I'm pleased to present this new short story, "First Leaf" which is available to read online for free as part of FIYAH Literary Magazine's Special Palestine Issue. This story is what I call a feminist fairy tale and, due to its emotional nature and message, it was more challenging for me to write than many of my other stories. This is one that I felt in…
I have been honored to see three pieces published this year! They're eligible for awards in this nomination season, so if you enjoyed any or all, I would appreciate your vote!! My Work: "Drowned Prison" (Galaxy's Edge, January 2021) - When a series of unexplained murders arises among the inmates of Kardag Prison, the search for answers brings a warden and a master painter into questions…
As I get ready to head into a much-needed writing retreat (yay!), I wanted to share something with you that is both "new" and not new. This video was recorded a few years ago, but I had yet to see the completed product until recently! This brief interview was done at the end of my involvement with the Cascadia Residency (now called the Brehm Residency). Through…
Friends who are familiar with my writing know that some themes tend to come up again and again in my stories. Two such themes are family and memory. I decided to dig around on the topic of why I find human memory so fascinating in this blog post that appeared in Analog's blog, The Astounding Analog Companion. It was published as a companion piece to my…
It's always a good day when I get to share a piece of writing that's new and finished and ready for the world to see! I am honored to announce that my SF short story "Recollection" appears in the March/April edition of Analog! Memory tech, water shortages, and the ethical challenges of a civil servant in a post-apocalyptic desert world. https://www.analogsf.com/ How to buy: Support your…
I'm pleased to present you with a new story for the new year! "Drowned Prison" appears in Galaxy's Edge #48 and is now available! I get to share this issue with talented and established SFF authors as well as with Kai Wolden and Mica Scotti Kole, two fellow Writers of the Future authors from WOTF 35. My story is a mystery set in a rather creepy…
Secrets, injustice, and magical paintings that carry the emotions of the painter. As some of you know, I have more than one novel brewing in the back of my head. One such novel idea, which I have yet to fully outline, has in the meantime trickled out into several fantasy short stories. One day, I hope to write the novel itself! But if you want a…
I have never done this before. I have never been eligible before this year! These two short stories of mine were professionally published, and thus are eligible during this season of writing award nominations. Here's where you can find them: UNTRAINED LUCK - In Writers of the Future Volume 35, buy it from Galaxy Press here / buy it from Amazon here. INHERITANCE - in Escape…
You’ll find yourself among “our kind of people,” my friend told me as he described what it would be like to attend World Fantasy Con. Just the presence of “world” in the title was enough to intimidate me. I’ve been to a handful of conferences before, and I usually feel small and overwhelmed by both the crowds and the amount of information being poured across my…
Today’s post is short! Because the link I’m going to share will take you to my recently launched Patreon page and there you can listen to the short video I recorded on my Elise Stephens Patreon Page. Basically, I’m creating a way for friends and fans to support the writing I’m doing. I've encountered many lovely people who want to help support my writing, but aren’t…