Flying Tagged for Natural Instincts, Witches and Warlocks

It was a highly stylized story, last published more than twenty years ago, even winning a “Best of the Web ’98” award from PULP ETERNITY magazine. And that was for a reprint, in the e-magazine DARK ANNIE, December 1998, while it had first appeared (in print only) in the then-professional DEAD OF NIGHT in Summer 1995. Its title: “Flying.”

It’s one of those things that’s sort of a favorite, but also sort of a guilty pleasure — about the making of a witch in 18th Century Spain. But then I saw the call, with a fairly short deadline: We at Zombie Works Publications are currently accepting thirteen short story submissions. They will go into our NATURAL INSTINCTS TALES OF WITCHES AND WARLOCKS. . . . We are asking for each story to be between 2000 and 3000 words in length and content must be between a Rated “PG-13” to Rated “R”. For some reason I recalled “Flying” then, and checked its length: 2300 words.

That was Friday, September 3, that I sent it in. Today the reply came from Editor Stephanie J. Bardy: We had an overwhelming response for this anthology and it is my pleasure to tell you that your short story has been accepted for inclusion in NATURAL INSTINCTS. We will be in touch shortly with the contract, and to make sure we have an accurate bio and photo.

So, a 2-day acceptance for one of only 13 stories? Seems almost like witchcraft.