Excerpt: Migration: Queer Sci Fi's Sixth Annual Flash Fiction Contest (Book 5) + giveaway

 Queer Sci Fi has just released the annual QSF Flash Fiction anthology. This year, the theme is "Migration."

Migration: Queer Sci Fi's Sixth Annual Flash Fiction Contest (QSF Flash Fiction Book 5)

Editor: J. Scott Coatsworth

July 24, 2019

258 pages

Genres: sci fi, fantasy, paranormal, horror

Pairings: All

Publisher: Other Worlds Ink; 1 edition

Cover Artist: J. Scott Coatsworth / Kelley York, Sleepy Fox Studio (typography)

MI-GRA-TION (noun)
1) Seasonal movement of animals from one region to another.

2) Movement of people to a new area or country in order to find work or better living conditions.

3) Movement from one part of something to another.

Three definitions to inspire writers around the world and an unlimited number of possible stories to tell. Here are 120 of our favorites.

Migration feaures 300 word speculative flash fiction stories from across the rainbow spectrum, from the minds of the writers of Queer Sci Fi.

Other Worlds Ink-Amazon-iBooks
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Excerpt

Each year, hundreds of writers send in stories for the Queer Sci Fi flash fiction anthology. Here are the opening lines from some of the stories chosen for the 2019 edition – Migration:

“Darkness has substance. It is tangible; different shades within the black, sounds, a taste. It is accompanied by self-awareness of time and thoughts, even when other senses fail.” —Hope for Charity, by Robyn Walker

“The sky has been screaming for five straight days when the shrimps come to take us away. They’ve been boxing up the others and hauling them off. Now they’re here for us, soaking wet, dragging cords and crates behind them.” —Shrimpanzee, Sionnain Bailey

“Allister always had faultless hair. He’d comb and gel it to perfection while gazing in the mirror. One day a pair of eyes stared back.” —Zulu Finds a Home, by Kevin Klehr

“On her sister’s wedding day Ari noticed that one of her ears had migrated to her hand. It was right after her high school crush, Emily, arrived with Cousin Matt.” —Playing It By Ear, Aidee Ladnier

“The wound was fatal. Their vessel wouldn't live much longer. This is what came from leaving loose ends. Frantically they sought out a new vessel to migrate to. “ —The Essence, by L.M. Brown

“That night, we were sitting in the bed of her daddy’s old pickup truck and the radio was playing the best song. We had a pack of cigarettes between us and her hand was almost touching mine. The wheat field was silver in the moonlight. When they came, we weren’t surprised, just disappointed that our time was up already.” —Our Song, by Lauren Ring

“Willow said she was my wife, but I knew it wasn’t her, not the right her, anyway. Sure she looked like her with olive skin and bright pink hair. She even smelled of mango flowers, just like I remembered, but there was something about her smile that was slightly off, something about when she said she loved me that didn’t sit well in my old heart.” — They Said It Would Be Her, by Elizabeth Andre

“Agnes is eight when she first sees the river. Cutting its way through town, the only thing she knows not coated in coal dust. She sticks her toes in, comes home with wet socks and a secret. See, the river hadn’t been there yesterday.” —Stream of Consciousness, by Ziggy Schutz

“Terry twirled in her green synthsilk dress, looked at her reflection, liked what she saw. She felt good in her own skin, for maybe the first time.” —Altball, by RE Andeen

“The thing was in the corner. It had come through the window and had slid down the wall. Scratch went the sound. The noise of a hundred nails clawing at the wood. Nails of white bone. Alex pulled the sheets up quickly, covering every inch of skin and hair in a warm darkness.” —Whose Nightmare, by Jamie Bonomi

Included Authors:

A hundred and twenty authors are included in Migration:

Butterflies, by A O'Donovan

The Return, by A.M. Leibowitz

A New Spring, by Aaron Silver

Universal Quota, by Abby Bartle

The Call of Home, by Adrienne Wilder

Starfall, by Adrik Kemp

Playing it By Ear, by Aidee Ladnier

Rabbit, by Amanda Thomas

That Does Not Love…, by Andi Deacon

Inborn, by Andrea Speed

Saving Ostakis, by Angelica Primm

A Dawn Wish, by Antonia Aquilante

Diaspora, by Ariel E. James

Transmigration, by Ashby Danvers

Across the Mirror, by Ava Kelly

Between, by BE Allatt

The Speck, by Bey Deckard

The King of the Mountain Cometh, by Bob Goddard

Before and After, by C. A. Chesse

Home, by C.A. McDonald

Too Much Tech, by C.L. Mannarino

Ze Who Walks Into the Future, by Carey Ford Compton

The Gate, by Carol Holland March

Our Last Light Skip, by Chloe Spencer

Passage, by Christine Taylor-Butler

The Perils of Pick-Up Lines, by Colton Aalto

Parched, by Crysta K. Coburn

Changeling Dreams, by Damian Serbu

Destinations, by Dave Creek

Another Job, Another Planet, by David Viner

Thiefmaster Rosalind's Apprentice, by Devon Widmer

A Weight Off Their Shoulders, by Diane Morrison

Once a Year, by Dianne Hartsock

Mettle, by Die BoothForever Bound, by E.W. Murks

They Said It Would Be Her, by Elizabeth Andre

Til Death Do Us Part, by Elizabeth Anglin

Little One, by Eloreen Moon

GBFN, by Emilia Agrafojo

The Long Distance Thing, by Ether Nepenthes

Call My People Home, by Evelyn Benvie

Jace vs. the Incubi, by Eytan Bernstein

A New Tradition, by Foster Bridget Cassidy

The Curious Cabinet, by Ginger Streusel

Ready, by Hank Edwards

The Albatrosses, by Harry F. Rey

A Boy's Shadow, by Helen De Cruz

Portrait of a Lady, by Isobel Granby

Beam That Is In, by J. Comer

The Hunt, by J. R. Frontera

Repeating History, by J. Summerset

Neil's Journey, by J.P. Bowie

Homeward Bound, by J.S. Garner

Whose Nightmare?, by Jamie Bonomi

A Moment of Bravery, by Jessie Pinkham

Laetus, by Jet Lupin

Where You Go, I'll Follow, by Joe Baumann

Ambrose Out of Ash, by Jonathan Fesmire

Shooting Modes, by Joshua Darrow

TerrorForm, by Juam Jocom

The Curse, by Jude Reid

Throwing Eggs, by K E Olukoya

Fly, by Kayleigh Sky

The Keep, by KC Burn

Zulu Finds a Home, by Kevin Klehr

The Risks and Advantages of Data Migration, by Kim Fielding

Irreversible, by kim gryphon

Looner, by Krishan Coupland

The Essence, by L.M. Brown

Our Song, by Lauren Ring

O Human Child, by Lisa Hamill

Goodbye Marghretta, by Lou Sylvre

Choices, by LV Lloyd

Endangered Species, by M Joseph Murphy

Planet Retro, Unplugged, by M. X. Kelly

Elemental, by M.D. Grimm

To Wish on a Love Knot, by Margaret McGaffey Fisk

Firebirds, by Marita M. Connor

Breeding Season, by Mary Newman

Kooks at Home, by Matt McHugh

Spring, by Mere Rain

Into the South, by Mindy Leana Shuman

Not How We Planned It, by Minerva Cerridwen

What Is Left Behind, by Monique Cuillerier

How Far Would You Go for the One You Love?, by Nathan Alling Long

Innocence, by Nathaniel Taff

Heart and Soul, by Nils Odlund

Tides, by Patricia Scott

Killer Queen, by Paula McGrath

Genesis, by Pelaam

If Pigs Could Fly, by Penelope Friday

Click, by R R Angell

Be Kind to Strangers, by Raina Lorring

Altball, by RE Andeen

Far From Home, by Riley S. Keene

Hope for Charity, by Robyn Walker

Night Comes to the Bea Arthur, by Rory Ni Coileáin

MIG Ration, by S R Jones

Going Back, by Sacchi Green

World Behind and Home Ahead, by Sara Testarossa

The Call of the Suet, by Sarah Hadley Brook

Research & Development, by Shaina Phillips

Into the Void, by Shannon Brady

The Silkie's Dance, by Shannon West

Seal Hunt, by Shirley Meier

Shrimpanzee FIRST IN BOOK, by Sionnain Bailey

The Woman With No Name, by Siri Paulson

Memories of Clay, by Spencer Mann

Simulacrum, by Steve Carr

The Experience, by Steve Fuson

Flight, by Steven Harper

Birds of New Atlantis, by Stewart C Baker

Lurching Forward, by Sydney Blackburn

Spores of Retribution, by Tray Ellis

Skin Hunger, by Treasure Nguyen

Elvira, by Trevor Barton

Ever After, by Warren Rochelle

Into the Light, by Wart Hill

Dryads, by X Marduk

Stream of Consciousness, by Ziggy Schutz

Giveaway

