Four-year-old: “Sometime I would like to say ‘breakfast’ to you.”
Me: “Okay, say it.”
Him: “No, while you’re asleep.”
Me: “You want to wake me up by saying ‘breakfast’?” Continue reading “Breakfast To You”
The Hand-Havers
by Mary E. Lowd
Originally published in Analog Science Fiction and Fact, October 2014
A wise parent would never leave her one-handed child alone with a six-handed bachelor. A relationship between such unequals would only lead to heartbreak, or worse. Neither of Delundia’s parents, however, was especially wise. They’d met, married, and mated at the foolish young times after first-birth for Londe and second-birth for Arendell, soon leaving them with two young babies and only three hands between them. Continue reading “The Hand-Havers”
Ursa Major Nominated Shorts!
Three of our stories have been nominated for Best Short Story in the Ursa Major Awards! This is truly exciting news! Thank you so much to everyone who helped nominate them! Here are the three stories: Continue reading “Ursa Major Nominated Shorts!”
Furry Stories from 2016
These are Mary E. Lowd’s furry stories that were published in 2016 — you can read all of them for free online:
- The Mouse Who Was Born a Bear — Maureen never felt right as a bear. [~1,200 words]
- Marge the Barge — A Newfoundland dog is not naturally graceful on the ice, but perhaps a tabby cat can teach her to be. [~6,600 words]
- Questor’s Gambit — Commander Bill Wilker, a Collie dog on the Tri-Galactic Navy ship Initiative, must protect his crew from a mysteriously powerful lifeform, and following his captain’s orders may not be enough. [~8,000 words]
- Sheeperfly’s Lullaby — A sheep’s fairytale. [~1,400 words]
- Of Cakes and Robots — Chirri gets her biggest order for a cake yet, from a surprising customer. [~900 words]
- High School Dogs — Katasha is the only cat at the high school dance. [~1,000 words]
If you enjoyed any of these stories, please consider nominating them for the Ursa Major Awards. It only takes a minute, and award nominations and wins can make a big difference to authors. Nominations are open through February 28th.
Marge the Barge
by Mary E. Lowd
Originally published in Claw the Way to Victory, January 2016
“You’re distracted,” Lizzie said. The asymmetrical white splotch on her tabby face made her look sloppy and unprepared, even when she was dressed in her prim skating leotard with her ice skates tightly laced up her hind-paws. Continue reading “Marge the Barge”
Questor’s Gambit
by Mary E. Lowd
Originally published in Gods With Fur, June 2016
Commander Bill Wilker’s angular muzzle split into a wide collie grin, and he smoothed down his ruff of fur that spilled regally out of the collar of his Tri-Galactic Navy uniform. “That’s a goddamned beautiful lookin’ planet,” he said.
And it was a goddamned beautiful planet on the viewscreen. It was green and round and blue — everything that a planet should be, not like the desolate lava balls and crater-faced lumps in the last several star-systems. This planet practically screamed, “Shore leave!” and Bill Wilker was ready to take up that cry. Continue reading “Questor’s Gambit”
Happy New Year — Two Pieces of Flash!
To celebrate the end of 2016 and the start of 2017, we bring you a pair of stories that were originally published in A Glimpse of Anthropomorphic Literature earlier this year — this is the first time they’re available to read for free online.
Our first story, Sheeperfly’s Lullaby, is a snowy fable about a sheep and a wish that’s granted in an unexpected way. Our second story, The Mouse Who Was Born a Bear, is story of transformation and becoming one’s true self. Continue reading “Happy New Year — Two Pieces of Flash!”
The Mouse Who Was Born a Bear
by Mary E. Lowd
Originally published in A Glimpse of Anthropomorphic Literature, Volume 3, August 2016
Maureen lumbered toward the Re-Incorpus Center, feeling horribly large and conspicuous. Wire fencing on either side of the sidewalk protected her from the yelling protesters. Nothing protected her from reading the hateful slogans on their signs: Re-Incorpus Is Murder! Vat-Bodies Have No Souls! Death to Gen-Clones! Continue reading “The Mouse Who Was Born a Bear”
Sheeperfly’s Lullaby
by Mary E. Lowd
Originally published in A Glimpse of Anthropomorphic Literature, Issue 2, March 2016
Sheep tell many tales as they graze. There’s little to do in a grassy field but count the clouds, search for four-leafed clovers, and tell tall tales. Yet, some of the sheep’s tales are true, and when Soft-as-Snow stares at the clouds with her liquid brown eyes, she isn’t counting them. She’s searching, seeking, and hoping against hope — waiting for White Wings to return to her. Continue reading “Sheeperfly’s Lullaby”
Merry Christmas from a Grumpy Cat
Our first year has been a long, dark year, but we published a lot of stories — 45 so far. We even got a call-out from a story in Daily Science Fiction: the story notes for The Empty Empire explain that it was inspired by Deep Sky Anchor, and it sent a few visitors our way. (Welcome! We loved getting your comments!)
In this dark December, we could all use a little brightness and cheer, so our present to you is a classic Christmas ghost story about that lovable, curmudgeonly, feline Scrooge — Shreddy and the Christmas Ghost. Continue reading “Merry Christmas from a Grumpy Cat”