Current Amazon fantasy stories assume a strong association with sapphic relationships, but was that the case for classical and medieval depictions of Amazons? The #LesbianHistoricMotifProject Podcast examines the question.
Happy and proud to announce that I have a short story upcoming in the Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast's 2024 fiction lineup! https://wandering.shop/@heatherrosejones/111953977084224813 A Very Long Malaise is based on recurring complaints during the Joseon Dynasty of Korea about female palace attendants being in romantic and sexual relationships with other women, with some of them forming factions to leak palace secrets. My story is an imagining of these lesbian palace spies' lives and intrigues, centered around two exes pitted together by circumstance. #WritingCommunity#HistoricalFiction#SapphicFiction
The French translation of Daughter of Mystery will be coming out next month! So exciting! (I've had short fiction published in translation, but this is my first translated novel.) If you're hooked in to French SFF circles, please share.
#Submissions are rolling in for the #LesbianHistoricMotifProject Podcast's 2024 fiction series! Send us your sapphic historical short stories for consideration. (pays $0.08/word)
No good deed goes unpunished. As Ume discovers when she rescues Shiomi. Neither Shiomi nor the jealous, vengeful ghost that stalks her appreciates the act. Something they both make clear. As for Ume’s partner, Tomo, he is less than thrilled at the intrusion of an unpleasant third into their relationship. “I know I told you to find someone who would appreciate your advances, but I really question your taste.”
Come, follow Ume-san, Shiomi-san, and the increasingly exasperated Tomo as the three explore their attraction for each other in a world where creepy things wait and watch from the shadows.
I looked at the cigarette in my hand, thought, “What the hell?” and took a puff; “Ugh, unflavored.” But I’d finally gotten a kiss from my konbini girl, a secondary kiss, but a kiss.
Come, follow Ume-san, Shiomi-san, and the increasingly exasperated Tomo as the three explore their attraction for each other in a world where creepy things wait and watch from the shadows.
The #LesbianHistoricMotifProject Podcast's fiction series for 2023 finishes up with a punch (literally) with "Battling Poll" by Rose Cullen. A woman boxer in 18th c London takes on a student.
Have you ever thought to yourself, "I have a great idea for a sapphic historical short story, but I have no idea where I'd submit it?" The #LesbianHistoricMotifProject podcast's 2024 fiction series will be open for submissions in January!
#PennedPossibilities 151#Writing Are you proud of your MC? Have they accomplished anything worthy of that pride and satisfaction?
I love my MCs more than I am proud of them. A growth arc is part of my story, so if I think about it I am proud of them growing up to be strong, loving, queers who are proud of themselves.
There she was. I had found Kotohime again. There was no mistaking that glorious ginger hair. I went part-time to the same university she did, so finding her hadn’t been too hard. I had tried to be patient waiting for her to call me, but she hadn’t. So there I was in the cafeteria, waiting to see if she ate lunch there.
#LesFicFri Dream
From: Kaori’s Song
Chapter 6: Rakshasa Dance
Not all dreams are beautiful.
The water turned to blood and beat down on me, turning the parts of my dress that were still white blood-red. The thick sticky fluid ran down into my eyes, blinding me. I cried out once more, “Princess, save me!”
Sometimes we want to hear that is more than beauty.
From: My Girlfriend Almost Got Me Killed, So We Had Wild Sex (Serialized Novel)
From Chapter 18: Butterfly Wings
“You’re my butterfly, a black butterfly with lavender-tipped wings.” I touched the ends of her hair. “I know it’s about how you look, but…”
This time, she stopped me by putting a finger on my lips. “I understand. You think I am beautiful. I’m glad you like how I look, as long as that isn’t all.”
From: My Girlfriend Almost Got Me Killed, So We Had Wild Sex (Complete)
From Chapter 25: Where Hearts Meet
I scrambled out of the snag and stood listening. The singing had stopped. Kao was silent. I was too late.
