Fun fact: This was the first micro-fiction I had ever written, and it first appears in Stargazing: Microtales from the Cosmos.
They’ll be coming for me. Fine. Anyway, there’s something so satisfying about a high-speed chase through space involving a Crip at the helm.
Huh.
Funny how our leadership brags that our planet’s a galactic god of tech, but they’re oblivious to the spirit of disabled sentients. Whatever. I’m here, alone for the moment, lights off but with life support, staring at the stars.
I’d been scheduled for “restructuring.” Well, the collective They felt people with legs that don’t leg were an impediment to their medical accolades. Being corralled to the Institute (read: institution) with about a hundred others was super fun. Thank goodness for Sheena. Our late-night convos from our bunks made everything bearable.
“You’re a star,” she’d sign. “You need to shine with your own kind.”
I finally had the courage to sign back, “I love you,” the night before they took her away.
She wasn’t voiceless. I heard her screams. The restructuring didn’t take.
So, for the next weeks, I watched. Each security team, what they carried, when they took breaks.
They shouldn’t have left that hoverchair unattended.
Cait Gordon is an autistic, disabled, and queer Canadian writer of speculative fiction that celebrates diversity. She is the author of Life in the ’Cosm, The Stealth Lovers, and the forthcoming Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space (2023). Cait also founded the Spoonie Authors Network and joined Talia C. Johnson to co-edit the multi-genre disability fiction anthologies Nothing Without Us and Nothing Without Us Too.
So, this has been a full year for me, even though my name is only on one book. Since that book happens to be an anthology where I am co-editor, I will already take that as a win! It’s not the quantity, but the quality, as they say. And in the case of this collection, we have both!
Books
Nothing Without Us Too is the second book of Talia C. Johnson’s and my disability fiction series where the authors and their protagonists are disabled, d/Deaf, Blind or visually impaired, neurodivergent, Spoonie, and/or they manage mental illness.
This multi-genre collection has fantasy, space opera, romance, paranormal, and a vampire story that takes a bite out of expected tropes. It also has realistic/literary fiction. But whether LitFic or SpecFic, the characters are relatable and their journeys are unforgettable.
Produced during a pandemic where in real life we disabled and higher-risk creatives were pummelled nearly daily with eugenics-based messaging about how only we were at risk for serious illness, the title of this work feels a declaration for society to remember us in publishing and in this world. Nothing without us, too, folks!
Adrift, by Cait Gordon (Polar Borealis Issue 21, May 2022)
This short space opera poem is a metaphor for what neurotypical publishing circles can feel like when one is a neurodivergent person. I drew upon an experience of being at a crossroads several years ago, then realizing the path I had to take. It can often seem like being adrift for a while, until one finds one’s footing. Or the course one must plot!
That’s it! Here’s anticipating what next year will bring!
Have a happy and safe holiday season.
Cheers!
Cait Gordon is an autistic, disabled, and queer Canadian writer of speculative fiction that celebrates diversity. She is the author of Life in the ’Cosm, The Stealth Lovers, and the forthcoming Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space (2023). Cait also founded the Spoonie Authors Network and joined Talia C. Johnson to co-edit the multi-genre disability fiction anthologies Nothing Without Us and Nothing Without Us Too.
Season 1 ends with a bang editors Robert Kingett and Randy Lacey speak to me about their upcoming anthology, Artifical Divide. This collection of fiction stories is written by authors who are Blind, visually impaired, or who have low vision.
You can listen to this episode by clicking the embedded Spotify widget, or you can stream the podcast from Anchor.fm, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Radio Public, and Google Podcasts. You can also watch it (with CC) on my YouTube Channel! (The video should be up by end-of-day on Friday May 7, 2021. Click the bell on my YouTube channel to be notified when new episodes are published!)
(Please scroll down to read the transcript for this episode.)
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing and giving a positive rating!
Transcript
(Thanks, fellows, for a great season finale!)
Intro: Hi, and welcome to In the ’Cosm. I’m your host Canadian speculative fiction author Cait Gordon. I’ve started this podcast, so I can chat with authors and other creatives I simply fan girl over. I hope you enjoy diving into my microcosm and feel inspired to seek out the works of these amazing humans.
Cait Gordon: Hi, I’m Cait Gordon, and today’s a unique day because it’s my first episode with two guests, and not just any guests. But Robert Kingett and Randy Lacey, who are the editors in chief of the upcoming Artificial Divide anthology, where the authors and their protagonists are Blind, visually impaired, or who have low vision.