Queer Sci Fi is giving away a $20 gift Amazon certificate with this tour – enter via Rafflecopter for a chance to win:

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Spotlight: Torment (The Damned Series Book Four) By LM Pruitt

Torment (The Damned Series Book Four)

By LM Pruitt
August 8, 2017
Genre: PNR
Enemies are so stimulating.--Katherine Hepburn

If you can look past the part where they're trying to kill you.

The Damned want my head on a platter. The Winged have similar plans.

As for Morning Star and the Power... well, only They know.

One false step... and everything is lost.

CONTAINS SCENES OF GRAPHIC LANGUAGE AND SEXUAL ACTIVITY. READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

Amazon

Torment is the fourth book in the L.M. Pruitt’s Damned series. The series follows the demonic adventures of Julie, southern debutante turned succubus. At this point in the series, Julie and her entourage of supernatural male devotees continue their campaign to overthrow hell’s ruling party and establish a new underworld order. Facing threats at every turn, Cam, Julie and their eclectic, ever-growing team braces for battle. Luckily Julie has a literal guardian angel in her sister Joanne, a key player for the heavenly realm.

Torment is more slight than other installments in the series. This story is less about character development, and Pruitt’s signature sensual expression, and more about plot advancement. There are some serious shakeups in Torment that will inevitably change the trajectory of Julie’s tale and character.

I like this series for its unorthodox character dynamics and outrageous sexual energy. It’s different. You must suspend traditional beliefs of monogamy, love, and relationship to enjoy Damned. I’ve recommended this series to friends, but for some, it’s been too much of a leap. If you’re looking for a walk on the wild side with a formidable female main, Damned may be the series for you.

Double  Sheep Book Review: Damned (A Damned Novel #1)

Reviews: Wicked (Damned Book 2)

Review: Ruin (Damned Book 3)

Four Sheep

Bianca Greenwood

About the Author:
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goodreads-amazon
L.M. Pruitt has been reading and writing for as long as she can remember. A native of Florida with a love of New Orleans, she has the uncanny ability to find humor in most things and would probably kill a plastic plant. She knows this because she's killed bamboo. Twice.  She is the author of the Winged series, the Plaisir Coupable series, Jude Magdalyn series, the Moon Rising series, and Taken: A Frankie Post Novel.

Book Review: Ruin (Damned Book 3) by LM Pruitt + excerpt

Ruin (Damned Book 3)
by LM Pruitt
May 31, 2017
I can resist everything except temptation—Oscar Wilde

But what happens when temptation is everywhere?

Cam is tempting to me toward the darkness.

Barry is tempting me toward the light.

And I want them both. I want it all.

Temptation will be my salvation. Or my ruin.

amazon

Ruin is the third installment in L.M. Pruitt’s Damned series, a spin off to her vast Winged chronicles. Damned follows the transformation of Julie Watson from entitled socialite to damned succubus. Characterised by its imaginative paranormal intrigue, colourful characters, wry humour, and delicious erotica, this series is fresh to be sure. Pruitt bravely takes her characters into territory rarely traversed in this genre.

In this installment, Julie is steeped in danger as double agent for Abby, right hand to Morningstar. Realizing her life is in serious peril, Julie casts herself in the role of Cambores’ political partner and lover. For his part, Cam wishes to overthrow the leadership of Asmodeus, Julie’s maker and former lover. Over throwing middle management isn’t enough for Cam, however, as he has his sights set on a hellish revolution. Deemed an emergent queen to be, Julie needs to assert herself if she’s going to survive. Julie’s tie to her sister Joanne, a highly influential member of the Winged, only adds a layer of danger and complication to Julie’s operation. But the more time Julie spends with Cam, the more deeply she feels the allure of power.