Putting a hand on a branch to steady myself, I lowered my body to the ground and buried my face in my hands. The words “I’m too late” echoed through my mind. “I’m too late.” Then it spilled out of me in wracking sobs. “She’s dead!!”
From: My Girlfriend Almost Got Me Killed, So We Had Wild Sex (Serialized Novel)
From Chapter 16: Empire
I folded the loose flaps of the skirt back and looked down at the exposed skin of her lower back, noticing one small mole. Even that was lovely, a small round moon-like dot on perfect satin skin. It would make the perfect subject for a haiga, a picture combined with a haiku. I briefly tried to imagine what haiku Kao would write about this scene.
Black moon
On ivory canvas skin
I brushed the tip of one finger across her skin, drawing a butterfly near the mole. As my finger moved, my canvas shivered.
There are 2 at the moment. 1 is in the final stages of appearing as a serial and the other is in the early stages of plotting. Hopefully, today I will start sorting out the first chapter.
1.) My Girlfriend Almost Got Me Killed, so We Had Wild Sex
Miyazaki-san is a good girl about to discover a new world of queers, sex, D&S, and #yokai.
Miyazaki is a well-behaved 2nd-year university student whose only act of rebellion was to go to a general university instead of a business college. Until she meets Kaori, a cursed (I literally mean cursed) borderline yandere. Kaori recognizes Miyazaki as her only hope of escaping her own personal yandere, an ex-girlfriend who is now a vengeful ghost.
This is their story of falling in love, starting a relationship, and stabilizing it.
Oh yes, they also have to figure out what to do about the ghost that is trying to drag both of them off to hell.
From: My Girlfriend Almost Got Me Killed, So We Had Wild Sex (Serialized Novel)
From Chapter 3: Worm to the Apple
Tanya knelt there trembling while I looked on. My face grew increasingly red as I realized the situation. I was center stage in a melodramatic scene, one that would be the talk of the university for days, if not months. If there had been rumors about me before, there were sure to be more now. Didn’t Yokohama know how embarrassing this situation was?
So why did I feel a smile tug at the corners of my mouth? It flattered me that someone thought I was important enough to intervene on my behalf, but it was more than that. The shy glances students stole of me were vaguely exciting. For a moment, people were noticing me.
From: My Girlfriend Almost Got Me Killed, So We Had Wild Sex (Serialized Novel)
From Chapter 10: When You Fall You Fly
I asked, “Did it bother you? My giving you orders?”
“No, I liked it. It’s like belonging somewhere. Maybe that makes no sense, but that’s what it feels like to me. If I belong to you, I have a place; a safe place. I meant it when I said I would do anything for you.”
The next thing I knew, she had let go of me and was kneeling at my feet. “Mistress Shiro, will you accept me as your submissive? I know I’m all messed up and weird, but I would be honored if you thought me worthy to serve you.”
From: My Girlfriend Almost Got Me Killed, So We Had Wild Sex (Serialized Novel)
From Chapter 4: Glass Heart
There was something behind me; I could feel it, and I could smell the cloying odor of roses. My back grew cold, and my hands turned numb, but I got the door unlocked, and it burst open. Kao-san stood there like a goddess come to earth. In one hand she thrust forward a cross and with the other shoved a Shinto charm into my hand. She stepped past me, saying, “Meiko-san, you can’t have her; she’s mine. Om Vajrapani Hayagriva Garuda Hum Phat.”
From: My Girlfriend Almost Got Me Killed, So We Had Wild Sex (Serialized Novel)
From Chapter 3: Worm to the Apple
My fears appeared to be correct. Now that I knew what to look for, I spotted her occasionally in the cafeteria or on the campus grounds. More alarming, she audited a few lectures I attended. She never approached me, but I could feel her eyes on me. She sat watching and occasionally fingering one of her crucifixes. I considered approaching her, but I thought that would make things worse. Hopefully, she would get bored with following me if I didn’t pay any attention.