Robert Kingett is a totally blind author and accessibility advocate. He writes fiction and nonfiction, but is often involved in many consulting positions. He also contributes to many research papers in his spare time.
Since 2010, Randy Lacey has been adapting to his new life as a visually impaired individual. He’s been a writer of poetry since the late 70s, and since 2013, he has self-published books of poetry as well. Randy has now entered the world of short stories and hopes to release a collection in the near future. When he’s not busy with writing, Randy blends spices and creates hot sauces. Welcome Robert and Randy!
Randy Lacey: Hey!
Robert Kingett: Hey! Thank you for having us.
Cait Gordon: This is such a treat for me to have you both in my microcosm at the same time, because I’ve actually just finished reading Artificial Divide as one of your support editors [laughs].
Randy Lacey: There you go! I’m glad we can both fit.
Cait Gordon: [laughs] Yeah, exactly. What—I’m going to start with you, Robert. Because I remember we had a discussion over Twitter, where you wanted to do an anthology like this. Can you please share with our audience how you came up with this idea, and why?
Robert Kingett: Sure. So, I came up with the idea because I just saw a gap within publishing that really wasn’t being taken advantage of, and also a… at the time, I saw a lot of writers actually getting rejected. Not for the quality of their work, but because their character had a disability or disabilities, so I wanted to create opportunities for others. And so that’s— and so I got the idea to make an anthology that would showcase authors and showcase their work, to kind of give everybody a taste of “Well, hey, this is the kind of talent that you’re missing out on.”
Cait Gordon: Absolutely, for sure. Randy, what was your reaction at being asked to be a co-editor in chief for this collection of stories?
Randy Lacey: That opportunity came out, came about rather innocently. I was in one of my groups that I’m, I am on, on Facebook, and somebody private messaged me, saying—who knew that I was visually impaired—and suggested that I get in contact with Nathan and talk to them about a project that was being produced. And so I reached out to to Nathan and, who responded to me, and it just went from there and, you know, I tried to [laughs], I tried to—I’ve got no experience at this or, you know, I just write I don’t do anything else but write. And he convinced me that, you know, there was, it wasn’t that difficult—not to belittle the job or the task at hand—but in defining what he wanted me to do. I felt it was within my grasp to be able to do that. So I gladly jumped on board and I haven’t regretted it once, one bit.
Cait Gordon: That’s wonderful. You know, it’s, you know, each of your responses are so relatable to me because with Robert saying, you know, wanting to showcase these voices, that’s how I felt with the Nothing Without Us anthology. And Randy, I [laughs] had no experience at all as an editor in chief of an anthology. And I think that’s the thing I love—Randy mentioned, Nathan, that’s Nathan Frechette from Renaissance press—Nathan is wonderful at encouraging people to do things, even if we’re unsure of ourselves. So, I’m so glad the two of you worked together on this. Um, Robert, why is the anthology called Artificial Divide?
Robert Kingett: Because there is always this misconception that the Blind and the sighted are worlds apart, and that could not be farther from the truth. Even among those who may not be visually impaired, but who may have other disabilities, they sometimes see blindness as just a whole other world. So, I tried to be clever, and, and I thought, well, We’re not literally divided were artificially divided, so that’s basically where they came from and, I learned that I’m not as clever as everybody else thinks. [laughter]
Cait Gordon: I don’t know, you seem pretty clever to me. [laughter]
Robert Kingett: Thank you. Um… but, it’s to kind of show that we’re not as divided as everybody likes to think. Because even though these protagonists have low vision or are totally blind, they love and they hurt and they have pain, and they’re growing. Yeah, just like you.
Cait Gordon: Yeah. Yeah, exactly. I think that’s so important. A lot of times, people with various conditions, disabilities, states of being are just reduced to these tropes and cliches, which I feel are also propagated through fiction. So, the fact that—I was so happy to know that this collection was another collection of fiction stories, because I’m just, I’m sure I’ve said this every episode of the podcast, but I feel that fiction has such a power to influence, sometimes even more than nonfiction, even though nonfiction is extremely valuable as well. And and I was just thrilled. Did it matter to you, Randy, as well? Randy did it matter to you that these stories were fiction as opposed to essay-based?
Randy Lacey: Um, I like the idea of fiction because people can then try to put themselves into that picture, and imagine themselves. So, it draws a reader in rather than informs the reader through real stories. Fiction, at least people can… I just, like I said, picture themselves within, and it’s not too hard to imagine that way, as it is to in reality. I could give you countless numbers of stories where people tried to identify with me in real life but have no clue, but in through reading, it’s easier.
