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Back in 2005, Torquere published their second anthology of shape shifters, Shifting Too, which contained one of my stories, Sleeping Bears Lie. In 2007 that story was shortlisted for the Gaylactic Spectrum Awards, just after the anthology went out of print.
Since then the story's been extended - it's now about one-third new material - and it's just been published as a stand-alone Single Shot.
Set in Alaska, Sleeping Bears Lie is a story about how lying to keep secrets can screw things up, but then, so can telling the truth. It's about identity, and what it means to know someone, and if you need to know someone's history to love them in the present. It's about a relationship that's not easy, but might be worth it anyway.
It's an unusual perspective for me - first person present tense - but I wanted the reader to be riding long with Dan, seeing Matt through Dan's eyes.
The whole idea for the story came out of thinking about were- and shape-shifter stories, and how often, even in stories where humans aren't supposed to know anything about supernatural creatures, the person who gets involved with the werewolf / vampire / witch / etc finds out pretty early on and normally takes the news pretty calmly.
You could say this story started from a 'what if' - what if the shifter partner did hide their true selves. How would that work? Could that work?
You'll have to read Sleeping Bears Lie to find out what the answer was for Dan and Matt, but to get you started, there's an extract from the start of the book up on the Torquere site here , and a second snippet, from the following morning, under the cut tag.
***
"I thought I knew you. I know how you take your coffee and that you hate the smell of bug spray and how hard you like your balls to be touched when you're getting blown, and, hell, you know your way around my house well enough, but I don't really know you, do I? I don't know a fucking thing about your real life, and why are you even here?"
He shrugs, backing off just a fraction, although I'm hyper-aware that his hand is still on the work surface, just millimeters away from my own. He's still standing close enough that he has to look up a little to meet my eyes.
"Because I owe you an apology, Dan. I lied to you. I'm sorry."
That's it?" I say. "You're sorry? Like that's supposed to make it better?"
He looks away, and for the first time, I think I can see what he's feeling. He looks hurt. Sad. I don't know how to react to that.
"Well, I hoped it … I hoped you might let me explain some."
The coffee is finishing up, and making two cups -- black with three sugars for him, creamer and none for me -- gives me time to think. In the end, I pass him a mug and decide to let him talk.
Maybe it will help.
"Go on then, Matt. This I want to hear. Fuck. Is that even your name?"
The thought that it might not be hits me like a fist, and I feel queasy again. When his hand brushes the back of mine, I don't flinch this time.
"Yes. Well, it's short for Mahto, but you know that. Shit. Look, Dan. You know me. You know me better than anyone has since I left my family."
The laugh chokes in my throat. He looks to me for explanation, and it's like a hundred thousand shared moments from my memories, so I say it. "That's pretty sad, if it's true."
"It's true. You really think that's sad?"
"Given that I pretty much know nothing, I'd say so."
He's slouching, leaning back against the counter top, staring into his coffee, blunt fingers wrapped around yellow ceramic, and I know it's crazy but I've missed him.
***
You can buy Sleeping Bears Lie, in a variety of electronic formats, direct from the Torquere Press website for the princely sum of $2.49.
I love hearing from readers and my inbox - and comments box - are always open.
Happy reading!
Since then the story's been extended - it's now about one-third new material - and it's just been published as a stand-alone Single Shot.
Set in Alaska, Sleeping Bears Lie is a story about how lying to keep secrets can screw things up, but then, so can telling the truth. It's about identity, and what it means to know someone, and if you need to know someone's history to love them in the present. It's about a relationship that's not easy, but might be worth it anyway.
It's an unusual perspective for me - first person present tense - but I wanted the reader to be riding long with Dan, seeing Matt through Dan's eyes.
The whole idea for the story came out of thinking about were- and shape-shifter stories, and how often, even in stories where humans aren't supposed to know anything about supernatural creatures, the person who gets involved with the werewolf / vampire / witch / etc finds out pretty early on and normally takes the news pretty calmly.
You could say this story started from a 'what if' - what if the shifter partner did hide their true selves. How would that work? Could that work?
You'll have to read Sleeping Bears Lie to find out what the answer was for Dan and Matt, but to get you started, there's an extract from the start of the book up on the Torquere site here , and a second snippet, from the following morning, under the cut tag.
***
"I thought I knew you. I know how you take your coffee and that you hate the smell of bug spray and how hard you like your balls to be touched when you're getting blown, and, hell, you know your way around my house well enough, but I don't really know you, do I? I don't know a fucking thing about your real life, and why are you even here?"
He shrugs, backing off just a fraction, although I'm hyper-aware that his hand is still on the work surface, just millimeters away from my own. He's still standing close enough that he has to look up a little to meet my eyes.
"Because I owe you an apology, Dan. I lied to you. I'm sorry."
That's it?" I say. "You're sorry? Like that's supposed to make it better?"
He looks away, and for the first time, I think I can see what he's feeling. He looks hurt. Sad. I don't know how to react to that.
"Well, I hoped it … I hoped you might let me explain some."
The coffee is finishing up, and making two cups -- black with three sugars for him, creamer and none for me -- gives me time to think. In the end, I pass him a mug and decide to let him talk.
Maybe it will help.
"Go on then, Matt. This I want to hear. Fuck. Is that even your name?"
The thought that it might not be hits me like a fist, and I feel queasy again. When his hand brushes the back of mine, I don't flinch this time.
"Yes. Well, it's short for Mahto, but you know that. Shit. Look, Dan. You know me. You know me better than anyone has since I left my family."
The laugh chokes in my throat. He looks to me for explanation, and it's like a hundred thousand shared moments from my memories, so I say it. "That's pretty sad, if it's true."
"It's true. You really think that's sad?"
"Given that I pretty much know nothing, I'd say so."
He's slouching, leaning back against the counter top, staring into his coffee, blunt fingers wrapped around yellow ceramic, and I know it's crazy but I've missed him.
***
You can buy Sleeping Bears Lie, in a variety of electronic formats, direct from the Torquere Press website for the princely sum of $2.49.
I love hearing from readers and my inbox - and comments box - are always open.
Happy reading!
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