Gerri Leen's Virtual Abode
Hi and welcome to my page.
I'm a transplanted Seattleite who's lived in Northern Virginia for a couple of decades now.
I started writing professionally in my early 40's, and it's been a fun ride so far.
Thanks for visiting. Over on the left is a nav frame to make finding things easier. Or just scroll down to browse what's here. Some of the stories can be read online;
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My Fiction
It's officially a book! Hadley Rille Books has released Life Without Crows, a collection of my short stories, in trade paperback (hard cover and Kindle editions coming shortly). Look for it on Amazon and BN.com (it's currently cheaper at BN.com). Eric Reynolds at HRB is the greatest! The beautiful cover art is "The Song of Eternity," by Richard Kirsten-Daiensai, who is graciously letting me use it. It's hung on my wall for years; it thrills me to have it as the cover. You can see more of his work at The Kirsten Gallery . Maggie Middleton is doing the interior black and white illustrations. The stories are mostly fantasy, science fiction, dark fantasy, with a smattering of literary. Enjoy!
"Bluegrass Dreams Aren't For Free" appears in Issue 8 of Renard's Menagerie . This is possibly my favorite short of everything I've done. It came out of nowhere, and I may someday turn it into something longer. If you like horseracing, you'll probably like this. Even if you don't, you might like this.
"Daggers," one of the first pieces of flash fiction I wrote (and also one that has been revised more times than probably any story I've written) appears in Flash Me magazine's special fantasy issue. This final revision did the trick.
"Deathwatch" can be found in the Feb-Apr issue of Sorcerous Signals . I wrote this story before I got serious about writing, then forgot about it. I stumbled upon it a while back and decided that it needed a little cleaning up, but that the bones were good. This is the result. Hope you like it.
"The Drum of the Sea " appears in Sails & Sorcery: Nautical Tales of Fantasy. I've always been fascinated by Sir Francis Drake, and this tale deals with his last voyage and his connection with the Cimarron people of Panama.
"In the Ashes" appears in Issue 8 of Cabinet des Fees . This is a retelling of the Cinderella story from the POV of one of the Brothers Grimm.
"Just Another Day at the Mall" can be found in the September issue of Static Movement . I spend way too much time at the mall, even if it's not as a teenage boy, so real life got a little tangled with this. This was a fun one to write. Hopefully enjoyable to read, too.
"The Last Song" is the featured story in the July 2008 issue of Reflection's Edge . I try my hand at a bit of magical realism. It's a sentimental favorite, both for the characters and the setting.
"Life Lesson" can be read online at The Lorelei Signal Jan-Mar 2008 issue. This was one of the first original stories I wrote, and part of it is based on a weird dream I had when I was young.
"Like Flies on the Wall" is in the new fairytale magazine The Enchanted Conversation, the Beauty and the Beast issue. I found what this story was based on in an older version of the fairy tale, don't remember it from any version I heard as a kid or later.
"Like Herding Cats" appears in Renard's Menagerie (Issue 3/July 2007). Loki and the Council of Tricksters' board meeting. Need I say more?
"Mother of Demons" can be found with a lot of other great stories in the All About Eve anthology out now from Wolfsinger Publishing. ("Mother of Demons" first appeared in the October 2007 issue of Art&Prose Magazine .)
"Mountain of the Dawn People" can be found in the Nov-Jan issue of Sorcerous Signals . Some stories write themselves with no source material and others require days/weeks/months of research. This was one of the latter. I learned a lot about Maine--and a whole lot of other things--when I wrote it. If you want to see the mountain in question, check out a day shot on the Katahdin Web Cam . It's a gorgeous sight.
"Nothing to Crow About" is in good company in the Triangulation: Taking Flight anthology. This one is a bit silly, a bit ironic, and I think a lot of fun (at least it was to write--I hope it is to read).
"Power Chord" (blame this one on the 930 Club) is one of many rock-and-roll fantasy stories that can be found in the Subatomic 1: One Step Beyond anthology. The book's kind of a mess as far as the editing goes (in other words: the mistakes are not mine), but the stories are fun.
Eric Reynolds has graciously allowed me to co-edit Renaissance Festival Tales a fantasy collection from Hadley Rille that features Renfest-inspired novelettes from Camille Alexa, M.C. Chambers, Julia Dvorin, Paula H. Murray, and Kim Vandervort. I'm thrilled at this opportunity to learn what our editors go through.
"Retiring the Cape" can be found in Shelter of Daylight Issue 2, which can be purchased here (scroll down or search to find it). This one I call on my comic book memories--and pet peeves.
"Seeker of the Dead" is one of many stories in the Ruins Metropolis anthology; all of the stories are based on the cover art with the woman pictured as the protagonist. I get to play with Egyptian mythology in this one.
