October 4, 2012
        tags: written word. writing. short stories.

Something Wicked

Look what came out this week!

Shiny. Pretty. 

My latest short story is in the “Something Wicked” anthology, from Buzz Books. You want to know where to buy it, right? Right. Pick up this little lovely at these places:

Amazon: print / ebook 

Barnes & Noble: ebook

Buzz Books: print

Easy-peasy. “Under Loch and Cay” picks up from my short story in “Prom Dates to Die For” as best friends Rachel and Kendra navigate freshman year of college and their friendship as a demon hunter and half-demon.

“So, this you-know-what … did you …?” Rachel’s best friend Kendra bared her teeth, hissed, then mimed being staked through the heart. The kid behind her in the cafeteria line frowned.

“Totally subtle, Kendra.”

Kendra shrugged and slid her caf card. “Rachel, my love, you have some sort of black ickiness down one leg of your jeans and you smell a bit of eu de monster. Now who’s being subtle?”

Rachel looked down at her jeans and sighed. There had been a time when she didn’t have to worry about walking around with demon blood on her clothing. Apparently that time had passed. She followed Kendra to an empty table and plopped into a chair.

Kendra prodded the sides of her neck—it had turned into a new habit in the last six months—before turning to Rachel. “Seriously, is our wendigo dearly departed?”

“Dead and gone, though it took me twice as long to track and kill the thing than I thought it would. It was past the Carolina border by the time I cornered it. Bastard made me late for Ancient Civilizations.”

To celebrate the launch of “Something Wicked,” Buzz Books is holding a contest. Because contests are awesome. And I’m sharing this kick-ass list of songs that either inspired my story, reminded me of my characters, or are just perfect for Halloween. 

1.) Flagpole Sitta—When I think of being 18, I think of music like this. It’s like the perfect opening song to a ’90s teen movie. I’m fairly certain some combination of Seth Green, Freddie Prinze Jr., Rachael Leigh Cook or Jennifer Love Hewitt spontaneously start a choreographed dance whenever this song is played. 

2.) Halfway Home—So much changes in college, and for Rachel and Kendra especially, they’re dealing with a lot more than professors and dorms. 

3.) I Put a Spell on You—Spooky! I first heard this song in a seminal Halloween movie. I’m speaking, of course, about “Hocus Pocus.” What else. That’s about as scary as I can do. And even that got a bit intense in parts. (For I am a wimp.)

4.) My Coco—The friendship between Rachel and Kendra is central to my story. I can totally picture them taking a break from everything and dancing around their dorm to this. I mean, I would.

5.) Down by the Water—Their dance break would have to be short-lived, however, because PJ Harvey has arrived on scene. This song is Capital C Creepy. I think of this as my story’s “siren song.”

6.) Lil’ Red Riding Hood—Another great Halloween song. Here’s a lovely trick: Sneak up behind someone (preferably your young, easily-scared daughter) and sing the first few lines of this song. Trust me, she’ll be scarred for life. Bonus points if you also add a few bars from They’re Coming to Take Me Away and then start cackling maniacally. 

7.) Walk in Fire—Pirate song! Fun fact: I often don’t remember the names of songs, but I label them in my head as things like “pirate song” then leave it to my husband to decipher what that means. This is one of several “pirate” ditties. This is the type of song that Rachel would definitely listen to while hanging out on Shipwreck Cay.

8.) Winter Winds—Pirate song part deux! Shipwreck Cay is all about jaunty music. 

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