Posted on

Live reading of “Come Join We” on Story Hour

You can hear me read with Alexander Danner on Story Hour below. I read the entirety of my story “Come Join We” from my collection Sea, Swallow Me & Other Stories. Thanks to Story Hour for having me on again. I read in support of SMYAL (Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League), a DC-based queer youth group I joined back in the day.

https://fb.watch/3Kk5rqC41V/

Posted on

“Sea, Swallow Me” through a Lovecraftian lens.

My black and queer fantasy story “Sea, Swallow Me” is given the Lovecraft Reread treatment by the critic/authors Ruthanna Emrys and Anne M. Pillsworth. Thanks to them and Tor.com for putting new eyes on this piece.

The title of the piece comes from one of my favorite Cocteau Twins piece, and I always associate their heavenly music with the story, rather than Lovecraft (who probably wouldn’t be a fan of the homoerotic Negritude of the piece).

Anyway, check out An Ecstasy of Arrows: Craig Laurance Gidney’s “Sea, Swallow Me.”

Posted on

Sycamore Hill; New edition of Sea, Swallow Me

Back row (l to r): Sarah Pinsker, K. Tempest Bradford, Karen Joy Fowler, Maureen McHugh, James Patrick Kelly, John Kessel. Middle row: Richard Butner, Kelly Link ,Yours Truly, Jennifer Marie Brissett. Front row: Usman Malik, Christopher Rowe, Gavin J. Grant

I participated in the Sycamore Hill workshop this summer with some brilliant authors.
2019 Edition: Cover by Matthew Bright
2008 Edition: Cover by Thomas Drymon
Posted on

Storybundle, Pride Edition

The fabulously talented Melissa Scott put together a Storybundle for Pride Month is year. You get 4 eBooks for $5 for the basic Bundle. And for $15 you get 6 extra eBooks!

Main Bundle:

Scourge of Time and Space, ed. Catherine Lundoff

Sea Swallow Me, Craig Laurance Gidney

Underdogs, Geonn Cannon

Transcendent 3, ed. Bogi Takács

Bonus bundle:

The Eagle’s Heir, Jo Graham and Amy Griswold

Wireless and More, Alex Acks Wells

Skin Deep Magic, Craig Laurance Gidney

Beware of Wolf, Geonn Cannon

Glittership 2, ed. Keffy Kehrli

Spectred Isle, KJ Charles

Proceeds from the sales will go the Rainbow Railroad organization, who do important work relocating queer people who face persecution and violence all over the world.

From their website:

In countries all over the world, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) people live in basic fear for their freedom, their safety and their lives. They often have nowhere to turn because their government and police not only tolerate but encourage this brutality. 

Rainbow Railroad exists to help these people get out of danger to somewhere safe. In the spirit of and with homage to the Underground Railroad, the mission of Rainbow Railroad is to help LGBTQI people as they seek safe haven from state-enabled violence, murder or persecution. Through funds collected by people like you, we’re able to support, provide information, and help to arrange safe transportation for these LGBTQI people to somewhere in the world where they can live their lives in freedom.

I’m happy that both of my books are included. The Storybundle runs from June 5 to June 24. The link is here.

Posted on

2015 Roundup — Of Nectar and Awards

2015 was very productive year
Ups include:

–SKIN DEEP MAGIC was on a couple of college syllabi, and I got to do two author visits with college students, and it was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award.
–BEREFT, my YA novel about bullying, racism and homophobia, won a Bronze Moonbeam and a Silver IPPY Award

–I got to assist with editors choosing the fiction in QUEERS DESTROY HORROR.
–I got to go to WORLD HORROR in Atlanta, which led to several professional friendships.
–My novelette THE NECTAR OF NIGHTMARES was published and illustrated got good reviews
–My first collection, SEA, SWALLOW ME & OTHER STORIES was turned into an audiobook.
All are bucket list accomplishments.

Downs include:
The death of Tanith Lee. We used to exchange emails and she was very supportive of all of my work. I only met her once. We had planned a visit before her illness. I dedicated THE NECTAR OF NIGHTMARES to her.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!