I’m absolutely loving Julie’s transformation and she’s quickly becoming my new favourite. I’m drawn to her deeply flawed character and unabashed honesty about her shortcomings, materialistic proclivities, and insatiable sexual appetite. Julie’s magnetism is quickly amassing her a rich and wildly entertaining entourage, which is only adding to the entertainment. I’ll even admit, just between us, that I identify more with Julie than I do with most book leads. Julie says what everyone else is thinking but hasn’t dared utter, much less act upon. And Pruitt just keeps taking it there. I’m thrilled to be along for the ride. This series has been my most fun read of 2017 so far.

Excerpt

“Is it done?” Cam strapped the saddle bags he’d somehow managed to stuff all my clothes in to the little bike—not quite a motorcycle but bigger and less dorky than a scooter. When I didn’t answer right away, he stepped over to me, grabbing my face in his hands and squeezing. “Coniglietto. Is it done? Did you take care of her?”

“Yes.” Even to my own ears my voice sounded dull and lifeless. Considering the fact I felt high as fucking kite, I could only assume it was shock. “I took care of her.”

Not in the way he meant, not exactly, but I’d taken care of her the best way I knew how.

I’d done a lot of horrible things, on purpose and accident, and I had no doubt I would do more horrible things still. But I’d be damned even more than I already was before I actually killed my sister.

“Good girl.” Cam pressed a quick, hard kiss to my forehead before steering me toward the bike. “I have little doubt the archangels will be here soon—so we shouldn’t be.”

“Where are we going?” It didn’t matter. I had, for all intents and purposes, hooked my wagon to his. If anyone threw doubt on my commitment to the so-called cause, all Cam would have to do was point out what I’d done to Joanne. Sure, there might be trouble when it came out she wasn’t actually dead but it could all be explained away as yet another newbie mistake.

After all, they taught us how to not kill people. Not the opposite.

“I’m thinking Prague.” He settled himself on the bike, gesturing for me to do the same. He handed me a helmet, his lips curving upward when I stared at it blankly. “Safety, little rabbit. And a disguise. It’s safer for us to blend in at the moment.”

“Right.” My hands felt thick and clumsy as I struggled to strap on the protective headgear and I cursed under my breath when Cam finally took pity on me and did it himself. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“Change is hard, little rabbit.” He brushed his lips over mine before flicking the tip of my nose. “Now, let’s go take over the world, hmm?”

Double  Sheep Book Review: Damned (A Damned Novel #1)

Reviews: Wicked (Damned Book 2)

Five Sheep

Bianca Greenwood

About the Author:
website-FB-twitter
goodreads-amazon
L.M. Pruitt has been reading and writing for as long as she can remember. A native of Florida with a love of New Orleans, she has the uncanny ability to find humor in most things and would probably kill a plastic plant. She knows this because she's killed bamboo. Twice.  She is the author of the Winged series, the Plaisir Coupable series, Jude Magdalyn series, the Moon Rising series, and Taken: A Frankie Post Novel.

Book Review: Her Wild Hero (X-Ops #3) by Paige Tyler

Her Wild Hero (X-Ops #3)
by Paige Tyler
Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages
May 5th 2015 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Name: Kendra Carlsen
Rank: Trainer, Dept. of Covert Ops
Objective: Get out of the office and into the field
Name: Declan MacBride
Rank: Munitions Expert, Dept. of Covert Ops
Status: Bear Shifter
Objective: Protect Kendra at all costs

The steamy Costa Rican jungle brings out the bear in Declan MacBride when he and new operative Kendra Carlsen are ambushed. In the midst of relying on each other to survive, and fighting his explosive attraction to Kendra, this shifter is about to lose control.

If you haven’t read Paige Tyler yet, you don’t know what you’re missing because this lady rocks at writing exciting, passionate paranormal romance! The kind that got my blood pumping and took me completely away from my world and threw me into hers!

I remember Declan from the previous book and he hasn’t changed much, he’s still kind of solitary, a little grumpy and more than what he seems. Since it’s his turn in the spotlight though, there had to be something new and that came in the form of another side of the bear shifter: The side of him that was hopelessly in love with Kendra. Though he constantly reminded himself he was over her, it was clear he wasn’t, he knew she had been interested in someone else but he wasn’t cruel to her over it. A little distant maybe but he took his job of keeping her alive extremely serious. Did I mention Declan was charming too? He naturally tried to put Kendra at ease without lying to her about their dire circumstances. I tell you, I was in love with him within 40 pages!