Cait Gordon: Right, yeah, storytelling, I guess it’s an age-old thing right I mean when you think about fairy tales and fables, right? They have influenced for millennia [laughs], really. So, we’re just kind of carrying on the torch by releasing anthologies like this.
Randy Lacey: Absolutely.
Cait Gordon: So, um, now I know how I felt when I was editing an anthology for the first time, being at the other side of the anthology table. Can you share with us, both of you, your delights and the challenges you faced during the selection process? Robert I’ll begin with you.
Robert Kingett: Okay, so this really opened my eyes, because I’ve been pitching to magazines and anthologies for years and years. So, I did not really appreciate the time it takes, and the effort it takes to really read and go through a submission, and, and make a decision. That just had never crossed my mind of how much, how much, how much importance one line or one paragraph is. So, what I really liked about the process, is it really got… it really opened my eyes to how to be a better writer myself.
Cait Gordon: Mmm, interesting!
Robert Kingett: Because you can, you can see where the rest of the story is really good except for this one tiny part that just—in a short story, things have to be much more concise. So if one tiny thing is a little askew, then your story… it doesn’t fall apart, but it feels, it feels.. Hm, how do I say this? It feels like there’s something missing, and it’s just out of reach, and you can’t quite grab it. One of the difficulties, I’ve, I’ve had is, is, quite honestly, choosing the final stories for the anthology because there were just so many good possibilities that just had one little thing that did not add up or more.
Robert Kingett: Yeah yeah yeah, so. [Cait laughs] You know exactly how it feels. So, like, and to be clear, it’s it’s not a reflection on the writer. Sometimes it just literally comes down to the personal taste of the editors. But one thing I try to do is try to give personal feedback on every single rejection because that makes a world of difference. When you have a person who can really sit you down and say, “Hey, your strength is, is your world-building [Cait makes sound of agreement], but there’s this part in the middle where I got kind of lost?” So that really helps a writer, much, much, much more than just say, “Your story is rejected.” But I want writers to know that even if your story is not chosen, it doesn’t mean that you’re a bad writer. There’s so many kind of factors that you don’t have privy to, so don’t take it personally. [laughs]
Cait Gordon: Oh, there’s so much you said there that I’m like, “Oh gosh, yes, yes, yes!” [Robert and Cait laugh] I think this is a therapy episode for me! [Robert laughs and says, “Yeah!”] Randy, what were the delights and the challenges for you with story selection?
Randy Lacey: Um, the world of the short story is a fairly new one to me, especially writing. And it wasn’t until I took a poetry course through—anyway, it doesn’t matter who it’s from. But my instructor told me to start editing my poetry, and I was like, “Really? Edit? [Cait laughs] You edit poetry?” I just always thought you just write it, and that’s the way it was meant to be. So, when the stories started coming in, the submissions for this anthology, I really learned the need for editing. But that’s not to say that the stories weren’t good. Some stories missed the point of the whole anthology altogether, which was probably the hardest thing for me because some of the stories were good, but they had nothing to do with Blind or visually impaired [Cait says, “Right yes,”], it was that was an afterthought to the story. And I really hated tossing some of those aside. But, I mean, the main principle or the main theme of this anthology was Blind, visually impaired, and then everything. Not everything, and “oh by the way I’m blind or visually impaired.” That was the hard thing for me.
Cait Gordon: Yeah, yeah, when I laugh, it’s like laughing because I completely understand. Can we just say here officially on the In the ’Cosm podcast? Study the guidelines. [laughter]
Robert Kingett: Yes, yes! Study them!
Cait Gordon: We craft the submission guidelines for a reason.
Randy Lacey: Absolutely [laughs].
Robert Kingett: Yes, absolutely. I—one thing that I did learn throughout this whole process—I’m not really sure if this is true for other people—but I’ve learned that I am really good at giving constructive criticism, and I had no idea [laughs].
Cait Gordon: I did, I did! [Robert and Randy laugh] Folks, I hired Robert to be a sensitivity editor for a Blind character I had in kind of mermaid fantasy story. I had a Blind character in it, and he offers very constructive, extremely useful criticism, so yes, you do. I knew that before you did! [laughter] What about, like, are there particular stories in Artificial Divide that really grasped you? I mean, I know every story is important or else you wouldn’t have put it in there. But were there some that you just said, “I have to have this in my anthology,” or in our anthology? Randy? What did you—do you feel any stories that really resonated with you?
