story news; the babies and the 18-wheeler

[asakiyume]

story news
I don't generally like to share news like this ahead of time because I'm afraid of jinxing it, but after a hiatus of two years I should have a longish short story coming out in a venue I won't name yet (again, the jinxing thing). I guess this time I'm risking the jinx because it's just been so long! And I'm very excited to share this story with the world.

It's called "Semper Vivens," but when I was writing it, I called it my Amazon Annihilation story. Not because it's about annihilating the Amazon but because it let me express my feelings--sort of, modified by fiction!--about the Amazon, and the result ended up kind of being my take on some of the movie Annihilation's themes. (I specify the movie because I didn't read the book.)

the babies and the 18-wheeler

Wakanomori and I were in a McDonald's last week, rather late, and there was one other patron present, a middle-aged Puerto Rican guy who was pouring powder-format electrolytes into his Sprite.** He engaged us in conversation from the other side of the establishment.

"You should get a McDonald's card. You get the discount, whatever McDonalds's you go into. On everything. It works everywhere. Here, in New York, in Puerto Rico--wherever you go."

"When we were in Puerto Rico, there was an earthquake," I said. "The McDonalds was the only place with power. Everyone was there."

"Uh-huh, that's right. The McDonald's always have power. Where were you at? Ponce? San Juan?"

"San Juan."

He nodded sagely.

"I came over here 30 years ago," he said. "Drove an 18-wheeler. Brought my babies over. We lived in the 18-wheeler."

"You lived with your babies in an 18-wheeler? You need to write your story!"

"I know," he agreed. "I gotta write my story. Hey Vanessa, you leaving?"

"Just going across the street; I'll be right back, JJ," Vanessa, a McDonald's employee, reassured him.

"Okay, that's good; see you!"

Wakanomori and I boggled all the way home.

I want to read the story about the babies and the 18-wheeler.

**I know because that was actually his opening gambit: did we know you could get electrolytes in this format? Better than buying Gatorade or Pedialyte, he assured us.

Comments

[raven]

Congratulations! I can't wait to read it.

[asakiyume]

Thank you! Now let's hope nothing jinxes its actually truly making it to publication, and I'll add a hope that you enjoy it!

[kore]

Congratulations! Also, love that vignette.

[asakiyume]

Thanks--and thanks :D

[mallorys_camera]

Congratulations!! 🎊🍾🥂

And I think your next fiction should be a story about a man who raises triplets in an 18-wheeler. 😀

[asakiyume]

Thank you! And I would love to, but man! The amount of research. Maybe I could be that guy's ghost writer.

[minoanmiss]

Congratulations! and I totally want to read his story too. Goodness.

[asakiyume]

Thank you! And yeah, I really hope somehow he does write it!

[sartorias]

First: congratulations! I want to buy it, whatever form it's in!

Second, I, too, want to read the story of the babies in the 18-wheeler.

[asakiyume]

Thank you so much for no. 1--it will be in digital zine form, I believe, but I don't know if it will be free to read or not! I'll find out closer to its actual publication date, I guess!

And for no. 2, if only all our good wishes and curiosity could somehow help get that story written. It would/will be interesting from his perspective, but I'm also kind of imagining what it would be like to be a tiny kid--I'm imagining it through rose-tinted glasses, but the cabs of 18-wheelers are one of those secret spaces I've always been curious about!

[sovay]

I don't generally like to share news like this ahead of time because I'm afraid of jinxing it, but after a hiatus of two years I should have a longish short story coming out in a venue I won't name yet

Mazel tov! I look forward.

[asakiyume]

Many thanks!

[gwynnega]

Congratulations! I look forward to reading it.

[asakiyume]

Thank you! It will probably be another several months, but I look forward to shouting about it at the time :-)

[pameladean]

Congratulations! And major bogglement at the idea of raising babies (plural!) in an 18-wheeler.

I know what you mean, above, about secret spaces. I don't want to live in an 18-wheeler or in a tiny house: the whole idea gives me major claustrophobia. But I always click those ads about tiny houses and plow through the horrible single-paragraph per-screen desperately bad writing all plastered with NEXT PAGE and CONTINUE and (blue arrow) once I've figured out which one actually leads to the next stupid paragraph, all to see the bad photographs of tiny spaces ingeniously disposed. Houseboats are good too, or ships. And of course it's all larger to a tiny kid.

P.

[asakiyume]

Thank you!

And yeah: I'm sure I don't want to live in the cab of an 18-wheeler either, but you're exactly right: the way of using the space. (And houseboats! Yes!)

[squirrelitude]

...I just want to know how you pour a powder into a soft drink without it fizzing up and spilling out. :-D

[asakiyume]

Yeah! I didn't see him do it. He had bunches of the powder packets though, in little straws like pixie sticks.

[umadoshi]

Congratulations! *^^*

[asakiyume]

Thank you!

[conuly]

**I know because that was actually his opening gambit: did we know you could get electrolytes in this format? Better than buying Gatorade or Pedialyte, he assured us.

I mean, maybe, but you can also just add a careful measurement of salt and sugar to water with a squeeze of lemon. If it works for cholera victims it'll also work for the rest of us.

[asakiyume]

Absolutely! And no middleman in the form of a corporation involved, no packaging, just The Thing. It's so empowering knowing how to do this stuff for oneself.

[wayfaringwordhack]

Congratulations on your story sale, dear friend! Great news. *hugs*

I love the anecdote of the Puerto Rican gentleman. It just reminds of the fact that each one of us a walking story, and for most of us, we never take the time to either tell the story (because perhaps we don't feel it is important enough) or to take interest in the stories of others. Too often, people assume they just "know" other people's stories. I think maybe I told you about the time a doctor looked at me, waved his hand dismissively when I started to answer one of his questions and said, "I look at you and I know you." Wow. I am still, to this day 20 years later, angry at myself for not getting up at that moment and walking out of his office.

[asakiyume]

FOR REAL!

No, I don't think you did tell me that--or my Swiss cheese brain didn't retain the fact.

What an incredible asshole! The stunning awfulness of how people treat the people they have decided are beneath them! Grrrrrrrr

[wayfaringwordhack]

What an incredible asshole! The stunning awfulness of how people treat the people they have decided are beneath them! Grrrrrrrr

True that. And that it happened just after a miscarriage (he had to verify all was well with me internally) really, really, really compounds the stunning awfulness in my opinion. :(

[asakiyume]

Now I'm even more sure you never told me 🥺 Really sorry, M.

[osprey_archer]

Congratulations on your Amazon story! I'm looking forward to it!

I would also love to hear the story of the babies and the 18-wheeler. That sounds like an intense experience.

[asakiyume]

Thank you!

I have to find that guy again and tell him what an audience he has, ready and waiting for his tale.

[amaebi]

I look forward to reading it.

[asakiyume]

Thank you ^_^

I very much look forward to sharing it!

[oracne]

YAY sale!!!

[asakiyume]

:D 🎉
thank you kindly!

[rimturse]

Congratulations! So exciting! :)

[asakiyume]

Thank you thank you!

[med_cat]

Congratulations on your upcoming story!

And yes, that's quite a tale...

[asakiyume]

Many thanks ^_^