Rich Larson was born in Galmi, Niger, has lived in Canada, USA, and Spain, and is now based in Prague, Czech Republic. He is the author of the novels Annex (Orbit Books, 2018) and Cypher (Orbit Books, 2020), and the collection Tomorrow Factory (Talos Press, 2018), which contains some of the best of his +150 published stories. His work has been translated into Polish, Czech, French, Italian, Vietnamese and Chinese. Find free fiction and support his work via patreon.com/richlarson.
Karin Lowachee was born in South America, grew up in Canada, and worked in the Arctic. Her first novel Warchild won the 2001 Warner Aspect First Novel Contest. Both Warchild (2002) and her third novel Cagebird (2005) were finalists for the Philip K. Dick Award. Her books have been translated into
French, Hebrew, and Japanese, and her stories have appeared in anthologies edited by Nalo Hopkinson, John Joseph Adams, and Ann VanderMeer.
Brent Nichols is a fantasy and science fiction writer, book cover designer, bon vivant, and man about town. He likes good beer, bad puns, high adventure and low comedy. He’s never been seen in the same room as Batman, but that’s probably just a coincidence. He has two novels with Bundoran Press, and self-publishes military science fiction under the pen name Jake Elwood.
Heather Osborne is an English instructor at the University of Calgary, where she works on science fiction, fantasy, and digital literatures. She is the associate editor for Foundation: The International Review of Science Fiction. She has worked as the Assistant Program Director at the Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society, a Calgary arts non-profit, and as assistant editor for dANDelion, a literary arts and experimental poetry magazine.
Y.M. Pang spent her childhood pacing around her grandfather’s bedroom, telling him stories of magic, swords, and bears. Her fiction has appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Escape Pod, and Strange Horizons, among other venues. She dabbles in photography and often contemplates the merits of hermitism. Despite this, you can find her online at www.ympang.com and on Twitter as @YMPangWriter.
Karina Sumner-Smith is the author of the Towers Trilogy from Talos Press: Radiant, Defiant, and Towers Fall. In addition to novel-length work, Karina has published a range of science fiction, fantasy, and horror short stories that have been nominated for the Nebula Award, reprinted in several Year’s Best anthologies, and translated into Spanish and Czech. She lives in Toronto with her husband and a small dog. Visit her at karinasumnersmith.com.
Amanda Sun is a YA and Fantasy writer, and author of The Paper Gods, a series set in Japan about dangerous drawings coming to life. She also wrote Heir to the Sky, about floating continents and monster hunters, and has contributed to several award-winning anthologies. Many of her novels and short fiction have been Aurora Award nominees and Junior Library Guild selections, as well as Indigo Top Teen Picks and USA Today features. Her recent story “The Travellers” was long-listed for the Sunburst Award. When not reading or writing, Sun keeps busy as a mother, cosplayer, and geeky stitcher.
Patrick Swenson edited Talebones magazine for 14 years, and he still runs Fairwood Press, a book line. He was nominated for a World Fantasy Award for his work with the press. His first novel The Ultra Thin Man appeared from Tor, followed by sequel The Ultra Big Sleep. His new novel Rain Music is now available. He has sold stories to the anthologies Unfettered III and Like Water for Quarks, and to various magazines. He runs the Rainforest Writers Village retreat every spring at Lake Quinault, Washington. A high school teacher for 35 years, Patrick lives in Bonney Lake, Washington with his son Orion.
Bogi Takács is a Hungarian Jewish agender trans person (e/em/eir/emself or they pronouns) and an immigrant to the United States. E is a winner of the Lambda award for editing Transcendent 2: The Year’s Best Transgender Speculative Fiction, and a finalist for the Hugo and Locus Awards. Eir debut poetry collection Algorithmic Shapeshifting was published by Aqueduct Press, and eir debut short story collection The Trans Space Octopus Congregation was published by Lethe, both in 2019. You can find Bogi talking about books at http://www.bogireadstheworld.com, and on various social media as bogiperson. Bogi lives in Kansas with eir spouse (writer R.B. Lemberg), child, and an assembly of books.
Hayden Trenholm is an award-winning editor, playwright, novelist and short story writer. His first novel, A Circle of Birds, won the 3-Day Novel Writing competition; it was translated and published in French. His trilogy, The Steele Chronicles, were each nominated for an Aurora Award. Stealing Home, the third book, was a finalist for the Sunburst Award. Hayden has won five Aurora Awards—thrice for short fiction and twice for editing. He purchased Bundoran Press in 2012 and is its managing editor. He lives in Ottawa with his wife and fellow writer, Liz Westbrook-Trenholm.
Liz Westbrook-Trenholm has published or aired mainstream and speculative short fiction, most recently in Shades Within Us (Laksa Media), Over the Rainbow (Exile Press), Tesseracts 22 (Edge) and Amazing Stories. She won the Aurora Award for short fiction for Gone Flying in 2018 and was nominated in 2019 for her story Critical Mass. She is a long-distance, founding member of Imaginative Fiction Writers Association in Calgary, and of East Block Irregulars writing group in Ottawa, where she now lives with her husband, writer, editor, publisher and inspiration, Hayden Trenholm.