Randy Lacey: There were a few. I basically—as I read them, or, I used a reader, as they were being read to me. I used the five star rating and rated them as such. And Robert and I agreed on, on quite a few of them. But Vision, the story of Abdil, really caught me. It was a heart-wrenching kind of story. You’ll have to buy the book to read it, so you know I encourage you to, but it was, it was a heart-wrenching little story. So much said in so few words. And that’s the kind of story I like, and it just it grabbed me and it held me. I felt, I almost cried. I don’t cry because I don’t [laughter], but anyway, it was just one of those stories, you know that grips you, and you know you want to feel for this person.
Cait Gordon: Mm.
Randy Lacey: So, that was the big one, and there was like a couple of other ones that the title escapes me right now, but there were a few that were really like that one. But Vision I think was the big one for me.
Cait Gordon: Okay. Okay, thank you. Robert, what about you?
Robert Kingett: Sure! So I liked three of them, I—just for future note, authors who are looking to possibly submit to me in the future, I like character-driven stories. So, the three that really grabbed me were Vision… That one at first, I, I, I thought I’d missed a point or something, but I realized that, “Oh, I just read it on a bad day.” And then when I read it again later, it just, it just hit me, like, “Oh my gosh, This is a really great story.” The two other ones that really grabbed me and held me were, were A Firefly of Hope—
Cait Gordon: Oh yeah! Sorry, I liked that one [laughs].
Robert Kingett: Yeah, yeah. Because I love… I, this is my warped taste coming into play. But I love, I love revenge stories where the protagonist is really smart. And they have to overcome so many things [Cait says, “Yeah.” using their brains. The third one that just, oh my gosh [Cait laughs], you guys have to read, is a story called Inspiration Pornstar.
Cait Gordon: Yeah.
Randy Lacey: I agree.
Robert Kingett: That one, it, it just, just, wow. [laughs]
Cait Gordon: Also the title , the title: Inspiration Pornstar.
Robert Kingett: [Robert laughs] Yeah.
Cait Gordon: Yeah. I even told Talia about that title and we just laughed because it’s just [Cait and Robert laugh].
Randy Lacey: When I read that title, I almost just bypassed the story, but I’m glad I didn’t [laughter].
Cait Gordon: Well, you know, I think for a lot of us, in, in the disability community, particularly like when it comes to like, storytelling, inspiration porn is tedious, it’s just so tedious [Robert says, “Yes!”] It takes away all of our humanity. You know, Robert was saying earlier about “Hey, there really isn’t a divide,” you know, “If there’s a divide it’s an artificial one.” You know it’s true. When you do inspiration porn, if you write characters whose only benefit is to help the abled neurotypical person, or ,they get to overcome their disability or whatnot. I mean, the rest of us are like, “Really though?” [laughs] Like, it’s just…yeah. So, I did laugh heartily with that title because I thought it was a little bit on the brilliant side [laughs].
Robert Kingett: And then I read it, and my whole entire world was just shattered, and you know that when you get through with a really good story, and you’re thinking about it hours later, you know that you’ve hit a home-run.
Cait Gordon: Yes, I love when stories have that effect, you know? For sure! And and if and if they are whirling through your mind, yeah, that’s something that belongs in your anthology. So we’re kind of—
Robert Kingett: Can I be be greedy and add one more story to the list of favourites?
Cait Gordon: Absolutely. Go ahead.
Robert Kingett: [Laughs] Woohoo! So, one more of my favourite stories was, was called Noah and the Dragon, for the simple reason that the protagonist takes challenges that she has been given, and she, she overcomes the challenges, not her disabilities.
Cait Gordon: Yes, exactly. I love that story as well. I love it. That was the one it was like it was a fantastical story, right?
Robert Kingett: Yes!
Cait Gordon: And she has to deal with, you know, just learning how to, you know, navigate her world while Blind in sort of a almost a medieval-like fantastical setting.
Robert Kingett: Yeah, exactly.
Cait Gordon: Yeah, I love that one too. [Cait and Robert laugh] So good! Yeah, I’m glad I let you say that [Cait and Robert laugh]. So, I’m going to switch gears, as we’re rounding up this session already. Let’s talk about your works. So, I want to I want to know what are some works and recently published titles, each of you have had. I’ll start with you, Randy? Or something that’s coming up?
Randy Lacey: Basically what I tend to do is I will go a year… everything that I write within that year, I publish the next year, self-publish. So at the end of 2020, it was really hard to get anything in print at all because of, you know, current world conditions.
