We’ve made it almost to the end of 2020. Christmas and 2021 are finally around the corner. It’s also that time of year when authors, shyly and proudly, like to remind you of the stories they had published during the year, so that you can read & enjoy them, and perhaps, spread the word, or even nominate your favourites for awards.
I only had one eligible story come out in 2020, but I’m very proud of it. I’d be thrilled if you gave it a read:
I discovered a review of “We Are The Moor” I hadn’t seen until now. Victoria Silverwolf at Tangent Online had some very nice things to say about my story:
“This is a poetic and gently melancholy tale, full of sincere emotion and appreciation for nature.”
Happy May Day! I have some news. I have joined the ranks of other authors at Curious Fictions. Curious Fictions is a platform that brings together authors and readers of short fiction, all in one place. Authors are vetted, so the quality of the stories remains high.
There are many ways to support authors on the website such as optional tips. All my stories on the site will, at least for now, be available for free. I wouldn’t say no to a comment or a like though! It’s always great to hear when a reader has read something of mine.
My first story on the site is a reprint, “Not All Who Wander Are Lost”. It’s a young adult fantasy flash fiction, about a boy who meets a mysterious girl in the magical Midsummer night. You can expect a few more reprints in the same vein in the spring/summer.
Would you like to read something I wrote but aren’t sure where to start?
I want to help. For this reason, I have created a new page, Selected Stories, where I have collected some of my favourites stories that I think you will enjoy that are also currently free to read online. It also includes small excerpts as well as reviews where applicable.
She describes my story as “beautifully sad and remarkably sincere” and also calls me “an author to watch.” Read more here.
I am loving that this story is getting read & reviewed and honestly a bit stunned. I am so grateful for Flash Fiction Online for publishing it, and editor Suzanne Vincent for helping me make the story what it is.
Charles Payseur reviews my flash fiction story “We Are The Moor” at Quick Sip Reviews. He says: “It’s an evocative and yearning story, a haunting told from the other side, and it’s a great read!”
It’s February, and I have a story in Flash Fiction Online! I am beyond thrilled. I’ve loved the magazine almost as long as I’ve been writing. This is my first story published with them and my 2nd pro sale. I also really love this story. It’s probably one of the best things I’ve written to date.
The theme of the February issue is LOVE. “We Are The Moor” is a story of undying love told from the collective point of view of the moor.
The magazine is free to read online, but please consider supporting Flash Fiction Online by purchasing a copy on Amazon. Also, here’s a link to their Patreon.
Two of my stories have been published in an anthology by The Lit Up Press: “My Mother’s Gingerbread” and “Merry Christmas With A Little Celestial Help.”
The first story, “My Mother’s Gingerbread” features a traditional gingerbread cookie recipe which I can guarantee makes delicious cookies. It’s a quiet story of tradition, family, and longing, set in a kitchen. The second one, “Merry Christmas With A Little Celestial Help” is a sweet and melancholy tale of a heavenly being looking after a little girl and her father on Christmas eve. Her eagerness to bring them happiness and joy, overlooking a few celestial rules in the process, causes all sorts of trouble.
The anthology is called Frozen Adornments: Poetry and Prose of Winter and Wonder, and is available on Amazon (and Amazon UK) as a paperback & for Kindle. It features a collection of wonderful Christmas and winter themed stories and poetry, most of which have previously appeared on Lit Up.
Many thanks to the editors (Diamaya Dawn, A.Maguire, Pat Link, Chris Drew, Annie Caldwell) for putting together this anthology!
Outfield by Hal Y. Zhang Those Fantastic Lives by Bradley Sides Fallow by Erin K. Wagner Maid-of-Many-Skins by G.V. Anderson Objective: Understanding by Alyssa N. Vaughn The Bones and Their Girl by Sylvia Heike Goldengrove Unleaving by Dafydd McKimm He Thinks He Knows Me by Rich Ives Timelines by L’Erin Ogle
My little story is in great company!
One of the reasons I’m so happy to get published by this magazine is not only the fabulous authors and stories they publish, but also the staff behind the scenes. Always friendly and professional plus supportive on social media. I know my story’s in good hands.
Sylvia Heike is a speculative fiction writer from Finland. Her stories have appeared in Flash Fiction Online, Syntax&Salt, Gamut, Luna Station Quarterly, The Molotov Cocktail, and elsewhere. Many of her stories will take you to a place where magic meets nature. Read more…