Second Place in Boskone Fiction Slam

I won second place at the Flash Fiction Slam Sunday morning at Boskone reading my flash fiction story "Metaphorically Speaking." Winners of the competition get to participate in the finals, but since the winner isn't able to attend, the runner-up (me) will attend in her place.

The three-Minute Fiction Slam, a project of the New Hampshire Writers' Project, is a fast paced literary competition that challenges writers to perform original pieces of fiction in three minutes or less in front of a panel of judges. The regional events were held in 2018 beginning in February.

The Finals will be held on  March on Thursday, March 8 at 7:00 pm at the New Hampshire Institute of Art Campus, French Building, at 148 Concord St, Manchester, NH 03104. [Directions]

Boskone Fiction Reading

Come cheer me on as I participate in a Flash Fiction Slam on Sunday morning at Boskone. Here’s the description from the Boskone web site.


9:30 AM Flash Fiction Slam
Rob Greene (M), James Patrick Kelly, Shahid Mahmud, Vikki Ciaffone, Jen Gunnels
Marina 4 · 90 min · Reading

Boskone’s Flash Fiction Slam returns! Be one of eleven (11) writers to compete for the title of The Flash, reading your own original fiction — which must tell a complete tale within a 3-minute period. Our expert panel of judges will score your work, and you automatically lose 10 percent for going over your 3-minute time. You may only read your own work. The reader with the top score wins!

Sign up before the con by sending an email to program@boskone.org for one of eight (8) reading slots on a first-come, first-served basis. Or sign up onsite at Program Ops in the Harbor Foyer for one of three (3) at-con openings. A waiting list will also be available.

Arisia 2018 Schedule

Here's my final schedule for Arisia. Hope to see you there.

Writing Deities, Magic and the Occult
Fri 7:00 PM Alcott

Magic is a large part of what makes the fantasy genre distinctive. But how do you write, and  describe, the ‘unseen?’ Our panel of occultists will explain how to draw upon mythology and religion to build a  realistic magical system, the rules of magic, and ways a good magic system can enhance the mood of your  story, facilitate the narrative, and provide a source of conflict.  Cecilia Tan (moderator), Lisa Batya Feld, Keith Yatsuhashi, Alex Shvartsman, Morven Westfield.

It Came From the Past…
Sat 8:30 AM Douglas

Ghosts often appear in stories as signifiers of old crimes, guilt, and injustice that needs to be corrected. In this panel, we’ll face the accusing ghosts, the avenging ghosts, and the ghosts who remind us of things done wrong. Why does the ghost work so well as a visitor from the past? How can ghosts lead readers to a better understanding of injustice and history? What ghosts need to be summoned to remind readers of what has gone on before?  Morven Westfield (moderator), Darcie Little Badger, Elsa Sjunneson-Henry, Gordon Linzner, Morgan Crooks.

Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading
Sat 10:00 AM Adams

If you’ve never been to a Broad Universe RFR (Rapid-Fire Reading), give it a try. They’re a lot of fun, yet sometimes very sobering and thought-provoking as well. You might hear stories of horror, fantasy, or science fiction — or a delightful combination of all of the above.

The final list of readers includes Anna Erishkigal, Dianna Sanchez, Heather Albano, Julie C. Day, LJ Cohen, Randee Dawn, Roxanne Bland, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Morven Westfield (me), Trisha Wooldridge, and Victoria Sandbrook. (Not all authors may be in attendance for the entire time slot.  Other members of Broad Universe not listed may be reading.)

Arisia 2018 Broad Universe RFR

I'll be reading at Arisia 2018 with other members of Broad Universe on Saturday, January 13, at 10:00 AM.

If you've never been to a Broad Universe RFR (Rapid-Fire Reading), give it a try. They're a lot of fun, yet sometimes very sobering and thought-provoking as well. You might hear stories of horror, fantasy, or science fiction -- or a delightful combination of all of the above.

The final list of readers includes Anna Erishkigal, Dianna Sanchez, Heather Albano, Julie C. Day, LJ Cohen, Randee Dawn, Roxanne Bland, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Morven Westfield (me), Trisha Wooldridge, and Victoria Sandbrook. (Not all authors may be in attendance for the entire time slot.  Other members of Broad Universe not listed may be reading.)

Come discover your new favorite writer as we read short excerpts from our work. Each writer has just a few minutes to show you what she’s capable of!  We offer chocolate and the chance to win prizes.

Broad Universe is an international organization dedicated to promoting, encouraging, honoring, and celebrating women writers and editors in science fiction, fantasy, horror, and other speculative genres.

---

Morven Westfield first became fascinated by the unseen in her childhood, delighting in superstitions and ghost stories. Her interests are reflected in her writing. Her supernatural-themed short stories have appeared in multiple anthologies, and she regularly contributes articles on folklore and the supernatural to The Witches Almanac. Morven lives in Central Massachusetts with her husband. Like many writers, she keeps a messy office and drinks way too much coffee.

Witches' Almanac #37: New Articles

The Spring 2018-2019 edition (issue 37) of The Witches Almanac has just been released. This issue's theme is The Magic of Plants.


In addition to its usual features — Moon Gardening, the Moon Calendar, Moon Cycles, and Presage, where Tom Lang gives us the climate outlook and astrologer Dikki-Jo Mullen gives us the astrological outlook for the upcoming year — the Almanac contains numerous articles not related to plants.

Issue 37 includes the following that I contributed:

"Thumb Cats" -- Properly called polydactyls, "double-pawed" cats are a curiosity with a long history.
"Seer Stones" -- A divination technique you might not have heard about.
"La Santa Muerte" -- Who is that skeletal woman in the beautiful wedding dress?
"Coffin Rings" -- Another way of remembering.
"Nettles" -- The scoop on stinging nettles.


You can find The Witches Almanac at your local bookstore, chain bookstore, Amazon, and, of course, the Witches Almanac site. The Kindle version is available from www.amazon.com. For back issues, visit either site.

Thanks to Pat Camarena-Rose Barbary of Artes and Craft in Hartford, Michigan, for her help with the Santa Muerte article. Pat is a 1st-generation Mexican American who currently runs MoonFire Coven. MoonFire was originally in Boston, Massachusetts, but is now newly formed in Southwest Michigan.

Witches' Almanac #36: New Articles

The Spring 2017-2018 edition (issue 36) of The Witches Almanac would make a good Yule gift. This issue's theme is Water: Our Primal Source.

In addition to its usual features — Moon Gardening, the Moon Calendar, Moon Cycles, and Presage, where astrologer Dikki-Jo Mullen gives us the astrological outlook for the upcoming year — it also contains numerous articles not related to water, including the following that I contributed:

"Corpse Doors"
"Easter Witches"

From the Nordic countries we find two fascinating bits of folklore, one ancient (“Corpse Doors”), and one extending into the current time (“Easter Witches”).

The Witches Almanac is widely distributed. You can find it your local bookstore, chain bookstores, Amazon, and, of course, www.amazon.com, where you can also buy back issues.