Cait Gordon: Yeah.
Randy Lacey: So, though the book was released early or later in 2020, I was only able to get printed copies in January of this year of my latest collection of poetry, which is entitled From Somewhere Deep Within.
Cait Gordon: Nice.
Randy Lacey: Yes, and the picture on the cover, I took when I was down in the Dominican Republic, and and I designed the cover myself. and it’s just poetry from from the year 2020. Or sorry, yeah 2019. Sorry. And so right now I’m working on two other books from the accumulated poems of 2020, and I have no title for that—well, I’ve got a couple of working titles but nothing definitive yet—but that’s what I’ve got. I’ve got two more. I’ve also working on, as you mentioned, short stories. So I’ve been entering contests and with the rejections, I’ve been putting them towards a short story compilation. And basically the title is going to be called… it’s going to be called… I’ve totally forgotten now. Anyway, so it’s it’s for short stories under 2000 words.
Cait Gordon: Nice!
Randy Lacey: Yeah! Yeah, basically—In Not So Many Words; that’s what it’s called.
Cait Gordon: In Not So Many Words. That’s a brilliant title for—
Robert Kingett: I love it!
Cait Gordon: Short short stories. Right? Hello! [laughter] Let’s just give an award for that book, based on the title!
Robert Kingett: Right, Yeah!
Randy Lacey: [laughs] Thank you, thank you. So that’s what I’ve got going on right now.
Cait Gordon: That’s great, that’s really good. And you know, I just want to say, I always feel writing is never a waste of time, and I love when, I love when authors who have received rejections decide, “You know what? I’m going to put this in my own compilation.” Right? Because it is true, like, sometimes you get rejected, just because the editor has a certain feel [Robert says, “Right!”] for the magazine or the anthology they’re putting out, and even though your story’s good, it might not even match with that feel. So, it has nothing to do with the quality of the writing or anything like that. So, I love that you’re kind of saying, “Okay that’s fine. It wasn’t a good fit for them, but here’s my compilation.” Then you gave it a brilliant title, so everybody wins. [laughter]
Randy Lacey: Well we hope. [laughter]
Cait Gordon: So, so Robert, do you have anything other than the amazing Artificial Divide coming out?
Robert Kingett: [laughs] Um, I, well, no, not this year, but I hope that next year, I will have a children’s book coming out. I do have some really great news in the sense that I that I am actually looking over literary agents’ [Cait says, “Oooo!”] contracts. So, I have actually gotten a few offers in there, so we, we shall see. 2020 was a really, really hard year for my writing. Nothing, just really nothing really clicked.
Cait Gordon: Yeah.
Robert Kingett: So, so 2021, I… something happened where I finished a children’s book. And I went hunting for literary agents, and I got multiple offers—
Cait Gordon: Oh my gosh!
Robert Kingett: I just had to choose, so [laughs].
Cait Gordon: Okay, so, that’s awesome. [laughter]
Robert Kingett: Yeah, yeah [laughs].
Cait Gordon: I hope you’ll still speak to us when you’re like uber-famous. [laughter]
Robert Kingett: Of course I will? [laughs]
Cait Gordon: What was her name? Kat-something? Morgan? Kat Morgan? Was that her name? [laughter]
Robert Kingett: Which I kind of have to say is, so ironic, because 2020 was just the year of rejections.
Cait Gordon: Yeah, it happens, doesn’t it, right?
Robert Kingett: Yeah, so, each and every each and everything I did, so. So I, so it’s kind of ironic that I go, “Okay, I’ll just try this,” and not even actually think about it, and see what happens. And I thought I was actually going to get a ton of rejections, and the opposite happened. Yeah. [laughs]
Cait Gordon: You know, you just gotta keeping trying, right? Like, that’s the way the game is played. Congratulations. That’s amazing. So now I’m down to my final question, which is my favourite. What is a fun fact about yourself? Robert, tell us a fun fact about yourself that we wouldn’t know.
Robert Kingett: A fun fact about myself was, I, I had a rooster, for almost five years.
Cait Gordon: Oh my gosh [laughter]. That’s awesome. I did not expect you to say that, so… [laughter] May I just ask how you come across getting a pet rooster? Like, I guess I was born on concrete; I’m a real city girl so… [laughter]
Robert Kingett: I, you know, this is the fun fact that I don’t even know about myself. It just kind of materialized out of thin air. Literally. So I, like, ’cause I was walking home from the, [Randy trying not to laugh] from the store, and I just I just happen to notice that a little baby rooster [Cait laughs]—I don’t actually know what they’re called— was actually following me home. So, so I said, “Okay. Come on in!” [laughs]
Cait Gordon: [laughing] That’s amazing!
