MELINDA A. SMITH
literary and science fiction
Short Fiction
Short stories are my new favorite thing to write. They don't require the story arc that full novellas and novels do, and they therefore allow the writer/reader to deeply explore an idea with a very singular focus. I'm excited to share some bits and pieces of my short fiction below. Click on the link at the end of each description to read an excerpt!
SHORT STORies
PER ASPERA
PER ASPERA AD ASTRA
(Through hardships, to the stars)
Stella awakens to floorboards creaking. Ready to yell at her children for being up past lights out, she goes upstairs. But their doors and their rooms are missing. In their place, Stella's house opens up to outer space and her twins are gone. This short story explores Stella's journey in search of her children and her own reasons for living. Enjoy this mysterious, odd, and sometimes frightening tale of loss and forgiveness, fate and free will. But be careful- the universe is not a kind place. Or is it?
(lit fic/fantasy, ~6,500 words)
A THOUSAND
NATURAL SHOCKS
Simon's insomnia is getting worse. He falls asleep in school but can't catch a wink at night. When a new device offers the promise of not only sleep but deep, dream-filled slumber, he can't say no. The technology delivers on its promise and much more. Can Simon navigate the new-found world he meets in his sleep? What will he do when the line between sleep and wake states blurs beyond recognition? Find out in the winding head trip that is A Thousand Natural Shocks.
(lit fic/sci-fi, in progress)
Muse
in
the
rain
We all know about the idea of the elusive muse - she delivers great inspiration to artists, writers, and musicians. But have you ever thought about how she does that? Do ideas just pop into your head when she's around, or is there a more tangible way she delivers seeds of story and art? In this story, I've explored the idea that the muse inspires through sensual encounter. Hold on to your hats and make sure you're sitting down for this one. Not safe for work (in most industries).
(lit fic/fantasy, ~1,450 words)
chicken
tea
No description will make sense for this story. You'll just have to read the excerpt. It is disturbing and possibly funny...?
(light horror, ~1,250 words)
hide
& seek
We've all played this classic childhood game. But what if you opened your eyes when you counted to 20, only to be taken away from the world as you knew it? This is precisely what happens to the12-year-old narrator of Hide & Seek. Experience her journey as she is whisked away and tries to come home.
(lit fic/fantasy, ~1,400 words)
death
of a poetess
This short but nutrient-dense piece depicts a poetess who crafts her life's masterpiece with elements of herself - literally. We all put our metaphorical blood, sweat, and tears into our work; this story simply takes that concept to a fictional extreme. One of my first short stories and in line for my favorite.
(lit fic, 500 words)
​
the truths
of cyanos
An allegory? Who writes allegories anymore? Well, it would appear I do. This story is for my lovely group of writer goddesses (Twitter handles @AspienBlue, @debsvalidation, @LisaAlletson, and @diviningP). The tale explores give and take and the redemption we find in others who care for us. A fun story whose narrative voice is a cross between Alice and Wonderland and The Secret Garden.
(allegory, ~5,500 words)
the
timesweeper
No one pays attention to the man with a mop and bucket. Albert, the school janitor, has a secret. The librarian begins seeing things and discovers that Albert is not what he seems. The librarian figures it out, and she'd tell you, but for some reason, she just can't remember ...
(lit fic, ~3,000 words)
LoCKED IN A CELL
Science vs religion. Fact vs faith. These are as mutually exclusive as they come, right? But what if they're not? What if God isn't some defined being but instead is science itself? What if God is the driving force behind the magical but scientifically documented phenomena like the will to live, to reproduce, to grow? What if God is evolution itself? This poem/prose mashup addresses these big questions. I hope that, like the narrator, we can all see we're not so different after all.
(poetry/lit fic, ~1,300 words)
in vino
mortem
In Vino Mortem is a disturbing tale of a lonely woman who meets her demise over one too many drinks. The tragedy of her story is offset by subtle hints of humor and a lyrical flow that is sure to make you smile more than you think.
(poetry/dark lit fic, ~500 words)
NOVELLA
WHAT
HAPPENED
TO ADA
INGRAHAM?
Ada could not be a more normal 36-year-old. She works in a law firm, knits, and has a book club. Sound boring? She is, by her own admission, and that's how she likes it. But status quo changes as Ada begins to suspect that she isn't human at all. Clues begin to pile up, increasingly convincing Ada that she is artificial intelligence. On a path of no return, Ada realizes that the mystery of her origin is far deeper than human versus AI. This novella explores questions that transcend the organic/artificial divide: Can a person or a love exist beyond one lifetime? What makes us real? and ultimately, Does it matter if we are real or not?
(sci-fi, ~22,000 words)