Letter from the Editors
Dear Reader,
Forget about death and taxes; the only thing that is truly inevitable is change. What do we do when big changes come into our lives? Do we resist and try to preserve the status quo, try to ride the change into a new future, or just try to survive?
There isn't one right answer. This issue, five talented authors have all submitted stories about handling change when it comes calling in our lives.
In these tales, you'll meet an elderly couple dealing with a seemingly minor change that conceals darker secrets, a young housecleaner whose desire for "something new" blows open doors she never imagined, a traveler whose own transformation will never be complete, a halfling whose simple lifestyle comes to an abrupt end, and a single guy just trying to find love in a time of global upheaval. We present for your reading pleasure:
- "The Mythology of It" by John Leahy--A biochemical infection is rewriting human DNA. So, what's the dating scene like?
- "The Eleventh Wild Swan" by Taylor Jones--Set in the wake of Hans Christian Anderson's "The Wild Swans," we learn what became of the one swan who didn't complete his transfiguration.
- "Ms. McCrae's Metaphysical Cleaning Agency"--Jean McCrae is used to cleaning out grime and mold, but her new client has a different kind of mess in his home.
- "The Ballad of the Bell Knight" by Scott Wall--Being a bell warden is a comfortable life for a halfling. Yet comfort is its own trap, and change can lead to growth... if one can survive it.
- "Haggard" by L.M. Conkling--Cybil's retired husband has started to talk in his sleep. Now the conversations are getting darker and more dangerous.
In our Editor's corner, we wonder. . . what's the difference between a magazine like Electric Spec, an anthology, and a bundle? We interview Jamie Ferguson, author of Bundle Up! A Practical Guide to Anthologies and Box Sets That Sell, to learn her wisdom on the ins and outs of getting your work into a collection.
Finally, we share the art of our very own Grayson Towler, who provided our cover image with "Defender of the Cosmos."
Thanks for reading,
Lesley, Grayson, Candi, and the Electric Spec Team