"Today's Top Stories" can be found in the October 09 issue of Bards and Sages Quarterly. This is a light-hearted look at some of Mother Goose's weirder stories, as discovered in a newspaper expose.
"Torn" is in the Little Mermaid/Nixy/Undine issue of Enchanted Conversation. It may help if you google Nixy and Yellow Fairy Book to get the backstory on this one.
"The Vessel" is part of Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword And Sorceress XXIII . I read and loved these anthologies before I ever thought about writing professionally. Words fail me at how excited and honored I am to be included in this anthology.
COMING SOON "Disruption of Destiny" will appear in the Fantastical Visions V anthology.
COMING SOON "Blood-Red Leaves on a Moonlit Night" will appear in Drollerie Press's Little Red Riding Hood anthology, Straying from the Path .
"Coping Mechanisms" is one of the winners in the Return to Luna contest (sponsored by the National Space Society and Hadley Rille Books). I did a lot of research for this one, so I'm thrilled it made it. It's one of the best anthologies I've read when you stack up all the stories. I think everyone did their homework for this one.
"Grinding to a Halt" can be found in Volume 3, Issue 2 of Electric Spec eZine . I've never known how to categorize this story, but it's listed here as slipstream--I really like that. This is one of those very strange stories that was great fun to write.
"The Hunt" can be found in the Hadley Rille anthology Footprints edited by Jay Lake and Eric T. Reynolds. The premise of this book will be: "Long after our species and all its works have turned to dust, the moon landing sites will still show evidence of our time here on Earth. Imagine future explorers from among the stars interpreting that." I had fun with this one.
"Inspected By," a science fiction short story (that may not be appropriate for all ages), can be found in the first issue of Fusion Fragment . Some stories come from unknown places and this was one of them. But it'll always be special to me because it was my first original fiction to be published.
"Kids Today" can be found in the June 2008 issue of The Written Word . This is about silly Bohemian rich people in the future. But I grew really fond of the characters as I wrote it, hope you do, too.
"Life Without Crows" appears in Issue #5 of Fusion Fragment . I love the voice in this one. I think the story is strange and lovely in a post-apocalyptic way.
"Lucky Shot" can be found in the Desolate Places anthology. This is one of my favorite stories, so I'm very glad it found a home in such a lovely book. The other stories in this are really interesting--Hadley Rille puts together great anthologies.
"Moments in Time" appears in
GlassFire Magazine (Volume 2/Issue 2 - Summer 2007). I'm not sure how to describe this story. It's near future, not dystopian, and almost not speculative. But I like it. I hope you do, too.
"The More Things Change" is the lead story in M-Brane SF. I've never had the cover before. You can find Kindle version or PDF version.
COMING SOON "Lies, Truth, and the Color of Faith" will appear in PanGaia . This is really more science fantasy than science fiction, but if I have to pick one or the other, it belongs in this category.
COMING SOON "Proving Ground" will appear in Ray Gun Revival . Most likely will appear this summer.
COMING SOON "Who's In Charge Here?" will appear in Arct Magazine.
"Flesh and the Price of Summer" can be found in Renard's Menagerie Issue 6. Some stories are too odd to try to explain their origins. This is probably one of them. Despite that, it's a sentimental favorite--which probably says loads about me.
"The Hand of God" appears in the GlassFire Anthology . One of my favorites of the stories I've done so far. It twists a little, and I love the main characters. I'm honored to be in a collection with such fine stories.
"Salt the Earth" appears in the April 2010 issue of 10Flash Quarterly. The theme for the April issue: The planting may be a disappointment this Spring.
"Sense of Blood" is included in the Summer 2008 issue of Mirror Dance . This is one of the first vampire stories I did. It's hard to find a new twist on vamps these days, but I like the POVs here.
"Shadow of a Black Cat" has been accepted for the Jul-Sep 09 issue of The Lorelei Signal. WolfSinger Publications is a joy to work with, so I'm very glad to be included in this.
"Windows to the Soul" can be found in the Triangulation: Dark Glass anthology. Love this line and this editor--so glad to be in another edition!
COMING SOON "Good Intentions" will appear in the 10Flash issue "Stop Me if You've Heard This One."
COMING SOON "Things Every Girl Should Know Before Turning Undead" will appear in the Fem Fangs anthology. A tongue-in-cheek girls' guide kind of thing.
COMING SOON 
"Whither Thou Goest" will appear in the anthology She Nailed a Stake Through His Head: Tales of Biblical Terror. Due out later this year. If you know your bible, you know what this one's about.
"Dancing with Shiva" can be found in Florilegium (Kindle Edition) , which will also be available in a PDF format (I'll post that once the link's available). This is one of my first and favorite stories and it took a long time to find it the right home. I'm so glad it's with PegLeg Publishing; they did such a great job with the GlassFire Anthology! This anthology was by invitation and the story is about Kali, a goddess a lot of people just don't get.
