Author Archives: CrissyMoss

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About CrissyMoss

I've been writing as long as I can remember.

A Conundrum

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As you can tell from this picture…. the blue is spreading.
A while back I shared this list of my stories in progress. There were a couple spots of blue (marking published) and a lot of orange (marking almost done). Now it’s the opposite. Lots of published, not as much “almost done”.

My publishing schedule, up until now, reflected the fact that I had a lot of short stories that were almost done, or done and needing an edit. It is a lot faster to finish, and edit, a 5000 word short story, or several flash fictions, then to complete a sprawling 30-80 thousand word book.

I can’t capitalize on that anymore. Most of the “almost done” drafts I have started are 20-50% of a 20k word novella. That takes time to finish.

This is a good thing in the long run. I wanted to get a lot of little things up and expand into longer works. I wanted to have a variety of lengths available.

It means I’ll have to slow down publication, or write faster. Hopefully write faster. That’s what I am pushing for at least. Probably both.

It’s incredible how far I’ve come in the last eight months. Osiren’s Tears was written last October. It was published in February. Since then I have written or completed 18 short stories, 2 novellas, and published them in 10 books. Two of which are also available in print.

That’s a lot in eight months. I’m kind of proud of myself for sticking with this and following my dream.

I have 12 more short stories waiting to be finished, and a lot of novellas and novels. I may not be able to get something out every week now, but I will definitely keep people posted.

Expect “The Camera” out later this week. As well as the print version of “Small Bites the Complete Collection”.

Pax is also next month. I will have stickers and buttons available. If you can’t get to Pax and you would like a button and/or sticker then just write a review for one of my books and tweet about it. I would love to send you one.

Pax Prime!

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I am so excited to be going to Pax this year! I have tickets for all four days, I may skip on Saturday though.

I will be wandering the stalls, playing the games, and enjoying the crowds. I will also be giving out Buttons, and stickers for free all over Pax.

Are you going to Pax? Would you like a sticker or a button? Hit me up on twitter @crissymoss and I will be happy to meet up with you.

I will also have a few books on hand.

 

A New Book, and a Free Book

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Twilight Tales“Twilight Tales” is free today and tomorrow, so if you haven’t read it you might pick it up. It’s a quick read, but I think it’s worth it.

5SB5sm
Also, “Small Bites- 1-4” the complete collection will be available by the end of the day. It’s just running through the publishing checkers at the moment. It contains all the stories from all of the previous Small Bites, plus two extras, and a lot of extra behind the scenes stuff.

It is being released at $2.99, which is cheaper then buying them individually.

The print version should be available within the next two weeks. It will be over 80 pages long, and have a new, original, cover.

Kobo, and Small Bites and FREE!

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In preparation for putting “Small Bites- the Complete Collection” out all of the original Small Bite books are up on Kobo right now.

In fact, Small Bites 1 is free. So, if you’re reading this you could do me a big favor if you go to the Amazon listing and click on “tell us about a lower price” under the product details. Tell them it is on Kobo for free at this link:

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/Books/small-bites-1

That way Amazon will price match me.

“Small Bites- the Complete Collection” is almost finished. I should have it up and available tomorrow. I just need to finish up a few edits. The paperback will take a little longer since I have to do a new cover. But thank you for your patience. This is my first major release and next time it will be so much smoother.

A Trick (A free short story)

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There was a little contest today for a flash fiction story about this picture. So I wrote one. Hope you enjoy it. If you do, you can vote for me by adding a +1 to it.

A Trick

“Ha, ha, Dinah, I knew we could do it,” the little fairy said, leaning back in her saddle and tapping Dinah’s sides with her heels.

Dinah mewed, unmoving. It really didn’t matter if the commands came from fae or humans, cats rarely listened to anyone unless they wanted to.

“I can’t believe she fell for it,” the fairy said. “I mean really, chasing rabbits in the glade. She’s seven, isn’t she? That’s ancient in human years.”

She leaned back, watching a dragonfly buzz by over head, a smile widening across her face.

A frown furrowed her little brow. “You don’t think Chez would ruin it, do you? I mean, it’s so perfect, a human child in the fairy hill. We can torment her for ages. But you know Chez, she likes to meddle. “

She leaned forward, scratching the kitten between the ears. “No, she couldn’t possibly do that. I mean, the last time she interfered in someone’s mischief it started a war. We couldn’t leave the under-hill for a century. The humans forgot we existed. Surely she wouldn’t do that again.”

Dinah mewed, leaning into the scratch.

“Well, well, well. What have we here?”

The fairy looked up to see a perfect set of white teeth floating above a branch. From around the teeth a fairy materialized, her wings flickering in a purple glow.

“Oh, Chez, I was just thinking about you.”

“Red, I knew you wouldn’t waste any time getting out of the under-hill.”

“It’s a beautiful day,” Red said, laying back on Dinah. “The sun is shining, and the flowers are singing. Of course I’m out here enjoying it.”

Chez leaned against the tree trunk. “And the little girl?”

“Which little girl?” Red said, blinking big eyes up at her innocently.

“So many to choose from, it’s a pity you have so little time to play with them.”

“Exactly!” Red said, snapping up to attention. “I’m glad you understand.”

