As many readers of mine know, I’ve a big Sci-fi/Fantasy bias.  Well, Queer Sci-Fi held a flash fiction contest this May and the winners are announced today.  I entered, and didn’t win, but that isn’t important. QSF is going to compile all the entries and create an eBook for sale to help fund QSF and their efforts to bring LGBTQ Sci-Fi/Fantasy to a wider market.  Click the QSF logo below to see the winning entry and after you read it, I hope you’ll sign up for news updates so you’ll know when you can buy the book. 🙂 Queer Sci-Fi  

 Free Fiction Friday: November 14, 2014: Second Shot – The Senior Year: Chapter 39 The perfect weather did little to lift Blake’s mood as he and Ethan walked across the quad toward his dorm. Ethan’s presence should have helped, but his boyfriend didn’t approve of them slipping in to get some things while Brett was out. “I’m not pretending it didn’t happen, you know.” Blake wondered why he tried again. “We’re holding hands on campus. How is that avoiding the issue?” “You’re avoiding him.” Ethan lacked any of his usual happy go lucky demeanor. “No, I’m not.” He stopped until Ethan turned to face him. After the hard played soccer match early, Blake was tired. And that usually meant cranky too. …

 Free Fiction Friday: October 31, 2014: Second Shot – The Senior Year: Chapter 39   “He can’t do this.” Dean paced back and forth. “It’s not allowed.” Darryl swallowed a mouthful of water and nodded vigorously. “What Little T said. Just talk to campus housing.” “They might kick him out of school if I do that, Darryl.” Blake struggled with why that thought bothered him. This was Brett’s issue, not his. Wasn’t it? Dean raised his hands above his shoulders in a shrug and leaned forward. “And we should care that Graydon will have one less douche bag on campus, why?” “It’s not that simple.” Blake turned his head to avoid Dean’s stare. “We’re… we were friends.” “Friends don’t act like that.” …

 Free Fiction Friday: October 3, 2014: Second Shot – The Senior Year: Chapter 38   “Stop worrying.” Ethan said. He shook his head, but the Wi-Fi connection distorted it on Blake’s screen. At least the audio was clear. “I doubt he’s going to freak out.” “I’m not worried about him going off on me, that’s not Brett’s style, but I’m not looking forward to moving out if it comes to that.” Ethan’s face tightened and Blake braced for his response. “It doesn’t matter if he’s unhappy, that’s his deal. He needs to get his knuckles off the ground and move into the twenty-first century. Why do straight guys all think they’re at risk of being hit on by gay guys?” “I don’t …

 Free Fiction Friday: September 26, 2014: After a couple weeks off to deal with some family issues, I’m back this week. Hopefully this will the start of a good run. 😀 Second Shot – The Senior Year: Chapter 37 “I’m telling you he’s acting weird.” Blake lifted his shirt and wiped the sweat from his eyes. Dean didn’t bother with modesty and pulled his shirt over his head and used it to dry his face and neck. He bent over and grabbed his knees. “You’ve been running with my brother, haven’t you?” The accusation wasn’t the response he expected. “Yeah. Why?” “Cause you pick spots and run intervals like him. I hate that.” “They’re good for you.” Having hated them at …

 Free Fiction Friday: September 5, 2014: Second Shot – The Senior Year: Chapter 36   Blake paced his small dorm room. Brett’s stuff added to his made it feel even smaller. He’d been spoiled having the room to himself for the three weeks. Spoiled in more ways than one. But the weekend came and went, Ethan went home and Blake left Jason and Darryl’s house to come back to the dorm. During the two days at Jason’s place, he’d tried to find the right words to tell his roommate. Everything he came up with sounded lame. “Brett, I’m gay,” was direct but had an overly dramatic feel. And he didn’t think he could or should blurt it out to start the …

  Second Shot – The Senior Year: Chapter 35   The night felt strained. Blake wished he’d told Jason he and Ethan didn’t want to be a part of the ‘party.’ Despite his best efforts to keep things chatty and friendly, even Ethan couldn’t cut the tension. Then again, maybe Ethan was the problem. Blake noted how Hanna tensed up every time Ethan did something flamboyant. Wendy brought out the ‘gay’ in him—at least that is what Ethan whispered too him after a particularly funny exchange. He thought he’d have minded the over-the-top, queeny performance, but seeing his boyfriend having fun, being himself, laughing with their friends, Blake realized that was part of the attraction; Ethan was comfortable being Ethan. Everyone—Hanna …

The tackle from behind sent Blake tumbling toward the pitch. Even before he got to his feet, he knew who’d done it. “What the fuck was that, Matt?” Darryl stood inches from Matt. “Are you trying to take out our starting mid? “What?” Matt glared at Blake over Darryl’s shoulder. “He’s hiding behind you now?” “Fuck you, Hopkins.” Blake tried to lunge at his teammate, but a pair of hands pulled him back. “What the fuck’s going on?” Jason screamed inches from Blake’s ear.

Today – April 19, 2013, GLSEN sponsored a Day of Silence to bring attention to bullying among LGBTQ kids.  In an effort to help GLSEN raise awareness Dreamspinner Press encouraged it’s authors to write short ficlets using characters from their books participating in the Day of Silence.  Anyta and I submitted one for our book (Un)masked. In addition, Dreamspinner Press is donating 20% of all sales today to GLSEN.  So if you have a notion to buy any of my books or any others offered by Dreamspinner Press – today is a great day to do it as you will be helping GLSEN and its efforts to end bullying of LGBTQ teens.

“So how are you going to get here?” Blake really didn’t care that much except that he wanted to be sure Ethan had a ride before he hung up. Not that he wanted to go, but they’d been talking for a while now and he needed to meet his teammates for dinner “Keep your shorts on–no wait, take them off so you’ll be naked when I get there.”