"Letting Go" appears in Issue 2 of NewMyths.com . I've done Persephone's story. Now we get to hear from Demeter.
"Love's Sting" can be found in volume 1, issue 2 of Staffs & Starships . This time I tackle Aphrodite.
"To Love Loki" is part of WolfSongs - Volume 1 . For this story I head to the Norselands and tackle Angrboda.
WolfSongs 1 came in 6th place in the 2008 Preditors and Editors Reader's Choice Awards. Congrats to all!
"The Weight of Things Forgotten appears in the Spring 2007 issue of MYTHOLOG . It's the first of a series of 1,000-word goddess stories to be published. Mnemosyne, goddess of memory and mother of the muses, stars in this one.
"Selective Memory" appears in the Summer 2007 issue of MYTHOLOG . Another in the series of 1,000-word goddess stories and a requested sequel to "The Weight of Things Forgotten." This time, Hera gets to tell her side of the story.
"All for the Taste of a Pomegranate" continues the series in the Autumn 2007 issues of MYTHOLOG . You can probably tell by the title what goddess this one will focus on.
"Country Cousin" is included in the This Ain't No Rodeo anthology. Seventy-Five percent of all proceeds from this anthology will be donated to the Resistol Relief Fund - an organization that provides help to injured bull riders and their families. Country Cousin is a gentle story about a city I love as experienced by a character I came to love while writing him.
"The Distance Between Things" is for sale in audio format (read by an actual actor, which makes a huge difference in reading pleasure) for $.88 at Sniplits . This is a quiet little story, not a romance but with some romance in it.
"Memory Lane" can be found in the Spring 2007 issue of The First Line . This is one of my first ventures into literary fic, and I love it for the crazy voice of the main character. The magazine gives you the first line; the rest is up to you.
"Patterns of Fall" can be found in the Origins: Tales of Human Evolution anthology published by Hadley Rille Books to honor the 150th anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species. I had to do a ton of research for this one and it was my first "by invitation" anthology, so I'm stoked to be a part of it.
COMING SOON "The Effect of Place on Love and Death" will appear in the Dia de los Muertos anthology.
"The Circle of Life," a flash mystery/crime thing, can be found over at Big Pulp .
"Shared Losses," a twisted tale that probably isn't for kids, appears in the July 9, 2007 posting of Shred of Evidence .
"Shared Losses" made the shortlist for the Spinetingler Awards online short story category. I'm thrilled to have been included in this.
"Shared Losses" was also nominated by the editor of Shred of Evidence for the 2008 Million Writers Award. Thank you, Megan!
"Riptide" appears in Quantum Kiss . This story went through several incarnations before settling into this. I'm very fond of it, even if it's a bit sweeter than things I normally do.
My drabble "Company Coming" can be found in the Drabbler Issue 11: SETI Calling . These contests are great fun to participate in and it's always fun to see how much someone can pack into 100 words.
My drabbles "Dust to Dust" and "Over the Fold" appear in the Drabbler Issue 10: Haunted Spaceports contest anthology. "Over the Fold" took first place in this contest and was loads of fun to write.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds VII Strange New Worlds has given a lot of writers their first publishing experience. It's a Star Trek book with 23 stories for fans written by fans. And it's a blast to participate in. This was my first sale, and it was in the Original Series section of the book. "Obligations Discharged" examines the life of the Dohlman Elaan from the episode "Elaan of Troyius" after she left Kirk to marry a man she didn't love.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 9 For this outing, I got in with a Deep Space 9 story called "Living on the Edge of Existence." I wanted to explore Sisko's world after the "What You Leave Behind" series finale.
Strange New Worlds 10 "The Smell of Dead Roses" took the grand prize and I'm still a little shocked, and incredibly grateful and happy. (There is an excerpt of the story here, but be warned, they left off all the section marks so it's a little hard to read.)
"Dilemma of the Spindle" is in the new fairytale magazine The Enchanted Conversation, the Sleeping Beauty issue.
"The Hermit" can be found in newWitch Magazine Issue 16.
"String Theory" appears in the new speculative poetry magazine Paper Crow .
This is hands down the best resource for finding new markets, keeping track of upcoming themed projects, and reporting response times. It's free, but they take paypal donations to keep them going. This site saves me more time than any other writer's resource out there.
Dictionary.com I love this site. Not only many different sources at your fingertips, but also handy usage notes.
The Turkey City Lexicon A laundry list of basic writing mistakes. One of the most useful short lists out there. There are lots of great resources on the SFWA site. Check them out while you're there.
Books I've found useful:
On Writing
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print
Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English, Second Edition"
Writing the Breakout Novel
Goodbye! Check back soon.