The Swan Women of Skye

“All the best things were born and died in Skye, Scotland.”

A Kind of Death is finally out in the world as of Oct. 22nd! So I figured I’d do a /proper/ book spotlight today, as well as tell you more about my story in the anthology—The Swan Women of Skye.

Ready? Let’s do this.

You know what? Never once, in the multiple times I’ve been published (well, alright—maybe there was the once) have I written and released a story that wasn't on the darker or slightly heavier side, as far as topics go. But everything I’ve had published thus far has also been flash fiction, so I couldn’t truly sink my teeth into what I was writing about. However - there's now The Swan Women of Skye. TSWoS is a full short story and by far the longest thing I’ve had the pleasure of getting published, so I had room for some more depth in it.

And, in a nutshell, I chose to write about belief.

It’s our beliefs that shape us, and I wanted to write about a girl who starts out believing that she’s nothing…and then how she overcomes that (with a little help – perhaps of the magical variety?) to realize that she has more value than she knows.

I went back and completely reread The Swan Women of Skye today for the first time since I edited it for Uncommon Universes a few months ago. Gracious, I’d forgotten what an awesome time I had writing that story. My writing style is a bit quirky sometimes, and since The Swan Women of Skye was a story that I wrote completely for myself without any intention to publish it (funny how that happens), it definitely displays some of that. And I’ve realized in hindsight that that made the story stronger. Author Tosca Lee’s advice of writing as though no one will ever read it is 100% the best advice ever offered to any writer.

My sisters are always astounded when I’m able to answer the question “if you could travel to one place in the world, where would you go?” without even pausing to think about it. I would go to Skye, Scotland. So it was only natural that I set this story there! I had so much fun playing with the imagery of cobblestone walks and grassy cliff sides and salty ocean breezes as I wrote.

But while the setting was obvious, the main character—Lauren Dryletski—came to me more by surprise. Most characters that I get inspiration for either a) come in with a bang or b) I must drag the character out of the muck and clean them off to learn more about them. But Lauren wasn’t like that at all. She just snuck in very quietly and was simply and suddenly there. She’s definitely one of my favorite characters I’ve ever written; I’m rather fond of her.

I can’t remember exactly how long it took me to write The Swan Women of Skye, or why I even started. But I know the message I had in mind as I started, and it remains the same at the finish. What I want all readers to come away from The Swan Women of Skye with is a feeling of hope. That’s all I want. If I can bring that to even just one reader, then I’ve done my job.

And also, throughout all the edits, the story’s first line never changed.

“All the best things were born and died in Skye, Scotland.”

A Kind of Death Book Blurb:

A princess who makes dangerous bargains with the afterlife. A man desperate to save his wife, no matter the cost. An uber driver for the undead.

Death, whether real or metaphorical, comes for us all. Yet it is not always the end. And in the depths of grieving can be the promise of hope and redemption.

The tales and poems in this anthology explore the depths of love, loss, and transformation. Whether in a reimagined folktale or a modern urban fantasy, A Kind of Death features a fine balance of tragedy and comedy, but always with a hint of wonder and hope.

As this anthology concerns matters of loss (all handled tastefully and without graphic depiction), certain stories might prove challenging for sensitive readers. Recommend reading with a hot beverage and/or a packet of tissues.

A Kind of Death is available in paperback, hardback, and ebook.
Find it on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and UUP.