Getting to know Declan more not only made me love him, it also made me dislike Kendra because Declan was amazing! I’m normally a wolf girl but dang, Declan was one seriously sexy bear. I spent the first half of Her Wild Hero wanting to kick Kendra’s butt for being so stupid and ignoring Declan’s interest in her. She was so focused on someone else, someone she knew she wasn’t a romantic match for.

Still, I have to grudgingly admit, I was thrilled at the way Kendra handled herself when her first field mission went south and burst into flames. She didn’t resemble and office employee at all! She was just at home with firing a gun as filing paperwork. No panicking, no hiding behind Declan, Kendra threw herself headlong into the fight and held off her share of enemies. She was, in a word: Prepared. So yeah, I have to admit that as female in a romantic suspense, she was on the same level as the men in the story, which of course, won her some major points. Even though she didn’t notice the hunky teddy bear in front of her for seven years.

The situation that Declan and Kendra found themselves in didn’t exactly provide much time or opportunities for romance but it did provide opportunities for them to really get to know each other better than they would have in any other case. I found that nothing short of a life or death situation would have gotten Declan to open up about himself, he was that stubborn.

Her Wild Hero to me was more uncivilized than the previous book. Declan and Kendra are far away from civilization and the people chasing them have no notion of fighting fair. I loved the new edge to the story, it was unapologetic and bloody almost from the beginning. It really was a fight to the death to survive, which is why I was so impressed with Kendra’s attitude throughout the whole thing. She was soldier strong, and intelligent.

While Her Wild Hero can be read as a standalone, it does form part of a larger story arc that began with the first book. I would suggest reading them in order so that you understand the bigger picture and the bigger threat these characters face by the end of this current book. I certainly can’t wait for the next one, or anything else by this author. She truly has me hooked!

4 bear loving sheep.

Adria

About the Author:
Website | Facebook | Twitter 
Goodreads
Paige graduated from The University of West Florida with a degree in education in 2000, but decided to pursue a full-time career as a writer in 2004. Since then, she’s written over fifty books in several genres, including paranormal, contemporary, western, sci-fi and erotica. She loves writing about strong, sexy, alpha males and the feisty, independent women who fall for them. From verbal foreplay to sexual heat, her stories of romance, adventure, suspense, passion and true love will leave you breathlessly panting for more. 

She and her very own military hero (also known as her husband) live on the beautiful Florida coast with their adorable fur baby (also known as their dog). Paige graduated with a degree in education, but decided to pursue her passion and write books about hunky alpha males and the kickbutt heroines who fall in love with them.

When not working on her latest book, Paige enjoys reading, jogging, P90X, Yoga, Pilates, going to the beach, watching NFL football, watching movies and hanging out with her husband (not necessarily in that order!)

Book Review: Beauty's Kingdom (Sleeping Beauty #4) by A.N. Roquelaure (pseudonym), Anne Rice

Beauty's Kingdom (Sleeping Beauty #4)
by A.N. Roquelaure (pseudonym), Anne Rice
Hardcover, 368 pages
April 21st 2015 by Viking

Mega-bestselling author Anne Rice, writing as A. N. Roquelaure, returns to the mysterious kingdom of Queen Eleanor in this new chapter of her Sleeping Beauty series. When the great queen is reported dead, Beauty and Laurent return to the kingdom they left twenty years before. Beauty agrees to take the throne, but she insists that all erotic servitude be voluntary. Countless eager princes, princesses, lords, ladies, and commoners journey to Beauty’s realm, where she and her husband usher in a new era of desire, longing, and ecstasy. Provocative and stirring, Rice’s imaginative retelling of the Sleeping Beauty myth will be adored by her longtime fans and new readers of erotica just discovering the novels.

This book is intended for mature audiences.