Jane Yolen, often called “the Hans Christian Andersen of America,” is the author of over 382 books, including Owl Moon, The Devil’s Arithmetic, and How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight. The books range from rhymed picture books and baby board books, through middle grade fiction, poetry collections, nonfiction, and up to novels and story collections for young adults and adults. She is a Grandmaster of SFWA, SFPA, and the World Fantasy Association. Six New England colleges and universities have given her honorary doctorates for her body of work. One of her awards set her good coat on fire.
Alvaro Zinos-Amaro is a Hugo and Locus award finalist who has published some forty stories and over one hundred reviews, essays and interviews in venues like Clarkesworld, Asimov’s, Analog, Lightspeed, Tor.com, Locus, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Nature, Strange Horizons, Galaxy’s Edge, Lackington’s, The Los Angeles Review of Books, and anthologies such as The Year’s Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 2016, Cyber World, Humanity 2.0, This Way to the End Times, 18 Wheels of Science Fiction, Shades Within Us, The Unquiet Dreamer, and Nox Pareidolia.
About the Editors
Susan Forest is an award-winning author and editor of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Her novel, Bursts of Fire was released in 2019, to be followed by Flights of Marigold (2020) and Scents of Slavery (2021). She has published over 25 short stories, contributes to When Words Collide, and has appeared at many international writing conventions. With Lucas K. Law, she co-edited Strangers Among Us, The Sum of Us, Shades Within Us, and Seasons Between Us. Susan loves travel and has been known to dictate novels from the back of her husband’s motorcycle. Visit her online at www.speculative-fiction.ca. Follow the Addicted to Heaven series online at www.addictedtoheaven.com.
Lucas K. Law is a Malaysian-born award-winning editor and author who divides his time and heart between Calgary and Qualicum Beach. With Susan Forest, he co-edited Strangers Among Us, The Sum of Us, Shades Within Us, and Seasons Between Us. Lucas is the co-editor of Where the Stars Rise with Derwin Mak. When he isn’t editing, writing, or reading, he is a corporate and non-profit organization consultant in business planning and development.
Copyright
Acknowledgements
Foreword ©2021 by Lucas K. Law
Introduction ©2021 by Candas Jane Dorsey
Clear Waters ©2021 by Calvin D. Jim
Groven ©2021 by Heather Osborne
Robocare ©2021 by Rich Larson
Dress of Ash ©2021 by Y.M. Pang
Hope to See the Ghost Tonight ©2021 by Patrick Swenson
Lay Down Your Heart ©2021 by Elizabeth Westbrook-Trenholm & Hayden Trenh
olm
The Veil Between ©2021 by Karin Lowachee
Sympathétique ©2021 by Alvaro Zinos-Amaro
The Selkie’s Skin ©2021 by Bev Geddes
Messages Left in Transit, Devices Out of Sync ©2021 by Divya Srinivasan Breed
Joe ©2021 by Karen Vanessa Farkas-Brahmakshatriya
Summer of Our Discontent ©2021 by Tyler Keevil
A Grave Between Them ©2021 by Karina Sumner-Smith
Blue Kueh ©2021 by Joyce Chng
Second Thoughts ©2021 by Eric Choi
The Sabhu My Destination ©2021 by Maurice Broaddus
The Hidden Knowledge Society ©2021 by Bogi Takács
The Light of Stars ©2021 by Amanda Sun
The Hollow Oath ©2021 by Brent Nichols
When Resin Burns to Tar ©2021 by Maria Haskins
Exchange of Perspective ©2021 by Alan Dean Foster
The Astronaut’s Four Seasons ©2021 by Jane Yolen
Afterword ©2021 by Susan Forest
Paying Forward, Giving Back
READ FOR A CAUSE,
WRITE FOR A CAUSE,
HELP A CAUSE
MISSION:
Laksa Media Groups Inc. publishes issues-related general audience and literary experimental fiction, and narrative non-fiction books. Our mission is to create opportunities to “pay forward” and “give back” through our publishing program. Our tag line is Read for a Cause, Write for a Cause, Help a Cause.
A portion of our net revenue from each book project goes to support a charitable organization, project or event. We do not deal with any charity that promotes politics, religion, discrimination, crime, hate or inequality.
The charitable causes dear to our hearts are literacy, education, public libraries, elder care, mental health, affordable housing, and prevention of abuse or bullying.
HELP US CHANGE THE WORLD,
ONE BOOK AT A TIME
laksamedia.com
LEARN HOW TO MANAGE YOUR STRESS . . .
LEARN DAILY MINDFULNESS.
Appendix
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND ANTI-DISCRIMINATION RESOURCES
Because of the dynamic nature of the internet, any telephone numbers, web addresses or links provided in this section may have changed since the publication of this book and may no longer be valid.