Randy Lacey: So, Robert was that a general store? [laughter]
Cait Gordon: Wow, I think you’re literally the only person I’ve ever met who had a little rooster chick or whatnot, follow him home. That’s, that’s astounding, I guarantee, nobody else’s fun fact will be that. So it’s very, very unique.
Robert Kingett: You have no idea. [laughter]
Cait Gordon: So, so Randy, what is a fun fact about yourself?
Randy Lacey: I have got nothing that can compare to that. [laughter] I’ve got a lot of fun fact. And for some of them I would have to… I can’t tell you or I’d have to bury the bodies [Cait laughs]. But, um, I was an extra in Rocky IV.
Cait Gordon: OH, go away with yourself!
Robert: Cool!
Randy Lacey: No, seriously, it was filmed in Vancouver, and I was a street person in Vancouver at the time [Cait says, “Wow!”], I lived on the streets for a few years. [Cait says, “Okay!”] But that’s, that was fun. It was a lot of fun getting to meet the stars and seeing how Hollywood works.
Cait Gordon: Gee! I love these questions [laughter]. I have learned so—I’ve learned—you know, I don’t think I’m actually going to erase either of those fun facts from my mind about you guys [laughter]. Look, thank you so much for coming aboard. This is actually going to be the last episode of the first season of my, my podcast so I’m ending it off with a bang with you two. Thank you so much for being here today.
Randy Lacey: Thanks for having me.
Robert Kingett: Thank you for having us. And one final quick note from me. Writers are not your competition. They’re just friends that you have bet yet, so don’t ever think a writer is your competition.
Cait Gordon: I absolutely agree. It’s so great when we all collaborate and support and celebrate each other’s wins, you know, and support each other through the not-so-wins-just-yet moments. Folks, you will learn more about Robert by visiting his website, blindjournalist@wordpress.com. And you can learn more about Randy at his website, therandylacey.ca.
Transcripts for In the ’Cosm are available at caitgordon.com. That’s c-a-i-t gordon dot com. Thanks for joining us. Take care and stay safe.
(Transcribed by https://otter.ai. Edited for clarity by Cait Gordon.)
Cait Gordon is a disability advocate who wants everyone to be wise and think of others as we battle COVID-19!
Cait is also the author of humorous space opera novels Life in the ’Cosmand The Stealth Lovers, and she is the co-editor of the Prix Aurora Award nominated anthology Nothing Without Us. When Cait’s not writing, she’s editing manuscripts and running The Spoonie Authors Network, a blog whose contributors manage disabilities and/or chronic conditions. Her latest new adventure is hosting the In the ’Cosmpodcast, which is really an excuse to gush over authors she admires.
Aw, this is my last summary post for 2020, but that’s okay because the Flash Fiction Draw will continue in 2021, curated by author Jeffrey Ricker! You can follow him on his website and on Twitter to learn more.
November’s entries
For November, I drew these cards: 3 of spades, 9 of hearts, and the 10 of diamonds. That meant the genre was urban fantasy, the setting was a hospital elevator, and the object that must appear in the story was a gun! (Yikes.)
For December, I drew these cards: queen of spades, 7 of hearts, and the 2 of diamonds. That meant the genre was dystopian (Finally, eh?), the setting was the Eiffel Tower, and the object that must appear in the story was a cane!
Once again, thanks for playing, everyone! And to all who are reading this, Have a safe and happy holiday season! Cheers!
Cait Gordon is a disability advocate who wants everyone to pummel that curve!
She’s also the author of Life in the ’Cosmand The Stealth Lovers. When Cait’s not writing, she’s editing manuscripts and running The Spoonie Authors Network, a blog whose contributors manage disabilities and/or chronic conditions. She also teamed up with Kohenet Talia C. Johnson to co-edit the Nothing Without Us anthology (a 2020 Prix Aurora Award finalist for Best Related Work) in an attempt to take over the world.
I did it! I finished my final flash fiction of 2020! The cards drawn meant we had to write an dystopian piece that takes place at the Eiffel Tower, and there had to be a cane in the story.
Here’s my entry: Ooo-la-ahhh…
December 15. It’s been seven months to the day that I’ve been living in France. Thought 2020 would be a banner year, kicking it off in Gai Paris for a stay. Yeah, that turned out to be a walloping non. COVID-19 hit all over. Not registering how serious things would become, I took it in stride, enjoying time with my friends, then I missed the deadline to come back to Canada.
