“When you’re feeling most lost just cry out to him
Toss a coin to the night and then toss it right in
The Wishing Well’s waiting. It’s waiting for you
So go on my dreamers you’ve nothing to lose.”
— Kohaku | Kat Vancil, “A Ballad for the Granter of Impossible Wishes”
Well hello there, Story Quester. It’s Wednesday, which means I’ve got something new to share with you!
Work in Progress
A Ballad for the Granter of Impossible Wishes
I made the deadline for my short story entry with only a few hours to spare. But believe me, it was close. 😬
I was doing great until I realized on Friday I’d overshot the max word count for the short story contest by 1000 words. 🤦🏻♀️
Now cutting a few fluff words or sentences here or there is par for the course when editing a story. But a thousand? That’s the difference between repainting a few rooms in your home and ripping out a whole freakin’ floor.
So I had to play mass word homicide and take a hatchet to my story. But I was able to cut it down and get it in before time ran out.
While I wait to hear if I’ve won a spot in the anthology, I’ve moved on to what I’ll be debuting at the festival in my hometown in September. But more on that next week.
Project Word Count
Word Count 4,984
My Weekly Book Recommendations
1) The Shadows Beyond
by TJ Rose
When Cinnamon ‘Cinn’ Saunders brings back a malevolent ghost from the spirit world, he’s unjustly arrested for the murder of four people. He’s forced to travel to a magical institute to learn to control his supernatural abilities. There he meets Julian—rich, charming, and a bit of a hot mess—who needs his help solving his sister’s murder. This opposites-attract, slow-burn spicy romance features found family and plenty of fun.
Features: gay male main characters
Genres & Tropes: Urban Fantasy, Supernatural, happy-for-now, opposites-attract, found family, slow-burn
READ IT
2) King of Immortal Tithe
by Ben Alderson
Human. Arlo Grey will do anything to fend off the sickness that longs to destroy him. To uphold the promise he made to his parents, ensuring the protection of his sister from the world and its dangers. Especially if the dangers come in the form of elves from a realm beyond that of the human world.
Elf. Faenir Evelina is scorned for the murder of his family. Forced by the bitter Queen to partake in the Choosing, he discovers a single person who can resist the deadly grace of his touch.
It has been many years since the vampiric disease spread wildly across Darkmourn, making humans a rarity. And protection from the undead comes at a cost, one that Arlo is forced to pay when he is stolen by the Prince of Death.
Features: gay male main characters
Genres & Tropes: Fantasy, Hades & Persephone retelling, undead, fae/elves
READ IT
3) You Can Call Me Cooper
by Cali Kitsu
Eighteen-year-old baseball all-star Coop Morgan should be devastated over his recent breakup, but instead, he feels…ambivalent. That is, until Ethan Prescott the coach’s gorgeous son, suddenly joins the team.
However, just when Coop is about to make a move he stumbles onto his late mother’s journal. Now long-buried secrets, forbidden romances, and baseball shenanigans will drive Coop to embrace what he truly wants—Ethan.
Features: Features gay lead main and supporting characters
Genres & Tropes: RomCom, sports, forbidden romance, secrets
READ IT
Well, I better get back to working on my festival offerings, Story Quester. Until next time, this is your friendly neighborhood storytelling Kat signing off.