A listing in theAppendix doesn’t mean it is an endorsement from Laksa Media Groups Inc., publisher, editors, authors and/or those involved in this series project. Its listing here is a means to disseminate information to the readers to get additional materials for further investigation or knowledge.
RESPITE IS KEY TO YOUR WELL-BEING.
GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK . . .
How is your Mental Health? Do you think you have experienced one or more of the following recently?
More Stress than Before
Grief
Separation and Divorce
Feelings of Violence
Suicidal Thoughts
Self Injury
Excessive or Unexplained Anxiety
Obsession or Compulsion
Paranoia, Phobias or Panics
Post-Traumatic Stress
Depression
Bi-polar
Postpartum Depression
Eating Disorders
Schizophrenia
Addictions
Mood Disorders
Personality Disorders
Learning Disabilities
MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING TOOLS
More information:
https://screening.mentalhealthamerica.net/screening-tools
The Depression Screen is most appropriate for individuals who are feeling overwhelming sadness.
The Anxiety Screen will help if you feel that worry and fear affect your day-to-day life.
The Bipolar Screen is intended to support individuals who have mood swings or unusual shifts in mood and energy.
The PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) Screen is best taken by those who are bothered by a traumatic life event.
The Alcohol or Substance Use Screen will help determine if your use of alcohol or drugs is an area to address.
The Youth Screen is for young people (age 11-17) who are concerned that their emotions, attention, or behaviours might be signs of a problem.
The Parent Screen is for parents of young people to determine if their child’s emotions, attention, or behaviours might be signs of a problem.
The Psychosis Screen is for young people (age12-35) who feel like their brain is playing tricks on them (seeing, hearing, or believing things that don’t seem real or quite right).
Eating Disorder Test is to explore eating-related concerns which may impact your physical health and overall well-being.
Work Health Survey is for exploring how healthy or unhealthy your work environment is.
Worried about Your Child—Symptom Checker:
https://childmind.org/symptomchecker/
10 Ways to Look after Your Mental Health
(source: www.mentalhealthamerica.net/live-your-life-well)
Connect with Others
Stay Positive
Get Physically Active
Help Others
Get Enough Sleep
Create Joy and Satisfaction
Eat Well
Take Care of Your Spirit
Deal Better with Hard Times
Get Professional Help if You Need It
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES & INFORMATION
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental illness, please consult a doctor or a healthcare professional in your community.
Below is not a comprehensive information listing, but it is a good start to get more information on mental health/illness.
Emergency Phone Number
If you or someone is in crisis or may be at risk of harming himself/ herself or someone else, please call your national Emergency Phone Number immediately.
Canada
911
United States
911
United Kingdom
999 or 112
Ireland
999 or 112
Europe
112
Australia
000
Canada
911
New Zealand
111
Canada
To locate your local Canadian Mental Health Association: www.cmha.ca
Specifically for children and young people (aged 5-20), call Kids Help Phone’s 24-hour confidential phone line at 1-800-668-6868 English or French. More information online: kidshelpphone.ca
There are a number of resource materials and list of organizations that you can reach out to on the Bell Let’s Talk website: http://letstalk.bell.ca/en/get-help/
Mental Health & Addiction Information A-Z (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health): https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index
Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health: http://ccsmh.ca
List of local crisis centres (Canadian Centre for Suicide Prevention):
http://suicideprevention.ca/need-help
The Alex—Changing Health, Changing Lives: http://www.thealex.ca
United States
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK or 1-800-273-8255
(More resources at: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/)
For more mental health information:
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/mental-health-information
United Kingdom
The Samaritans (www.samaritans.org) offers emotional support 24 hours a day—get in touch with them:116-123.
A to Z of MentalHealth:
http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z
Free Mental HealthPodcasts:
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/podcasts-and-videos
Ireland
The Samaritans (www.samaritans.org) offers emotional support 24 hours a day—get in touch with them: 116-123.
Childline Helpline (https://www.childline.ie): Confidential for young people (under 18). Phone: 1-800-66-66-66
For more mental health information: http://www.mentalhealthireland.ie
Australia
Helplines, websites, and government mental health services for Australia: http://mhaustralia.org/need-help
Kids Helpline: Confidential and anonymous, telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25. Phone: 1800-55-1800 or visit
http://www.kidshelpline.com.au
Lifeline: 24-hour telephone counselling service. Phone:
13-11-14 or visit http://www.lifeline.org.au
New Zealand
Helplines, websites and government mental health services for New Zealand:
http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/get-help/in-crisis/helplines/
Youthline (for young people under 25): 0800-376-633. More information online: http://www.youthline.co.nz
Lifeline: 0800-543-354
Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508-828-865 (0508-TAUTOKO)
International
Mental Health & Psychosocial Support: International Medical Corps (https://internationalmedicalcorps.org/program/mental-health-psychosocial-support/)
Seasons Between Us Page 41