This is a review of the trilogy as well as Beauty's Kingdom

Sleeping Beauty Trilogy review

Until this year, I’d never read A.N. Roquelaure’s infamous Sleeping Beauty series. Sure, I’d heard via word of mouth that Anne Rice wrote an incredibly erotic fairy tale series under a pseudonym; however, I’d never taken the time to investigate. As an Anne Rice fan, I know how sensual her writing can be and when the opportunity to review Beauty’s Kingdom presented itself, I eagerly volunteered. And so, I embarked on a journey to binge-read the first three Beauty books, to prepare for my review of the fourth installment. I’d read erotica before, I was prepared, or so I thought.

Reading The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, Beauty’s Punishment, then Beauty’s Release in quick succession can be likened to eating a triple chocolate cheesecake in one sitting; it’s enjoyable and sinfully delicious, but in the end you’re likely to feel nauseous. I don’t fault the texts per se, but rather my process. When the books were re-released in recent years, they bore the tagline, “If you liked Fifty Shades of Grey, you’ll love the Sleeping Beauty Trilogy.” Rice herself evokes Fifty in her defensive preface to the new editions from 2012. I’d like to make something clear: Sleeping Beauty and Fifty are vastly different trilogies. They both chronicle BDSM sex, yes, but they are worlds apart. In order to enjoy the Beauty trilogy, one must be capable of transcending every preconceived notion one has about sexual relationships, preference and orientation, monogamy and methods. There were many times I struggled with this, but I endured.

The books chronicle the lives of naked pleasure slaves, who, for a predetermined term, serve in the kingdom and are subject to the whims and fancies of a multitude of masters. The goal is for pleasure slaves to learn the art of sexual pleasure, but to also learn humility and ultimate self-control. The minimalist plot in the Beauty trilogy is propelled by colourful characters and their graphic sexual encounters. Rice is endlessly creative in her descriptions of sex, sexual implements, and sexual participants. The language is poetic, rich and dense, kinda like cheesecake, and the sex is so outrageous, it needs to be carefully and slowly digested.

Beauty's Kingdom review

This brings me to the current installment, Beauty’s Kingdom. This fourth volume in the series can, in many ways, be set apart from the originating trilogy. It has been written over 20 years after Beauty’s Release and the realm has been reloaded, so to speak. Within the text, Queen Beauty and King Laurent have been asked to rule over Queen Elenor’s kingdom following a shipwreck that has left the queen and her son, the crowned prince, lost at sea. It has been 20 years since Beauty and Laurent were used as naked pleasure slaves and the request is both tantalizing and overwhelming. They agree to assume rule of the realm provided they are permitted to make crucial changes to the pleasure slave structure. These changes make this text far more palatable and acceptable for a mainstream readership. If Fifty-type readers are being marketed to for Rice’s new erotica, these changes were crucial. Many of the more problematic and troubling aspects of the original trilogy have been corrected through, well, political correctness. Rice reworks the realm to settle the mainstream reader’s nerves surrounding issues of age, feminism, ethnic diversity, and consent. As the text unfolds, Queen Beauty’s kingdom comes to represent a mature sexual utopia of perfect and beautiful democratic acceptance.

The newest installment was, for me, a more palatable sojourn into fantastic erotica. I found it less an exercise in challenging my own sexual mores and more an entertaining read. This book can be read as a standalone, I think, and, if you’re new to erotica or on the periphery, that’s exactly what I suggest. Rice does a good job of seamlessly recapping the past. The payoff in reading the first three books is that you are rewarded with closure in discovering what has befallen numerous intriguing characters. But there are new, equally formidable characters, like Lady Eva, who is a wonderfully fierce female heroine in this novel. So, if you plan to try this book, approach it like triple chocolate cheesecake; take it in slowly, one sliver at a time, and perhaps even share it with someone special.

4 sheep

Bianca Greenwood

About the Author:

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Anne Rice (born Howard Allen Frances O'Brien) is a best-selling American author of gothic, supernatural, historical, erotica, and later religious themed books. Best known for The Vampire Chronicles, her prevailing thematical focus is on love, death, immortality, existentialism, and the human condition. She was married to poet Stan Rice for 41 years until his death in 2002. Her books have sold nearly 100 million copies, making her one of the most widely read authors in modern history.

She uses the pseudonym Anne Rampling for adult-themed fiction (i.e., erotica) and A.N. Roquelaure for fiction featuring sexually explicit sado-masochism.