“Hmmm… You know, it’s been a very long time since I’ve been a cat,” Chez said, her shape fuzzing. “I think I might like to be a cat again.”

Chez’s shape changed around her perfectly grinning teeth, shifting into the form of a cat with purple stripes.

“A Cheshire cat?”

“But of course. We all need to be something, don’t we? Why not a cat?”

“Why not indeed. What are you up to, Chez?”

“Oh, about the height of a tree branch,” she said. Her tail started unraveling into thin air. “But that will soon be rectified,” she said as her body faded. “I’ve something to attend to within the hill.”

The grin grinned down at Red, then blinked out of existence.

“She would!” Red cried, and blinked back into the fairy hill.

What are you talking about?!?!

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I’ve heard that from my boyfriend more then once… per day.

It usually happens when I start trying to tell him about something, or describe something that happens to me. Usually at work.

I mean it’s really easy to understand “there was a snake in a storage unit”. Yep, that is simple enough. Snake. Storage unit. Screaming customer. Animal control. Oh wait, cameras?

But sometimes I get excited, and the words start tumbling out of my mouth. Worse yet, sometimes they get stuck somewhere between my mouth and my tongue. I don’t know why, but it is far easier to get the words out when I type then it is when I speak. I suppose it’s a good thing I decided to be a writer and not a stand up comedian, because people don’t find comedians funny if they sit there saying “um” all the time.

I really have no point to this post. But I will let you know, if you’re still reading this, that I am half way done re-editing “Small Bites – Complete Collection” along with the extra content, and formatting for a physical book. The paperback will take an extra week, but the ebook should be available this weekend.

Poster?

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I am thinking about offering a free poster to anyone who reads and reviews on of my books.

Wouldn’t matter which one, though I might offer two posters to anyone willing to rate and review “Small Bites- The Complete Collection” when it comes out next week.

If I did, which of these covers would you like as a poster?

And I am considering with, and without the words… So Small Bites 4 would be just the bird in the tree branches, with a little tag line at the bottom of where the images came from.

And I would also be signing them before shipping.

z all mini

 

Small Bites 4

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4SB4smI just hit publish for “Small Bites 4”.
This will be my first Science Fiction stories to see publication, but not the last. Androids, genetic manipulation, planetary colonization, time travel, and everything that can go wrong with it… And maybe a few things that go right.

Ravens
A planetary mission goes terribly wrong.

Past Talks

A time traveling documentary maker is interviewed on VR.

Skin Deep

There’s something different about Abby, and the cat she’s trying to catch knows it.

Publishing, Gender and Genre

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Gender. It’s rarely as cut and dry as male and female in this century, but it still influences a lot of things, and people.

Right now the writers forums, blogs, and news sights are blowing up with articles and commentary about gender roles in SF and fantasy. Articles about women who hide their sex so they can break into the elite ranks of SF, and those that question if they are starved for great women authors, or just sexist. A Tor UK team member even weighed in on the matter, complete with graphs.

4SB4smI will be putting up “Small Bites 4” tomorrow which is Science Fiction. It is the first time I will be sharing my science fiction writing. I’m kind of nervous. I’ve done stories with horror, blood, torture, rape, abuse, and sex. I will never be as nervous about them as I am about something that delves into the science fiction (except maybe erotica).

Why? I chose to use my personal name on my books. “Crissy Moss” isn’t a pen name. It’s me. I kept it because I’m one of a very few people online with that particular name. And it is incredibly feminine. I can’t hide behind “Chris” and still be visible. I chose this.

It’s odd that the two genres that worry me are on complete opposite sides of the spectrum. I am afraid to publish in erotica because I don’t want people to judge me because I am a woman that likes sex. And I am nervous about publishing in SF because I know people will judge me for not being steeped in science enough.

Caring what other people think about us… man or woman, this simple foible is enough to keep people lost, alone, and unable to attain their dreams. This very simple fact is why I won’t sit back and let my stories sit on a hard drive collecting virtual dust. Accolades, comments, and compliments are nice, but being true to yourself is far more important. It’s worth risking one star reviews, flops, and hate mail.

I don’t pretend to know why women aren’t as prominent in the SF/F publishing ranks. I think it is a self perpetuating cycle. Fewer women try to publish in SF, so there are fewer SF books written by women. There are fewer SF books published by women, so fewer women see role models in the SF realm and don’t take the plunge.

I do know that it isn’t just about women. Male authors trying to break into erotica often have to use pseudonyms as well, and they usually have to be female, or non-gender names.

And it’s about readers, too. Readers sometimes wont get past the name on the book.

Gender is more fluid then we think it is. Anatomy doesn’t make us who we are. People can change sexes, or act in non-masculine and non-feminine ways, regardless of the equipment birth gave them. There are even those among us who have no affinity to either sex.

True equality… That’s going to take some time.

Some articles about the subject:

Is the book industry sexist or just starved for great women authors?

Women Who Pretended to Be Men to Publish Scifi Books

SEXISM IN GENRE PUBLISHING: A PUBLISHER’S PERSPECTIVE

The best women authors of science fiction and fantasy

The Greatest Female Sci-Fi/Fantasy Authors of All Time