Merde.
My flatmates, who had been hosting me, decided they didn’t want the pressure of living with a Crip. Something about how because I’m higher risk, they couldn’t keep track of how much isolation I needed or all rules I insisted must be followed. So, they kindly invited me to leave.
Merci beaucoup, mes amis. Insert expletive here.
I still love Paris, though. Gorgeous city for walking about. Mind you, I tend to roll around it, using my rollator, with my cane folded up in a basket, in case shops aren’t accessible. But this time, I was suddenly homeless during a pandemic. Hotels felt too people-y for my liking, so I did what I felt was best. I went to the place that always helped me take my mind off things. And let’s face it, 2020 has had a host of things to forget. Folks all over the globe had become infected by a novel virus that scientists knew exactly nothing about; I read stories about triage nightmares in some countries where doctors had to choose who would die or not because of the lack of ventilators; and no current meds or vaccines could cure it… I wanted to escape reality for a good while.
So, I went to the Eiffel Tower. I truly only intended a visit. I swear.
But it had been closed to the public. I must have looked properly dejected because the security guard, Jean-Louis, had felt really badly for me. Through his face mask, his deliciously accented voice told me he would take me up, just once.
I haven’t left.
During our conversation up the lift, I’d explained my situation, and we connected. Funny how that happens. You meet this random stranger, and for some inexplicable reason, they become your person. He told me about Gustave Eiffel’s private apartment at the top of the tower, which I’d already known about. However, it remained vacant and unvisited because of the pandemic, so Jean-Louis asked me if I would consider staying there until I could get back to Canada.
I had cell connectivity, so I informed everyone back home that I was fine. They reported back that lockdowns were happening in various cities, and many people were being good, but others flouted the rules. Everyone I’d spoken to seemed frustrated in one way or another. I followed the news about what was happening in the US and couldn’t believe it. Seemed I was better off right here.
Bathroom accommodations were… interesting. Had to get used to chamber pots and told myself this was what kings and queens did once upon a time. Baths were in a metal tub with hot water from a kettle. How Jean Louis had disposed of everything, I never asked. He just helped me through this trying time, and it was difficult not to fall for someone who handled your waste material and dirty water with such easygoing cheer.
The cases grew in the outside world. People got sick of all ages. Deaths were astronomical. Still no cure in sight.
And faithfully, Jean-Louis brought me supplies, never once complaining.
In the summer, I had found out that there was a way I could return to Canada after all. On that day, Jean-Louis told me he loved me.
We both had access to the internet. We both knew I could leave any time.
Tonight we’re going to have a candlelit supper overlooking the city. From up here, there’s no virus, no death, no fear.
Just the warm fathomless brown gaze of Jean-Louis’ eyes.
I’m not sure what 2021 will bring, but for now, there’s this.
Cait Gordon is a disability advocate who wants everyone to be wise and think of others as we battle COVID-19!
She’s also the author of Life in the ’Cosmand The Stealth Lovers. When Cait’s not writing, she’s editing manuscripts and running The Spoonie Authors Network, a blog whose contributors manage disabilities and/or chronic conditions. She also teamed up with Kohenet Talia C. Johnson to co-edit the Nothing Without Us anthology (a 2020 Prix Aurora Award finalist for Best Related Work) in an attempt to take over the world.
Hoo-whee, this month’s challenge was…challenging. But never you mind your pretty lil’ head over it because my trusty band of authors came through. Yee haw!
For October, I drew these cards: 8 of spades, 10 of hearts, and the 6 of diamonds. That meant the genre was Western, the setting was a museum, and the object that must appear in the story was a cracked pot!
The next draw is coming up on November 2, 2020. Two more to go for 2020!
Hope you can join us! Cheers!
Cait Gordon is a disability advocate who wants everyone to pummel that curve!
She’s also the author of Life in the ’Cosmand The Stealth Lovers. When Cait’s not writing, she’s editing manuscripts and running The Spoonie Authors Network, a blog whose contributors manage disabilities and/or chronic conditions. She also teamed up with Kohenet Talia C. Johnson to co-edit the Nothing Without Us anthology (a 2020 Prix Aurora Award finalist for Best Related Work) in an attempt to take over the world.
Whoops! A little tardy, but here are the results of September’s flash fiction challenge! As always, my trusty band of authors came through. And I got to write this month, too!
