Hello everybody, I’m back with some big news that’s been some time in the making. After many years of writing stories, I have finally met Stephen King’s criteria for being a talented writer:

“If you wrote something for which someone sent you a check, if you cashed the check and it didn’t bounce, and if you then paid the light bill with the money, I consider you talented.” – Stephen King

Though, to be fair, the transaction was done via PayPal and I used the money on a different necessity, but I’m pretty sure it still counts. I sold a story, so I am officially talented.

I have written a short story called “The World in a Ramen Cup” and it has found a home in the July/August issue of Analog Science Fiction and Fact. Long term followers on this site would have picked up that I’m a huge Astounding/Analog fan, so as you can imagine, seeing my name in the table of contents is super exciting. It is hard to express just how much I am popping off over this.

So here’s the issue, with a stunning cover and a lot of big names. (link here) Unfortunately I do not yet have my hands on a copy. I’ll be able to fix that soon enough though. Analog does not share all its stories online for free online, so no little read here links today. To check this story out you’ll have to buy the magazine. The good news though, is that browsing through the table of contents suggests that is is going to be a top issue filled with a lot of great stories. I know I’m biased, but I think you should all go out and buy this magzine.

As for the story itself, well, it is a very short piece, so I don’t want to give too much away. Let’s describe it as ‘Alien desk-jockey’s strange elderly neighbour bothers him at work’. Or, ‘what parts of Earth and human culture should we pass on? And how can that be done while surrounded by aliens?’

I am super excited that this story is finally out, and I really hope you all get a chance to check it out. Or just keep checking out the freebies on this site. ‘Neighbor‘ is still on track to be concluded on June 15th.

Hopefully I can be back soon with more good news.

~ Jayde