My microfic, “Battleship Melancholia,” has been published in Martian Magazine Issue 6.

This is my fourth drabble in Martian. I’m really proud of each one, and to be honest, it’s getting pretty hard to top myself, if that makes sense. This one’s about war and healing and hope. I hope you’ll like it.

You can buy the issue on Amazon.

My microfiction, “Safe Places,” is now out on Martian Magazine’s website. Here’s the link.

My microfic, “Safe Places,” has been published in Martian Magazine Issue 5.

It’s dark, experimental, and emotional. Inspired is the wrong word to describe where it came from. Haunted would be more like it. The story’s set on Mars, but if you read it, you may notice that when I wrote it, my mind was on the current events of Europe. By which I mean Ukraine.

You can buy the issue on Amazon as well as from several other retailers.

My microfic, “Machine Learning,” is out today in Martian Magazine.

This is one of my favourite tiny tales I’ve written, originally published by Stupefying Stories and reviewed by Maria Haskins. Glad to have found it a second home.

This story is also available in Martian Magazine Issue 4 and Martian Magazine Year 1 on Amazon.