For September, I drew these cards: 10 of spades, 6 of hearts, and the 3 of diamonds. That meant the genre was YA, the setting was a warehouse, and the object that must appear in the story was a shoe or boot!
Hope you can join us! I hope to write again for next month, too!
Cheers!
Cait Gordon is a disability advocate who wants everyone to pummel that curve!
She’s also the author of Life in the ’Cosmand The Stealth Lovers. When Cait’s not writing, she’s editing manuscripts and running The Spoonie Authors Network, a blog whose contributors manage disabilities and/or chronic conditions. She also teamed up with Kohenet Talia C. Johnson to co-edit the Nothing Without Us anthology (a 2020 Prix Aurora Award finalist for Best Related Work) in an attempt to take over the world.
Welp, I have full-blown frozen shoulder, but the show must go on! We’re into our ninth month with the 2020 Flash Fiction Challenge. I’m going to try to write for this month, and as always, I thank my faithful band of writers who have been playing along. I appreciate you!
I just posted a combined results post for July’s and August’s entries, so please check out these stories! Now it’s time for our fifth flash fiction draw!
Here’s the video of me choosing the cards for September’s challenge! Looking forward to reading what you come up with!
Closed captions should be available for this video soon, hopefully later today.
You have until Monday September 14 ( 2-3 p.m. EDT) to submit your stories. Please add a link to your stories in the comments section of this post. And if you’re done sooner, you can comment sooner!
I’ll write a summary post later on September 15 or 16 to highlight the stories that have come in.
Good luck!
Cait Gordon is a disability advocate who wants everyone to be wise and think of others as we battle COVID-19!
She’s also the author of Life in the ’Cosmand The Stealth Lovers. When Cait’s not writing, she’s editing manuscripts and running The Spoonie Authors Network, a blog whose contributors manage disabilities and/or chronic conditions. She also teamed up with Kohenet Talia C. Johnson to co-edit the Nothing Without Us anthology (a 2020 Prix Aurora Award finalist for Best Related Work) in an attempt to take over the world.
Better late than never! As I am recovering from frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis for you medical geeks), it’s been difficult to do much typing.
But my trusty band of authors still wrote flash fiction for July and August. Thanks, you wonderful humans!
July’s entries
For July, I drew these cards: king of spades, 4 of hearts, and the queen of diamonds. That meant the genre was epistolary (letter exchanging), the setting was a car dealership, and the object that must appear in the story was a brick! (Oh, I totally forgot I wrote for July, too!)
And here are the stories from our authors. Thanks so much for playing!
For August, I drew these cards: 4 of spades, ace of hearts, and the ace of diamonds. That meant the genre was horror, the setting was a bakery, and the object that must appear in the story was a spoon!
And here are the stories from our authors. Thanks so much for playing!
Hope you can join us! I hope to write again for next month, too!
Cheers!
Cait Gordon is a disability advocate who wants everyone to pummel that curve!
She’s also the author of Life in the ’Cosmand The Stealth Lovers. When Cait’s not writing, she’s editing manuscripts and running The Spoonie Authors Network, a blog whose contributors manage disabilities and/or chronic conditions. She also teamed up with Kohenet Talia C. Johnson to co-edit the Nothing Without Us anthology (a 2020 Prix Aurora Award finalist for Best Related Work) in an attempt to take over the world.
I’m really excited about this year’s ballot because I know many of the nominees. That makes it fun for me because there’s an added level of excitement and anticipation.
Also, for the first time ever, I have a work on the ballot! Nothing Without Us is a nominee in the Best Related Work category. Kohenet Talia C. Johnson and I are the editors of this multi-genre collection where the authors and their protagonists identify as disabled, Deaf, neurodiverse, Spoonie, and/or they manage mental illness.
You can learn more about this anthology, read reviews, and check out author interviews at the Nothing Without Us website!
If you’re a member of the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association (CSFFA), you can cast your vote for your favourites to win Prix Aurora Awards in their categories until July 25, 2020, 11:59 pm EDT! To cast your votes and/or find out how to become a member of the CSFFA (only $10 to join), please visit prixaurorawards.ca.
I enthusiastically thank everyone who has supported this anthology—readers, listeners, reviewers, and those who nominated us for this award. You’re sending us a clear message that our voices are also welcome in speculative fiction.
It’s been a wonderful ride for Talia and me.
Good luck and best wishes to all the nominees!
Cait Gordon is a disability advocate who wants everyone to be wise and prevent the spread of COVID-19!
Cait Gordon—author and editor 